1984 B7100 2850 hrs...might buy. Input please

canucklehead · Nov 8, 2013

First off, I did a search on these forums and many similar topics asking questions about buying one of these. I didn't see anyone trash these, and hours/use/maintenance can be huge factors to consider, and will always be the great unknown when buying used. I'll ask owner about maintenance, records/receipts, and will look at oils, fluids, smell them, etc... Will also check air filter. I have a few different questions:

I am looking at a 1984 B7100 4x4 with 2847 hours. Would that many hours scare you away? I know part of this question depends on owner, use, maintenance... , BUT just wondering if all those things have not been done, if these are bullet proof? OR, if they have been done, are these prone to falling apart? Does that make sense? Some stuff I've owned would survive abuse (Honda ATVs for example), other things I've been meticulous with (my Ford 6.0L), and it is a chronic problem regardless.

According to tractor data.com, this model was made from 1976-1985. It should be a 3 speed, 2 range standard tranny. When does clutch need replacing? How expensive/hard to do is a clutch?

Owner tells me the control valve for the front blade leaks a little and should be repaired or rebuilt or replaced. No idea how hard this is to do, or how expensive. Any input there would also be appreciated. Says it's also due for oil change and new battery.

Sounds like a rear wet brake. How long do those last? I had wet diff brake in my Suzuki 700 quad and they seem to last forever; nobody ever talked about replacing them on Suzuki.

I also read about checking pto shaft for slop. How do I do that? It's just a little splined stub isn't it? Is this issue peculiar to this model, or was that a comment from someone about any tractor in general? Tractor I'm looking at has used a 4' brushcutter so not sure if that's potentially hard on the PTO.

It is a 4x4. Anything I can do to test that, or anything to be warey of?

any other stuff i should know?

thanks very much for the feedback.

troutsqueezer · Nov 8, 2013

Kubota tractors are not prone to falling apart, quite the opposite. You don't mention what the price of the tractor is. If it's low, then you have some money to get it back into shape and it will probably work out fine. If the price is steep, then might not be worth it. 2847 hrs is quite a few relative to the tractor that was bought and hardly used but tractors can and do go much longer than that.

bigbull338 · Nov 8, 2013

i know this its had less than 100hrs a year put on it.the dealer can rebuild the cylinder so thats no prob.

canucklehead · Nov 17, 2013

well I just bought it and got it home. It is a hydrostatic model, not gears. It has a B2030 front blade set up; hydraulic angles L & R, plus up/down. I'm thinking this is probably an expensive attachment, like a FEL. Also came with snow chains for the turf tires. So this front blade would be great for snowplowing, but we rarely get snow that lasts. ALso has a 4' or 5' John Deere brush cutter, a few spare parts, filters, etc.. Not sure when it was added, but it has ROPS and seatbelt. It was originally owned and maintained by local City,and as a bonus, I received service records, owner manuals and parts manuals. I paid $3K. I think for what I got, I got a decent deal.

JOHNTHOMAS · Nov 17, 2013

As long as you think you got a good deal, that's all that matters.
Post some pics please.
I was approached about buying an older Kubota that has spent a lot of time out side and I made an offer or agreed to his price based on seeing it start and move under its own power.

rpraymond · Nov 17, 2013

I sold a B6100 (similar model) a few years back with 2500 hrs. on it and it still ran like new. It was a two owner well maintained unit but they're very well built tractors.
Good luck with your new tractor.

robbieo11 · Nov 17, 2013

I have a 93 with just under 2000 hrs on here for sale WELL. Used with loader and mower i am asking 5k for it but a good offer come around i will take it the blue book is around 5200

canucklehead · Nov 17, 2013

according to Kubota manual, it takes 20-30 seconds to preheat (glow plug) before starting, at above freezing temps. How long do you glow plug your's?

Also, I see there is a directional valve for hydraulics. So does this lever need to be re-directed when I want to go from using rear pto/attachments, to using my mid PTO (for blade) ?

JOHNTHOMAS · Nov 18, 2013

JOHNTHOMAS said:
As long as you think you got a good deal, that's all that matters.
Post some pics please.
I was approached about buying an older Kubota that has spent a lot of time out side and I made an offer or agreed to his price based on seeing it start and move under its own power.

The man with the B7100 HST 4wd 1093 hours started it today and drove it over (he lives next door to my office) for me and took his check for it and the/a storage building. Looks like I've just bought my 17th Kubota (The F2080e I owned, sold it and recently bought it back so only 16 totally different ones).

Any way the thing started good, white smoke (not diesel fuel look or smell) off the muffler which (smoke) finally stopped and the motor just hums and is really smooth. I need a owners manual to figure out what all the levers are for. Any advise on whereto obtain owners manual will be appreciated.
Also still want to see your pics.