B-2910 vs B2710

[gordon]

Bird go for the Woods stock much better than the N.H. and if all goes well for them they will own Tisco before long. They are playing that old board game where you get all the hotels you win only with companies instead.
Gordon

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The 2910 also has spring suspension for the seat. That seems like a nice feature if you ride over a lot of bumps like I do.

Andy

 

[glen b.]

For that small amount of money and the features that Bird mentions I would have bought the 2910 in a heartbeat instead of the 2710 if it had been available at the time. Heck the stuff that the 2710 can do with just 27 hp still amazes me, give me 2 more hp and I would probably in heaven. Before anyone mentions there are higher hp Kubota tractors out there I am talking about size verses hp. I love that 2710 and I bet you are going to feel the same way about your 2910. glen

 

[David USMC]

Thanks to everyone that has responded. My dealer did quote .$900 for the 2910 over the 2710. Since this discussion centers on upgrading tractors, I am aiming this one at Jim..aka..MR New Holland. Why didn't you buy the T-21D...alot more tractor..little bucks...QQQ.Thanks in advance.

 

[glen b.]

Bird, If you find out if they are interchangeble let me (us) know. I might find the money to invest in that if they were.

 

[Bird]

Andy, I didn't look closely enough and don't know just how much the seat differs, but I definitely could use longer, softer springs around here. Don't know when I might get back by the dealer and have another look.

Bird

 

[JimBinMI]

Re: TC18 vs TC21

David USMC,

When I bought, June of 1999, my goal was to replace a 1978 Allis Chalmers 16 hp gas garden tractor with a 48" mowing deck and 47" dozer/snow blade.

When I started looking I was mainly looking to get a 60" finish mowing capacity and 60" snow blade/blower. I considered ZTR's, large garden tractors like the Wheel Horse 20 hp gas, John Deere 400 series...stuff like that.
When I was shocked by the pricing on the John Deere's, I figured why not look into small diesel compact tractors.

Since I had been following the previous versions of this board, I went straight to Kubota and looked at their smallest compact, the B7300. Even conversed with a guy that used to frequent the previous board, a GeneBinNJ, that loves his B7300. I set out to get prices and drive them, the prices I got were $9,300 for tractor only in my area, while Steve Carver was listing $8,400. This tractor has no power steering and no position control and specs out much lower than the TC18, but was a nice unit to drive. I got a price on the B1700 also but it was much higher. These prices were higher than I had originally wanted to spend so I was already over budget. One of the Kubota dealers that I visited was in Coldwater, MI my hometown and right next door was a New Holland dealer (he since relocated nearby since Wal-Mart paid good money to buy the land for a new Super Wal-Mart).

Anyway, the New Holland dealer had a TC18 on the lot that was more tractor than the B7300 for less money. I got to talking to the salesman, the owner's brother-in-law, and got prices for the TC18 Hydro 4x4 without power steering, TC21D and some prices of some used units that they had. I paid $9,200 for the TC18 Hydro 4x4 no power steering, $1,300 for a Woods RD6000 rear finish mower, and $240 for a Woods RB60 rear blade...out the door price with taxes of $11,409 one year no interest. The TC21D was over this amount for tractor alone.

I also got a price on the JD4100 Hydro 4x4 of about $12,500 for tractor only. Also got Cub Cadet prices but also higher than I wanted to spend.

I am extremely happy with the TC18, the only thing that I would have done differently is to get power steering which would have been a lenghthy wait at the time. I also wish that the swivel seat was available on the TC18 since I can get a sore back when working in reverse with the rear scoop or the back blade. My garden tractor was hydro so I didn't want to even look at gear models. This 18.5 hp diesel will do ten times the work of my old Allis Chalmers and many things that the Allis could never have done. I don't plan on a front end loader and the rear scoop works great as a large wheelbarrow and digging/moving tool. I heard that Ford N's used to use rear scoops to dig out basements!

I have had my TC18 for just over a year now and only have about 85+ hours on it, so it is definitely not a high use unit. It's mainly to mow and move snow but I've also moved tons of fill sand for a pole barn I had constructed last summer and removed and moved top soil where needed.

In addition, if you compare the TC18 Hydro and the TC21D, the 18 can do anything that the 21 can do (as listed in the New Holland brochure) but power steering is a $650 option on the 18 and the 21D has more creature comforts and a little more hydraulic flow. My guesstimate of the price difference between a TC18 Hydro with power steering and the TC21D is about $2000, maybe someone else has a more accurate comparison. Also, I would not have even considered a TC25D or larger at the time due to weight and price. Since I mainly mow lawn, I thought that 1,500 lbs. was much better than 2,500 lbs., although my neighbor mows his lawn with the same rear mower as me, with a New Holland 1720 (27.7 hp) with Ag tires and doesn't seem to hurt his lawn!

Hope I answered your question! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

P.S. - Just reread where you said a lot more tractor for little bucks...I guess our definitions of "a lot" and "little" vary!?! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[David USMC]

Re: TC18 vs TC21

Hi Jim, thanks for the detailed response. I cant figure out why they dont offer the swivel seat on the TC-18/TC-21D. I guess the space on the seating deck doesnt allow it. I am very impressed with the the design of the TC-21D. I really like the controls and the wrap around headlights. I guess its all one big compromise. Sounds like you love your tractor and got a great deal. In the end thats all that mattered. If any of those marketing folks at New Holland read this board........they really have found a strong endorsement for their product in your posts. Keep it up and when the Web dominates retailing youll be a Blue Star.!!!!!. I'll keep reading your informative and entertaining posts. Take Care.

 

[_RaT_]

Bird, what is shocking is just how long it has taken you to realize that Jim is specification happy with New Holland. I use specifications as a guide, not a bible. His TC 18 is rated at over 1000lbs lift, (he's mentioned the exact amount numerous times in this forum) so I had to do a test. With all of the flag waving he does for New Holland, especially his TC 18, I did an astonishing experiment with a little B series Kubota my neighbor has. Lift is rated at a little over 600lbs lift capacity at 24" inches aft of the 3pt arms on his MIGHTY little B series Kubota, a mere fraction of the Mighty TC 18's lift capacity, and guess what, it picked up my 1500 lb mower. Wow, zoom, zowie man, is Kubota rating the tractors ultra conservative or are they rating them based on what is practical for the tractor? I think the latter applies. Specifications be damed, I go for the practicality and purpose. Common sense dictates that a little tractor like a TC 18 with a plus 1000lbs of lift 24" aft of the 3 pt. arms can only do so much given the center of gravity, and combined weight of implement and load, at some point it is not only useless to claim more, but dangerous. (ie, my 3/4 ton pickup easily carries 3 tons, far exceeding the GVW, still, I could put another ton in it, but just how practical is it to do so?) I like Kubotas reputation for building a fantastic, and in my opinion, superior diesel and HST over all of the other tractor manufactuers I'm familiar with. My New Holland 2120 is OK, the slightly larger Kubota L4850 I use at work is FANTASTIC. The new Boomies from New Holland are a definite improvement over the old Ford/New Holland tractors. The reason for building the Boomers is obvious, without them, the compacts from New Holland would be dead. Don't get me wrong Bird, sometimes I am amused by Jims bragadocious mentality, more frequently I am simply annoyed and just move on. As a International Tractor (also a member of the Fix It Again Tony, aka FIAT company) and New Holland 2120 tractor owner, I can a test to the value I find in the comparitive tractors manufactured by the 2 companies. Kubota gets the nod for best overall quality, New Holland gets the nod for best specifications. I'm still considering replacing my 2 tractors with just one. It will be either a Kubota L4610 HST or a New Holland TC 45D, I will let you know in about 6 months after exhaustive study which one is not only the best, but which is the best value. Rat...

 

[Bird]

Rat, I think you pretty well hit that nail on the head./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif But wouldn't you love to be there and see how high the front wheels go on that TC18 if JimBinMI ever tries to lift that 1000lbs. on his 3-point?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I can just imagine the expression on his face./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Since I could pick the back wheels up on the B7100 I had with a front end loader rated for 510lbs. I can just imagine what 1000lbs. would do on the back end of a TC18. And of course I suspect you'll be happy with either the L4610 or the TC45. I haven't looked at a TC45, but my cousin's TC29D is a nice machine.

Bird

 

[W5FL]

Rat,

I have a 1000# boxblade. That would be a pretty good test since it carries about 3000# of dirt when full and dropping 1000# a few inches at at time is pretty revealing as to the amount of weight a tractor is intended to carry.

My rear blade only weighs 650# and is 8 ft and rated 100HP. Kubota only rates an M6800 for a 7 ft rear blade. I run it at idle knowing if you hit an immovable object (big rock), something is going to break or tear something else up. The tractor is going to just keep pulling.

I think Kubota rates very carefully the implements that are compatable with the tractor and the corresponding weights of these implements to take into account most normal operating conditions.

With my 45HP Massey on a 6 ft mower, I could get into heavy grass and have to downshift. With the 68HP Kubota - can't tell that the mower is there. Bumps are the main thing limiting speed of cutting.

We all went through a lot of confusing specifications when buying a tractor. I think the marketing types over rule the engineers and use the specifications as a marketing gimmick instead of a realistic measure of what the equipment is designed to do. Always liked to find the service manager and ask him what were the 3 biggest warranty complaints he had. Sometimes very interesting comments. Also fun to go look in the shop and see what they were working on (or not working on).

 

[JimBinMI]

Rat,

Hope your neighbor sends you the bill when things start leaking!

If you just take a minute, with an OPEN mind to look at the rear ends of the two machines, you can SEE the difference for yourself...which one is built stronger?!?

As far as specs go, yes, I assume they are somewhat accurate and simple observations show it.

But when you buy, you might not want to care what the hydraulic flow is, or what the amps of the alternator are, or if the headlights are useable or not, or what the 3 pt is rated at, or turning radius, etc. But you obviously have way more experience than me on a tractor, seriously, so maybe the more experience you have, the specs don't mean anything? I don't know.

"Life is too important to be taken seriously." (Oscar Wilde)

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

 

[Bird]

I stopped by my dealer's place this morning and took a closer look at a new B2910, and it appears to me that the lower links would be interchangeable with the ones on the B2710, so I think any 2710 owners who want the telescoping lower links and/or the new style adjustable right lift rod would just have to spend the money to buy them and only take a few minutes to change them out. I didn't ask about the price, though.

Bird

 

[W5FL]

But you will. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Then post it for all to see that tractors really cost $75,000 purchased one piece at a time.

 

[_RaT_]

Jim, of course looking at this picture it is obvious to most that the axle is not housed. Many large agricultural tractors have used this axle/transmission differential arraingment. It takes a beefy connection at the axle to transmission junction to accomplish this. That axle is most likely much thicker then yours since it is not housed and carried by outer bearings supported by those carrier bearings. I can also assure you that the axle is made of a much tuffer high carbon steel to deal with the lateral and torque loads it will encounter. Rat...

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I was just reading these old posts. I will be taking delivery of my new 2910 later this week. What everyone has missed is the reason why Kubota exposes the axle in this fashion. They do this to allow you to adjust the track width of the machine. You can adjust the rear wheels out to get greater stability or narrow to fit in an orchard or something. While I looked at green and blue, and both are fine machines, I chose the orange for the price,performance, and overall value.

Regards,
Chris

 

[Bud]

I don't know how you can adjust the tread on the rear of a B2910. The hub is part of the axle and does not move. You cannot turn the wheels, they will hit the fenders. They are so close to the fenders, you will be lucky to get by with chains. The only way to move the wheels is to use spacers.
Bud

 

[Bird]

A lot of tractors ARE designed so you can move the wheels and hubs in or out on the axle, but I don't think you'll find that to be the case with you B2910. At least there's no adjustment on my B2710.

Bird

 

[ChrisfromCT]

Your Right,
I confused the 2910 with the 2410. Sorry, I stand corrected. I have spent way too many hours reading tractor specs and it's become a jumble.... I can tell you I have pulled the axles on a 1 ton pickup and they we're smaller than the 2910 axles. I think you'd be hard pressed to break an axle on that machine.