Comparison B2920 vs B3200 vs JD2520

[Ductape]

Don't have the Kubota hoe ....... have a Woods. If the money is not a huge issue, I'd get the hoe. It certainly opens up alot of new doors on what you can do with your tractor. Alot of folks will recommend you rent something instead of buying a hoe, but not me. I don't put a ton of hours on my hoe every year, but its here when I need it.

 

[CharlieR]

If cost is an issue you could try what I did, buy a towable backhoe.
I bought one from Harbor Frt ($3K total cost - really) and have used it quite a bit.
I broke the bucket on first use (bad weld) and they sent me a new one but let me keep the old one.
Got the old one welded, had the teeth removed so now I have two, one with and one without teeth!
Since it moves slow by itself (but can go anywhere) for long runs around the property I just put the BH bucket into the tractor bucket and go, no need to move the wheels etc for towing!
I can get the BH in the woods for stumping or rock moving where you'd never get a TLB.:thumbsup:

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

With B3030 and B2630 being replaced,.

... uh, not true. I've seen or heard nothing of the sort.

since Kubota is changing all tractors to separate pedals.

...uh... also not true.

reguarding drive over decks. Don't put any stock in this until you've done it. For me, It takes longer to drive over the deck than it does to push it in from the side. The driver overs require you to lower all the scalp wheels and setup ramps and stuff.

 

[architect]

I can not run out to a Kubota lot to verify this, but all new B models are going with two pedals verses the treadle pedal of the B3030 and B2630, my local dealer, who does not stock the B3030 or the B2630 told me that they were being dropped. This web site indicated that the B3030 with cab was becoming the B3000. I said I loved the treadle pedal but noone around here had them anymore, and told me they were not available.
If Messick would like to beter inform Me, and this forum, please educate us.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

reguarding drive over decks. Don't put any stock in this until you've done it. For me, It takes longer to drive over the deck than it does to push it in from the side. The driver overs require you to lower all the scalp wheels and setup ramps and stuff.

Totally agree.

 

[art]

I've run position control for many years, I've only run the newer kubota systems for the time that they have been out. I can't see much difference in the two when properly adjusted.

The position control is not the same height from top to bottom as bottom to top.
It is just as easy to adjust the quarter inching valve. The plus is the fine tune to be able to set grades.

It is different no doubt but far from unusable and actually more precise.

 

[fredhargis]

I have the 2920, 60"MMM, FEL and hoe. Not exactly sure what you want to hear about it (the hoe), well made and quite useful. Most conversation about it seems to be about the single seat arrangement of the Kubota versus the 2 seat arrangements on some others...and that seems to be a personal thing. For what I do it's fine...but I do now wish I had position control. I'll be adding a shredder this year, and it would be useful at times with the 3PH snowblower I have. BTW, that drive over deck is hugely overrated (my opinion). Like someone else said, sliding it in from the side is easier....just use the FEL to lift the tractor up a little. Guess I should also mention, mounting the hoe isn't terribly hard though it takes some practice. You do have to remove the 3 PH to put it on, and if your mower deck is on there it has to be locked up in the highest position while the hoe is mounted. No big deal to me, but stuff you might want to know.

 

[Carl Bert]

I can not run out to a Kubota lot to verify this, but all new B models are going with two pedals verses the treadle pedal of the B3030 and B2630, my local dealer, who does not stock the B3030 or the B2630 told me that they were being dropped. This web site indicated that the B3030 with cab was becoming the B3000. I said I loved the treadle pedal but noone around here had them anymore, and told me they were not available.
If Messick would like to beter inform Me, and this forum, please educate us.

I have both John Deere and Kubota and in my opinion the treadle pedal on the Kubota is probably one of its worst features. John deeres 2 pedal system is much more comfortable to operate. Also JD has the split brake on the left side, which also makes much more sense (but we won't get into that, right TRIPLER?).

One area where John Deere falls short is in the backhoe department. Look at the specs. Thats what sold me on Kubota. If you plan on doing a lot of BH work, and are set on getting a Deere, then maybe you should look into a John Deere tractor with a Woods BH. I never had one but other members swear by them.

Some dealers today are willing to deliver the tractor to your property and let you use it for week. You can't beat that. Try a few out and then you will know for sure which one suits you best.

 

[TripleR]

I have both John Deere and Kubota and in my opinion the treadle pedal on the Kubota is probably one of its worst features. John deeres 2 pedal system is much more comfortable to operate. Also JD has the split brake on the left side, which also makes much more sense (but we won't get into that, right TRIPLER?).

One area where John Deere falls short is in the backhoe department. Look at the specs. Thats what sold me on Kubota. If you plan on doing a lot of BH work, and are set on getting a Deere, then maybe you should look into a John Deere tractor with a Woods BH. I never had one but other members swear by them.

Some dealers today are willing to deliver the tractor to your property and let you use it for week. You can't beat that. Try a few out and then you will know for sure which one suits you best.

Sounds good to me.:laughing:

I actually have operated John Deere equipment longer than Kubota and do not personally find the two pedal HST "superior" to the Kubota; some prefer Kubota while some prefer the John Deere. I can live with either, but prefer some of the Kubotas by a slight margin.

All Kubota HST pedals are no the same either. The one on our BX2200 bothered my knee while the one on our BX2660 doesn't nor does the one on our L5030 and my overall favorite is on the Grand L40.

I agree people should give their decisions a lot of consideration and if possible drive the models in which you are interested.

 

[Carl Bert]

All Kubota HST pedals are no the same either. The one on our BX2200 bothered my knee while the one on our BX2660 doesn't nor does the one on our L5030 and my overall favorite is on the Grand L40.

Wow, you have a better selection then my dealer :laughing::thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

Wow, you have a better selection then my dealer :laughing::thumbsup:

We actually don't own a Grand L40, I was in the process of buying one when my wife talked me into checking on the L5030 HSTC that had just come in on a trade for an L5740. Both of us preferred the HST pedal on the L40 over the L30, but the deal was just too good to pass up.

 

[Bswope]

I had a JD 2520 and although it was a nice strong machine, I wish I would have bought the Kubota in the comparable size now, with a bucket full of stone or dirt there were times I could feel the frame flexing on the 2520 and I was not very impressed with that, I was impressed with it over all though, but when I felt the frame flexing abit under normal use (loader work) I didnt feel as the JD was as tough as I had thought. I wasnt doing anything out of the ordinary with the loader at all just working stone on my drive ways and building up some small areas with shale fill around my garage and doing some topsoil work on my lawn.

Food for thought....

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

, who does not stock the B3030 or the B2630 told me that they were being dropped. This web site indicated that the B3030 with cab was becoming the B3000.

Maybe he is making up somthing given he does not have those tractors...? I've not see or head anything to indicate these are changing.

The B3030 to the B3000 is only a number change. There are no features differences. The B3000 has the same pedal.

 

[taborekle]

I looked at the JD 2520 before I purchased the B2920. I ran across some posts that a 2520 owner gave where he thought that the 2 speed HST on the JD was not very useful. Almost all the work that the JD owner did was in the lower gear range, and he felt that the upper gear range was so high that it was only useful for road travel.

Looking and working with my 2920, I think that the 3 speed has about the right range. High is useful for road travel. When the engine is running at the PTO speed, the tractor will do about 12-13mph traveling down the shoulder of our local road. I use BOTH the middle and lower ranges for work. In this regard I feel not that I have 3 gear ranges to 2 on the JD, but rather that I have 2 to 1.

The comment about the brakes on the JD vs the 2920 is quite correct, and the brake placement on the 2920 is very poor. However, I would like to point out that on a HST tractor, brake placement is much less important. I rarely use my brakes, as the HST braking does a very good job. The ONLY time in 3 years I tried to do selective left/right braking, was to see how it was done. I've never had a practical need to use it.

Position control (or lack there of) on the 2920 is a definite disadvantage. I usually have to bump the quarter inching valve back and forth to get the right height on a implement. Once set, the position will typically bleed down over 10 to 15 minutes, which means that I have to return to this. On most implements, this isn't that important. Carryall, nope. Tiller, nope. Bushhog, nope. Only on the blade do I have this issue. So yes, position control would be nice, but only occasionally of advantage (to me) over the quarter inching.

My main beef with the 2920 are that the FEL joystick is just a tad to close to my right knee. I always want to turn to the right to view behind me, which puts my knee often in contact with the FEL joystick. If only it was moved a inch further to the right.

Frankly, I think both are good tractors that would serve their owners well. As I put it to my wife, "I don't think that the tractor is worth what I'm paying for it over the period of the payments, but if I take good care of it and it lasts 20 years, then it will certainly pay for itself."

Larry

 

[architect]

Finally ordered, B2920, FEL, ballast box, 60" MMM, quick connect and pallet forks, ordered from Barlows, even though JD 2520 is cheaper with rebates, three speed rear end and frame size won out (B2920 is about 3" shorter step up than B3200, B3030 and JD 2520).

 

[TripleR]

Congratulations, sounds like you will have a very nice setup.:thumbsup:

Looking forward to the delivery pictures.

 

[Carl Bert]

Finally ordered, B2920, FEL, ballast box, 60" MMM, quick connect and pallet forks, ordered from Barlows, even though JD 2520 is cheaper with rebates, three speed rear end and frame size won out (B2920 is about 3" shorter step up than B3200, B3030 and JD 2520).

That's a beautiful machine, hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to post some pics.