B7500 Manuel Trans?

[ScottieM]

Are there any happy B7500 Manual transmission owners out there. I have finally made up my mind to buy a B7500 I have owned manual trans cars/trucks my whole life and will continue to buy them. I want to spend the least amount possible on this tractor. I am going to get a 3PT finish mower to save $$ over a MMM. I am going to test drive one tomorrow, I know I will more than likley not have a problem with it at first. I am more worried about long term. I will not be using the FEL alot, just for the occasional odd job.There are not going to be an abnormal amount of trees I have to mow around. Does anyone who has driven cars/trucks with manual trans, regret getting a Manual Trans in there B7500????

 

[GlueGuy]

Sorry Scottie, I have the HST (and love it). I think the biggest issue with a manual would be using the FEL. The HST is perfect for that.

The GlueGuy

 

[Bird]

ScottieM, I grew up with manual transmissions in cars and trucks; just got rid of the last manual transmission car two years ago, and I've got a lot more hours on manual transmission tractors than I do with the HST. However, I'm now firmly in favor of HST on my tractor, and our car and pickup both have automatics; lazy, spoiled to modern conveniences? Probably./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif <font color=blue>I will more than likley not have a problem with it at first. I am more worried about long term</font color=blue> What are you worried about? Getting tired of it? Its durability? I think the tractor will hold up just fine, but if you try mowing with a manual and then do the same thing with the HST, I think you'll be a convert.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I was 24 hours from ordering my B7500 with a manual transmission and changed my mind and went hydro. 9 out of 10 people I talked to said go hydro so I did and love it. I am 51 years old and plan on this tractor to be my last so why not get something that is effortless to operate. Good luck, Jethro

 

[kingoflenthill]

I agree with Glue guy and bird. If using the FEL, Hydro cant be beat. I have a MMM and it cuts better than anything else I have had. If you have a large open lot to mow, a rear mounted mower may be the ticket but don't write of the MMM.
Another point for hydro(maybe) is that the significant other in the house will love it. I let my wife cut grass once and now I have to fight tooth and nail just to burn some diesel.
I know one thing for certain... whether you get hydro or manual you will not be sorry you spent your money on a 'bota

Craig

 

[glennmac]

Scottie,

I grew up on manual transmission cars and still have one, my yellow Mustang convertible. But if I had to parallel park and do J turns 10-50 times and hour, and if I had to drive all the time in stop and go traffic, and if you told me I could do that without ever having to clutch or touch a shift lever--then I dont think I would prefer manual transmission any more. So it is with tractors, for me. I have bought 2 hst tractors and am positive I would have regretted getting a gear tractor.

 

[looch]

I went through the same thing 2 months ago when I was lookng at the B7500. I liked changing gears on my existing tractor, I didn't have plans for extensive FEL use, and there was a 2000$ (Canadian) price difference. I was all but set to buy the manual transmission when I tried out a hydro. That was it and I have no regrets. There's a lot to be said about being able to vary your ground speed on the fly without losing rpm's.

I also bought a 3pt mower, and do a lot more forward/reverse transitions than I did with the old MMM. I love it, though. It's great for getting under trees. I would suggest a rear-discharge - it's great. Mine's a Farm King F550R, 60" made by Buhler Manufacturing http://www.buhler.com

 

[Will]

I've been driving standard transmission cars for 30 years, so I figured the convenience of HST wouldn't be a big deal for me. I bought a B2100DT (this is almost exactly the same as the B7500 manual transmission model you are looking at). It's a great tractor, but I traded it in on a B2410HST. The hydrostatic transmission is extremely useful, especially for mowing. If you go to the link in my signature you'll find some information about pricing, and also a link to a page describing, in more detail than I'd want to write here, some opinions I have about MMM vs. 3pt mowers, etc.

Will

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Here's a link with pricing info on Kubota B series tractors.

 

[skgolfer]

ScottieM

I know you are probably reading all of these posts thinking....I'm gonna have to spend the extra money and get the HST. Well....all these folks are probably giving you the right scoop. Nobody I've heard from was ever sorry that they bought the HST instead of the gear driven model. If you talk to folk or read through alot of the older posts on this site you'll find that many people have bought the gear and then traded it in shortly thereafter for the HST. Another point to consider is that the HST should be much easier to sell and at a much better price if you decide to trade in or up at a later date.

Good luck with your decision.

sk

 

[Haldawson]

I must be a minority of one, but I got a manual B7500 and have no regrets. Certainly some jobs would go faster with HST but I have the time and I enjoy shifting. I also enjoyed saving the money, and I have a hunch that the manual will be more service free.