Buying Advice BH 77 for B 3030 without cab?

[KYboy]

Hi all,

I am a newbie here so veterans please overlook my lack of knowledge or expertise. I have been on this website looking (I didn't say lurking because it sounds like I am up to no good) at posts from other buyers/owners for a few months now as I am looking to buy my first Kubota. There are many clever and innovative people here and I appreciate your vast knowlege. I have learned much from all and gained insight into what sort of tractor that would best fit my needs.

We live on fairly hilly terrain in southcentral Kentucky with about 4 acres of field and about 3 acres of lawn with many, and I mean many trees to mow around. I also have about 4 acres that is totally grown up with underbrush (briars, grapevines, blackberry vines, etc.) and small 1" to 3" saplings under the canopy of many large poplar, oak, and hickory trees.

We have lived on this property for about 10 years. I used to maintain this property with a Cub Cadet 2185 mower with a heavy-duty 48" deck until I burnt up the Kohler Pro Command 18 hp engine. I replaced the engine with a 25 hp Pro Command Kohler, but after 5 years of the punishing demands that I have placed on it, it also gave up the ghost.

To make a long story short, I am in need of something that can handle the job. After realizing that a lawn mower will no longer suffice, my wife has given me her blessing of buying something that is up to the task. I am not getting any younger and I can't/won't do the hard manual labor that I once was capable of.

After many hundreds of hours of comparing, analyzing, and wishing; I have decided on a Kubota B series. Before deciding on what tractor to buy I looked at John Deere, Mahindra, Massey-Ferguson, New Holland, etc., and I believe that the Kubota B series will best suit my needs. Of the models in the B series I think I would like to purchase the B 3030. However, the vibration issue does give me some concern so I am also looking at the B 2630 with the 3 cylinder diesel.

The primary duty of the new Kubota will be to mow. I am planning on buying the 72" belly mower for that. I also would like to do some landscaping and clear the overgrown land that I mentioned earlier. I would like to buy a backhoe attachment and a bushhog for this. On this land I would like to transplant some trees and make some trails for my kids to ride their bikes and me to run/walk on. My weight has become an issue so says my doctor, wife, and kids.

This finally brings me to the topic of this thread. (I guess you were wondering when that was going to happen.) I am curious if the BH 77 backhoe attachment will fit the B 3030 without the cab. I had read some earlier posts that stated that the BH 77 wasn't compatible with the B 3030 with a cab but I could find nothing on a B 3030 without the cab. I really like the curved boom design for better visibility and quite frankly it just looks cooler to me than the BH 76.

I didn't mean to ramble on, however, I would appreciate any feedback anyone would like to share.

Thanks so much!

P.S. I chose KYboy for my username because I am a proud, lifelong Kentuckian. It wasn't until later that I realized the abbreviation for Kentucky could have another connotation. Maybe I should have thought that through first. I feel like Mater on the movie Cars when he says he "maybe" should have placed the boot back on Lightning before giving him some gas.:laughing:

 

[KYDan]

Good Morning,

I suggest you contact a Kubota dealer and ask your question about the backhoe. The B series Kubotas have a good reputation for durability and being a good value machine, like most Kubotas. A good dealer is a valuable resource and part of the reason I bought my first Kubota. I have had Kubotas since 1997 and for small tractors they are great. A good dealer will spend time with you on the phone or in person when you have questions and need answers. Before you buy one you might want to go the the Farm Machinery Show in Louisville in February. Kubota has a huge display there and lots of representatives to answer any questions. Also, it is the largest indoor farm machinery display in the world. Sort of like nirvana for tractor and related items junkies. It's a lot of fun and they have some pretty good chow too! It is amazing what attachments, gadgets, etc. are available.

 

[KYboy]

Thanks for your feedback KYDan about the dealer. I was just hoping to get some responses from others that may have had this same question. I am glad you have good luck with Kubota.

It is funny that you brought up the farm machinery show. I already told my little boy that I would take him a couple of months ago. My brother is also planning on going and taking his grandson. I guess we will hook up there and make a day of it. It has been about 6 or 7 years since I last went. Those little fellas will sure have a great time. We will too, of course.

Thanks again!

 

[beckmurph]

Kyboy
If you will go to Kubota.com you can find a lot of the answers you are looking for.
I looked at the 3030 and did not see a cab offered, but the b3000 comes with a cab, regular or deluxe. Both are offered, B3030 or B3000 with two different backhoes. If you will do a search of the b77 backhoe, you will find that there have been one or two problems with one of the pins on this model. Kubota has fixed these problems I believe.:2cents:

 

[KYboy]

Thanks beckmurph! I have been to Kubotas' website numerous times the last few months on build your own. They show the B 3030 with 2 different types of cabs, a regular one and a cold weather one. On these it shows that a BH 76 can be attached. However, I am interested in the B 3030 with foldable ROPS and the BH77 backhoe. I did not know about the pin problem, but I did know about the vibration issue. Thanks again for the additional information. I am starting to believe maybe I should rethink my intentions of purchasing this model and go up to an L, but I fear that this would be to big to mow with.

 

[Kubota 2007]

I own a B3030 without a cab, it has a backhoe and front end loader. I have no vibration issues, I'm very happy with the tractor, I also purchased a 60" belly mower at the same time, that was a mistake. The first problem is seems like I need the backhoe and front end loader when the mower is on or just the reverse, not a big deal, but it was starting to cause problems,like trying to plan projects. The main problem, is the mower really doesn't cut good, it skips and windrows. My dad has a B2410 w/60" and his does the same thing. This spring I purchased a ZD326, what a mower, I also have many trees to mow around, it has cut my mowing time in half, and it really does a beatiful job, at the same time I can use the B3030 anytime. If I had to do over I still would purchase a B3030 with hoe and loader,but no mower. The B3030 has a BH75 w/ a 18" bucket, I have dug many ditchs up to 3/4ft deep and we are in very rocky area with hard pan.
After mowing a season with the ZD326,it seems the tractors with mowers don't have the RPM's the ZD326 does,there is a big difference is the sound and the discharge from the ZD.

 

[Verticaltrx]

The BH77 is the only hoe Kubota is still making in this size, AFAIK the BH76 has been discontinued. It will fit the open station B3030 just fine, it is essentially the same hoe as the BH76 but with a different boom.

 

[tbearnla]

Kyboy
If you will go to Kubota.com you can find a lot of the answers you are looking for.
I looked at the 3030 and did not see a cab offered, but the b3000 comes with a cab, regular or deluxe. Both are offered, B3030 or B3000 with two different backhoes. If you will do a search of the b77 backhoe, you will find that there have been one or two problems with one of the pins on this model. Kubota has fixed these problems I believe.:2cents:

I received a certified letter in the mail from Kubota about the said pin problem on my BH77 and talked to my dealer about it, he ordered me a replacement and I changed it myself in a matter of minutes. So to confirm this yes kubota is fixing this problem.

 

[KYboy]

Thanks Kubota 2007, Verticaltrx, and tbearnla for all of your info. This really helped settle my nerves some as to go ahead and buy the B 3030. Kubota 2007, your advice has been really given me a heads up on the shortcomings of the belly mower. I have been questioning whether to buy a ztr, but I am also looking to buy a trac vac for all of the leaves that I have to blow. It literally takes me 4 weeks of blowing, tarping, and burning to get all of the leaves up. The terrain of our property would probably make it difficult for a ztr to pull the trac vac. Another damper for the ztr is that my wife has already kind of put her foot down as buying a ztr and a tractor.:laughing: So, that sort of leaves me with the mmm option.

 

[KYboy]

Kubota 2007 have you looked at Gator high lift mulching blades or adding 3 more blades at right angles on the spindles of your mmm to make a total of 6 blades. I have been doing some research on this and I hear that this has made a world of difference.