BX23 vs B2910 w/B4690 vs ??

Kelvin · Jul 26, 2004

I hope that I can explain my options in a way that can be understood.

 My current setup 
(1) Kubota B2910 w/ Kubota FEL & 72'MMM
(2) Kubota B2150 w/ Kubota FEL & 72" rear discharge rear mower

I do a lot of finish mowing, and want to have two tractors (his-n-hers), and this is where I want to be: 

(1) B2910
(2) BX type tractor with mid-mower (for stability on slopes)
(3) Backhoe for long-term use around the property (landscaping & small-to-medium sized stump removal). I will be building a house and/or garage soon, but don't necessarily want to buy the extra size needed for that short-term task.

The options that I've looked at so far are:
(1) Buy a 6.5' backhoe for the B2910 (Kubota B4672 or Woods 6500). This choice would give me the option of splitting ownership with one or more of my trust-worthy co-workers that own B7500 Kubotas.
(2) Buy a 7.5' backhoe for the B2910 (Kubota B4690 or Woods 7500). This choice offers more backhoe capacity but eliminates the share option. Not sure that I need the extra capacity. When extra capacity is needed, I will probably need more than the 7.5' backhoe and will end up renting.
[Options 1 & 2 would require the B2150 to be traded for a BX2300 type tractor]
(3) Trade the B2150 in on a BX23 with mid-mower (no share option for the backhoe here either).

I was leaning towards one of the 6.5' backhoes until I found this really good deal on a BX23 (about 3 months old with <50 hours) and have to make a decision this week. The guy bought it for home-owner use and light construction use and decided that it was wonderful around the house but not big enough for the construction work, and is going to trade it in on a new Kubota, and has offered it to me for around what the Kubota dealer offered him on trade. Here's the deal: BX23 TLB, 60" mid-mower, BX yard box, BX post-hole digger, BX tiller all for about $1000 less than the price I was quoted for a new BX23TLB with the MMM (and no sales tax either - another >$1000 savings). The BX specific attachments won't work on the new GrandL tractor he's wanting to buy and the yard box is the only 3-point attachment that has been used (and it was only slightly used).

Sooooo....

Regarding backhoes, will I regret getting the BX23TLB over one of the backhoe attachments for the B2910?

Henro · Jul 26, 2004

Regarding backhoes, will I regret getting the BX23TLB over one of the backhoe attachments for the B2910?


One thing you have going for you is not having a backhoe to compare to. So my guess is that you will not regret buying the BX23. Sounds like a good deal too...given the tiller and other stuff that comes with it.

In my case I think I would miss my BL4690A if I had the smaller BX hoe. But only because I have owned one. Longer reach, bigger bucket, more power...

But I don't miss not having a L3130 with a BH90 backhoe...cause I never owned one. If I had, I probably would miss the BH90 every time I use the 4690A.

That's the way it works for me, anyway... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Will_C · Jul 27, 2004

Kelvin, You seem to almost have answered your own question. The BX 23 sounds like a great deal that would answer your needs. You understand that no matter what BH you buy, there would be times that you would still rent a larger machine. I don't have much experience with compact BH's, but I can't imagine the hoe on a B series would do much more than the BX 23. I realize that the B sized hoe would be faster, but again, if the project is that big, you already have renting on your mind. Just my thoughts,
Will

Allan_K · Jul 27, 2004

Sounds Like a really good deal on the BX! as far as the BH... I have the woods 7500 on my 2910, and it does a great job. It's not so much a matter of depth of digging, as it is with how far you can dig say a 3 foot deep trench, without having to move the tractor.

Just remember, you'll be able to do a whole lot more with a well priced BX, than you could ever do by hand! and still have an awful lot of money left over! Not sure what your BX price would be, but I got my 2910 about a month and a half ago, FEL, 72"MMM Woods BH for $24,500 plus Uncle Sam's share

Good luck on a tough choice! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Kelvin · Jul 27, 2004

( ... I got my 2910 about a month and a half ago, FEL, 72"MMM Woods BH for $24,500 plus Uncle Sam's share )

Based upon the prices that I've been quoted your price sounds about right assuming a Kubota FEL. I bought my B2910 used (with around 40 hours) with the 72" mid mower and added a brand new Kubota FEL and had around 16K into it, which is what I was quoted for NEW tractor and FEL (no mid-mower). The Woods 7500 was priced around $7500 for loader and sub-frame, if I remember correctly (I've shopped for so many backhoes lately that all the prices run together now and I don't have my notes handy).

I do have a question for you, though. My mid-mower USED to pin up pretty easily before the sub-frame for the Kubota FEL was added. Now it is nearly impossible to get the mower pinned up. Do you have any experience pinning up your mid-mower?

Kelvin

Kelvin · Jul 27, 2004

Henro,
( But I don't miss not having a L3130 with a BH90 backhoe...cause I never owned one. )

I remember that you mentioned at times in the past that you would like to have the BH90 backhoe. Interesting that you would bring it up here.

The plot thickens...

Last week when I first saw the tractor and was asking the owner his opinion about what it could do and how he thought it could handle the hills, I talked him into going with me to my property so that I could show him my desired tasks in person. While there, I showed him a 5.8 acre lot adjacent to mine that was for sale...he seemed bored and not interested. Within two days, he decided that the land for sale was pretty much what he had been wanting, so he bought it (pending the formal closing). So, now this person selling me the BX23 is going to be my neighbor...with a L3130 and bigger backhoe... he has already said that I could use it when I needed something bigger than his current BX23. The only problem so far is that he is looking at the Woods 7500 backhoe and didn't know about the BH90 option.

I counter-offered and said that he would be welcome to use the BX23 post-hole digger and tiller that he never got a chance to use.

Oh yea... I had to go ahead and commit one way or another today so that he and the Kubota salesmen would know how to figure the sales price on his new tractor... so I committed to the purchase today. I kind-of felt bad when I found out that he was going to have to add around $1400 to my purchase price in order to pay off his Kubota 0% financing deal. I told him that it wouldn't hurt my feelings if he wanted to back out of the deal but he wanted to go through with it anyways (somehow he figures that the deal he offered me was equal to or better than the deal he was offered by the dealer).

Kubota Financing: One other tid-bit that I learned. I asked about the possibility of me assuming his 0% Kubota financing. The Kubota sales person called the Kubota financing folks and asked them. The answer we got was that the loan was assumable, but the original owner was not released from liability. Since I would never sell under that condition, I didn't bother asking him to sell under that condition.

Kelvin

Allan_K · Jul 28, 2004

Don't have too much trouble at all, pinning up the mower, other than the usual "barely enough room to get your hand in there to put the pin in on the discharge side" The allign rather nicely with the pin holes in the Loader Sub Frame with a little lift on each side. Again, hand space is at premium though, and for as easy as the darn thing comes off, I rarely pin it up anyway, just drop it and back on over (with a little boost from the FEL)

Congrats on the new tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif