Knowing what you don't know...

[Anonymous Poster]

Knowing what you don\'t know...

Well, I've had my B7500 for a week and a half now- I've avoided asking questions; for one thing I can find the answer to an amazing number of problems with a search here, and secondly I'm still not sure what I don't know, and what I simply haven't figured out yet. I've put about scant 5 hours on the meter so far- remember that I only have a suburban yard, so I spend more time jockeying it around than working. I'm a long way from being second nature with the FEL, but have had had no major problems and no mishaps, so I figure I'm doing OK.

One of the big dangers of any new "toy" is the initial desire to buy every accessory possible. (On a similar vein, as a young man I was counciled never to embark on any major projects on a house until living there for six months. I ended up tearing out a wall before my purchase offer was accepted...) Anyway, I have managed to come up with a few questions;
<ul type="square"> [*]Am I correct that the hour meter on the B7500 is based on RPM as well? IE, if I'm running at less than PTO speed, it will take more than an hour to show an hour on the meter?
[*]Is there anything that is intended to mount through the slot immediately behind the 2/4 wheel drive lever in the right fender?
[*]In the "Easy Checker" panel, are any of the currently unused positions usable? Besides the center top and center bottom positions, which are blacked out, the lower left position is blue with a lamp icon as if it were for a high beam indicator, and the lower right isred with right and left arrows as if it were for a hazard indicator. Neither is mentioned in the manual.
[*]I have read multiple mentions of the additional lighting circuit that is available under the seat, but wonder how is is activated. Is it also energized by the headlight switch? [*]In the center of the headlight switch is a round 'button" that gives the appearance of being possibly movable. Does any other model perhaps have a control in this position ( maybe a high beam switch?)
[/list]I would like to preserve "stock' appearance to every degree possible, so I am looking for ways to utilize existing locations.

Thanks all!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

TOFKAT,
Belated congrats on the new machine!!! I've been concentrating on the bx forums so much that I just plumb forgot.
Regarding your questions:
The hour meter should be based on a synchronous motor that runs at a set speed when powered. It will rack up hours regardless of engine RPM. So, hours are true hours.

I have a lever opening as well on the bx2200 that is not used (maybe for the outriggers on the bx22??). I keep forgetting to check it out when I'm at the dealers'. I can't answer but am also interested in finding out.
I can't answer the rest. Sorry.
Happy tractoring,
DaveL

 

[Bird]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Am I correct that the hour meter on the B7500 is based on RPM )</font>

I don't know on that model. My B7100 was an electric clock; ran anytime the key was turned on, but my B2710 was based on the rpm like you said; had to have it revved up to PTO speed for it to register an hour in an hour. It shouldn't take you long to watch it and tell which it is.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the additional lighting circuit that is available under the seat )</font>

It should simply be a wire with a butt connector on the end. It may be loose and visible or it may be taped to another wire. It's only hot when the key is on, so anything you connect to it will need its own switch unless you want it to always be on when you turn the key on. It's a fused circuit with a fuse in the master panel.

And I don't know the answer to your other questions myself.

 

[chrisjbell]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

Well, congrats. Good that you're playing with your new toy - out in the rain, eh? (Guess we need the water, but I need to plow, darnit!)

<font color="blue"> Am I correct that the hour meter on the B7500 is based on RPM as well? IE, if I'm running at less than PTO speed, it will take more than an hour to show an hour on the meter? </font>

It runs all the time, but I think it is mechanical. It isn't exactly a precision timepeice, though, so it is a bit hard to say. I've tried to use it to determine how long I have to finish something and even at PTO speed it seems to run about 10 minutes per hour slow. I suppose that isn't a bad thing...

<font color="blue"> In the center of the headlight switch is a round 'button" that gives the appearance of being possibly movable. Does any other model perhaps have a control in this position ( maybe a high beam switch?)
</font>

I've wondered about that, too. It doesn't seem to do anything as far as I can tell.

Well, it is a beautiful day today and I'm out of diesel. Time to make a run to get more - and then it is time to mow /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif before it rains again this weekend /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

 

[surfran]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I have a lever opening as well on the bx2200 that is not used (maybe for the outriggers on the bx22??). I keep forgetting to check it out when I'm at the dealers'. I can't answer but am also interested in finding out.
I can't answer the rest. Sorry.
Happy tractoring,
DaveL )</font>

I think I remember a dealer telling me that the slot without any levers is for some option that is used over seas and is never used here.

Of course my memory gets worse all the time, but I don't think I woulda picked that up anywhere else, unless someone here on TBN had previously stated that........which of course is also a good possibility!!!

So the mystery is solved....or is it????

 

[5030]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

The extra slot is for either draft control, (your tractor comes with position control standard), draft is optional or it can be utilized for a rear mount remote hydraulic coupler. The center button arrangement on the light switch is for a horn which is also optional. I don't know about a pigtail under the seat as my 5030 has all accessory terminals used for factory installed options.

Kubota offers up to 3 rear remotes with the power-beyond system. They are a pretty expensive option. 3 remotes will cost you about $1200.00 and that's for the hardware and plumbing, installed yourself.

Draft control allows a rear mounted implement to float with the terrain or maintain a pre-set depth without re-adjusting the implement height. It's useful for farming but for the suburban owner is useless.

Daryl
Forage Services, L.P.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

Re: Extra slot - on my BX2200, there's an empty slot that has symbols that appear to depict a movable top link.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

Regarding the B7500,

<font color="blue"> your tractor comes with position control standard </font>

Does the B7500 have position control as a standard item? I know it didn't in previous years.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

The "narrow' version, B7500DTN, does have position control standard. Neither of the "regular" versions, B7500DT or B7500HSD, do, nor is it listed as an option. With my limited experience, though, I would be interested in it. Has anyone tried retrofitting it using the parts from a DTN? It appears to utilize the same slot, but in the drawings in the manual, a couple of unidentified parts are visible at the front and back of the slot. I suspect that the front one, which appears to be a knob, sets the lowering limit, as the implement lowering limit adjustment specified in the manual specifically excludes the DTN.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

<font color="blue"> Has anyone tried retrofitting it using the parts from a DTN? </font>

Just did a search on position control and found this post....

<font color="blue"> The dealer finally got back to me this week about retrofitting the position control from a B7500DTN to either a B7500DT or the B7500HST.

It can be done, but the problem is that all the PC "parts" are different. This means that the cost of the parts alone is about $2500 (no labor, etc.). He appologized for taking so long to investigate. The problem was that the DTN is new enough, and "special" enough, that tracking down the drawings took a little while. He is also kind of busy...

At any rate, it is possible to retrofit this PC, it's just rather expensive to do it.

The GlueGuy
</font>

 

[cchoate]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

As far as pc on the 7500 : I looked in to it, saw the $ figure and moved on to other ideas. This is one idea I came up with. Using a laser pointer and some type of measuring gage on the implement.

 

[5030]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

Position control is STANDARD on all models of Kubota teractors with Draft control as the option. Again, suburbanites don't need or would use draft control. The draft option is an ag related option. I don't have it on my 5030HSTC but we have it on our row crop Deeres. The 5030 is used as a bailing tractor as well as around the farm utility tractor so ground engagement is not a consideration.

Daryl
Forage Services, L.P.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

Position control may be standard on the larger Kubotas, but it is definitely not standard, or even available, on the B7500DT or B7500HSD. The manual is very specific in pointing out the "Hydraulic Control [Except B7500DTN]" vs the 'Position Control [B7500DTN]". Based on the manual's description of the B7500DTN's "position control"; "This will control the working depth of 3-point mounted implements regardless of the amount of pull required.", I suspect that the B7500DTN may also have draft control.

Using the definitions in this thread;
<ul type="square"> [*]Draft Control: is normally used for ground engaging equipment like a plow. It will sense the resistance being applied to the implement and raise it if the resistance becomes more than you have the draft control set for. This allows the tractor to continue its forward momentum without losing traction. Some compact tractors have draft control but it is mostly seen on larger tractors.
[*]Position Control: allows you to lower the 3pt hitch to the same height it was previously at. An example would be using a tiller and you are using your Position Control set on #3 to achieve a desired depth. At the end of a pass you lift the tiller and turn around for another pass. By lowering your Position Control lever to #3, you will be at the same depth as the first pass.
[*]Float: lets a loader or 3pt hitch move up and down with the contour of the ground. Almost all 3pt hitches do not have down force and will always float up with the contour of the ground. A loader does have down pressure but most have an additional setting to let the loader float. This is useful when driving backwards with the bucket down to smooth loose materials on the surface.
[/list] On my B7500HSD, the "Hydraulic Control" has a central, neutral position in which the hitch is stationary at whatever position it was last placed- pushing it forward lowers the hitch and pushing it back raises the hitch. To set the hich to a particular height, the lever is pushed in the appropriate direction until the desired hitch position is reached, and then the lever must be returned to the neutral position. Leaving it in the forward position will allow the implement to 'float'. Leaving it back will cause the hitch to raise fully, at which point the lever is automatically returned to the neutral position. This does not seem to qualify as position control. In contrast, on the B7500DTN, it appears that the relative position of the lever indicates the position of the hitch; in other words position control. A (detented?) position at the extreme front of the lever travel enables floating.

 

[5030]

Re: Knowing what you don\'t know...

All of my 3 previous Kubota's had Position control. They were as follows: B1600 HST, B2400 HST, L-3710 HST. Quoting from the L-series specifications regarding the L3130 through L5030 states that position control is standard with draft as an option. Our large row crop Deere's have draft control with an electronic sensing arrangement that controls depth as opposed to wheel spin. As I stated previously, Draft control in a compact tractor is an option that would not be practical for 95 percent of the potential owners of those units. it's place is really in an agricultural setting, not in the backyard of your home or mowing the lawn.

On the subject of compact tractors, the 5030HSTC that I presently own is really a crossover unit. It dovetails in with the smaller "M" series ag tractors that Kubota markets. Actually, I would have preferred an "M" series over the 5030, however, the 5030 is a more compact package with PTO power in line with the "M" series. As I keep the tractor inside, the overall height of the storage area dictated the lower cab height of the 5030 as opposed to the "M" series.

I could have purchased an "M" series without a cab, but after much seat time in our cabbed Deeres, an open tractor is out of the question for me. Operating an open tractor as opposed to a cab tractor is like riding a moped compared to a Harley. there is just no comparasion. Of course, a cab tractor is not for everyone. That's why Kubota as well as most other manufacturers offer open as well as enclosed models.

Daryl
Forage services, L.P.