New Owner - B7800

skywaterbanjo · Jan 30, 2008

I purchased a new 7800 yesterday with the 402 FEL and a Rhino 500 rear blade.

Out the door price was $17K and i used Kubota's 2 year, no down, no interest financing. Sweet.

I considered both the 3030 and GL3240. Man, I loved the 3240 but it is just a bit too much tractor for my in the pines manuvering.

The 3030 was great but I guess I'm a bit more basic. I liked the 3ph control 'cause you can adjust it in very, very small increments. I also thought the 3030's plastic stuff (tool box in particular) was just 'cheap' feeling. I also like the fact that the PTO is clutch controlled. My next implement is probably going to be a chipper and I like the idea of bringing it up to speed gradually.

So, a couple of questions now (I don't take delivery until next week):

Dealer said he does not recommend tire chains for the front because of the close proximity of the tie rod. Any comments?

Favorite rear tire chains? (I have the ag tires)

Anybody replace the poor quality headlights? What did you use?

Anybody retrofit the telescoping arms on the 3ph (dealer said it isn't possible...I find that hard to believe).

Major issues I should keep an eye out for?

The information on this site is great...thanks.

bandit67 · Jan 30, 2008

Consider the Pat's Easy Change setup for the 3pt hitch - makes attachment hookup a breeze. $200 delivered.

Shantycoke · Jan 30, 2008

bandit67 said:
Consider the Pat's Easy Change setup for the 3pt hitch - makes attachment hookup a breeze. $200 delivered.

I purchased a new B7800 last April. No issues whatsoever. As far as the headlights go, they are a little anemic, especially with the fel, but I'm going to mount a set of lights on my ROPS to make up for them. I'm just used to the 3 pt hitch, so that doesn't really bother me. I don't use tire chains because I've never had a reason. I also have ag tires and there is no problem moving snow on a 350' driveway or pulling implements up hill. Hope yours treats you as well as mine does. I'm very happy with the power and performance of it.
Pat

rickster · Jan 30, 2008

I think you made a great choice I love mine! Are you getting the new seat?

skywaterbanjo · Jan 30, 2008

rickster,

Tell me about the new seat?

bota7800 · Jan 31, 2008

The 3030 has position control, I believe, which I would prefer after using a 7800 for 3 years.

I have the same rear blade. It is a good unit.

Couple notes that I wish I had known.

The lights are almost useless, particularly with the loader in the way. Plan on adding worklights. There have been many posts on this with good ideas. The 7800 has a small alternator so you may need to limit what load you put on it at any given time.

The 3PH is more basic than the 3030. The turnbuckles are prone to being bent or the threads stripping. There is a parts list to change over to the system on the nicer Kubotas. Here is one link to it: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...wer-arm-turn-buckle.html?highlight=turnbuckle
I bought mine used (400 hrs) and a turnbuckle was already bent and stripped.

The 7800 is a good tractor, enjoy it.

rickster · Jan 31, 2008

skywaterbanjo said:
rickster,

Tell me about the new seat?

The new seat is great! I slid my seat more forward now, I can actually
seat back into the seat instead of that feeling of sitting on an air bag.
It really is a nice seat! glad I was able to get one. My salesman Scott
at Sparta lawn and garden didn't charge me for it.

Great place to deal with
here in west MI.

Buster57 · Jan 31, 2008

"Anybody retrofit the telescoping arms on the 3ph (dealer said it isn't possible...I find that hard to believe)." He is correct-you can not retrofit a B3030 3 point system-you must use the B2910 instead.

I had the B2910 3 -point put on my B7800. I love the easy adjustable stabalizer bars and telescopic arms.

As far as the head lights-I know of no way to change them out. Don't break them -they are not only usless but also very expensive to replace.

skywaterbanjo · Feb 1, 2008

Rickster,

What seat did you install? Is it the same seat as on the B3030?

rickster · Feb 1, 2008

skywaterbanjo said:
Rickster,

What seat did you install? Is it the same seat as on the B3030?

Yes its the same seat that is now being shipped on the 3030 and the bx's

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/103639-new-warranty-bx-seat-new-post.html

ThisldooFarm · Feb 3, 2008

Chains: I live in snowy upstate NY. Chains on all four wheels. For the front, simply flip them in/out so you will have plenty of room. It widens the stance, so for summer, I reverse them back for the intended geometry. Rear is easy, I have R4's. Lots of options. I used Tirechains.com. Front: GT16-2V 2-link. Rear from Tire Chains Required in NH. Finnish low profile ladder, go to TELLEFSDAL part no. 10123369. Wonderful chains. Remember that I have R4's. Call them, they know what you need.

If you want to widen the rear track, Kubota B8785 Wheel spacer kit will do it. Never had to go this way though.

Lights: Use after market on ROPS. There is already a wire fused harness in place by seat. I also put in a lighter socket, and have a magnetic portable 55W bulb that I can rotate on the inside of the ROPS. I have not had to put in the larger alternator.

Hitch: Use Pats easy-hitch. It works wonderfully for all implements. It extends the hitch ~4" so I have a longer top link for some implemets like a back blade and arena rake

skywaterbanjo · Feb 4, 2008

Rickster,
The service bulletin stated that tractors shipped after May '07 would have the new seat. I'll check mine when I get it on Wednesday.

Thanks to all for input. I get to try it out when the tractor arrives on Wednesday. We've had 4 feet of snow at our house in 7 days. Getting hard to plow with the ATV!

rickster · Feb 4, 2008

I got my tractor a year ago in January! One word of advice put your ROPS down
before going through garage door

Let us know how you like it! I just plowed a bunch of snow today. Waiting for that new tractor is a killer!!

Taiser · Feb 4, 2008

You're gonna love it! I love mine!

I wonder if any dealers out there took the new seats off of inventory tractors and put the old ones on their stock just to help out the customers, (not guessing that it would take MONTHS to get new one shipped) probably thinking that the new seats were on their way soon anyways?

bialecki · Feb 4, 2008

Here is another happy B7800 owner

Some mods I made;

Added Hobbs lights; two forward one facing the rear
Added the 40 amp alternator
Filled the rear tires with Rim Guard
Changed the seat to the new GREATLY improved seat

Implements and attachments bought include:

Woods BH-70X (great implement)
Kubota 402 FEL with 60" bucket (great implement)
60" MMM (great implement)
Woods RB-72 rear blade (great attachment)
Subframe & front snow blade (sorry I bought)
Post hole digger (so-so on purchase)

In all you will love the machine. The B7800 looks like a tractor, I liked the looks better than the B3030, just my two cents.

Racer71 · Feb 4, 2008

Look at a bigger rear blade if you can. You want to cover the wheel width when the blade is at a large angle.

Mike058 · Feb 5, 2008

bialecki said:
Here is another happy B7800 owner Some mods I made;

Added the 40 amp alternator

Just curious, did you get the new alternator from the dealer? Or was it an off the shelf item that just fits? I'm wondering how hard it is to find an alternator that fits.

bialecki · Feb 5, 2008

Mike058 said:
Just curious, did you get the new alternator from the dealer? Or was it an off the shelf item that just fits? I'm wondering how hard it is to find an alternator that fits.

I ordered it from Messicks, at the time it was $179 plus $12 shipping it was a complete kit with poor instructions from Kubota. So while installing it I created a photo installation procedure, which can be found at the following URL: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...tallation-instructions-installing-40-amp.html

Mike058 · Feb 7, 2008

Very nice write up. Thanks.

skywaterbanjo · Feb 11, 2008

I've had my B7800 now for about a week, only put on 10 hours so far but that has been moving A LOT of snow (about 3.5 feet) from our alpaca pasture.

What a great machine. I've never been around tractors much and I got pretty efficient at snow removal in a hurry. The combination of the FEL and the back blade makes it a snap to move snow.

I keep thinking of projects I can complete now that were out of my realm before. Thanks for all of the help on this forum!