I am sure you already purchased the
B2620. But I would like to take the opportunity to post my experience with this Kubota model for any future buyers.
First I was always told to mention the good before you discuss the not so good.
My
B2620 is now 2 years old
with filled turf tires.
Good points.
1) my 54" mower deck is quite rugged. I have done some overt brush cutting ops in the woods that most other deck would not have handled.
2) the bagging system is as good as they come. rarely plugs up.
3) engine starts relatively easy
4) front loader, mower deck and bagging system installs and remove easily. Good designs
5) servicing is relatively easy, changed the hydraulic filters and replaced the fluid. Filters are a bit pricey but I suppose they all are.
Not so good points and the reason I would never buy another Kubota
1) The front end has no alignment adjustment. The front tires tear up the grass on sharp turns. The steering needs to be progressive where the inside tire take more load (tighter angle than the outside tire) on sharp turns.
2) The split brake is located on the same side as the Hydro pedal making it virtually impossible to brake steer. The split brake needs to be on the left side of the tractor. This issue came to light this last winter with our record snow fall. Example, the loader is down scraping snow. Front wheels are unloaded. (4WD feature no help) Diff lock will keep you going straight but won't help you steer around an object. If I could have gotten one foot on the split brake and the other on the hydro, I would not have knocked over Mama's garden sculpture.
3) The dash lights work well at night I can see the gauges clearly. The only problem the indicator needles have no illumination. As such you can't easily set power take-off rpms. You can't tell how much fuel is remaining in the tank without pulling out a flashlight.
4) These next comments have to do with quality. First the steering wheel feels like a spoon in oatmeal. Dealer says that keeps engine vibration away from the operator. My John Deere was tight and I never felt engine vibration.
5) Steering has too many turns lock to lock. Although the power steering works fine, the steering needs to be quicker for cutting grass. Kubota claim the extra turns are needed when there is weight in the loader. Solution install a larger PS pump.
6) Rear fenders oil-can under my weight when I grab the handles getting off the tractor. They need better support.
7) Although the engine starts fine after a few seconds of cranking. It belches out black unburned hydrocarbons that I believe is due to a injection design issue. I have a 1978 Case backhoe that lights off before it makes one full revolution. Absolutely no black smoke.
8) The hydro pedal valve has no dampening. If you back off suddenly the tractor jerks you to a stop. All they need is a spring loaded damper valve that closes slowing like a screen door cylinder. This is a convenience item that one can learn to live with but Kubota could have done a better job with designing the hydraulics. Also if you hold the hydro pedal down hard for awhile then back off, it locks on for a couple of seconds before it releases. That came close to causing a collision more than once. Since we are talking hydraulics, the loader hydraulic control valve is bias incorrectly. It drops the bucket down quickly with minor control input and come up slowly even with major stick over control. The down bucket valve needs to be the slower giving you more bite control. The bucket up control needs to be faster to better capture your load.
9) The bagger works well but the impeller housing sticks out the right side and seems to find the odd tree stump. Have had to remove it and do major surgery a number of times.
Be sure to let us know how you like it for mowing!
