The B2650 - am I just underrating this thing?

tk tom · Aug 7, 2015

It is by no means a commercial unit. It's a large glorified homeowner's tractor. It doesn't have the weight or the build of it's bigger brother - the L series. I used dad's BX23 for nearly a decade before picking up the B2650 early last summer. Question is - am I not working this thing hard enough or is it just that impressive? Am I underrating this homeowner tractor?

The lift capacity with the 60" bucket is great. It's the perfect size because you can fit so many garden type tools in it without them hanging out - whereas the 54" bucket would leave them all angled with the handles out the side. It hauls a full bucket of dirt pretty easily. It pushes a 78" loader mounted plow through 2 feet of snow like it was designed for it. It lifts 600lb riding mower crates (weight not exactly on the pins bear in mind - center of gravity on these is pushed out minimum 24" usually further) and double stacks them with the pallet forks. It runs a 58" tiller while barely losing a few RPM in virgin soil. It pulls a loaded 60" box scraper with shanks down up a hill driveway (box scraper was the latest addition).

I don't feel like I'm stressing this machine while it's working. The only time I don't really care for it's performance is high range going down the road but in 210 hours over the last year it has spent maybe 45 minutes on the road, no big deal. The salesman says it will run the HD 60" bush hog no problem. I don't really need one, but was looking at them when I picked up the box. The bush hog looks massive, heavy, overbuilt - and too much for the B. He says otherwise.

Does anyone else have the same outlook towards these machines? I'm not saying it's some super tractor but it has completely surpassed what I thought it would be capable of. Or did I just underrate this machine and this is pretty normal for a tractor in this size?

dodge man · Aug 7, 2015

Small tractors often look like toys if you are used to looking at large ag tractors or heavy dirt moving equipment, but used like they are designed, they can do a lot of work.

Parkanzky · Aug 7, 2015

I think you underestimated it. I have a similar size tractor in green and I've been really happy with what it can do. It will run my 5' flail mower over rough brush without complaint, will scoop a full bucket-load of soil right through the sod without a toothbar, and has been able to lift surprisingly large weights at the ends of the forks.

A friend has a Kubota B9200HST which is even smaller and less powerful than your B2650 but we've used it to drag my ~500# 5' box scraper up and down his drive with the ripper shanks down and soil overflowing out the top. His bucket is a bit smaller than mine but it will fill it no problem and only seems to want for more ballast.

When I was shopping, I debated between the BX/1-series tractors (which wouldn't have been enough for how I use my tractor), the B/2-series, and the L/3-series. In the end, I had a hard time talking myself out of going bigger but I was worried about maneuvering around in the woods. As it turns out, I made the right call. Because so far my 2-series has been able to do things I thought that I was compromising by not getting the 3-.

4WD and HST seem to make a tractor punch way outside of its weight class.

rtgt · Aug 7, 2015

Better to have reasonable expectations at purchase time and be impressed with the capabilities when you get it home than the reverse.

The BX/1 series tractors look like big garden tractors, but within reason they are far more than that. I had a 2210, and when I needed another tractor, i didn't hesitate to buy a 2305.

The B/2 series are small CUT's and very worthy of being called Tractors. I have a B3200 and it is impressive what I can do with it.

These are very well built machines.

Glad you are enjoying yours.

Fawken · Aug 7, 2015

rtgt said:
Better to have reasonable expectations at purchase time and be impressed with the capabilities when you get it home than the reverse.

....

Good point. Applies to all brands and sizes.

tk tom · Aug 7, 2015

I mean you can't just bullhead into a dirt pile and have it perform like a Cat loader but if you know how to use the machine it almost seems that way. I'm glad others feel the same way.

I was worried mostly because a friend has an older JD 4*** hydro unit and it seems weak for it's size. It's been used hard and is likely tired at the moment, closing in on 2000hrs. He has said though from day 1 he had issues engaging the PTO with his MX5 bushhog. Something to do with the electric actuated PTO is an instant on type vs. a slower engagement - he has to rev that thing up to engage it and get the blades to kick out or else it never gets going and just bogs. I just assumed a machine of that size struggled with a 5 footer - there's no way mine would handle it. 32hp class Deere if I remember correctly. I'm thinking that something is just wrong with it at this point, it shouldn't struggle at all.

Cub 7274 · Aug 7, 2015

Last year I bought a Massey 1533 with 100 hrs on it and every time I use it amazes how strong a tractor it really is especially the loader capabilities

4570Man · Aug 7, 2015

I think you will be fine with a 60" cutter. My grandpas old L2550 runs a 60 cutter fine in regular mowing. The L2550 has 25 hp on the pto.

Paystar · Aug 8, 2015

Well I only have a B2620 and today I moved 132 yards of pit run for the second time that I brought home with the dump truck.

Plus if you look at my previous posts of all the bushroad I rebuilt with it, I'm also really surprised what these little tractors will do.

Many people think you NEED 60 h.p. but you don't. Sure it would be faster but I like sitting on my tractor anyway.

s219 · Aug 8, 2015

tk tom said:
Does anyone else have the same outlook towards these machines? I'm not saying it's some super tractor but it has completely surpassed what I thought it would be capable of. Or did I just underrate this machine and this is pretty normal for a tractor in this size?

Maybe you're just like me and used to bust your butt doing things the hard way. It's amazing how much a tractor can expand your capabilities, but I think the real benefit is being able to work smarter instead of harder. It gets more important as you age of course.

When I was 30 I shoveled and spread 30 tons of topsoil all by myself with nothing but a wheelbarrow, shovel, and rake. Took a week. I trashed my wrists in the process, but I was young and tough and dumb. Now at 46, I can still do hard labor just fine, but having a tractor lets me spend my time a heck of a lot more efficiently. I can now spread 30 tons of topsoil in less than a day.

The one exception is digging holes/ditches/trenches. No matter my age or rank in life, I often find myself standing in a hole in the dirt or mud digging with a shovel. Just can't escape it, kind of amusing. What it really means is I need a backhoe.