sneaky_pete
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2004
- Messages
- 677
- Tractor
- Kubota B7400HSD, G1800
15 hours on the B7400HSD as of yesterday, and I must say how pleased I am with this machine. Has done everything I've asked of it so far without hesitation or complaint. For a 16 hp tractor, it sure does a lot of work!
So far, I've mowed several acres of rough pasture with the Bush Hog, moved quit a bit of gravel and dirt to fill holes near buildings and dress the driveway, moved a bunch of dead wood to the burn pile, cleared some heavy undergrowth down by the creek, and done light hauling of leaves and grass clippings to the compost pile. This is my first real tractor, and just like everybody told me, I can't believe how much work can be done with it in a short time, and how useful the FEL is. To think that I was considering not getting the FEL at first - would have been a big mistake.
Speaking of the FEL, I sure don't have any complaints so far - sure the LA272 only has a 48" relatively light bucket and doesn't have the lift capability of a bigger one, but I can fill that puppy to the brim with gravel or heavy clay soil and lift it easily. If you put the tractor in 4WD low range it will dig right in and pick up any load of earth that will fit the bucket. I don't have any contrasting experience on a bigger loader, but it seems that this size loader is very well suited to this tractor, and is very capable of the chores I need it to do.
Lack of power steering: I was warned about this, but can't honestly say I have even noticed so far. Maybe it's because the loader isn't big enough to carry enough weight to notice, but as I mentioned above I've had it brimming full of gravel and had no problem whatsoever maneuvering, even at a snail's pace in tight quarters. I'm not exactly Charles Atlas or Arnold S. either. I'm sure it must require more effort than a power steering model, but it just doesn't seem to be a handicap that I can tell.
Complaints: The handle of the high-low range lever mounted in the rear fender sometimes catches on my jeans when dismounting. The parking "brake" feature is too easy to forget to unset when you get back on, so I rarely use it. The position of the fuel tank filler neck makes it nearly impossible to see when it is full, especially when using Mr. Funnel (another great tip learned from y'all at TBN).
Suffice it to say that I am thrilled with my purchase and tractor experience so far. I'm sure that there might be times when a bigger tractor might be desireable even on my small 5 acres, but for the money I think I have hit on a nearly ideal compromise for my current needs.
Next purchase for it will be a really heavy second-hand Gammon 48" box blade that I found locally. After that, maybe a Pat's Quick Connect set-up or a Speeco Quick Hitch.
Eventually, a PHD and a cement mixer?
Thanks again to TBN posters for your help, to Muhammed for The Book, and to Zimmerer Kubota and Equipment Co. in Fort Worth, TX for steering me towards this tractor, even though I might have spent more money on a newer model.
Pete
So far, I've mowed several acres of rough pasture with the Bush Hog, moved quit a bit of gravel and dirt to fill holes near buildings and dress the driveway, moved a bunch of dead wood to the burn pile, cleared some heavy undergrowth down by the creek, and done light hauling of leaves and grass clippings to the compost pile. This is my first real tractor, and just like everybody told me, I can't believe how much work can be done with it in a short time, and how useful the FEL is. To think that I was considering not getting the FEL at first - would have been a big mistake.
Speaking of the FEL, I sure don't have any complaints so far - sure the LA272 only has a 48" relatively light bucket and doesn't have the lift capability of a bigger one, but I can fill that puppy to the brim with gravel or heavy clay soil and lift it easily. If you put the tractor in 4WD low range it will dig right in and pick up any load of earth that will fit the bucket. I don't have any contrasting experience on a bigger loader, but it seems that this size loader is very well suited to this tractor, and is very capable of the chores I need it to do.
Lack of power steering: I was warned about this, but can't honestly say I have even noticed so far. Maybe it's because the loader isn't big enough to carry enough weight to notice, but as I mentioned above I've had it brimming full of gravel and had no problem whatsoever maneuvering, even at a snail's pace in tight quarters. I'm not exactly Charles Atlas or Arnold S. either. I'm sure it must require more effort than a power steering model, but it just doesn't seem to be a handicap that I can tell.
Complaints: The handle of the high-low range lever mounted in the rear fender sometimes catches on my jeans when dismounting. The parking "brake" feature is too easy to forget to unset when you get back on, so I rarely use it. The position of the fuel tank filler neck makes it nearly impossible to see when it is full, especially when using Mr. Funnel (another great tip learned from y'all at TBN).
Suffice it to say that I am thrilled with my purchase and tractor experience so far. I'm sure that there might be times when a bigger tractor might be desireable even on my small 5 acres, but for the money I think I have hit on a nearly ideal compromise for my current needs.
Next purchase for it will be a really heavy second-hand Gammon 48" box blade that I found locally. After that, maybe a Pat's Quick Connect set-up or a Speeco Quick Hitch.
Eventually, a PHD and a cement mixer?
Thanks again to TBN posters for your help, to Muhammed for The Book, and to Zimmerer Kubota and Equipment Co. in Fort Worth, TX for steering me towards this tractor, even though I might have spent more money on a newer model.
Pete
