New Toy, I Mean Tool For Around the Mill

[DeepWoods]

Got myself a new helper for around the mill. A brand new Kubota B2650HSDC.   This is my first ever tractor, so it's a little different than my small skidsteer that I previously used to load logs on to my mill.  I kept the forks that were on the skidsteer, and mounted them to a blank quick attach plate.  I plan on getting a grapple for the front loader, which I hope will do a better job than a set of forks, but that will be in a year or two.  So far I am pleased with what it has done for me.  Much smoother ride than the skidsteer, as it had to short of a wheel base.  It can also lift more than the skid steer as well, around 1100 pounds at the loader arm pins.  Nice to have the cab to keep the bugs away as well.  Although loading logs on the mill doesn't take very long.  I currently have the forks, a 60" bucket for the front, the backhoe, and a 60" box blade for the back.  I will be getting a front mount snow blower in January next year to handle snow removal and as I previously mentioned, a grapple for the front.  I have my Wife to thank for this, as earlier this year she mentioned it would be nice if I could blow snow in the warm cab from a tractor.  Anyway, here's a picture of her decked out with a set of forks.




 

[Bruno of NH]

You will like that
My first tractor was a B7800 
With backhoe ,loader mount plow,pto sander,rear blade and wood chipper.
Wish I didn't sell it.
Some times a small tractor is handy for certain things. 

[thecfarm]

Nice!!
How many hp?

[barbender]

Nice machine!!

[Raider Bill]

I've got a Kubota L4200 with a 3pt back hoe. Watch that thing it can bite you. Had the top connection come apart and the unit came back on me.

[Bruno of NH]

Bill
Was it a frame mount backhoe?
I always got the frame mount
I hear the 3pt ones break and can pinch your head in the rops.
Bruno

[richhiway]

very nice. best of luck with it.

[alan gage]

You're going to like that.

Be careful though. My dad started out with a Kubota that size. Then he got an M5040 and now he's got an M7040. It seems to be a tough addiction.

He still has his L series though. It works well for tilling gardens and pulling a mower.

As for the grapple I'd be worried it wouldn't leave much extra weight capacity for logs.

Alan

[Raider Bill]

Bill
Was it a frame mount backhoe?
I always got the frame mount
I hear the 3pt ones break and can pinch your head in the rops.
Bruno

Mines a 3 pt hitch. The upper bar let loose and the control unit came back and trapped me in the seat with the controls pressing against my chest under power. Could hardly breath. Cracked 2 ribs and squeezed the back of my leg through the seat so hard the skin burst like a sausage. It was a tense few minutes. I was able to get my knife out and cut the lines releasing the pressure enough that I could crawl out from under the controls. 
Of course I was alone deep in the woods. 
Thought that was the end. I just happened to be wearing bibs that day so my knife was in the top pocket. Had it been on my belt of hip pocket I wouldn't have been able to get to it.

Only thing that saved me having a crushed chest and pelvis was a flimsy seat arm rest somehow got jammed against the control box enough to give me time so I could cut the hydraulics. .

[snobdds]

You're going to like that.

Be careful though. My dad started out with a Kubota that size. Then he got an M5040 and now he's got an M7040. It seems to be a tough addiction.

He still has his L series though. It works well for tilling gardens and pulling a mower.

As for the grapple I'd be worried it wouldn't leave much extra weight capacity for logs.

Alan

Everything Attachments has a grapple that is made for sub compact tractors and it's fairly light weight.  Also there is a single arm grapple to use with forks called the Thumb.  It still needs plumbing on the front end to add and extra remote, but it works pretty good with logs.  If I need precision to lay a log, just put a thumb on the back hoe.  I have a mechanical one, but I load my trailer using my backhoe.  

[Bruno of NH]

Bill
The 3pt backhoes are dangerous. 
I have heard that happen to many folks

[DeepWoods]

The backhoe is attached on a subframe that runs along the way forward to the loader arm supports, so I'm not worried about it at all.  As far as the grapple weighing to much, the one mentioned that is available from everything attachments weighs 209 pounds which is at least a hundred pounds lighter than my fork attachment.  The tractor is 26 hp and 19.5 at the rear pto.  The cab has both heat and air conditioning to keep me comfortable all the time.  I could have got the same tractor with 33 hp, but Kubota has had some regen problems on that engine, and this one doesn't need to regen with only 26 hp.  As far as upgrading, I'm pretty sure this will be my only tractor puchase, as my 401k couldn't support any additional expense.   

[KenMac]

I have a Kubota B26 TLB and am very satisfied with its' capabilities. It does have an extra hydraulic pump for the backhoe, I think. The engine is really fuel efficient and reliable. You'll like it!