Is it a B6100 or B6001?

[300zx]

I am looking at a local tractor. The decals show it as a B6100 and the number on the frame lists it as a B6001, s/n 16646. What is the story on this difference? I have seen a thread by Vic that said it would be a B6100. How can that be? The tractor was repainted when the current owner bought it 20 years ago. It is stuck in FWD and the FWD lever just flops. I haven't heard it run yet and it hasn't run for a while. The paint is weathered, but it isn't beat up. It does have a belly mower and electric front pto. Any views on its value would be appreciated.

[Service Dept Vic]

If it has a belly mower and a front PTO on it, it's a B-6100.

Buy it.

[300zx]

Vic, the B6001 is listed as grey market on the Kubota site. Too add to this mystery for me, I noticed my B7100 has B7001 stamped in the chasis above the model and serial number plate that clearly lists it as a B7100. Can you clear me up on why there is this difference?

[Service Dept Vic]

As these tractors were comming down the assembly line these early B's in Kubota's 'pre gray market crackdown' world were pretty much the same to them.

Differences were tires and tire size, decals, a choice of either a two or three point hitch, as well as the use of an extra linkage arm on North American bound units that made the throttle operate opposite to the JDM tractors.

That was pretty much the 'big' differences.

As such Kubota had no real necessity to change the stamping dies that struck the model number prefix information onto the transmission tunnel tube.

All early B Series Kubota tractors (B51/61/7100's) that rolled the assembly line at that time bore the JDM model number prefix regardless of final destination of the tractor.

Kubota was shipping the 51/61/7100 series tractors in both 2WD and DT double traction versions to Canada, the US, France, Belgium, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Iran and a schwack of other countries at that time with each one wearing language specific operating and safety decals.

If you were to import a B-6100DT from France to the USA today it would be considered a gray market tractor.

The reason has to do with the original country of destination that B-6100DT was built for.

Once on the ground in the "built for destination country" the tractor would instantly become a gray market tractor if it was ever shipped out.

[300zx]

Vic, great explanation. Thanks!

I feel better about buying the B6100. It is interesting that my B7100 (that has B7001 stamped in the tube) also has an aluminum plate riveted just under the stamped number with the B7100 model and serial number. The B6100 does not have the plate. The B6100 also has had all of its decals and the hour meter replaced. The front pto shaft on the B6100 has a flange and is bolted to the crank pulley rather than using the splines like the B7100. If I buy it I will be anxious to see if there are splines inside that connection.

The reason I was so curious is that we had a local used tractor dealer (70 miles from me) who I am told dealt in used Japanese tractors and parts in the 80's and was bringing used Kubota Tractors into the US from Japan. He has now stopped and has become a Kubota dealer.