2003 Kubota B7500 intro, pics and MMM id help

Hi All
I just purchased a used (640hrs) 2003 b7500 HST, Its my first real tractor and I intent to use it as a mower and general maintenance around my 5 acre property. This was my intention but I think I have bitten more than I can chew. I bought the machine very locally for a little over 5k. It was only used to tow around a aerator for a lawn company the PTO and hydraulics werent even used, so I initially thought I got a good deal. Fast forward a couple of weeks and after the purchase of a used Mower deck without tractor side hardware, a very used tiller and a totally fruitless search for a used loader I realize that it wont be so easy to outfit this little tractor to suit my needs. I came across this forum and decided to write in case a kind person can help out with a couple of questions and/or decisions.
First of all I need to ID the deck so I can look for the right mounting hardware. I will try to upload pictures for everything because you probably dont wanna read a thousand words!
Second I would like an opinion as to what to do next with this machine. Do I pay another $600-$800 to get the tractor side brackets to hook up the deck? do I keep looking for a loader or shell out 4k to the dealer for a new one? (LA302) or maybe sell this all together and buy a new one with a loader already in place? I would appreciate your help in Identifying the deck in the pictures and your opinion on what to do next. Thank you

spiro said:

Hi All
I just purchased a used (640hrs) 2003 b7500 HST, Its my first real tractor and I intent to use it as a mower and general maintenance around my 5 acre property. This was my intention but I think I have bitten more than I can chew. I bought the machine very locally for a little over 5k. It was only used to tow around a aerator for a lawn company the PTO and hydraulics werent even used, so I initially thought I got a good deal. Fast forward a couple of weeks and after the purchase of a used Mower deck without tractor side hardware, a very used tiller and a totally fruitless search for a used loader I realize that it wont be so easy to outfit this little tractor to suit my needs. I came across this forum and decided to write in case a kind person can help out with a couple of questions and/or decisions.
First of all I need to ID the deck so I can look for the right mounting hardware. I will try to upload pictures for everything because you probably dont wanna read a thousand words!
Second I would like an opinion as to what to do next with this machine. Do I pay another $600-$800 to get the tractor side brackets to hook up the deck? do I keep looking for a loader or shell out 4k to the dealer for a new one? (LA302) or maybe sell this all together and buy a new one with a loader already in place? I would appreciate your help in Identifying the deck in the pictures and your opinion on what to do next. Thank you

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I forgot to mention that the only sticker on the deck reads a number K5763-41191 which I think fits the 4 model decks listed below:
RCK54-24B (54" MOWER DECK)
RCK60-24B (MID-MOUNT FINISHING MOWER)
RCK60-27B(A) (60" MID-MOUNT MWR / B7800 / B3200)
RCK60-30B (MID-MOUNT FINISHING MOWER)

thanks for your replies

@D2Cat: I Have about 2 acres "flat" on top of a hill it was never really landscaped properly so its not exactly flat. there is significant dips and valleys which I will fix/level in time but the biggest obstacle for the pull behind mower would be going around trees and objects. I like the idea of the flail mower but if I could mid mount or even front mount it I would prob go for it. I might still do it if this deck I have proves to be too costly to install. I will do all the fluids as soon as the weather allows thanks for pointing out the Hydraulic filter.

@Rusty46 good eye bout the shaft coupler! that f..n part which I dont have is $400.00! prob just as much of the rest of the hardware all together!
I will now walk through the damn snow and go measure the deck. I myself think it might be a rck60-30b cause the rck54 s have a plate in front which mine doesnt...see pic. I will let you know the measurements soon. BTW whats the second set of numbers anyway? 30b, 24b, 75b etc..

Like shootem604 said I thought I got a decent tractor but not sure it was worth 5k cause now I see them selling with a loader and deck for about 10k. I will definitely try to make it work but I might also list it to sse what I can get for it. be back soon with measurements

Thanks again!

spiro said:

thanks for your replies

@D2Cat: I Have about 2 acres "flat" on top of a hill it was never really landscaped properly so its not exactly flat. there is significant dips and valleys which I will fix/level in time but the biggest obstacle for the pull behind mower would be going around trees and objects. I like the idea of the flail mower but if I could mid mount or even front mount it I would prob go for it. I might still do it if this deck I have proves to be too costly to install. I will do all the fluids as soon as the weather allows thanks for pointing out the Hydraulic filter.

@Rusty46 good eye bout the shaft coupler! that f..n part which I dont have is $400.00! prob just as much of the rest of the hardware all together!
I will now walk through the damn snow and go measure the deck. I myself think it might be a rck60-30b cause the rck54 s have a plate in front which mine doesnt...see pic. I will let you know the measurements soon. BTW whats the second set of numbers anyway? 30b, 24b, 75b etc..

Like shootem604 said I thought I got a decent tractor but not sure it was worth 5k cause now I see them selling with a loader and deck for about 10k. I will definitely try to make it work but I might also list it to sse what I can get for it. be back soon with measurements

Thanks again!

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Ok deck measures aprox 63" by aprox 29". 63" is to the end of the deck, Not the flap.

spiro said:

Ok deck measures aprox 63" by aprox 29". 63" is to the end of the deck, Not the flap.

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Hmm...maybe I can answer my own question. Maybe the second set of numbers -xxb is the front to back measurement in inches, in which case I might have the -30b!

SDT said:

Your deck is a 60" version. It's a good deck but you are missing just about everything that you need to install it. Buying all of the needed parts to install it will be cost prohibitive and finding all of the parts used will be just about impossible.

As previously mentioned, the hydro filter/oil should have been changed at least three times by now. I would assume that the tractor has been abused in other ways as well.

SDT

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Yeah I think the cost for those missing parts is a lot.
I will investigate the hydro filter. I have all the maintenance records from a dealer nearby who I called and found the tractor on their regular service schedule. I will look over those receipts to find out of filter was changed. or maybe just looks old/original. I will look into it. Thanks
I also might have a line into a used LA272 loader but looks pretty beat up. Dont know if I wanna take the chance for the 2,500.00 asking price. I will update this thread if I come across something interesting.

BAP said:

Try looking at tractor salvage yards. You might find the mower parts. One place people use is West Kentucky Tractor Parts. http://m.japanesecompacttractor.com/List/Tractor/Dismantled

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Hi BAP
I looked there too. Not much love.... maybe Ill try changing the muffler bearings!

Ok I just thought I would update everyone on the recent developments in case anyone finds it useful.
I just bought the LA272 pictured below. It should be here in a week or so. I read up on it a little and it looks like its not much different than the LA302. 60lbs or so less capacity and no front grill. Looks like I could fabricate the grill if need be and maybe increase the pressure to match that of the LA302. Not sure if the loader is fully functional but I was told no pitted cylinders or leaks. Comes with everything needed to attach, even the hydraulic block. Paid 2200 all-in with shipping. Still no idea of what kind of MMM/deck I have. Confused by rusty46 measurements due to the fact that it looks like decks shorter than mine are bigger front to back??? I will have to re-check my measurements in case Im blind!.
@ DST ...I found the receipt for the hydraulic filter change two times at the dealer where it has been serviced since new. Not sure why it looks grey, haven't called them yet. I appreciate your advise but the tractor feels pretty tight and not abused. Also the deck is like you said most likely 60" but need to ID a model number in order to look for the mounting hardware.

@Russel King....I would love the pull behind mower but I have some hill spots and some trees I need to go around which would be harder to do with the recommended setup. If anything I would like to get a flail mower but will try for a little while to see if I can score some reasonably priced mounting hardware for my deck. Looked at a rear mount bucket but I'm not poor (just kidding) I am....and it looks like it could out perform the FEL in capacity but I found this FEL at a tractor salvage place and couldn't resist.

Thank you for your help and if any one can positively identify the deck I would appreciate it. Also any advise on installation of the loader would be very valuable.
I will post pictures when I get it installed.

chim said:

Spiro, nice tractor. Two comments of mine are:

1. Be careful when mounting and unhooking the loader. I had a B7500 for 10 years and the dealer told me that mine was one of the few he saw that didn't have a crease in the hood from, the crossbar of the loader frame.

2. Don't discount the usefulness of a rear mower. After the MMM on my first tractor, the next 4 all had the deck out back.

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Oh! good advise Chim! I can almost guarantee I would do that first time out!
as far as the deck goes I never had a rear deck before and it looks like it would be great on flat ground but not in my case. Problem here is that everybody who had a MMM before and has a RM now recommends it so I might have to keep my eyes open for a cheap one to try and figure out what its all about. In the mean time I already have the MMM so come spring I will have to decide which way to go with this......