New B2401 - Thoughts?

[neogardener]

Recently posted on youtube from Messicks and Scholtens Equipment was the 2020 Kubota Products event. In both video's, they mention two new small B series models: B2401DTN and B2401. The DTN is the narrow version tractor that is replacing the 2320...however the standard B2401 is just like the B2301 & B2601, except that it has a manual gear transmission. It wasn't specified in either video if this has the 23 or 26 hp motor.

For those of you that have had both Hydro's and manual gear box tractors, which would you prefer over the other and why? I would think a machine this size having 9 Forward speeds and 3 Reverse speeds of the manual box would make for a very nice tractor, not to mention a nice flat floor without the treadle pedal. In the messicks video, it is mentioned that this model tractor will be a fair bit cheaper than the HST models (down near the price range of BX models).

Here are a couple screenshots of the B2401:

 

[dalola]

Really depends on your intended use of the tractor, when choosing gear or HST.

Generally speaking, I think HST makes more sense for the types of jobs associated with SCUT's & CUT's (ie: FEL work, mowing, etc..) but I think it's great KB is filling the hole in that market with a gear tractor. Will be very curious to see how it spec's out & price points.

 

[Jchonline]

Gear is king for ground engaging tasks (most power to the implement) and field work that requires a constant speed (planting, fertilizing).

For everything else I would go with HST.

 

[Jchonline]

Also if you are a homeowner with a few acres to mow and some other tasks where a super small CUT will be useful...I would go HST.

If you are a farmer that plants in confined spaces that new B2401 might be really nice.

 

[Roadworthy]

I believe Kubota is introducing a smaller member of the L family as well, the LX series. I have an L series tractor with HST. I have an older tractor with eighteen forward gears. I mostly use my tractor for mowing and thus far much prefer the HST. With a standard transmission you set the throttle for PTO speed then select the gearing which gives you the ground speed you want. You do not vary this at all. I prefer the HST for mowing as I can set the engine for PTO speed and have infinite variability on the ground speed. The HST also cuts out a lot of shifting if moving dirt or some other FEL task. Yes, it was more expensive. Yes, you lose about one PTO horsepower. Yes, I was dubious when I selected it. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

 

[PaulL]

I believe Kubota is introducing a smaller member of the L family as well, the LX series.

Yes, but no. They're renaming the existing B2650 and B3350 to be LX2601 and LX3301. They're the same tractors though, the LX2601 will be almost identical to the old B2650, the LX3301 will get a new engine as the engine in the B3350 was quite problematic.

My interpretation is they're cleaning up their model lines so that there's one chassis size in each model, instead of there being a small B and a big B. Makes it clearer. They're also going to the X designation effectively meaning "smaller". So there's BX, B, LX, L, MX, M.

Of course, it's still not all that logical, as the L comes in a basic (01) and grand-L (50), where the LX only comes in the luxury format - so really it should have been LX2650 not LX2601. And the new B2401 is arguably an economy version of the B2601, so really they should have called them B2601 and B2650 to reflect economy and luxury respectively. No doubt that'd cause confusion with the old B2650.

Still, this forum would be less full of questions if the Kubota naming system made any logical sense.

 

[BoilerBoy]

I want to add something to this post....as I now own both a B2920-Hydro and a B2410-Gear. I totally agree it is what are the main tasks you plan to accomplish. My 2920 is mainly a mowing/loader tractor. My B2401 is used on a Michigan Christmas tree farm for mowing, fertilizing, spraying, and invasive vegetation removal with a FEL mounted stump bucket. I could not be more impressed with the B2401 especially the power, maneuverability, and fuel economy in the narrow rows of our tree patch. I love my B2920 but again for other tasks. I plan to purchase a M7040 to round out the stable leave them all in good shape to my grandchildren. In my opinion their is not small or utility tractor like a Kubota.