opinion ? B7100 hst

[kupitz]

Scary. I sure hope that one involved some sort of electric clutch!

My front mount blower came with this extension to turn the mid-PTO into a front PTO:

(with yet another, different, spline shaft. Is there a rhyme or reason for the variety of forward-facing PTO shafts on these things?)

That's part of the snowblower mount kit and is still a mid PTO with an extension.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

@kupitz

I only need it for mowing at this time. Maybe I would add a front or rear snow blower at a later date but not sure - I have other ways to blow snow for now.


I do not think I would add an FEL

If the b7200 does not have the mower deck with it your going to have a hard time finding one.

Both are good models, the B7100's there was a whole lot more made so used parts are some what easier to find.

One major difference is the motor, the b7100 uses a D750 thermo siphon system (no water pump) and can overheat fairly easy if the radiator is not kept clean.
The B7200 has a D950 which has a water pump.

 

[85Hokie]

Re: opinion ? B7100 or B7200 HST - pricing?

Hello,

looking at a B7100 HST and a B7200 HST and I am wondering everyone's opinion

Tractor 1

1994 B7100 HST with 54" belly mower (mower deck pretty rough but blades etc in good condition), tractor in good shape - just over 1000 hours - $4500

Tractor 2

1985 B7200 HST with 60 inch belly mower - better shape cosmetically just a hair over 1000 hours. - $4,700

Opinion on price and models? One is newer but in rougher shape. Does 10 years between make a difference?

Thanks

With all things being equal .......Hours and conditions, both having mowers, one tractor a little larger, little more HP, little bigger mower.

I would lean towards the B7200 - if I could get the price down a bit. As NIW said, IT has a water pump, which true can go bad, but I think it is an advantage. The 7200 also has a larger fuel tank, almost 50% bigger, not sure if that is a good thing or not

Fixing the B7100 mower deck would not be too bad - those decks all over the place on the net, shoot I have an "extra" one!

But being that the prices are so close, I would lean towards the B7200 - and you say it is in "better shape". BUT I would look at them very close, seals, gaskets, smoke starting when cold, I would start both and run them for a little while. I would not pay that for either - so I would truly test each one thoroughly - take a IR thermometer with you too.

Report back on which you choose - either will be a great machine.

 

[torch]

That's part of the snowblower mount kit and is still a mid PTO with an extension.

Yes, I realize that (I did call it an extension). But I wonder if someone less familiar with the model might think the snowblower was being powered from the crankshaft "PTO".

Back to the original question: I have an observation about the B7100 belly mower. It's great for big flat areas, but it doesn't deal with hills, dips and swales very well. It is so tall it eats up almost all the available ground clearance under the tractor so there's barely a couple of inches of float. If a wheel dips more than that, the weight of the tractor drives the dolly wheels down into the soil and the mower scalps the lawn. I've given up on mine and gone back to my old green garden tractor for mowing.

Maybe that's why used B7100 belly mowers are still readily available?

 

[Lil Foot]

I've seen one with a direct drive snowblower driven from the crankshaft

Scary. I sure hope that one involved some sort of electric clutch!

It didn't. If I remember right, he used shortened PTO shaft from a Bush Hog type mower with a friction slip clutch, and just shut the engine off to connect or disconnect the driveline as you would a normal PTO shaft. Seems like it would be really hard on the starter having to spin all that extra stuff on startup, too.

 

[torch]

Seems like it would be really hard on the starter having to spin all that extra stuff on startup, too.

When I got mine, the clutch was frozen. The PO advised he would start the engine with the PTO in neutral, let the engine, oil and battery warm up, then shut it off, engage the PTO and restart. Otherwise the starter couldn't handle it.


(I just freed up the clutch instead -- it seemed easier overall ;-))

 

[85Hokie]

" It's great for big flat areas, but it doesn't deal with hills, dips and swales very well. It is so tall it eats up almost all the available ground clearance under the tractor so there's barely a couple of inches of float. If a wheel dips more than that, the weight of the tractor drives the dolly wheels down into the soil and the mower scalps the lawn."

This is very true, at 60" - any type of dip or valley is .....well, scalp city.

I have places in my little hill non level patch that I always seem to grab the 3 point lever and lift a bit!

Is the 7200 any better????