Yanmar owner buys a Kubota!

[284 International]

Good morning, I'm new to this forum, but happy to be here. This is a copy of a post I made on a Yanmar board of a newly (to me) purchased B6000. It's copied verbatim, but some background for you: A Yanmar 1401D is a 14 PTO horsepower, 4 wheel drive sub-compact utitility tractor. Yanmar did make a tiny tractor like the B6000, but they are very, very rare. The 1401D is about as small as Yanmars come.

Because I failed to do a detailed enough pre-purchase inspection, I got taken for a ride on this unit, so I'm going to have many questions about my rejuvenation of this hard-working little machine. I really like it so far, and in no way am I slamming Kubota. There are some comments directed to Yanmar owners, but, again it's from the perspective of a guy who has only International Harvester and Yanmar equipment, so it's a comparison, not a judgment. I hope it's interesting to you. Here it is, in its entirety:





I made a journey to the dark side, and have gotten bit.

Since the school I work for is on spring break, I've had the week off. Since it's been rainy here, and I'm too much of a wimp to work outside in the rain, I dithered around inside, watching movies, surfing the web, and reading the paper. I happened onto a deal too tempting to pass up looking at, a Kubota B6000 4wd, with a loader, that had been sitting for "several years," but was otherwise described as in good shape, though dirty, running well, with new tires up front etc etc.

The price seemed right enough to not let pass, just on principle, really, so I told the older woman that I'd take it out of her horse barn. That involved about an hour's worth of crawling around in horse muck, trying to winch it out with a come-along around a 90 degree corner, with 2 flat tires and the loader down.

Eventually I got it to where I could reach it with a set of jumper cables, and used the starter motor to hobble it out enough to reach it with a chain. Then I drug it out, and, long story short, the little guy fired up with only a bit of fiddling! Here's my little trophy, after I got it home and rolled off the trailer, but before a bath:

About 20 years of straw, mice nests, horse urine and who knows what else had covered EVERYTHING with an 1/8 inch coat of grime. It smelled really, really bad. After a few minutes carefully pressure washing things, it.....STILL smelled really bad. But there wasn't as much grime on it, so that was nice. I went to fill up the tires, and discovered that the (otherwise brand new) front tire on the right side had a finger sized hole through it. The tire shop nearby was closed, so I got to change the tractor tire and patch it with a boot and inner tube....using my tire irons from my dirt bike's tool pouch. Ugh.

The worst part about that was I happened to put the tire on backwards. I said that was too bad, I'm not changing it for awhile! Oops.

This thing is TINY. I had thought my 1401D was little. Then I got this thing. It's almost the size of a toy, literally. It makes the 1401D look massive and beastly. It's pretty funny. I'm pretty cramped on my 1401D, and it is hard to mount and dismount. The B6000 is easier to board, actually, since I can nearly stand up straddling the thing, and no more cramped except on the foot throttle.

It's a lot smaller in all dimensions, but the overall length is maybe the biggest difference. It's perhaps an entire foot shorter: In this picture the loader buckets are level with one another.

(Sharp eyes will catch the reversed front tire, and missing wheel weight.)

The machine has wheel weights on all 4 tires. I weighed the one I took off on my scale, and it's 42 lbs. I haven't pulled the rear one off yet, but it's got to weigh 3 times that, I would guess. It's none too much: Even with the weights, and tires filled with horse urine and some water, with the bucket lifted the rear is pretty light without an implement.

It came with a cute, 36 inch rollover Gannon-brand box scraper. I'd never used one before, but it's pretty nifty. I like the way the rippers can be used to loosen soil without scooping it or dragging it around.

The B6000 is kind of an oddball. It has a reverse rotating PTO, small diameter, many splined PTO. (I think this one used to have the reverser mounted, but it's missing now, though it's got the spline adapter to take the shaft to a 6 spline, conventional PTO shaft) Perplexingly to me, this one has an electric fuel pump, but an old-school oil bath air filter. It seems a bizarre combination of simplicity and complexity.

Based on this tractor alone, for the life of me I can't figure out why Kubota came to dominate the compact market. The oil dipstick is literally impossible for me to reach. I cannot do it without a pair of long needle nosed pliers, for instance. It's not a bad machine. The little 2 cylinder engine is a gem. It's smooth, quiet, and torquey. The glowplugs in conjunction with a compression release is better than my Yanmars with their non-operational Thermostarts and compression release. But the radiator cap is nearly inaccessible, and you can't see down into the radiator to check the fluid. The hood has to come off. Things like that, and the oil dipstick, seem foolishly engineered. These items will NOT be checked daily, since they are so difficult to access.

Now, the bad part, and where I got suckered for my money: There's something wrong with the right front knuckle. It is connected and doesn't grind. It will pull. But it has a lot of play and wobble in camber, much more than the other side. I need to do some research and investigate what the internals of the knuckle look like. I wish she had been honest with me about the issue. I couldn't see it when limping it out because of the flat and unseated beads on the tire. I kind of feel cheated, but I hope I can tune this little machine up a bit, and turn it over without taking too big a hit. Here's a final shot of my 1401D and this B6000.

 

[gktilton]

You beat me to that question, and also how perfect did you expect a tractor to be if it was that covered in horse (*&^ and mice nests.

 

[hodge]

Sorry that you didn't get what you expected. But, I have to say two things, besides welcome to OTT. One, I don't know all of the circumstances, but I would be surprised if the lady selling the tractor knew the condition of it. So, she can't be much to blame. But, in all of your work to pull it out, you had to notice things- in other words, why did you pay for it, without further investigation? With all sincerity, you chose to buy it, and so you have to take what you got. I have jumped on things before, without looking closely enough. And, it was my fault- I made the choice to buy it.
Maybe the 6000 is a little odd ball, but certainly not a representation of all Kubota's. My B7100 is easy to access, well thought out, plain and simple, and a lot of tractor in a little package. We had a Yanmar, and while it was a good, solid, reliable tractor, it had its quirks, too. And, it was much harder to start than my 7100. In real cold weather, forget starting the Yanmar. No tractor is perfect. Appreciate the good, correct as much of the bad as possible, and use it.

 

[284 International]

I apologize if it sounded like I was coming down on Kubotas in general. I tried to say that in my preface, but, in retrospect, especially as a first post, it may seem more negative in fresh company than it did to people on a board who have some background with me. I am sorry.

To answer some of the questions/comments:

I paid for it. I took it home. It's my fault for choosing to buy something. I understand all of that. I didn't focus on the details of why I felt misled, and that was, probably, another error on my part. Let me give some more details.

Here is the story I was given by the woman I bought it from: The tractor had been the older woman's, who had used it until she was unable to get on and off the tractor anymore, because of her age. She parked it in the horse stall, everything being in good shape, etc etc. It sat there until she was forced into moving out of her home, where I came in. I was told that everything was in perfect operating condition, and ready to use after charging the battery, cleaning it off, and airing up the tires.

As I was slowly pulling it out, though, she began to tell me to be very careful, or I might "mess up" the tire. She said that the rim may be damaged by me pulling it up the ramps onto my trailer, or fall off. That sort of thing. The bead on the right front tire (where the damage is) was off the rim, so I didn't see the wobbling of the knuckle, since the tire was flopping all around.

Again, I paid the price for an error, of my own. I should have jacked it up, checked all the bearings and axles for wobble, and stuff like that. I didn't. I wound up with a machine having issues I could have discovered before handing over the money.

I also don't think that excuses her behavior, telling me everything was fine and dandy, when she knew it wasn't. In hindsight, EVERY remark she made was somehow relating to the right front tire being damaged by what I was doing, because it was flat, even though the others were flat as well. At the time, I dismissed it as "grandma" talking about something she should just let alone. But once it was said and done, loaded on the trailer and paid for, she said "Now, if anything's broken, it's your fault, I told you to be careful pulling it out." She knew there was trouble, and lied about it, in my view. That's my gripe.

I failed to be vigilant and look hard enough for more serious issues than grime. She also shouldn't have told me something that's not true. It's a past issue now. I have the tractor, she has the money. I'll repair it and use it, or sell it, or whatever. It's a really neat little machine, I'm super eager to get it operable. I should have been more careful. I hope others can learn from my error. And, fortunately, I'm pretty mechanically able, have a good set of tools, a shop, and enough spare time that I'll learn something about the machine, rather than be stuck with a tool I needed, but cannot use.

I didn't expect it to be perfect, shiny, or anything unreasonable like that. I did expect it to be as described: Dirty but mechanically sound. If she had said "There's something weird with the front right tire," I'd have been fine with her description. I also wouldn't have been misled.

I don't need a pity party. I can deal with things. I was, and am, annoyed that I was told things that aren't true. That's all. And, look how cute my new little tractor is!

Again, I apologize to those whom I offended, and for coming across rudely.

 

[hodge]

I apologize if it sounded like I was coming down on Kubotas in general. I tried to say that in my preface, but, in retrospect, especially as a first post, it may seem more negative in fresh company than it did to people on a board who have some background with me. I am sorry.

To answer some of the questions/comments:

I paid for it. I took it home. It's my fault for choosing to buy something. I understand all of that. I didn't focus on the details of why I felt misled, and that was, probably, another error on my part. Let me give some more details.

Here is the story I was given by the woman I bought it from: The tractor had been the older woman's, who had used it until she was unable to get on and off the tractor anymore, because of her age. She parked it in the horse stall, everything being in good shape, etc etc. It sat there until she was forced into moving out of her home, where I came in. I was told that everything was in perfect operating condition, and ready to use after charging the battery, cleaning it off, and airing up the tires.

As I was slowly pulling it out, though, she began to tell me to be very careful, or I might "mess up" the tire. She said that the rim may be damaged by me pulling it up the ramps onto my trailer, or fall off. That sort of thing. The bead on the right front tire (where the damage is) was off the rim, so I didn't see the wobbling of the knuckle, since the tire was flopping all around.

Again, I paid the price for an error, of my own. I should have jacked it up, checked all the bearings and axles for wobble, and stuff like that. I didn't. I wound up with a machine having issues I could have discovered before handing over the money.

I also don't think that excuses her behavior, telling me everything was fine and dandy, when she knew it wasn't. In hindsight, EVERY remark she made was somehow relating to the right front tire being damaged by what I was doing, because it was flat, even though the others were flat as well. At the time, I dismissed it as "grandma" talking about something she should just let alone. But once it was said and done, loaded on the trailer and paid for, she said "Now, if anything's broken, it's your fault, I told you to be careful pulling it out." She knew there was trouble, and lied about it, in my view. That's my gripe.

I failed to be vigilant and look hard enough for more serious issues than grime. She also shouldn't have told me something that's not true. It's a past issue now. I have the tractor, she has the money. I'll repair it and use it, or sell it, or whatever. It's a really neat little machine, I'm super eager to get it operable. I should have been more careful. I hope others can learn from my error. And, fortunately, I'm pretty mechanically able, have a good set of tools, a shop, and enough spare time that I'll learn something about the machine, rather than be stuck with a tool I needed, but cannot use.

I didn't expect it to be perfect, shiny, or anything unreasonable like that. I did expect it to be as described: Dirty but mechanically sound. If she had said "There's something weird with the front right tire," I'd have been fine with her description. I also wouldn't have been misled.

I don't need a pity party. I can deal with things. I was, and am, annoyed that I was told things that aren't true. That's all. And, look how cute my new little tractor is!

Again, I apologize to those whom I offended, and for coming across rudely.

I, for one, am not offended. In light of the initial information given, it was hard for me to understand why you would be upset, if you didn't do your due diligence. Knowing more now, I agree that she manipulated you. I concure- she knew that something wasn't right, and she alluded that if you found it later, it would probably be because of how you pulled it out- shift the blame onto you. That changes the story quite a bit.
Oh well, life is tough sometimes, whether we bring it on ourselves, or others put it on us. At least you are looking at the glass half full, and have the ability to make the most of it.
Mark

 

[284 International]

Mark- Thanks for the reply. I didn't mean to get off on the wrong foot here. I'm looking forward to participating in the community.

I know you didn't mean it this way, but I would have been upset whether I did my due diligence or not. I don't think it's right for the seller to lie about the condition of the machine, period. Could I have found it if I looked more? Yes. And, she wasn't honest. My laziness doesn't justify her deception in my view.

Out of curiosity, what do other people do when buying a used machine? Do you really bring a floor jack, crank it up, and check the knuckles for wobble, the rear axles for play, and so on?

I'm over the situation with the seller. It's too late anyway, and it's not reasonable to ask for some of my money back. She has the fact that she was telling me to be careful on her side, too. I didn't make anything worse, that's for sure, but... hiring a mechanic to sign an affidavit about the damage would likely cost me as much as I could get back anyway. It's done. I've got the knuckle apart now, and need to order a lower bearing and kingpin. Then it will be good to go, in that area, at least.

 

[gktilton]

I have only purchase 3 tractors in my life, and I drove 2 before purchasing. The 3rd was purchased as non running and I knew I was taking my chances.

 

[284 International]

I posted a thread about my repairs to this B6000. It was a lot simpler than it could have been! It still needs some attention, but it could have been much worse. It still may get that way when I try to use it a little bit! I hope not though, and it seems sound otherwise.