Replacement hood for BX2350

[derecskey]

Has anyone with a BX2350, BX23, BX24, etc replaced their plastic hood with a metal hood from the BX25, BX2660? I was in at my local dealer (Middlefield Farm and Garden) and they had the 2660 inside and the 2350 sitting out in the field. I took a good look and a few measurements and it sure as heck seems like the metal hood would fit the BX2350.

I am pretty sure the hood dimensions and shape are identical. I think the headlight housing may be the same shape as well. The latch position is the same. The only thing I could see that was different was where the lift arm/gas shock connect the metal version has 2 more bolts, meaning you might have to replace the lift arm piece as well.

Any thoughts? If I was a dealer, I'd try this out when I had 2 machines in the shop just to see if it works and figure I could probably move a lot of steel hoods!

My plastic hood is pretty busted up due to a mishap with a spring loaded log (I saw my life flash before my eyes). I'm not ready to replace it yet, but if and when I do, I want to go steel if that is an option.

 

[TheFlatlander]

This has been brought up quite a few times without any conclusion. I agree with you that if it were interchangeable that there would be quite a few people interested in the metal hood. I have looked at both and feel that it would be possible, but have not had the two next to each other.

 

[radioman]

flatlander said it already. it been brought up before, but nobody had the guts to try for real. I even threw it out a message to a online kubota dealer to see if they could check it out for us. No go. I have the plastic hood too and its not cracked yet but scratched up, but I am curious about the appearance of new metal hood with old plastic fenders,floorboard. I would really like to know if this is an option for me in the future if I ever have a mishap with hood. It may or not ever happen, but options are nice.

 

[derecskey]

I'm pretty sure the BX2660 at my dealer had a metal hood and plastic front side panel (uni-fender?)

 

[TheFlatlander]

I'm pretty sure the BX2660 at my dealer had a metal hood and plastic front side panel (uni-fender?)

This is true, the lower is plastic, but different than the 50 series.

 

[rdsaustintx]

Has anyone with a ... BX23 ... replaced their plastic hood with a metal hood?

BX23 hood is metal.

 

[gwdemos]

I do know first hand that the panel cover (plastic panel with wire mesh screen that sets under the dash panel, covering the battery, etc... Does integrate. The newer model features two metal support brackets with nuts & bolts that draws the plastic panel frame tighter.

prior to this fix, my panel would vibrate loose and became a major issue. the fix looks good, frame is tight, ridged and seems much more likely to last

decided to upgrade after my bird dog ripped the panel off, chewed all the wiring (yes all of it) to find a mouse under the hood.

i spent all day today soldering 20 gauge wires, everything works but the headlights now. for the life of me i cant' figure out where this one orange/brown wire goes. Apparently they only sell the entire wiring harness @ $220

the dog DID eat my homework

 

[Deano]

I do know first hand that the panel cover (plastic panel with wire mesh screen that sets under the dash panel, covering the battery, etc... Does integrate. The newer model features two metal support brackets with nuts & bolts that draws the plastic panel frame tighter.

prior to this fix, my panel would vibrate loose and became a major issue. the fix looks good, frame is tight, ridged and seems much more likely to last

THANK YOU!! gwdemos!!! I just purchased the new and improver cover when mine cracked. The new one STILL bows out...and now I know why. I did not see those supports underthe BX24 parts manual but I see them under the BX2660 parts manual. I just put the upper and lower on order!!!

Deano

 

[thavil]

THANK YOU!! gwdemos!!! I just purchased the new and improver cover when mine cracked. The new one STILL bows out...and now I know why. I did not see those supports underthe BX24 parts manual but I see them under the BX2660 parts manual. I just put the upper and lower on order!!!

Deano

Dean - Now it makes sense on why my newer BX24 doesn't have the same problem as yours does. Looking at yours last weekend, I couldn't see what was different and didn't notice that I have supports to prevent the problem with it bowing out.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Had a BX2350 and traded it for a BX2660 and had nothing to do with the difference in hoods. My BX2660 metal hood now has a dent in it from the tree limb, if it was plastic it would probably not have caused any damage. To me the difference is the tighter fit at the rear bottom of the metal hood vs the plastic hood.

 

[Deano]

Dean - Now it makes sense on why my newer BX24 doesn't have the same problem as yours does. Looking at yours last weekend, I couldn't see what was different and didn't notice that I have supports to prevent the problem with it bowing out.

Tod,

Does yours have the supports? The parts manual for our tractor does not show them. I went to the BX2660 parts manual on Messick's website.

Deano

 

[thavil]

Tod,

Does yours have the supports? The parts manual for our tractor does not show them. I went to the BX2660 parts manual on Messick's website.

Deano

If it ever quits raining, the next time I'm out in the garage, I'll check. I assume I do have the supports since my cover fits like a glove, unlike yours. I would bet that Kubota added the supports to the newer BX24's but never updated their parts manual.

 

[Deano]

Thanks Tod...let me know!!

Deano

 

[thavil]

Dean - Attached are two different pictures of the inside of my cover that came standard with my late model BX24. You will see that I do have the two support brackets and this is why my cover fits perfectly. Hope this helps.

 

[Deano]

Thanks Tod!! I have them on order. Messicks will ship them when they get them!! I will probably run mine without the cover till then.

Are you going Saturday night??

Deano

 

[thavil]

Thanks Tod!! I have them on order. Messicks will ship them when they get them!! I will probably run mine without the cover till then.

Are you going Saturday night??

Deano

Odd to me that the the brackets didn't come with your new cover. I can understand that the brackets would be a different part number but you would think that they would already be mounted on a new cover.

Per the wife, I will be there Saturday!

 

[Deano]

Tod,

The cover was just the plastic piece. The parts manual shows the part I bought and the screen , which I transferred to the plastic frame. The parts manual does not show those supports. I don't think you can buy it as an assembly.

No biggie, I will have the supports in a couple of days and put them on!!!

Your picture shows exactly how it should be!

Deano

 

[mozark]

Does anyone know if this is the third generation of this cover? I have had the first two on mine and neither had places to bolt up the metal frame. What I find interesting in one of the pictures is that the two 'forked' tabs at the bottom center look like the problematic ones on the first generation cover, that were subsequently reinforced on the second generation cover.

 

[Deano]

Does anyone know if this is the third generation of this cover? I have had the first two on mine and neither had places to bolt up the metal frame. What I find interesting in one of the pictures is that the two 'forked' tabs at the bottom center look like the problematic ones on the first generation cover, that were subsequently reinforced on the second generation cover.

Mozark,

This is more like the 4th generation.

Parts manual on Messick's states the following:
K2581-57130 Supersession to K2581-57133
K2581-57133 Supersession to K2581-57134
K2581-57134 Supersession to K2581-57135

Deano

 

[drawgs]

I recently broke my hood and the side pieces. I'm the third owner of the tractor and the sides were zip-tied on. I've been doing heavy removal of tree limbs and brush and the plastic hood and sides just busted to pieces. They are so brittle I can break them with my bare hands.

Since new parts cost $500+, I've thought about making a hood and sides from scratch out of wood, wire mesh, and metal connectors where needed. It seems like it would hold up much better, just wouldn't be very pretty, and it would be a fraction of the price. Has anyone considered this option?