BX MMM

[Wacky]

Which one of the decks offered by Kubota has the cast iron gears and which is aluminum??? Or are they both the same?? The dealer told me yesterday that the non-fine cut one has the cast gears vs the fine cut. Just checking on the dealers truth telling skills. And he said to fill the BX 25 tires, where as the manual says not to, so which is true? And finally, can u put a woods back hoe on a BX 2660 or not because the frame is not made for it? I see they make aftermarket back hoes just wondering if they do damage the frames on the non-back hoe reinforced machines. Thanks for all the info available on this website. Just trying to pick between Massey and Kubota now:confused3:

 

[Tom_H]

If you buy a Woods BH6000, a subframe specifically designed for your tractor will come with it. This will reinforce the frame and give all the support needed for the bh.

 

[Wacky]

Thanks Tom! Does this affect the factory warranty at all?? And is the price and power a better value than the Kubota brand?

 

[ChuckinNH]

If you want a backhoe for sure, the BX25 will be the most economical way to get it, and the hoe is very compatible with anything offered aftermarket. Can't help on the mmm's.

 

[TripleR]

Woods makes really good stuff, have some of their equipment, but unless you already own a 2660 and buying new, I would get the BX25 rather than the 2660 and Woods BH.

 

[bp fick]

If you are thinking about getting a tractor and then adding mower and/or backhoe piece-meal later, do realize it more expensive going that route, such additions won't likely finance for zero percent and simply won't have the re-sale value that a factory combined unit, such as the BX25 would have.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[radioman]

listen to bp fick. Also getting a BH built in is a nice feature. Woods BH has it own subframe you need to add on.

That is the first I heard of the MMM cast iron vs aluminum gears. But I can tell you that a regular deck cuts nice IMHO. I wanted a fine cut, but glad I went with regular deck.

As for filling tires- sigh! I saw that in the manual too with BH on but it doesnt list why not. However they talk about HOW to properly fill the tires. go figure!
I have a BX24 and I went nearly 2 years without filled tires and got them filled. Let me tell you - I ADORE filled tires in my BX!!! With the filled tires and BH work- much more stable. I don't think there will be a issue with filled tires. :2cents: get them filled and be done with it.

 

[Tom_H]

Thanks Tom! Does this affect the factory warranty at all?? And is the price and power a better value than the Kubota brand?

Does not affect warranty, but I'd have a Kubota dealer install it. It's cheaper just to just buy a BX25. BX25 costs about $3500 more than a BX2360, but a Woods BH6000 installed is $5K to $6K. (BX25 is closer to BX2360 than to BX2660, except for BH.) Costs to install subframe, retrofit hydraulics, seat. etc. are reason for difference. If you already own a BX with a 4-digit number, then it's cheaper to buy the Woods than to trade in for a BX25. Search Kubota archives for "BH6000". There's a ton of info on this subject.

 

[Wacky]

Looks like I am going for the BX25. The only thing that I need to figure out is the reason that they do not recommend filling the tires? I live in very steep terrain and was reading about wheel spacers. Not sure I want to do that with the extra weight of the hoe on the bearings, and seals being amplified. The only drawback to the BX is the brake on the same side as the accelerators. Looks like it would be hard to stop and go on the steep hills out here, two footing on one side of the tractor looks dangerous. Wish it was set up like the Massey!!! Thanks all again!!

 

[TripleR]

Looks like I am going for the BX25. The only thing that I need to figure out is the reason that they do not recommend filling the tires? I live in very steep terrain and was reading about wheel spacers. Not sure I want to do that with the extra weight of the hoe on the bearings, and seals being amplified. The only drawback to the BX is the brake on the same side as the accelerators. Looks like it would be hard to stop and go on the steep hills out here, two footing on one side of the tractor looks dangerous. Wish it was set up like the Massey!!! Thanks all again!!

Don't worry about the brakes, when you release the HST the tractor stops even on a steep hill; never use mine except for park. I also have a John Deere 2305 on another property and it has the brake on the left; never use it either. I use the Kubota and John Deere both on very steep terrain.

From reading posts on here, I think a significant number of BX23,24,25 owners load their tires.

 

[Tom_H]

Don't worry about the brakes, when you release the HST the tractor stops even on a steep hill; never use mine except for park. I also have a John Deere 2305 on another property and it has the brake on the left; never use it either. I use the Kubota and John Deere both on very steep terrain.

From reading posts on here, I think a significant number of BX23,24,25 owners load their tires.

My BX is 10 years old. It is now at the point that it will roll on a steep hill if I don't put the brake on.

If you load the tires and have FEL and backhoe on while mowing with MMM, that can be enough pressure to affect a moist lawn in a sharp turn, especially if you forgot and left the tractor in 4wd. Some feel you don't need extra ballast if you already have implements and ag tires. Others do. It depends on the application you're going to do. I personally use ag tires all the time now. The turfs would spin if I was plowing or ripping, yet the ags do no harm at all to the lawn. My extra set of turfs have been sitting under the house in the crawl space for 8 years now. I recommend just going with ag tires.

 

[DGS]

Looks like I am going for the BX25. The only thing that I need to figure out is the reason that they do not recommend filling the tires? I live in very steep terrain and was reading about wheel spacers. Not sure I want to do that with the extra weight of the hoe on the bearings, and seals being amplified. The only drawback to the BX is the brake on the same side as the accelerators. Looks like it would be hard to stop and go on the steep hills out here, two footing on one side of the tractor looks dangerous. Wish it was set up like the Massey!!! Thanks all again!!

The reason for not filling the rear tires is you already have weight on your rear with the backhoe so adding more would be too much weight out back. If on the other hand if one doesn't have a backhoe on then loading would be ok. If you had the woods the same would apply.
Regards
DGS

 

[Grandad4]

The reason for not filling the rear tires is you already have weight on your rear with the backhoe so adding more would be too much weight out back. If on the other hand if one doesn't have a backhoe on then loading would be ok. If you had the woods the same would apply.
Regards
DGS

Just a guess on my part, but the combination of a backhoe and filled tires may add too much weight for the ROPS to do its job properly in a rollover.
That's what they told me on my larger Kubota when we added the factory backhoe. I'm guessing the lawyers prevailed over the marketing guys when they had a meeting about it at Kubota hq

 

[Tom_H]

While the loaded tires might or might not move the center of gravity further to the rear of a TLB, the extra weight does nothing at all to cause the tractor to be more likely to tip over backwards. In such a case, the rear tires themselves are the fulcrum upon which the complete rig pivots. More weight in front of that fulcrum makes it less likely that the tractor would tip backwards. More weight behind the fulcrum makes it more likely that the tractor will tip backwards. More weight in the fulcrum itself has a neutral effect. Any vectored forces have a summative value of zero in the physics equation.

Now if you are on a muddy hillside, the vectors are different. The heavier total mass could have any number of effects depending upon coefficient of friction, soil structure, etc. On flat ground, with all other things being the same, however, loaded rears do absolutely nothing to make a tractor more likely to tip backwards from a math/physics perspective.

 

[Wacky]

I will be mowing without the BH, or FEL on for now, don't want to grab the deck or house with that thing sticking out the back or front plus I think it would be much easier to get around the yard. So I guess I will fill them.
:thumbsup:
Just called to check on a few prices and the salesman said that the price I was quoted for the BX 25 may not be good till the end of May. I was hoping to wait to put some more money down! Now he said there may be a price increase by then. I would not think that Kubota would do that in the middle of the promotion, but who knows. I guess we will be going in to order one soon!!!

 

[dougtrr2]

I would add it will stop if you are on the low side and in 4-wheel. Heavily loaded like with a FEL of firewood and a cart full of firewood I am told it can almost get away from you on a downhill. DAMHIKT. Since "hearing" about that I always stop at the top of a hill and double check my settings.

Take Care
Doug in SW IA

 

[SPYDERLK]

I dont believe there are any with aluminum gears. They would be too soft and weak. The 54" mmm I have does use an aluminum bracket to hold the gearbox tho. I broke 2 of them [expensive and weak] before I made a steel bracket to replace it.
larry

 

[SPYDERLK]

While the loaded tires might or might not move the center of gravity further to the rear of a TLB, the extra weight does nothing at all to cause the tractor to be more likely to tip over backwards. In such a case, the rear tires themselves are the fulcrum upon which the complete rig pivots. More weight in front of that fulcrum makes it less likely that the tractor would tip backwards. More weight behind the fulcrum makes it more likely that the tractor will tip backwards. More weight in the fulcrum itself has a neutral effect. Any vectored forces have a summative value of zero in the physics equation.

Now if you are on a muddy hillside, the vectors are different. The heavier total mass could have any number of effects depending upon coefficient of friction, soil structure, etc. On flat ground, with all other things being the same, however, loaded rears do absolutely nothing to make a tractor more likely to tip backwards from a math/physics perspective.

Any mass added to the rears increases backtip tendency during acceleration. This is because the mass is above the tire contact patch where the accelerative force is delivered. Same idea on a slope, where a component of G provides the acceleration force even if the tractor is not gaining speed. If it is gaining speed its a double whammy.
larry

 

[bp fick]

This is fun! This thread is beginning to sound a lot like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory!!
I love physics.

 

[Wacky]

Any mass added to the rears increases backtip tendency during acceleration. This is because the mass is above the tire contact patch where the accelerative force is delivered. Same idea on a slope, where a component of G provides the acceleration force even if the tractor is not gaining speed. If it is gaining speed its a double whammy.
larry

Sooo... basically the liquid in the tires are forced opposite the direction in which the tractor is moving up a hill moving the balance point back increasing the tendency to roll?? If so, what would this do while "side sloping" the hill?? Are the loaded tires so close to the ground for the risk of rollover to be diminished?
I'm not so sure there is a really benefit of loading tires on such a narrow, low setting machine. Maybe if the BH is off and your FEL is loaded. But just for basic mowing, not sold. Wonder if the bolt on weights would be more beneficial?