Are the BX tractors top heavy and tippy?

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Especially when you buy wide turf tires and rims and its a very nice ride compared to ags or R-1-4's.

Leonz: What about with a flail mower? Wouldn't that solve any tippyness?

 

[milkman]

Mine's not even tippy on real steep angles.

 

[twinsticks]

Milkman nice tractor would love to know how you bolted up two sets of tires to your bx 23 .. I would lile to do that to mine...

 

[milkman]

Didn't want to derail this thread, but can't send you a PM, so here's a link to the thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/74076-bx-whatyacallit.html

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Didn't want to derail this thread, but can't send you a PM, so here's a link to the thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/74076-bx-whatyacallit.html

I was going to tell him somewhere you have the details posted but figured I give you a little time first.

 

[radioman]

Well- just like many of posters here, it can be tippy compared to the L series. It a lightweight tractor so having a fully loaded FEL up in air, crossing a path at an angle down hill is going to tip. operator issue?

I experienced BOTH stabilty and tippy with BH on. It depends on what you are doing. All I can tell you is that since I loaded the rears on mine, I don't feel its tippy or bouncy like it used to be and I have gotten to KNOW my BX now. knowing what your BX can do and what not to do helps, but having spacers can be a good thing . I dont think the BX is top heavy, but can be tippy when using FEL. spacers will not stop you from tipping once you start tipping. :laughing:

 

[coveredbridge]

One of the reasons I chose the bx was because it did not feel "tippy" as opposed to many of the compact tractors. It is very stable on inclines. Of course, if you ride around with a loaded FEL bucket raised up you're going to affect the COG.

 

[CT Jay]

I'm thinking of putting those same "Tracks Company" spacers that KKPop mentioned above on my BX25. My 4 acres are hilly with lots of lumpy small rock outcrops that love to lift a wheel and little depressions that do the opposite....typical Northeast hilly country. I often feel like I could tip over if I'm not careful. I put a tilt meter on the hood, and anytime I'm past 10 degrees, or feel like I'm getting to leaning too much, I go slow and think about where I'm going before 10 turns into 20 and I'm face down in the mud.

I'm thinking of 2" spacers on rear, and 4" spacers on front.

Before I go for this, though, is there any reason anyone can think of where these spacers might interfere with mounting my 54" MMM? I can't see it, but better to know what I can beforehand, instead of after I buy and install them.

Thanks guys! Love this forum!

 

[Tom_H]

Before I go for this, though, is there any reason anyone can think of where these spacers might interfere with mounting my 54" MMM? I can't see it, but better to know what I can beforehand, instead of after I buy and install them.

I would think that if anything, it would actually give a little more space for maneuvering the deck around and into position when reattaching.

 

[638]

On my bx23, 2" rear wheel spacers will not clear the antiscalp wheels on the 54" MMM. 1" maybe. I made a set of 3/4" spacers for tire chain clearence because I had 3/4" material on hand. Can't tell any differance in the stability.

 

[LBrown59]

A website that sells wheel spacers for the BX series tractors (thetrackscompany.com) says that the BX tractors are "top heavy and tippy". What are your thoughts on this matter?

Some will do anything to sell a product even if it means falsley slandering another product to make sales.

The folks selling wheel spacers want to induce you to buy their product by adding a touch of fear. BX tractors are quite stable. However, like ANY tractor, a slightly wider stance would make them more stable.
Mike

Like i said above .Some will do anything to sell a product even if it means falsley slandering another product to make sales.

Top heavy and tippy? That's completely not true. Just look at the thing; it's low and squat. It has a low center of gravity and is more stable than most other tractors.

I have to respectfully disagree with leonz, I find the ride perfectly smooth on my ag tires.

I have ags on 1 BX1500 and turfs on another BX1500.I.m pleased how both tractors ride.

I have a BX1500 and have the rear tires loaded. It is a great stable mower for the hills where I mow. When start the mower I belt up. I would like to try a set of the spacers but the spacers supposedly will not work on the BX1500. I think it is from deck clearance.

I have 2 BX1500 tractors .No loaded or filled tires .
One has AGs and the other 1 has Turfs. Stability is a reason why I bought them .

:thumbsup:

Don't know how anyone could make a lower center of gravity machine.
Nothing wrong with buying spacers, I suppose, especially for chains, but the marketing hutzpah of that outfit is pretty suspect.

Ain't that so!

 

[montelatici]

A website that sells wheel spacers for the BX series tractors (thetrackscompany.com) says that the BX tractors are "top heavy and tippy". What are your thoughts on this matter?

No, if anything they are too low.

 

[Grandad4]

I'm thinking of 2" spacers on rear, and 4" spacers on front.

Before I go for this, though, is there any reason anyone can think of where these spacers might interfere with mounting my 54" MMM? I can't see it, but better to know what I can beforehand, instead of after I buy and install them.

Don't know about the mower, but one thing to be aware of when you alter the wheel spacing on just about any vehicle is it can increase the wear of the axle components... bearings, seals, axle shafts, etc. In an automotive application, it can also booger up (technical term) steering geometry, handling and ride quality.

Can't tell you how much of an issue it would be with a BX... it would probably depend on how you used it... and it would be your call whether adding stability is worth potential issues somewhere in the future.

I would also be concerned that making the front tires 8" wider would possibly be an issue with FEL operation in a dirt pile, for example, and it would make it easier to hit immovable objects with the front wheels, which is not a good thing. Unless you have some really unusual conditions, that seems like a pretty extreme change to make.

 

[kday64]

Hi all,

It is important to note my BX2360 manual says to only go up steep hills in reverse. Sideways on hills = Bad...

~Kevin

 

[Kevinc2004]

My New BX1860V feels wonderful on slopes mowing my yard. My tires were loaded before delivery because of the FEL, This thing has a lower center of gravity than any tractor that I have ever operated on the Dairy Farm!

 

[montelatici]

Hi all,

It is important to note my BX2360 manual says to only go up steep hills in reverse. Sideways on hills = Bad...

~Kevin

Do you think any other manufacturer's lawyers would tell them to say anything different?

 

[leonz]

Leonz: What about with a flail mower? Wouldn't that solve any tippyness?

Hello John hope all is well, I am just coming back from work so-

A wide flail mower( wider than the tractor(5 foot plus) will aid stablity when on a side hill as the entire rear roller is contacting the ground and the mower is fully released and lowered, but the 15 degree angle is still the holy grail to assure stabilty with a "tilt meter".

The super wide sod farm turfs will also aid in stabilty with a flail mower with a very low ground pressure as well as long as they are loaded and or have suit case wieghts if possible.

Backing up a hill with a flail mower with loaded tires and or in 4 wheel drive wil also be duck soup as you will have a wide area of contact while backing.

I uploaded a picture of a Fort tracked tractor yesterday and its 40 horse power under the hood but with rubber tracks the worry is sliding on wet turf but thats only at steeper angles.

A set of mattracks would also be fine but the little buzzards have no biting cleats- and are always too small to float properly as they sink in snow


OH i wanted to ask you - has the new orange mule settled in and accepted the pecking order?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Hello John hope all is well, I am just coming back from work so-

A wide flail mower( wider than the tractor(5 foot plus) will aid stablity when on a side hill as the entire rear roller is contacting the ground and the mower is fully released and lowered, but the 15 degree angle is still the holy grail to assure stabilty with a "tilt meter".

The super wide sod farm turfs will also aid in stabilty with a flail mower with a very low ground pressure as well as long as they are loaded and or have suit case wieghts if possible.

Backing up a hill with a flail mower with loaded tires and or in 4 wheel drive wil also be duck soup as you will have a wide area of contact while backing.

I uploaded a picture of a Fort tracked tractor yesterday and its 40 horse power under the hood but with rubber tracks the worry is sliding on wet turf but thats only at steeper angles.

A set of mattracks would also be fine but the little buzzards have no biting cleats- and are always too small to float properly as they sink in snow


OH i wanted to ask you - has the new orange mule settled in and accepted the pecking order?

Merry CHRISTmas Leonz and family and all TBNers!
YouTube - Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby-The Christmas Song / White Christmas
The orange camo RTV1140 is snuggled under my back deck and prepared to transport some burn trash over to the burn pile in the near future. It is a bit wider than my BX's so it's a snug fit until I remove the retaing wall stones and move them over a bit. It hasn't been near the other Oranges yet so not sure if they are going to fight or get along well. I'll let them sniff each other one warm day and take a picture of their meeting.

 

[wawajake]

I also would recommend spacers in any situation when hills are involved. Or you want added benefit of easy to take on and off wheels because you have studs now to work off of instead of threaded holes?. so easy to hang the wheels .

I bought mine from Brotek , no more puker factor !!! The BX might be low because of small wheels but it is narrow and 2" spacers on the rear wheels made a quite noticeable difference.
(and it looks better too

 

[radioman]

surprisingly, lbrown makes some good points.