Riding mower vs BX

[dougtrr2]

I have a BX24 with mower, loader and backhoe. I am on nine acres of hilly forest with maybe 2+ acres being mowed. I have the 54" deck because of narrow forest paths.

I leave my mower on for most of the time, even when doing light dirt work. I do take it off when using the backhoe. Changeover is not too bad, but I am on concrete in a garage.

Sometimes I wish I had a blower, but in the 18 years I have owned this tractor I could count on one hand the times a blower would have been truly needed.

Doug in SW IA

 

[KennyG]

Just a question. Are you getting a loader? A CUT without a loader doesn't make sense to me. How much more for the drive over? I didn't know they even made non drive overs anymore.

 

[KennyG]

A BX mows flat out in low range at 3.5 MPH. A garden tractor with the Hydrogear G730 mows at 8 MPH and a Garden tractor with a Tuff Torq K66 mows at 6.5 MPH according to GPS. I own both. The BX would be a horrible mower in that it is slow, heavy and costly. A Husqvarna 354DX with a Kawasaki FR730 engine and Tuff Torq K66 is the value leader in garden tractors at $4,499 currently. At that price point, I do not know of another brand that competes.

Why would you mow in low range? With my JD I mow in high range as fast as I can go without getting bucked off.

 

[JJZ 109]

I bought a BX2380 a couple of years ago for general maintenance on 2 acres. A John Deere X394 4 wheel steer is the primary mower. But I use the BX's 60 inch MMM on my lot next to the house that's a little rougher. I also use the BX to mow in early spring wet conditions due to the 4x4. The LA344 loader is a breeze to take off for mowing.
The deck is a little bit of a pain to remove but I'm sure it'd get easier if I did it more than spring and fall or if it needs to be pressure washed to remove buildup.
One thing to consider is are you going to use the 3 point hitch for anything during mowing season? I ask because I'd love to keep my ballast box on full time but it drags on the ground if the mower deck is lowered, as the lift arms move up & down with the deck. Fortunately I have a skid steer if any lifting or heavier duty grading/dirt or stone moving is required. So I don't have to remove the deck to reinstall the box on the BX frequently.
But I do remove the deck to clean & lube in the fall and leave it off all winter. Then the ballast box goes on for the winter even though it is not often used for snow removal because the skid steer has a heated cab.

 

[TobyH]

I've owned my BX2200 for almost 20 years. I have no idea why someone would mow in low range. I mow wide open throttle in high. 7mph, no issues, just slow down a bit in high grass. I take the deck off multiple times during the summer to use the loader. It doesn't take long. Sometimes I leave it on for ballast. I have a BX2750 snowblower. That thing moves snow at an unbelievable speed. If you may be taking in gravel, have spare sheer pins.

 

[iptman]

Get the cheapest commercial quality zero turn mower you can find. Even a used unit with 200-300 hours. Using a ZT to mow will take you half or less time than a tractor mounted MMM or garden tractor/mower.

 

[Tony H]

I always like the idea of a tractor that can do mowing rather then lawn tractor that can almost do yard duty. I'd think about the BX with rear mount (PTO driven) finishing mower

 

[Tony H]

About 6 inches.

Bravo X-ray, look into Clarence modification for your JD Blower. Don't buy the actual kit, buy some 4" wide belting, cut and Bolt onto your Impellers. Shoot will stay clear even on the slushy days.

 

[Robocop5626]

Hello everyone!

Should I sell my riding mower/snow blower and buy the MMM and snow blower for my upcoming BX23s purchase? What are your thoughts on the MMM and the BX2816 snow blower?

I’ve been reading through many posts and have found the forum a very helpful resource so I’m hoping you guys can help me. I live on 3.5 acres in rural Idaho and am hoping to work on improving my property this year as it needs a lot of TLC. About an acre of the land is sloping forest that I do not plan to improve. My needs include tending my garden, light brush removal, moderate snow removal, 300 feet of gravel driveway to maintain and about an acre of mowing. I am also going to be doing light (small) stump removal, putting some fences in, trenching French drains, and trenching electrical and maybe water lines. I’ve decided that a BX23s would be perfect for my needs. There are other brands available but I like the local Kubota dealership and there is very good resale for Orange in my area. I currently own a Husqvarna TS354XD with the 54in deck and a 42in Agrifab front snow blower. I have been very happy with this set up and have found the blower indispensable for my situation. Plowing snow doesn’t work as well for my situation. I wanted the BX previously but was not able to afford it until now. I can cover the cost of the non drive over MMM (RCK54-23BX) and the front mounted snow blower (BX2816) by selling my current setup.
Even though I am happy with the Husky setup, I am not sure that the belt driven snowblower will have quite the longevity of the PTO driven 2816 blower. I also like the idea of only having one engine to store/maintain.

Thoughts?

Thank you.

I bought a bx23D about 10 yrs ago. It was a TLB and I added the 4 foot mid-mount mower to cut about 2 acres of yard. It consistently took me four to four and a half hours to mow. Note the backhoe and bucket were off on storage dollies. Cutting required extreme vigilance to avoid obstacles. Lots of short backups to change direction.
Last year I bought a 54 inch zero turn mower and my cutting time was halved to 2 hours as a rule. Still love my tractor, but that mower excels for both yards, especially since my backyard is a terraced slope too.

 

[Idahomestead]

I bought a BX2380 a couple of years ago for general maintenance on 2 acres. A John Deere X394 4 wheel steer is the primary mower. But I use the BX's 60 inch MMM on my lot next to the house that's a little rougher. I also use the BX to mow in early spring wet conditions due to the 4x4. The LA344 loader is a breeze to take off for mowing.
The deck is a little bit of a pain to remove but I'm sure it'd get easier if I did it more than spring and fall or if it needs to be pressure washed to remove buildup.
One thing to consider is are you going to use the 3 point hitch for anything during mowing season? I ask because I'd love to keep my ballast box on full time but it drags on the ground if the mower deck is lowered, as the lift arms move up & down with the deck. Fortunately I have a skid steer if any lifting or heavier duty grading/dirt or stone moving is required. So I don't have to remove the deck to reinstall the box on the BX frequently.
But I do remove the deck to clean & lube in the fall and leave it off all winter. Then the ballast box goes on for the winter even though it is not often used for snow removal because the skid steer has a heated cab.

I would plan on using box blade on the 3pt during warmer months