Bagger for bx2230

[treestander]

I need a good bagger for large yard. I have other Kubotas so tried a bx2230 with bagger. At first the dealer brought out just the tractor. We loved it. Finally I picked up the bagger myself. After that nothing but frustration. The grass was long so after shearing 3 grade 5 shear pins and many plugged shutes and then going really slow and stopping everytime the boot showed a collection of grass and letting it be vacuumed up the shute I decided it must be too wet. So I brought my 13 year old G2000 with its 13year old side mount blower/bagger out and mowed without problem!! What's up!!!I've been following this forum for a little while and there are a lot of good ideas out there. I've also noticed that sometimes there might be a little hedging since when we've spent significant doe we hate to admit maybe there was a better solution. Does the bagger on the bx2230 with the 60"MMM really work?? I've noticed there was already one on the forum who was shearing pins and another was frustrated with bagger and quit using it. Currently the dealer came and got the unit and said maybe the boot was wrong even though the boot fit over the discharge tightly. I haven't purchased it yet and would like some honest advice.

 

[bluecon1]

I find that for regular cutting, the bagger on my BX2200 works well. If it gets too long or wet, it's a real PIA.

 

[bxbuster]

I'm not sure what you are cutting to cause so many problems? I've used my bagger heavily for two years and have never sheared any pins as reported. I chew up sticks, pop cans etc. I feel that the bags are holding up very well. I wish it were a hydraulic dumping model with more capacity but on the other hand I couldn't be without it. I'm wondering if the shear pin issues are caused from improper assembly or?

 

[surfran]

I have this bagger on my BX1800 and it works great. I admit it is a PIA to mount and unmount but performance has not been an issue. I did shear a bolt the first time I used it and assumed it was from hitting a stick. I replaced with grade 5 bolt bought locally at TSC and have not had a problem since. I have even sucked up green pine cones a few times and didn't shear the pin.

I have sucked up 8-12" deep leaves last fall at a very slow speed and frequent dumping, but it did it.

I do admit to plugging the chute once in a while, but that is typically because of wet grass and moving too fast or not realizing I already filled the bags /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Here is a link to an earlier post of mine which shows some leaves I picked up when I first bought it. This was spring time and the leaves were somewhat wet underneath but it did a great job then.

BX Grass Catcher

Another thing to check on the 60" MMM it requires a deflector plate to be added to the deck to angle the grass back into the chute. My guess is that if your using a loaner this is not in place and may be part of your problem. I also suspect if you are shearing pins that something is wrong with the blower you have on loan. I think that is the other members issue as well with respect to shearing many pins unless someone is really sucking up sticks (which by the way I don't stop to move unless there more than 1/2" diameter).

That's my 2 cents on performance. Now all being said, I do not know if it is really worth the $1600 it costs to buy, but my wife insisted we have it and it really is great not having to rake any longer /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[treestander]

Thanks Surfran for the response. I had already looked at your pictures before and noticed your leaf bagging success. The deflector was in place but still ther seems to be a collection of grass in the boot before the vacuum can suck them up the chute. Maybe the dealer was right that the boot is wrong. Any idea why Kubota went to the vacuum instead of the side blower? Thanks again.

 

[murphyg]

I have been using the bagger for about a year and found that it works well as long as the orange tube does not sag in the middle. Generally after using the tractor I put a gas can under the tube and that tends to make it more level when actually mowing. Also there is definite trick to taking off and installing the bagger. I have some instructions from the factory that really helps. The real key is to make sure you have some pieces of wood, boards, under the stands so that there is no space between the floor and the stand. If you want let me know your email and I will send the instructions to you.

 

[surfran]

I don't have any experience with past Kubota's or their designs.

I would still suspect something wrong with the unit you had if it is sheering pins. To me that says something is not turing freely and may not be developing as much suction as is normal. I also run mine nearly full throttle so I am running the PTO at/near the 540.

 

[treestander]

Thanks murphyg and surfran, I'm going to the dealer this AM since he has changed the boot and thinks it is working now. He has some grass to mow near his shop we will try it out. I agree that usually when a shear pin goes there is something binding or misaligned or something. When I was running the unit I could see a collection of grass in the boot being sucked up as wad and hear the blower pull down if it went through vs at times shear. I was running full throttle and when I was engaging the PTO I was throttled down. Thanks again and murphyg I have asked for your instructions.

 

[murphyg]

TreeStander,

I did not get your email so you will have to tell me you email if you want me to send the directions to you.

Greg

 

[pintodeluxe]

the other thing to consider is the gearbox on the baggers increases the impeller speed by a ratio of 4:1. If you are at WOT and the PTO is spinning at 540 rpm, then the impeller is spinning approx. 2160 rpm. This is one reason people break shear bolts. The other reason is the design of the shear bolt. It is a shoulder bolt that cuts down to a small diameter, thus making it weaker. My dealer said it was okay to drill hole out for a larger bolt.

 

[pintodeluxe]

Yes, I would love an email with the factory instructions for mounting the Kubota bagger more easily. Please send to pintodeluxe@aol.com
thanks so much!

I have been using the bagger for about a year and found that it works well as long as the orange tube does not sag in the middle. Generally after using the tractor I put a gas can under the tube and that tends to make it more level when actually mowing. Also there is definite trick to taking off and installing the bagger. I have some instructions from the factory that really helps. The real key is to make sure you have some pieces of wood, boards, under the stands so that there is no space between the floor and the stand. If you want let me know your email and I will send the instructions to you.