BX 1830 what to pay?

[putts]

My local dealer has a 2005 BX 1830 with FEL (LA211-1) and 54" mower deck (RCK54-22BX). IT has around 450 hours on it and the 3-point hitch appears as though it has never been used. It appears to be in excellent condition. The ealer said he would also throw in a 54" blade that would attach to the loader frame(with bucket removed). The dealer wants $9700 out the door and said that he would give me $700 for my 1982 simplicity landlord for a trade.

Is $9000 out the door a good price?

Also should the fel be able to pick the front end off the ground? When I tried to pick the front end up using the bucket at the dealer it would not lift the tires off of the ground.

Thanks in advance,

putts

 

[bx24d]

I think it should lift the tires off the ground. This is a technique used frequently with similarly powered tractors equipped with backhoes. I would get on a new 1860, 2360 or 24 at the dealer and try the same thing. The price is so-so. I would price out a new 1850 at the dealer to compare. I've bypassed used units before because the financing on new units was so attractive. Depends if financing is important to you. Is the front blade he's offering hydraulic?

 

[putts]

I will be able to finance it through Kubota at 1.25% interest.

The blade will attach to the loader frame so it will raise and lower with the hydraulics, but it will have a manual angle adjustment.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

To lift front end off ground try tilting the bucket till lower front edge of bucket is what's touching the ground then push the bucket down and see if it will lift it.

 

[bx24d]

I will be able to finance it through Kubota at 1.25% interest.

The blade will attach to the loader frame so it will raise and lower with the hydraulics, but it will have a manual angle adjustment.

It's a small point but is the blade spring loaded? The FEL arms are not really meant for plowing. A sping loaded or trip blade construction would help prevent any damage to the loader arms if you should hit something while plowing.

 

[Stargazer]

Yes it should lift front end but were you just a idle? My BX-23 (almost same as yours) needs a little horsey to lift. Also agree about loader arms NOT being designed to blade with esp in dirt/rock. If needed for snow suggest 6' rear blade and leave bucket on. Also think price is so-so but depends on where you are located

 

[LBrown59]

The blade will attach to the loader frame so it will raise and lower with the hydraulics, but
*it will have a manual angle adjustment.

*Get a blade with hyd angle.
Manual is a PITA especially on cold bone chilling winter days climbing on and off the tractor constantly to angle the blade trying to plow snow.

I think it should lift the tires off the ground. This is a technique used frequently with similarly powered tractors equipped with backhoes. I would get on a new 1860, 2360 or 24 at the dealer and try the same thing. The price is so-so. I would price out a new 1850 at the dealer to compare. I've bypassed used units before because the financing on new units was so attractive. Depends if financing is important to you.** Is the front blade he's offering hydraulic?

**Nope .

 

[putts]

I am going to try to negotiate a better price tomorrow. Any suggestions?

I have the machine at my property for a demo and it will easily lift the front end off of the ground with the fel.

 

[FarmNut]

You can probably get a NEW BX1860 with similar equipment and 0% financing for somewhere between $12,000 and $13,000. I was recently quoted prices between $13,000 and $13,500 at two different dealerships for a new BX2360 with FEL and 60"MMM before I decided to get the B7510. I believe the difference in price between the 1860 and the 2360 is a little over $1,000. So, if you still want to go used, $9,700 sounds like a fair price, but not a steal. If you can get it for $9,000 or less in the condition its in, you will probably have a fair deal. Note that there are several BX1850s, similarly equiped with fewer hours on TractorHouse: Used Tractors at TractorHouse.com: John Deere Tractors, used farm tractors and farm equipment, Case IH, New Holland, Agco, Caterpillar. for around $9,500.

 

[putts]

I think I'm going to take the plunge tomorrow and get the machine. When I first tried the machine out I was not at all impressed with the digging ability and felt the machine was very unstable. Feeling a little disappointed I called the dealership and told them to come get it. I seemed like the machine was over kill for cutting my small lawn and not big enough to use the bucket the way that I would want to.

Since it looked as though the 3 point hitch was never used I just assumed that the tires were loaded since the fel looked like it had been used a good bit. When I checked the tires there was no fluid in them and I figured that the lack of a counter weight might have been reason for the poor digging and instability. I talked to the dealer the next day and he told me to come to the dealership to get a ballast box that I could attach to the machine. Once I hooked up the loaded ballast box it was an entirely different machine! The ballast box made a huge difference in digging ability (traction) and stability.

So I have decided to buy the machine for $9,000 including tax and my trade and got the dealer to include the ballast box in on the deal. After searching really hard on the internet and calling dealerships I couldn't find a much better deal here in Pennsylvania. Overall I think I got a pretty good deal considering the machine looks like it is brand new and comes with the attachments I need.

I would also like to let everyone know that used machines at dealerships are eligible to finance on a Kubota charge at 1.25% percent interest which is the only reason that I considered this machine.

 

[FarmNut]

An all in price of $9K sounds pretty good for the tractor with those attachments. I think you will be very happy with your new toy.... I mean tool.

 

[LBrown59]

1*Since it looked as though the 3 point hitch was never used I just assumed that the tires were loaded since the FEL looked like it had been used a good bit.
When I checked the tires there was no fluid in them and
2*I figured that the lack of a counter weight might have been reason for the poor digging and instability. I talked to the dealer the next day and he told me to come to the dealership to get a ballast box that I could attach to the machine.
3*Once I hooked up the loaded ballast box it was an entirely different machine!
4*The ballast box made a huge difference in digging ability (traction) and stability.

1*Neither 1 of these is an indicator of wether or not the tires have been filled.
2*What do you mean might of been It certainly was why.
3*Of course it was that's no surprise.
4* No tractor should be operated with the FEL and no counter balance .

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

1
4* No tractor should be operated with the FEL and no counter balance .

4* Says who?

 

[putts]

1*Neither 1 of these is an indicator of wether or not the tires have been filled.
2*What do you mean might of been It certainly was why.
3*Of course it was that's no surprise.
4* No tractor should be operated with the FEL and no counter balance .

1* Since the machine had 450 hrs on it and the only thing that didn't look like brand new was the bucket I assumed that some type of counter weight must have been used. Since the 3 point hitch was never used I figured that the tires were loaded.

So the guy that owned the machine previously only must have moved mulch and saw dust or weighed over 500 lbs... or maybe he was just crazy.

2&3* I was sure that the ballast box would make a difference but didn't know how big of a difference.

4* I agree with you. To use the fel to its full potential you need a counter weight. If you are only going to move light material on relatively level ground where traction will not be an issue you could probably get away without having a counter weight.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

4* I agree with you. To use the fel to its full potential you need a counter weight. If you are only going to move light material on relatively level ground where traction will not be an issue you could probably get away without having a counter weight.

Bought my first tractor 5 years ago, a BX2200 MMM FEL turf tires not filled. Traded it for a B7800 FEL Filled tires, traded that for a L3240HST filled tires and traded that to a B3200 FEL filled tires. I have 5 acres of hillside, rocky, treed land. I moved alot of rocks and dirt with the BX2200 and because it done so much I traded it to the B7800 for higher ground clearance. Sure glad I didn't know I couldn't/shouldn't move all that I did for a year on hillside property without counter weight. Sure counter weight will give more traction and stability but can't do it seems rather absolute. I really think it depends more on the load and greatest efficiency than can't or shouldn't.

 

[FarmNut]

Bought my first tractor 5 years ago, a BX2200 MMM FEL turf tires not filled. Traded it for a B7800 FEL Filled tires, traded that for a L3240HST filled tires and traded that to a B3200 FEL filled tires. I have 5 acres of hillside, rocky, treed land. I moved alot of rocks and dirt with the BX2200 and because it done so much I traded it to the B7800 for higher ground clearance. Sure glad I didn't know I couldn't/shouldn't move all that I did for a year on hillside property without counter weight. Sure counter weight will give more traction and stability but can't do it seems rather absolute. I really think it depends more on the load and greatest efficiency than can't or shouldn't.

I think everyone agrees that it depends on load weight and ground conditions. LBrown is often absolute with his opinion on things, but even he didn't say that you "can't do it." I notice that all of your tires have been filled since the BX2200, so even you must admit that the extra weight has its advantages. A counter weight without filled tires is accomplishing the same thing.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I think everyone agrees that it depends on load weight and ground conditions. LBrown is often absolute with his opinion on things, but even he didn't say that you "can't do it." I notice that all of your tires have been filled since the BX2200, so even you must admit that the extra weight has its advantages. A counter weight without filled tires is accomplishing the same thing.

LBrown said 4* No tractor should be operated with the FEL and no counter balance. Looks like a strong don't do it to me. My dealer (Barlows) recommends filled tires to me so I do it. I do agree that filled tires or counter weight is better but the almost absolute statement always catches my attention especially after operating a BX for a year without it. I didn't know I even had any issues with it or without it but I would lift my tractor off the ground sometimes and some times would do the spincter tighten when it felt like it was going to turn over on a turn with a loaded bucket. Also taught me to always keep the bucket down near the ground which I still practice. Been so long ago that I had almost forgotten about it, course have had the same issues with loaded tires and full bucket on downhill turns. Fill tires or add counterweight with FEL use, I agree. Box blade makes a good counterweight.

 

[putts]

When I hauled my first big bucket full of dirt without a counterweight I had one of the rear tires 6"-10" off of the ground. But to tell you the truth I felt that the machine was still pretty stable and not close to tipping over. I was more concerned with the torsional stress this was putting on the frame and loader. After I add the ballast box I hauled an even heavier bucket full of dirt across the same path and the rear end stayed glued to the ground.

I built my house into a side of a hill so everytime I start a new project (swing set, shed, patio, fire pit) it consists of digging out the clay hillside and buildind a retaining wall so that I have a level spot to build. Without the ballast box as soon as I would sink the bucket into the hillside the rear end would lose traction the diff lock was useless and your bucket was only good for making the 3 point hitch bounce up and down.

I would not have even considered buying this machine if the best performance that I could expect was what I got without the ballast.

 

[FarmNut]

I agree that a box blade makes a great counterweight and is a great tool to have around anyway. That's one of the reasons I got a BB when I picked up my new B7510 w/FEL.