PSDStu
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- Marianna, FL
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Just curious how many of you BX 23 owners mow with the FEL & BH attached, or do you remove one or the other?
Mowing BX 23 Mowing with FEL & BH attached
- Thread starter PSDStu
- Start date
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BX23Seattle
Member
I remove the BH only, works fine for me.
If the BX23 is like the BX22, with the BH mounted, you can not fully lower the mower dect. The 3PH arms in the back hit part of the frame of the BH and only allow partial lowering of the 3PH, which is used to lift/lower the mower deck.
As for mowing with the loader attached, you can do it, but I found that the ucket sticking out in the front seriously limited the ability to get in tight when mowing around things like trees and bulidings. You can get close if you are slow and careful, but for the few minutes that it takes to remove the BH and FEL, it was not worth the hassle.
On the contrary, with the deck on, and fully raised, you can attach the FEL and BH and use them. The big hassle is driving around the dirt and hitting the deck with the dirt.
paul
As for mowing with the loader attached, you can do it, but I found that the ucket sticking out in the front seriously limited the ability to get in tight when mowing around things like trees and bulidings. You can get close if you are slow and careful, but for the few minutes that it takes to remove the BH and FEL, it was not worth the hassle.
On the contrary, with the deck on, and fully raised, you can attach the FEL and BH and use them. The big hassle is driving around the dirt and hitting the deck with the dirt.
paul
Worksmart
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Stu - I just did that with my BX22 for the first time. I've owned it for a couple years and just got plain lazy /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifthe other day. I always mow with the setting at 4(highest). Did not have a problem. The lawn is flaaaaaaat /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gifwith no trees so there is nothing to deal with. Obviously a lot less bounce than when mowing with the loader on, which has been done numerous times. I'll probably do it again...you know.....the lazy days of summer. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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Tdog
Platinum Member
I've done small sections with FEL & BH attached on my BX-22. Gotta say too, that I've nailed a fence, & a tree pretty good with the toothbar on the FEL. I've learned to roll the FEL back so I can see the end of the teeth whenever I mow with the FEL on. Once you start paying attention to how close you are mowing to something, it's easy to forget that FEL is out there just searching for something to rip.
When I serious about mowing, however, they both come off.
When I serious about mowing, however, they both come off.
Volfandt
Veteran Member
I mow with both the FEL & BH dismounted. Theres several reasons that I'll list but the main thing is that it works for me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
1) lighter footprint. The FEL & BH combine to add about 1000lbs to the already hefty 1500lb tractor. This lighter weight is easier on the grass, doesn't mash it down which means a nicer finish cut.
2) smaller foorprint. The smaller size allows me to easily manuver around trees, fences and buildings. I can fit into some spots that I couldn't with the FEL, BH or both mounted.
3) better fuel economy. Don't have any figures as I haven't mowed w/ the additional weight on but theres no doubt theres a noticable savings on fuel when mowing w/ a lighter load on the engine.
4) it's just so easy to mount and dismount the FEL & BH. I have both on dollies which not only makes it easier to mount and dismount but also allows them to be moved around the shop out of the way. I can mount/dismount both in around 5 minutes without breaking a sweat.
If I was finish mowing wide open spaces I'd probably mow w/the FEL mounted and perhaps even the BH but since I have many obstales as well as inclines etc, I find that when mowing with them both dismounted, it provides me with as good if not a better cut and performance as any dedicated lawn & garden tractor ever did.
Volfandt
1) lighter footprint. The FEL & BH combine to add about 1000lbs to the already hefty 1500lb tractor. This lighter weight is easier on the grass, doesn't mash it down which means a nicer finish cut.
2) smaller foorprint. The smaller size allows me to easily manuver around trees, fences and buildings. I can fit into some spots that I couldn't with the FEL, BH or both mounted.
3) better fuel economy. Don't have any figures as I haven't mowed w/ the additional weight on but theres no doubt theres a noticable savings on fuel when mowing w/ a lighter load on the engine.
4) it's just so easy to mount and dismount the FEL & BH. I have both on dollies which not only makes it easier to mount and dismount but also allows them to be moved around the shop out of the way. I can mount/dismount both in around 5 minutes without breaking a sweat.
If I was finish mowing wide open spaces I'd probably mow w/the FEL mounted and perhaps even the BH but since I have many obstales as well as inclines etc, I find that when mowing with them both dismounted, it provides me with as good if not a better cut and performance as any dedicated lawn & garden tractor ever did.
Volfandt
LBrown59
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What! There is another way?
LBrown59
Super Star Member
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- Oct 27, 2004
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- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
<font color="blue">
1*If the BX23 is like the BX22, with the BH mounted, you can not fully lower the mower deck. The 3PH arms in the back hit part of the frame of the BH and only allow partial lowering of the 3PH, which is used to lift/lower the mower deck.
2*As for mowing with the loader attached, you can do it, but I found that the bucket sticking out in the front seriously limited the ability to get in tight when mowing around things like trees and buildings
3*You can get close if you are slow and careful, but for the few minutes that it takes to remove the BH and FEL, it was not worth the hassle.
4*On the contrary, with the deck on, and fully raised, you can attach the FEL and BH and use them. The big hassle is driving around the dirt and hitting the deck with the dirt.
Paul
*********************** </font>
++++++++++++++
1*I've never ran into this probably because I don't scalp my lawn like most people do.
2*I don't find that a problem. I just take care of the few spots like that with the MTD with the 46'' deck.
3*It's still simpler to me to just use the MTD for the few close up spots. It's easier to get off the BX23 and hop on the MTD than it is to take the FEL and BH off of the BX.I can have the spots mowed with the MTD before you can take off the FEL and BH and reinstall them on a BX23.
4*You do have to watch that a bit but I've found it to be only a very minor annoyance.
1*If the BX23 is like the BX22, with the BH mounted, you can not fully lower the mower deck. The 3PH arms in the back hit part of the frame of the BH and only allow partial lowering of the 3PH, which is used to lift/lower the mower deck.
2*As for mowing with the loader attached, you can do it, but I found that the bucket sticking out in the front seriously limited the ability to get in tight when mowing around things like trees and buildings
3*You can get close if you are slow and careful, but for the few minutes that it takes to remove the BH and FEL, it was not worth the hassle.
4*On the contrary, with the deck on, and fully raised, you can attach the FEL and BH and use them. The big hassle is driving around the dirt and hitting the deck with the dirt.
Paul
*********************** </font>
++++++++++++++
1*I've never ran into this probably because I don't scalp my lawn like most people do.
2*I don't find that a problem. I just take care of the few spots like that with the MTD with the 46'' deck.
3*It's still simpler to me to just use the MTD for the few close up spots. It's easier to get off the BX23 and hop on the MTD than it is to take the FEL and BH off of the BX.I can have the spots mowed with the MTD before you can take off the FEL and BH and reinstall them on a BX23.
4*You do have to watch that a bit but I've found it to be only a very minor annoyance.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 16,831
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
<font color="blue">I mow with both the FEL & BH dismounted. There's several reasons that I'll list but the main thing is that it works for me.
1) lighter footprint. The FEL & BH combine to add about 1000 lbs to the already hefty 1500 lb tractor. This lighter weight is easier on the grass, doesn't mash it down which means a nicer finish cut.
2) smaller footprint. The smaller size allows me to easily maneuver around trees, fences and buildings. I can fit into some spots that I couldn't with the FEL, BH or both mounted.
3) Better fuel economy. Don't have any figures as I haven't mowed w/ the additional weight on but there's no doubt there's a noticeable savings on fuel when mowing w/ a lighter load on the engine.
4) It's just so easy to mount and dismount the FEL & BH. I have both on dollies which not only makes it easier to mount and dismount but also allows them to be moved around the shop out of the way. I can mount/dismount both in around 5 minutes without breaking a sweat.
5) If I was finish mowing wide open spaces I'd probably mow w/the FEL mounted and perhaps even the BH but since I have many obstacles as well as inclines etc., I find that when mowing with them both dismounted, it provides me with as good if not a better cut and performance as any dedicated lawn & garden tractor ever did.
Volfandt </font>
<font color="red"> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </font>
1*This only becomes a problem for me if the grass is either to tall or to wet. Heck even my 600 pound Wards PowerCraft will mash the grass down under those conditions. Once it's mashed a few hundred pounds more or a few hundred less won't make any difference.
2*No problem with the few places I have like that. The PowerCraft takes care of those nicely.
3*I didn't buy a tractor to save fuel so this don't concern me.
4*But I can mow the few tighter spots with the PowerCraft easier and quicker than I can take the FEL and BH off and then put them back on the BX23.
5*I get a better looking lawn with the BX23 with the FEL and BH attached than I ever did with anything else I've ever mowed with here. That's plenty good enough for me.
I have never taken the FEL or BH off my BX23.
I've mowed an acre or so of my next neighbors lawn a couple of times for him.
Looked better both times than it dose when he mows it with his 38'' cut JD garden tractor.
I don't think you really get into turf problems until you get into the bigger heavier Compacts and larger tractors.
1) lighter footprint. The FEL & BH combine to add about 1000 lbs to the already hefty 1500 lb tractor. This lighter weight is easier on the grass, doesn't mash it down which means a nicer finish cut.
2) smaller footprint. The smaller size allows me to easily maneuver around trees, fences and buildings. I can fit into some spots that I couldn't with the FEL, BH or both mounted.
3) Better fuel economy. Don't have any figures as I haven't mowed w/ the additional weight on but there's no doubt there's a noticeable savings on fuel when mowing w/ a lighter load on the engine.
4) It's just so easy to mount and dismount the FEL & BH. I have both on dollies which not only makes it easier to mount and dismount but also allows them to be moved around the shop out of the way. I can mount/dismount both in around 5 minutes without breaking a sweat.
5) If I was finish mowing wide open spaces I'd probably mow w/the FEL mounted and perhaps even the BH but since I have many obstacles as well as inclines etc., I find that when mowing with them both dismounted, it provides me with as good if not a better cut and performance as any dedicated lawn & garden tractor ever did.
Volfandt </font>
<font color="red"> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </font>
1*This only becomes a problem for me if the grass is either to tall or to wet. Heck even my 600 pound Wards PowerCraft will mash the grass down under those conditions. Once it's mashed a few hundred pounds more or a few hundred less won't make any difference.
2*No problem with the few places I have like that. The PowerCraft takes care of those nicely.
3*I didn't buy a tractor to save fuel so this don't concern me.
4*But I can mow the few tighter spots with the PowerCraft easier and quicker than I can take the FEL and BH off and then put them back on the BX23.
5*I get a better looking lawn with the BX23 with the FEL and BH attached than I ever did with anything else I've ever mowed with here. That's plenty good enough for me.
I have never taken the FEL or BH off my BX23.
I've mowed an acre or so of my next neighbors lawn a couple of times for him.
Looked better both times than it dose when he mows it with his 38'' cut JD garden tractor.
I don't think you really get into turf problems until you get into the bigger heavier Compacts and larger tractors.
