Bx 25 backhoe

/ Bx 25 backhoe #1  

zlock24

Silver Member
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Apr 9, 2011
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116
Location
New Martinsville, WV
Tractor
jd 445, kubota bx1500,wheel horse c-160, wheel horse h-520
How much work can a bx 25 backhoe really do? Vs. Say a B2320 with a backhoe?
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #2  
How much work can a bx 25 backhoe really do? Vs. Say a B2320 with a backhoe?

A BX will do plenty, just not fast..My spare time is free, so my BX23 does just fine for me. If your hogging a foundation, a BX probably isn't the best choice.

A BX beats a pick and shovel any day for misc digging..Mine is the best purchase I've ever made.
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #3  
Here is what my BX 25 will do digging out stumps.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwM5a0N_yi4]Stumped - YouTube[/ame]

This is an 8" dia red alder, some roots are 2" in dia. You have to dig around and chew off or rip out the roots with the teeth. Had to dig down 2-3' to get them all. This one was a 1 1/2 hr job. Took down 4 of these in a clump as they were going to shade my new greenhouse too much (the other three are 10-12"), and there is one more that comes down but have to rig a pull line to keep from falling on the garden shed right next to it. Wanted to pull it down when building the shed but wife said NO. Now she said pull it as the greenhouse is her new enterprise.

Those next ones are a real challenge as the roots are bigger and two are only 18" apart. Started this afternoon but darkness caught me, they are tough. Keep you all posted on progress.

I also use the FEL a lot like prepping setting and filling with gravel, the bases for the shed and greenhouse.

Ron
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #4  
How much work can a bx 25 backhoe really do? Vs. Say a B2320 with a backhoe?

I can't really answer your question because I don't have any experience with a B series. I had a Case 530 and Case 580 back in the 1970's and there is no way that my BX23 can do what they did. On the other hand there is no way that those hoes could do what I can do with my BX23. It can get into places and do things that the bigger hoes couldn't even think about. For my 5 acres of woods and 3 acres of lawn the BX23 is just the right size. They say that tractors are like boats, you always want the next size bigger but I am thrilled with my BX23.
Hopefully someone will come along with experience with both size tractors that can give you some better advice. Maybe you can post what your predicted needs are.
A. Metcalf
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe
  • Thread Starter
#5  
ametcalf said:
I can't really answer your question because I don't have any experience with a B series. I had a Case 530 and Case 580 back in the 1970's and there is no way that my BX23 can do what they did. On the other hand there is no way that those hoes could do what I can do with my BX23. It can get into places and do things that the bigger hoes couldn't even think about. For my 5 acres of woods and 3 acres of lawn the BX23 is just the right size. They say that tractors are like boats, you always want the next size bigger but I am thrilled with my BX23.
Hopefully someone will come along with experience with both size tractors that can give you some better advice. Maybe you can post what your predicted needs are.
A. Metcalf

My needs are to mow 9 hilly acres plus do work at our 20 rental properties such as gas lines water sewage and other digging
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #6  
Not a 25 but these are a few of the dozens of stumps I have taken out with my 23
 

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/ Bx 25 backhoe #7  
Not a 25 but these are a few of the dozens of stumps I have taken out with my 23

Awesome dude, I've got like 4 of those to pick away at, figure I will cut away alot of the roots with my chain saw after getting the soil outta the way, got a new 25 sittin in the garage with 5 hours on it. ground is frozen or i'd be workin it.
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #8  
I call my BX25 "A 1/2 a Hoe" . It pretty much is 1/2 a full size hoe. It does the work about 1/2 as fast. If you know what your doing and turn on the fire it will do better. It is a great machine. I can do almost anything a full size hoe can do only I need more time, and it has limitations.
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #9  
If you are going to use a BX for stump work, it will take a while but getting a ripper tooth to use instead of the bucket will make it go faster.
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #10  
My needs are to mow 9 hilly acres plus do work at our 20 rental properties such as gas lines water sewage and other digging

I know the West Virginia definition of hilly really means hilly. I don't know enough about the B series Kubotas to know if they have wheels that can adjust out or not. While we do not have hills as such there are a couple of places on our farm that I can mow with our old Allis 5040 that I will not mow with our BX23. The narrow wheel base on the 23 makes it too unstable. I know they make wheel spacers to help with this but you would want to check how effective they are and what they would do to the warranty. Water and gas lines should be no problem but as you probably know sewer lines can get pretty deep and I would guess you would have to rent a machine if they are much over 3 or 4 feet deep. Even our Case 580 could not dig all of the sewer lines we installed. Anything over about 8 or 10 feet deep should probably be done by a track hoe. If by sewer work you mean septic systems, as much as I love our BX23 I will have to admit I think it is too small to dig out for a 1500 gallon septic tank and the associated bleed field.
If your rental properties are spread over a wide area one of the nice things about the BX23 is that it loads on our 16' farm trailer and pulls behind our F250 really well.
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #11  
Here is what my BX 25 will do digging out stumps.

Stumped - YouTube

This is an 8" dia red alder, some roots are 2" in dia. You have to dig around and chew off or rip out the roots with the teeth. Had to dig down 2-3' to get them all. This one was a 1 1/2 hr job. Took down 4 of these in a clump as they were going to shade my new greenhouse too much (the other three are 10-12"), and there is one more that comes down but have to rig a pull line to keep from falling on the garden shed right next to it. Wanted to pull it down when building the shed but wife said NO. Now she said pull it as the greenhouse is her new enterprise.

Those next ones are a real challenge as the roots are bigger and two are only 18" apart. Started this afternoon but darkness caught me, they are tough. Keep you all posted on progress.

I also use the FEL a lot like prepping setting and filling with gravel, the bases for the shed and greenhouse.

Ron

MORE GREASE ON THAT HOE!!!!!
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #12  
I have a BX 2230 and a B2320. The B has a back hoe and the BX does not so I can only comment on the over all comparison of the machines. The BX is the one I jump on for snow plowing, snow blowing, grass cutting, brush hogging, moving piles of stone. It has a shorter turning radius is lighter and a bit more nimble. When it comes to digging and such I use the B. The B is the big brother to the BX, heavier and more capable. I have dug out huge rocks, stumps, cleared my foundation for a waterproofing job, trenches for the foundation drains, culverts etc. If your projects will be more maintenance the BX will do the job, however, if you have plans lean more to some major digging, trenching, digging drains, plowing more than a small garden, dragging logs etc. then I would opt for the B. The backhoe on the B is not the fastest but gets the job done. The manual thumb is a great option I use it often.
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #13  
I also have rental property with 6 septic tanks and that's why I ever went ahead and bought the BX25 for the FEL/BH. I had other BXs but none with a hoe.
I consider the BX25 as 50% business purposes (IRS)(5 year dep) and 50% home use. I also bought a B2320 for plowing, tilling and boxblading. I use it mostly at the rental property but for tax purposes consider it 50% business use (over 5 years) and 50% personal use.
My first job for the Government was as an Auditor, did taxes for a few years and retired as partial duties of Auditing. For those responses that are going to come in of I'm not allowed to do this.:)
Any way the BX25 will do the digging but as said by others before will take a bit longer than a bigger B.
I also live on hillside so between the two for driving on hilly property I'd always take the BX over the B and a B over an L and with the BH on it the BX is even a bit scary. Just have to be careful, real careful.:)
I had my BX25 almost turn over on me to the point of seriously ready to jump off of it. I was stopped when I inched forward a hair to much. Stayed with it, slowly dropped stabilizer on down hill side, did not turn my seat around, swung bucket to the uphill side and then pulled myself back and up with the BH bucket.
Rental property is level so no issue there and I'd much rather transport a BX than a big B. No real issues with transporting a little B.
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #14  
Here is what my BX 25 will do digging out stumps.

Stumped - YouTube

Ron

Nice video. Think about getting a thumb for that hoe. I did a few trees like those in the 8" diameter size and once you get it loose and enough dirt off the root ball, you can clamp the bucket and thumb onto the stem and lift it right out of the hole then drive it to where you need to dump it. :thumbsup:
 

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/ Bx 25 backhoe #15  
Tractor Seabee thanx for the video. I know what a BX25 will do but what I liked was I got to see one of them thar' 2 toothed fanged 10" buckets I see on ebay workin' on the 601. I assumed it would be a good bucket and looks like it is.

FWIW, albeit fun to play w/ the BH, personally I would have wrapped a chain around that stump and connected it to the 4x4 and pulled it out about 20 minutes ago :thumbsup: ...glad to see your smart enough to leave a good long lever sticking up! It ceases to amaze me, the guys who cut a tree down to dirt level then go to dig it up! :laughing:
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #16  
My needs are to mow 9 hilly acres plus do work at our 20 rental properties such as gas lines water sewage and other digging

I dont think a BX is a general purpose size you need. Granted, there will be times you wish you had a BX 4' width stance, but 9 hilly acres? 20 rentals lots? water/sewer? Nope, you may be better off with a B or bigger. I have a rental as well and I did my sewer line at rental property last fall was no fun, same time I took out a 2 ft diameter pine stump.
 

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/ Bx 25 backhoe #17  
Nice video Tractor Seabee.
------------
I've taken out much larger stumps also, with my BX24. I have the 12" bucket, whereas Tractor Seabee has the smaller one. I also bolt a boxblade ripper tooth to the side of my bucket for stumps or root pulling along trails. I lets me dig between the roots of a stump and clear out the soil faster, and still use the bucket to scoop out the loose dirt I have pulled into the trenching area. It won't break through roots close to the trunk, but further out you can snap them okay. A larger machine with more hydraulic pressure would break the close ones easier.
 

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/ Bx 25 backhoe #18  
I have the 12" bucket, whereas Tractor Seabee has the 8". I attached a boxblade ripper tooth to the side of my bucket, and can use that to dig between the roots and clear out the soil faster. It won't break through roots near the trunk, but further out you can snap them okay.

Got any pic's of that set up? Sounds interesting. Curious just how you pinned the ripper to the side of the bucket.
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #19  
How much work can a bx 25 backhoe really do? Vs. Say a B2320 with a backhoe?
The BX25 can do a great deal. I dug a drain line down through my back yard in about 3 lhour. This was 18" deep and 100' long. And I am not much of an operator.
I have bushhogged 7 acres of my land that had not been touched since the 1940's. It has taken me three summers to do it, but it is 90% and now i can use a finnish mower on it.
Cut grass all summer long. Dug numerous small stumps, and one very large Oak stump. Took me two months to get that brute out of the ground, and back filled.
The b2620 tlb is about 30% faster in the backhoe and fel department compared to the BX25. You can do two functions at the same time with the backhoe, and that speeds things up a lot compared to the BX. I have the 16" bucket on the backhoe versus the 12" on the BX, and you can move a lot more material with that bigger bucket.
I have found, in my experience, that I can go almost the same places with the b, that I could with the BX. I feel the b is more stable on slopes than the BX is. Well, that is with the fel on and bushhog on. Mowing with the mmm, the b is a little tippier than the BX, but not by much.
It seems to me that the BX25 is more complete as a package than the b.
What I mean is, the backhoe mounting and dismounting is a little more exact. All the holes on the backhoe and tractor frame line up the same everytime. The b you have to move the backhoe around a little more to get the frame and backhoe holes to line up.
Made it through two summers bushhoging with the BX with no major problems, except for breaking a couple turnsignals, losing hairpins and keepers and one flat tire.
I took out the HST fan and didn't know it, until I was changing fluid and filters in January of last year. Out side of these minor things, the BX25 did a terrific job.
The b, I broke the fuel filter the first time I used it in heavy brush. Silly little glass bowl on a plastic base just hanging out on the side of the frame just waiting for that one little stick to take it off. :mad: Kubota could have seen this coming from a mile away. Why didn't they give it some protection, or put it in behind something.
The BX25 and the b2620(with out the backhoe) weigh around the same, about 2500lb. When you put the bh65 on the b, it goes up to around 3800lbs.
I like both the BX25 and my b2620. I put 281 hours on the BX with only minor issues, and it never was back to the dealer. The has b about 102 hours on it and it has been back twice.
Sorry for rambling:confused2::D. Hope this helps.
 
/ Bx 25 backhoe #20  
Nice video. Think about getting a thumb for that hoe. I did a few trees like those in the 8" diameter size and once you get it loose and enough dirt off the root ball, you can clamp the bucket and thumb onto the stem and lift it right out of the hole then drive it to where you need to dump it. :thumbsup:

CHD, That is on my buy list. Wish I could find a used one but probably have to buy one. Then work on a project to install a third function and cylinder.

Ron
 

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