bx1500 questions

chucko · Jan 12, 2004

I have been looking at these things to mainly mow about 1ac here in fla. It has been a long fight with the wife about the cost of "that thing" to mow but I know you guys can't help me with that. Anyhow the dealer I would buy from is out of them now and I showed one to the wife at another dear and have some questions.

To the right of the seat there seems to be a slot for a lever that is not there. What is it for?

When I would raise the 3pt it worked both the mm deck and the three point hitch at the back. I could see you could adjust the deck all the way up so you don't have to remove it to work a box blade. But is there a way to keep the box blade (or whatever) up and lower the deck

Will they run a 54 inch deck ok. Dealers around here keep try to get me to get a 48" deck but I think it is because it is what they order

Also how well do the baggers on them work. Sales guys keep trying to talk me out of a bagger.

rbarker · Jan 12, 2004

( I have been looking at these things to mainly mow about 1ac here in fla. )

The BX series are great mowers!

( To the right of the seat there seems to be a slot for a lever that is not there. What is it for?)

Nothing. I'm not aware of any option that mounts in there on this series.

( When I would raise the 3pt it worked both the mm deck and the three point hitch at the back. I could see you could adjust the deck all the way up so you don't have to remove it to work a box blade. But is there a way to keep the box blade (or whatever) up and lower the deck)

Nope, sorry. As you mentioned, you can lock the mowing deck up and work the 3PH but not the other way around. You would probably want to remove the deck to do serious box blading anyway for better ground clearance and less chance of getting hung up on the deck when going over piles of stuff.

( Will they run a 54 inch deck ok. Dealers around here keep try to get me to get a 48" deck but I think it is because it is what they order

Also how well do the baggers on them work. Sales guys keep trying to talk me out of a bagger. )

Others can answer these questions better than I can.

Good luck and ENJOY! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RalphVa · Jan 12, 2004

Can't directly answer your questions about your BX, as I'm still looking at getting a BX1500/1800, JD4010 or NH TZ18D. Can comment on the bush hog size regarding Hp.

Folks have used 12 hp Gravelys to run 50" mowing decks. Their comments are they are fine for this as long as the grass isn't way high.

So, I'd think the BX1500 would power the 54", but my cabinet maker, who just bought a BX2200, commented that the weight of the thing back there could be a factor to consider. There are many times where you may be backing the bush hog, partly raised into a brush pile to do away with it. If you're on a hill when doing this, the extra weight of a big hog could maybe give you some stability problems.

Lets here from any users. I'd really like to have a 60" because this is what I get in round trips with my 30" Gravely on my trails. Weight-wise and all, doing trails with a 60" would be fine. Would have to be VERY careful in any bush pile work though.

The 12 hp Gravely never bogs down with a 30" hog on it. I've heard that they'll toss football-sized rocks. Prefer not to do this on mine.

Ralph

jsimon · Jan 12, 2004

(Will they run a 54 inch deck ok. Dealers around here keep try to get me to get a 48" deck but I think it is because it is what they order)

I cant speak about the 1500, I have a bx 22 w/ a 60 mmm, and it just amazed me this past summer. I cut the lane for my neighbor, the grass was like 8" tall and i cut it down to 4, going alomst as fast as the machine would travel, only had to slow down when it was really thick, I was very impressed.

(Also how well do the baggers on them work. Sales guys keep trying to talk me out of a bagger. )

I have the bagger as well, mostly only use it to pick up leaves in the fall here in michigan. It works good. The hose will plug up when the leaves get really thick, you have to go pretty slow. The few times i have used it on grass, it has worked great. You barely know its beck there. However, i do need to say, it can be a trick to hook up to the tractor. You dont want to take it on and off all the time, like i do whith the BH and all.

Hope that helps /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

rbarker · Jan 12, 2004

( So, I'd think the BX1500 would power the 54", but my cabinet maker, who just bought a BX2200, commented that the weight of the thing back there could be a factor to consider. )

I'm pretty sure the poster was talking about the 48" vs. 54" mid mount mower, not rear mount bush hogs so weight should not be a significant factor in his decision. According to my brochure on the BX1500 the difference is 62 pounds.

kevinj · Jan 13, 2004

My bx1500 plays with the 54" deck. Look at both carefully. The 48 is a piece of tin and has to be dragged out. The 54 is heavy steel and the wheels rotate to allow for moving out on its own wheels.

RalphVa · Jan 13, 2004

Sorry about my digression on bush hogs.

I'd think that the BX1500 should handle even a 60" deck. It would stick out further and allow you to get closer to shrubs and stuff.

Prorate 15/12 x 50 = 62.5", from Gravely experience. Gravelys are mulching decks, too. They take more Hp.

Ralph

Rimmer · Jan 13, 2004

Chas --

Regarding the "slot," I think we had a discussion about this sometime in the past and concluded that it has various uses depending on model. For example, on the BX23 this slot is used for the female end of the seat belt, since the seat belt needs to be a bit further away to allow the seat to rotate for backhoe operation.

On other models (BX2230, etc.) it is used for the "cruise control" lever, and the seat belt end comes up between the fender and the seat, IIRC. (I've never seen a 2230 in person, but someone posted a picture of the lever.)

I was thinking that all of the new BXxx30 models have cruise control -- maybe you were looking at a 1500 rather than a 1530??? Or maybe no CC on the 1530 -- dunno.

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

bikingdds · Jan 15, 2004

I have a 2004 bx1500 that I got in the end of November from a dealer that seems to only sell 54" decks because the design is better with the rotating wheels, and it is made stronger. My mower has not been installed since the day of delivery. As for a way to keep the 3 point hitch up, there is a hitch lowering speed knob, that the manual states that it can be turned to a lock position, but I have not tried it yet. There is also holder holes to hold the lower links higher while mowing, but I don't think you could use them with an implement attached. I thought about a bagger for leaves, but I can just as easily blow them away where I live. I, too, have an acre all on a slope and the 1500 feels the right size for it, especially compared to my previous lawn tractor.

chucko · Jan 15, 2004

Thanks for the reply guys Sorry I have not been back. work sent me out of town.

Anyhow I know what everyone says about looking at bigger than you need but right now I have a 12 hp Murray that is 10 years old and still in fairly good shape (well for a 10 year old Murray) so I feel I am looking much bigger. Besides a 1830 or 2230 would be to big for my yard
and yes I was talking about the mid mount mower

Does Kubota offer extended warranties? are they money well spent or are the botas "that good" that I don't need one?

One guy said something about a bx1530 but a dealer "told" me that nothing changed on the bx1500 for 04 so I assumed there was not a bx1530.....

Well at work if I have to buy/sale big stuff I have to do a ROI (Return on investment) maybe the dealer will do a ROI for the wife.....wait better yet maybe I can trade her in on a bx