bx2200 engine life?

[richfromPA]

hey all,
does anyone know the expected average engine life for a bx2200? i have had my mind set on the b7500 until lately when i began reading all the bx2200 posts. yesterday i went to the dealer and rode one around and was very impressed. i liked the low feeling and i have a steep hill to mow. i wouldnt have the thing revved to the max unless i realy needed it. im just curious if there is any life difference. this is a new engine design, isnt it?

 

[Bird]

richfromPA, maybe someone who knows more detail than I will answer, but I don't think there's really much very new about the BX engines. Kubota's been making little 3-cylinder diesels for a long time, and it's my understanding that they just adapted one to the new BX line. Personally, I wouldn't be any more concerned about the life span of the BX engine than I would the other Kubota engines - and that's a long time.

Bird

 

[TresCrows]

I think you are worrying about nothing. The BX engine is nothing new for Kubota. It turns a little faster than some Kubota engines to get the 22 horses but just marginally so. Kubota has been building little 3 cyl diesels for a long time and most of them are still running and the BX engine will be no different in that regard. It will likely out live you given proper care. It has the same rapid torque rise and flat power curve Kubota diesels all have. For loader work and Box blade I run it per manual at about 1700 to 2200 RPM occasionally a bit more with the Box blade, for mowing I run it at about 2600 to 2800 RPM and max goverend RPM is 3200. The BX2200 is a 55 cu inch engine and the 7400 is 44 cubes and the 7500 is 61 cubes. The BX1800 is 43.9 cubes and the B2410 is 68.5 cubes. The BX engine never seems strained, it just loafs along, typical small tractor engine. Good luck, I think you would like the BX and I think engine life is not a concern. By the way, mine uses no oil--none--NADA-zip and the oil stays fairly clean looking for the 50 hour change interval. Now that the rings are seated in I think I will switch to Mobil 1. J

 

[TresCrows]

Let me add something, sorry for the second post, if you have a steep hill and tight quaters then the BX is your weapon. I have a ditch I mow, a lagoon, and my house being a walkout basement, I have a "steep" slope to either side and a steep bank around my pond. The 7500, I briefly demoed a used one, was too tippy feeling while the BX feels solid in the same conditions. This is why Kubota made the BX with it's low, wide stance and low center of gravity. I would not say that you cannot roll a BX over but it is much more stable than the traditional tall and narrow utility tractor layout. Different flavors for different tastes---uses. J

 

[PaulB]

The BX 2200 uses the exact same D905E motor that is in my B1700, just with the governor set to 3200 rpm rather than 2600. As stated above, it is 900 cc, or around 55 cubic inches. Mine never uses a drop of oil either, and I have 250 hours on the clock now. I switched to amsoil at 100 hours.

 

[Thomas]

Rich,
I believe you find the BX engine if well taken care of shall last as long as the bigger Kubota engines...kinda like what good are legs&arms w/out a good heart.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[hayden]

Last time I looked, the new tractor warranty was 2000hrs or 2 years, which ever comes first. Unless a machine is in constant commercial use, the time will always lapse first. I doubt there are more than a small, small number of non-commercial use tractors that ever get anywhere close to 2000hrs in their entire life span.

As others have said, I think you'll wear out before the motor does.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I would not be in the least bit concerned about engine life of any kubota engine in residential or light commercial use. I have had experience with Kubota engines in some pretty demanding commercial applications, ie Bobcats and excavators and when properly serviced I have seen them last 5000 hours and more. Some detrimental effects that could shorten life though can be dirty fuel, damaged air filter letting dirt by, not changing oil at proper intervals, overheating due to plugged cooling system and the worst of all, use of starting fluid for cold starting (this can break piston rings if too much is used) use a block heater! But the average homeowner who puts out the money for a Kubota is more than likely going to pamper their machine rather than abuse it so fear not on wearing out your Kubota in a couple of years even if you like the sound of it singing while pinned up against the governor. You'll be still mowing your lawn and blowing snow on the same machine while you're neighbor goes out to purchase his third or fouth Craftsman/MTD/Yardpro toy twenty years from now.

 

[richfromPA]

HEY ALL,
i was just concerned when saturday the dealer said "ya know, they always say, higher rpm, shorter life". he seemed maybe he wanted to sell the b7500 more so than the bx2200.
they probably sell more bx2200's and need to unload the b7500 from stock
rich

 

[hayden]

Well, there's some logic to that. When you think about it, engine wear comes from parts rubbing against each other. Every rotation of the engine is two rubs (one up, one down) of the piston/cyl contact points. An engine running at 2500 RPM will rub half as many times in an hours use than an engine running at 5000RPM.

Did I read that the BXs full speed RPM is 3200 verse 2600 for the B7500? That's about 25% more rubs per hour, so maybe it will last 4000 hours rather than 5000hrs. Either way, I think you still probably get tired before the engine does.

The difference is likely not significant. I'd buy based on more tangible differences.

 

[M. Sullivan]

Agree with Hayden....the engine should not drive the buy decision in this case. You can always run below recommended operating speed if it works well for you. I personally don't like to run a diesel much over 2k rpm--even though the manual says to run the mower deck at 2800, I believe. The cut quality and clipping spread at 2000 is acceptbale for me, so it takes a few minutes longer to mow..... On occassion run it up to 2500 when grading for the extra power....

I would have total confidence in any K engine, it's the key to their reputation and the track record is there. Good luck!

 

[TresCrows]

As an A&P mechanic I know a bit about engines. If everyhing is well with an engine there should be no "rubbing". Moving parts ride on a film of oil and it is only when that film breaks down or is not present that wear occurs for our purposes. Most wear in an engine occurs during start up, or when exposed to loads that result in pre ignition or over heating etc. As to the BX as mentioned by an earlier poster the BX engines are not "new" but instead are engines Kubota has used in other units. They have turned the governor up a bit to increase available horsepower and torque but there is certainly no need to ride around with the engine banging against the governor. I figure, without having the chart available, the BX2200 engine makes about 19 horses or a bit more at 2600 so just consider the extra three horses a bonus if and when you need them stick the throttle forward (back)and do not worry. The engine runs smoothly and easily and never feels strained at any speed. Loader work is done at about 1700-2200 RPM and mowing about 2600-2800 though it does cut a tad smoother if run faster. The BX really leaves a nice cut. Why would Kubota build super duty engines for all it's tractors and build it's reputation on that and then say to themselves--"hey let's build a neat little, Kubota tough utility tractor and put a engine it that will wear out and ruin our reputation"--nah, I do not think so. J

 

[campster]

Re: Mobil 1

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

Now that the rings are seated in I think I will switch to Mobil 1

<hr></blockquote>

Read your labels carefully. AFAIK, Mobil 1 is NOT approved as a Diesel oil--the additive package is designed for gasoline. Delvac is, if you want to stay in the family

 

[JerryG]

Re: Mobil 1

Mobil 1 is SJ,SH and CF rated. The CF is a diesel rating.

 

[TresCrows]

Re: Mobil 1

Campster, you are incorrect. I called Mobil some time back with their tech line. They took my call serious and sent me some literature. Additionally their tech rep returned my call and answered all my questions after he researched Kubota requirements. Mobil 1 is the finest oil on the planet and he assured me that it was the correct oil with the correct designation for light diesel engines of which all Kubota tractors are. I have used the stuff since it came avaialble in everything from motorcyles to cars and now tractors--it is the best. In aircraft it is not recommended and is no longer sold for aviation use due to the leaded fuel still in the aviation market, 100LL is very high in lead despite the LL designation and synthetic oils do not suspend the lead. It deposited out as PbS and similar clogging oil passages and causing expensive repairs to aviation engines--this is not the case with ash dispersion as Mobil 1 does that very well. I am by the way an ex-petroleum Geologist. J

 

[GlueGuy]

Re: Mobil 1

<font color=blue>AFAIK, Mobil 1 is NOT approved as a Diesel oil</font color=blue>

Not true. Mobil 1 is approved for use with diesel. However, it is not recommended for use in engines with leaded fuel (best example is aircraft engines using 100LL). Reason being is that synthetics do not do a good job with suspending the lead.

The GlueGuy