BX2200 just not enough tractor.

Metlergy · Apr 1, 2004

Last year I took delivery of a BX2200 with 60" MMM, FEL, and 5' box blade. After using it for a season I have come to the conclusion that it is just not up to the tasks at hand. Here in GA the ground is mostly clay and even the smallest sapling resists uprooting. The hydraulics and FEL on this tractor while strong for it's size just aren't enough.

I am considering either a B2910 or a B7800. The L series is a bit out of my price range, and I want to stick with a MMM.

I think the mid PTO is not standard but an option on the 7800.

Is there anything else I need to consider between these two models?

I have 5 fairly flat acres and a pond to maintain, and I plan on doing some clearing and landscaping.

Henro · Apr 1, 2004

Hi,

If you do a search for B7800 and B2910 you should find some threads that list some differences between the two models.

One thing I think I only saw mentioned once though. That is that the B7800 may not have the auxiliary hydraulic outlet block for use with rear attachments. On the B2910 this is located on the right side towards the back of the tractor...I believe I saw someone post that this was not on their B7800.

TresCrows · Apr 1, 2004

A five foot boxblade is way to big for a BX, it is to big for a 7500 or a B2410 except when used for grading. The 5 footer would probably OK with a 2910/7800 size unit. If you thought that the BX was going to pull that 5 foot blade I suspect you have since found the error of your ways. A five foot blade in heavy wet clay will work a 2910 I bet. J

MadReferee · Apr 1, 2004

I use a Midwest 5ft box scraper on my B2710 with no problems at all. We have very rocky soil here.

The B7800 does NOT have the rear hydraulic outlet but you can connect you rear hoses to the front. I mentioned how to do this in another thread.

SteveM · Apr 1, 2004

Memory could be wrong, but I thought the B7800 did not have position control, vs the B2910 etc. Something to consider if you do alot of grading.

Metlergy · Apr 1, 2004

The dealer who sold me the tractor also sold me that Tuffline 5' box blade. Rear hydraulics may come in handy, and I have to weigh that against the extra power of the 7800.

I may consider the 2710 for that very reason as I really don't need the bells and whistles on the 2910.

Update:
Not wanting to be in the position of regretting (Again) not getting enough tractor, and doing a bit of research the L3130 GST seems to fit the bill. It will take a 72" MMM and should have the weight and power I need for loader work even with turf tires. I would go with R4's, but don't want to track up my lawn if I can help it.

Kubotas interest rates are good right now, and the BX is low hours so I should get a descent trade.

TresCrows · Apr 2, 2004

"The dealer who sold me the tractor also sold me that Tuffline 5' box blade. Rear hydraulics may come in handy, and I have to weigh that against the extra power of the 7800."

Then he sold you wrong /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. J

DanR67 · Apr 2, 2004

( Metlergy wrote:

Update:
Not wanting to be in the position of regretting (Again) not getting enough tractor, and doing a bit of research the L3130 GST seems to fit the bill. It will take a 72" MMM and should have the weight and power I need for loader work even with turf tires. I would go with R4's, but don't want to track up my lawn if I can help it.
)
I just got my first tractor - a B7610 - last Saturday (I'm not claiming much expertise here /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) but I decided to go with R4 over Turf tires - I too worried about turf damage.

I'm happy to report the R4s really don't rip things up as much as I'd thought - with a couple conditions:
1) Don't turn sharply with the 4WD engaged - so I generally leave it in 2WD when working / crossing my lawns.
2) Soggy Areas - here the back tires will spin if just in 2WD - so I go through in 4WD - but do leave tracks nonetheless. (To be fair - even my old 12 hp Sears riding mower (with turfs) would leave some kind of track in the soggy areas)

>> To be clear: when I "working" (loader work / clearing: forward & back all the time) - yeah the R4s leave some tracks. Still not as bad as I had imagined - it being "mud season" in New England and all! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Based on my (4 hours! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) limited experience - if you have firm soil, and don't need to make a bunch of tight turns for mowing - then I think you'd be fine with R4s. I didn't want to risk a Turf tire puncture when going over some small sapling stump....

I'd suggest taking a test drive on something with R4s on the lawn and see how it goes - especially since you plan on doing some clearing.

****************

Another thought, with regards to "tracking up the lawn": tractor weight.

I did a quick check on the Kubota site - and came up with the following (approx.) weights:

BX2230: 1100#
B2910: 1700#
L2800 / L3400: 2200 - 2500# (didn't have the L3130 listed)

I'm pretty sure these weight DO NOT include the FEL!

Weight was a consideration for me - as I mow over my septic tank / leach field. I would also worry about soil compaction leaving tracks as well with a larger / heavier tractor.

Even if money had been no object - I don't think I would have considered anything larger than a B2910 (B7800) - my B7610 weighs @ 1400#. (Mostly because of manueverability - replacing the old mower is job #1)

***************

While I don't know the dimensions / weight of the L3130 you mentioned - you can get a 72" mower on the B2910 - and likely have less soil compaction / better manueverability (shorter wheelbase) as well. The FEL specs between the B2910 (LA402) and LA453 on the L2800/L3400 (since L3130 not listed - I'm guessing similar?) both are @ 1000# lift capacity - more than double that of your BX2200 (used the BX2230 - 470#)

I felt certain that I needed a FEL with a lift capacity in the 700-800# range - a used subCUT Deere 2210 caught my wife's eye (barely used - great price) - but I knew that it was "just not enough tractor" for my needs. Finally convinced wife to go with a B7500 - but when I did the finance calculations - only $30 more / month got me into the B7610 - which has a stronger FEL.

**********

I just wanted to share some of my purchase decisions - it sounded to me like jumping from a BX2200 to a L3130 might then be "too much tractor" - if you are primarily going to be mowing in the long run.

Finally - my B7610 doesn't have rear hydraulics either. But that didn't stop me from having the dealer add a valve! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
(Don't have anything to DO with it yet - probably a dump trailer or log splitter in the future)

Hope this helps,

Dan

TresCrows · Apr 2, 2004

In my opinion which is just that --mine-- a L class tractor is way to big to be used primarily as a mower. I fear you will be very dissapointed with it in that regard. It is much heavier than a 2910/7800--- I think by more than 1000 lbs. R4 tires on a B series seem to do fine on a lawn but on an L I am pretty sure turfs would be needed to flaot that much weight. I would like an L3130 too but it is to much tractor for my principle uses. I have been considering keeping my BX, trading the B2410 at some point and getting a 3130. Why, well, when I retire I could use the L3130 to do small "fun" jobs for hire. On the other hand, I love my 2410 and don't want to trade it so maybe someday there is a third tractor in my future /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif or, heck, I could be a Wal-Mart greeter and drive the BX in for transportation-- /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.
Frankly, if you started with a BX then I think a 7500, 2410, ---2910/7800 size unit is probably more realistic. The 2410 has plenty of grunt and yet is still light enough and manuverable enough to do a decent job mowing with little damage to the lawn--again, just an opinion and the 2410 has PC. Yep, a 4 foot boxblade is all I would use with a 2410/7500 size tractor, that is what I have and it works GREAT and does OK on the BX. Good luck. J

Metlergy · Apr 2, 2004

Thanks for all the great advise!

The L3130@3300lbs is indeed over 1200lbs heavier than 2910/7800.

Now that I have resolved to spend the $$$ for a L3130, it is easier to "Downgrade" to a 2910 with all the goodies. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Thanks all, and I will test drive some R4's. I wonder how they do on the 2910's with the new turning system? The front wheels turning double speed past 35 degrees sounds like a rut digger to me. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Henro · Apr 2, 2004

Thanks all, and I will test drive some R4's. I wonder how they do on the 2910's with the new turning system? The front wheels turning double speed past 35 degrees sounds like a rut digger to me. 

Hummm....first I've heard of the Bi-speed turn on a B2910. Is this something new or are you thinking of the B2410?

The R4s on my B2910 are nice, but not in mud. In mud I wish for R1s. Mud here is clay that fills the lugs and turns them into slicks. Your mud may be different.

Anyway, a B2910/7800/2710 is a nice size for 5 acres. You will like it. The BX is better for grass cutting though. Having both is a nice combination...not sure if that would work for you though...

You are probably right in not going for the L3130...if you kept the bx then maybe that might make some sense. Still, in my case I came finally concluded on 3.7 acres I don't need a 3130/3430...and you probably don't either.

Guess I am suporting your decision to go with the smaller B series... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

TresCrows · Apr 2, 2004

I did not know that the 2910 had the bi-speed. In any case, it will not hurt your lawn while mowing because MOST mowing is done in 2WD mode--not 4WD. The bi-speed makes steering easier and increases manuverability for the most part in 4WD with a heavy loader full of wet dirt etc. J

Charlie_in_TX · Apr 6, 2004

Metlergy, first I would look for a new dealer. Any that would sell a 5ft box blade for a BX is only looking to make money, not a long term customer.

A couple of people have hinted at this but not come out and said it. Get 2 tractors. Keep the BX for mowing ect. Get a used 30hp range FEL tractor for hard work. In a year or 2 the big tractor will be getting used less and less. It will be time to sell it. If you bought a good used tractor (from JD, NH, or Kubota) you will likely be able to sell it for as much or more than you payed for it. You would still have the BX to mow.

With the 2 tractor approach each tractor can be more specialized. The BX is, as you have seen, a large lawn mower. Not a very good loader. A TLB can do some real dirtwork. Not a very good mower.

B2400 · Apr 6, 2004

I have the Bi-speed turn option on my B2400. Unfortunately it says in the manual that it should NOT be used for loader work. A heavy load will cause the clutch unit to slip and possibly damage the Bi-Speed turn. It does work good for mowing and tight areas while brush hogging though!

TresCrows · Apr 7, 2004

"It does work good for mowing and tight areas while brush hogging though!"

I sometimes brushhog in 4WD but never mow except to minimize wheel spin in a few steep places I have. Mowing in 4WD tears up my lawn when I turn. I don't see that in my manual, never been a problem for me but maybe I should read it again with my glasses on /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Basically, I think it is a useless option. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif. J

r0GuE · Apr 11, 2004

( Metlergy, first I would look for a new dealer. Any that would sell a 5ft box blade for a BX is only looking to make money, not a long term customer. )

The dealer probably just has no idea what the heck he's doing, rather then specifically trying to cheat him out of money. I give the benifit of the doubt to stupidity rather than nefariousness. That said, tell him where he erred (1 in 10 people will take this the right way) and ask for some special consideration on the trade up! If he refuises to give you cost, or nearly cost on the trade up, I'd go walking to another dealer.

Still better, I like the idea of keeping the BX, and getting a used L for the heavy stuff. Sounds like a winner!

Muleskinner · Apr 15, 2004

I too was looking to buy a BX series tractor and ended up with a B7800. I maintain my 20 acre horse ranch with it and love it. I have the R4 tires and living in the So Cal high desert, they work great. I now am really glad the dealer moved me up to the B series unit. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Metlergy · Apr 16, 2004

When I bought the BX, this dealer had just started carrying the Kubota line. In fact, I was the first Bota they sold. They were originally JD and now sell both. I'll have to chalk this up to growing pains as they have a good rep and did right by me otherwise.

They are 17 miles away and came to my place to inspect the BX for trade.

I was seriously considering and tried out the B series and found them lacking in the brute strength department so I decided on a L3130GST-F with 723 QA FEL. If I find this machine to be too large for mowing, as I get things done I will keep my eyes open for a good deal on a machine designed specifically for mowing such as a Scag or Dixon ZTM.

I just cannot justify keeping the BX as a $13,000 lawnmower.