BX2200 stability

jph_in_Bama · Dec 31, 2003

Has anyone tried extending the wheels farther out to make the tractor more stable. Ever since I added the FEL I've noticed the tendency to want to flip over alot more. I have actually rolled it over on a small slope. I would like to extend the wheels out about 6" each and was wondering how much this would help?

Junkman · Dec 31, 2003

I have my rear tires filled on my BX22 and have never even come close to rolling my tractor over. I think that if you have rolled your BX, that you definitely need the Tilt meter by R & M. If I rolled my BX once, I would be hesitant to go anywhere near where the accident happened. What were you doing when this happened? I think that your is the first report of any BX having rolled being posted on TBN. Do you have any pictures??? What damage was done to the tractor?? I have to believe that you were OK, because you didn't mention that you were hurt. Were you wearing the seat belt??

GregW · Jan 1, 2004

Hi,
I have a BX 22, and I can tell you as far as stability with the FEL on, the secret is rear weight, In your case I would suggest a rear weight box with about 400 pounds of ballast.
The FEL makes the bx very unstable if you do not have rear weight to counterbalance the FEL.

Regards,
Greg in Alabama

sandyc · Jan 1, 2004

The BX is very stable...at least mine is. I always keep my weight box on and I have filled tires.
The only way to get a wider footprint would be to install spacers on the rear wheels. I did that to a 2160 just to get clearance for snow chains. It might have added an inch at best and made no big dif in the stability of that machine

44trxfun · Jan 1, 2004

I have a MF GC2300 which is almost a clone of the BX2200. I usually have a backblade on and I have 75 lb weights on the rear tires. The weights are from the old Cub Cadets as Massey's rear weight setup is needlessly pricey in my opinion. (I'm not one of those guys who much cares about color, function is far more important to me.) At the suggestion of my dealer, I keep my tractor in 4x4 mode with FEL installed. So far, I haven't had any problems with stability.

RoyJackson · Jan 1, 2004

That loader adds quite a bit of weight above the axles, thus making it a bit less stable (raising the Center of Gravity).

Unless I need the loader, it's off the tractor...just because of that reason.

So, as our friends have said, you need to add weight. Where you add is is important. Filling the rear tires is, IMHO, the best way to go. Rear weights, such as a weight box or implement is good too, as long as you keep them as low as possible.

And, of course, technique is important. The way you operate your tractor with the loader is different then when it's off. Definitely time to slow down. Going across slopes should be avoided if possible. Going across slopes with the bucket raised is a definite No-No!

If you think your jobs out, you may find a safer approach (straight up and down slopes is best) to do the job.

And, I assume you do have your seat belt on...right?

This is the first post I've read on the BX series lacking stability. To me, that's one of this little tractor's prime selling points.

JWE · Jan 1, 2004

I live on a hillside in Western PA and I have come close to rolling my BX2200 a couple of times. It scared the crap out of me the first time it happened because it happened so quickly there was not much time to react. Fortunately I was able to drop the bucket before it flipped and I prevented the roll over. From that point on, I have been very cautious when working my slopes with the FEL on. The FEL drastically changes the center of gravity. I’m sure this problem exists with all tractors that have a narrow tread. I would suspect that increasing the tread width by 6 inches would make the tractor a lot more stable.

After a year of operation I have learned what I can and cannot do when working on slopes. Most of my property is around 15 degrees with some slopes 20+ degrees. If I get sideways on the 20+ degree slopes, I slow to a crawl with my hand on the control to drop the bucket if the rear wheel lifts off the ground. Without the FEL I mow the 20 degree slopes with no problem. I even have a bank that is over 35 degrees that I mow and use the FEL on. I never get sideways on the bank and I operate very slowly.

John

jph_in_Bama · Jan 1, 2004

Junkman, I was at the hunting club and was raking a new field before plowing, I decided to go out a different path than I went in, it was a dozer path in a clear cut. The path became sloped as I went farther along and then I got to place where is was too late to go backwards. What did me in was I ran up on a small tree stump that was only inches above the ground. When I did that the right side of the FEL dug into a hump of dirt and it was enough to roll me over. It was a very slow rollover. I was barely idling along so it was real slow. It did not do any damage, just dumped all the contents of my tool box out! We flipped it back over with a 4 wheeler with a winch. I let it sit awhile and checked the fluids. The hydualic fluid was low so I got some and filled it back up before going back to camp.

I guess based on the post that no one has tried to extend the wheels out on the BX2200 so I guess Im going to try it. I dont want to fill the tires because I use it to finish mow several yards and don't want the additona weight. I usually have one of the heavy attachments on the rear, but will probably add some weights. Thanks all!

art · Jan 1, 2004

There are rear wheel weights available as well as three point counter weights. Some people have found an additional attachment like a box blade or snowblower on the back to be an effective counter weight.

david43a · Jan 7, 2004

I have a bx22 I have a hilly rocky piece of property I keep the backhoe on when I use the loader. It adds 600 lbs to the back of the tractor. I have been told that you can't widen the wheels on a bx tractor. There is a member named slamfire who put on dual real wheels you may be able to bolt on dual rear wheels to widen the tractor. Good luck David.