BX23 dumb questions

[6or7dazeaweek]

Hi all....I'm considering the BX23 as well as the JD-2210 and an aftermarket BH to do some "watershed maintenance". I really like the BX23 as it should do all I need it to do, however, the lack of ground clearance scared the devil out of me as does the 2210.

Has anyone ever taken their BX23 up & down along the banks of a stream & gotten stuck? I looked underneath the BX23 the other day to see what kinds of stuff might get damaged but I was absolutely clueless. I do believe on flat land, this would be my machine of choice, however, the terrain kind of dictates using a larger machine with more clearance.

I'm thinking now about looking at a tractor with more ground clearance but I keep looking back at the BX23 with the FEL & BH already attached and wonder if it's all I really need. What's underneath that I need to watch out for and should I get a bash plate for additional protection?

Anyone gotten their's mired in the mud and been able to use the hoe to drag themselves out? My biggest fear about the BX23 & the 2210 is having to tie onto either of them with a winch & tug myself out of a bad spot. Sure I could get into a bad spot with a larger tractor also....which would require more winch.
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Volfandt]

The BX23 is a great little machine but it does have it's limitations. Ground clearance being a major one.

There are a few very important items underneath the BX23 that can get easily damaged. The HST oil filter and the HST cooling fan are both very easily accessable and thus easily damaged when operating in areas's where you need more ground clearance. And to a lesser extent the fuel line, fuel pump and filters are too.

A general rule of thumb is to go with a "B" series tractor when ground clearance becomes an issue. A B7510 or B7610 come with a BH option and provide quite a bit more ground clearance.

That said, there are several posters here on TBN that have made skid plates for BX's and one even sells his model. They cover up the underside and protect the BX's vitals.

As for getting hungup. The BX23 has traction lock as well as 4WD and I have yet to get it hungup or stuck but then again I operate it within it's abilities. I used it this past summer to dig out my pond that had filled in over time. To keep from getting stuck I 1st built up a ramp down into it in the middle then worked each end towards the middle. Then I dug the ramp out as I was working back to the top and out. The ramps angle was such that I left the MMM on for protection. I would have taken it off if I had to tho, but it wasn't an issue.
The BX23 will dig all day long for you but don't be mislead into thinking it's a commercial quality TLB. It takes small bites which corelates to alot of seat time. To me thats not a negative /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif but some others would consider it one.


Good luck

 

[SCB]

I cleared my property with my bx. There has been alot of talk about the clearance on the bx. I think it has to do with how well you plan your attack. If you watch where you are going and dont high center yourself on a log or stump, the bx does a great job. I have many pictures in the links next to my signiature that may shed some light for you. here is one of me clearing. Good luck in your quest to find the best tractor for your needs.

 

[slammer]

I have a BX2230. My current project is cleaning out saplings and dead trees from a 3 acre wooded area on the backside of my property. It is extremely soft on the lower edge where a spring runs just under the surface. I was tooling along in 2WD bliisfully un-aware of the aforementioned spring and sunk the front end up to the axles. I put her into 4WD and backed out of it with no problem...The bad thing was that I had to get through there.

I still did'nt realize their was a spring there and just thought it was a soft spot (I know! DUH on me!). Anyhoo the point is that after moving over a few feet I left it in 4WD and went through...It was a muddy mess but I only had to use the diff lock 1 time. This is a very capable machine even in soft areas. I have since hauled in some gravel from the creek and rocked that area.

I would recommend the BX series to anyone...including you but a skid plate is (IMO) a common sense option on the BX. The one sold by a member here is kinda pricey but it appears (and testimonials back this up) to be an excellant plate that fits well and is well crafted. IMO Kubota should include a skid plate but if wishes were dishes I would open a resteraunt.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[milkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
What's underneath that I need to watch out for and should I get a bash plate for additional protection? )</font>

I've had my BX 2200 in the woods quite a bit and the hydro filter and the fan is vulnerable so I and some others have added a skidplate to keep the sticks from getting at the delicate parts, and it has worked for me. Anytime that I take off the MMM, I clip on the plate, it is held on with the pins that hold the mower on and it is on and off in seconds. Attached a pic, if you need more, I can provide. I have not found ground clerance to be a problem, if I can't go over, I can just go around, that's the nice part of getting around in the woods with a smaller machine.

 

[6or7dazeaweek]

Steve: Thanks for the great photos showing what can be done with the bx23 if you take your time. I was amazed at the size of the stumps you dug out with that little machine. That said, just how difficult is it to remove the BH when you want to use the 3pt hitch?
8 inches of fresh snow fell today & no tractor to play with yet. I need to get deciding what I'm going to purchase and live with that decision.

Thanks again...
Jon /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[6or7dazeaweek]

Milkman: I really think if I take your approach and be careful, then all should go well. I definitely would go for some type of bash plate underneath just for added peace of mind if nothing else. I'm going to have to deal with some wet areas where I need to be working so that should be a challenge for a newbie like me. I'm up to taking a different approach if it prevents me from getting stuck or hung up.
Thanks for the photo of the skid plate too. Looks like I might be doing something similar very soon.

Jon

 

[6or7dazeaweek]

Thanks for all who responded to my dumb questions. Youv'e certainly eased my mind about the BX23 and its capabilities.

 

[rdsaustintx]

1. None of those are dumb questions.

2. I LOVE my BX, but would not want to use it where ground clearance is an issue. Even if you protect the underside, you also have those expensive housings hanging low and steering cylinders riding real low out front. It also won't lift implements very high.

3. I looked at the JD2210 also. I hated the aftermarket BH. The BX-23 seemed better integrated. Small Kubotas are Kubotas. Small JD's are Yanmars.

4. If you are using bar tires, anything you get stuck in will probably also stick whatever you come to pull it out with.

Somebody asked if it is hard to switch from BH to 3pt. NOT! I spend more time getting the 3pt adjusted than anything. 20 minutes, including time to lube a few items. For me installing implements takes longer than dropping the BH.

If you are working in a streambed, please be sure to read all the tipover threads here. They put that monster rollbar on there for a reason.

 

[escavader]

STEVE said it well ,its how you plan your attack.I use my 23 in my woodlot,never had issues cause i use my head other than to hold my hat.Cut your big stumps off low,and or i use my hoe and fill in around them when im making a tote road.cut bushes and small stuff off so not to poke a tire.The bx 23 is small to get around stuff.Laugh,but im not afraid to put my 23 any where my 4 wheel drive atv goes,water holes being the exception.If you do get something hung up the hoe will lift you off and set you over.So i disagree with others,i feel with a little commen sense,ground clearance is not an issue.
As to can you get yourself out...so far so good.Mired at hopelessly up to the frame a couple times.the stabilizers will lift up the back for craming something under the tires.the fel does the same for the front .by a combination of pulling with the hoe,pushing the differential lock,pushing with the bucket,ive always got out with time.
AS FOR SKID PLATES,i try not to run over that big stuff,ill go around ,move it,or bury it.If you start running over stuff,that big[it does have quite a bit of clearance] your chancing rolling it over.The skid plate is nice to keep sticks out of the hst fan,several have posted doing this.
GET YOURSELF THE BAR TIRES,and there wont be much you cant do,my atv club loves this machine for building trails.
ALAN

 

[Berniep]

I have had mine up and down the banks of the creek.
It's pretty rough down there. Like everyone has said a little common sense goes a long way. The ground clearance is under the axles so if you drive over a stump or rock it's 6 inches. But if you drive over a log or ridge where both front or rear tires go over it at the same time the clearance is much greater.

 

[graybeard451]

I bought my BX 23 in the fall of 2004 and have over 200 hours. I did just add the skid plate because after a day of helping a friend grade his back yard I found mud caked up over the filter. Now, in my own yard I'm more careful of where I'm working. More that 1/2 of my seat time is spent mowing that the BX shines at. Low to the ground is stable. The backhoe will amaze you and mounts to a sub-frame so you're not going to tear up the tractor using it. But the main reason I bought the Kubota over the Deere is the green dealer was too busy with "real" customers to answer my questions. This is not a brand issue, find a dealer you like, trust and go for it. One other note, I did lurk on this board for quite a while before I bought, learned a lot too.

 

[SCB]

Jon,
I sometimes will switch between the BH and implement a few times during long days of work(play). I can't speak for others, but I can have my BH off and three point on in under 5 minutes. Not the first few times though. Take your time and be safe doing it and in no time you will be able to do it without really thinking about it. They are amazing machines, but can be dangerous if you take them for granted. Alan had some great points about how to get around the clearance issues. That said, I have had mine stuck a few times. if the BH is mounted it's a piece of cake to get unstuck, but if you have an implement on the back you have to use the loader. This can be dangerous, but it will get you out most of the time.
Good luck and be safe.

 

[AB4D]

I used to have a BX23, and I can't think of any additional positive things that haven't already been said by the other posters about this fine machine. However, I can tell you about my personal experience. On my property I have a drainage area that is nothing but at least three feet of soft top soil. Well, I made the mistake of driving my BX with R4's into this area which resulted in the tractor having mud up to the fenders. I tried almost everything, but I was unable to get the tractor out under its own power. But then my brother in-law, who operates heavy equipment, showed me a trick. With a backhoe and front end loader you can actually walk a TLB sideways out of almost anything. Needless to say that clean-up took a long time. However, I never got stuck again and I after that experience I did not have any problems driving the BX anywhere on my property. Hope this helps with your decision.

Jim

 

[LBrown59]

I've got 340 hrs. on mine .
Never been stuck.
Have spun all four wheels going up hill in mud a time or 2.