BX23 vs. B21

67acres · Sep 30, 2004

Greetings,

Forgive me if this has been covered before, and pls correct me if newbies are to read a FAQ before posting (I didn't see anything like that, just don't want to brk protocol! :^) but here is my question:

I just finished Muhammad's nice ebook, and even before finding it I have been starting to settle in with the BX22 or BX23 as the perfect TLB for me. I want to use it for snow blowing, chipping, and general landscaping tasks on my new home, as well as a couple of rental properties.

While perusing the Kabota site recently I was pretty surprised to see that the BX23 and the B21 are pretty similar in HP. Of course I now understand that the hydraulic systems are where one of the big differences lie (having read the book). The BX23 is about 5.5gpm vs. 8.5gpm for the B21 as I recall.

Also the size of the tractor platform is different. The smaller BX will get around tighter quarters better. It also weighs less, and will be a less expensive platform for tires, trailer, storage, etc. It will also take a little longer to do a given amount of work. But I'm thinking my workload for it will tend to be a higher number of small tasks, vs. big dirt moving projects.

And although the BX23 is less expensive off the showroom floor, I'm thinking that with patience and dilligence, finding either model used with say, less than 500 hrs, could possibly be had for roughly the same $$, tho maybe that is a bad assumption.

Am I missing any other considerations?

TIA, Bill~

ronjhall · Sep 30, 2004

<font color="blue"> I'm thinking that with patience and dilligence, finding either model used with say, less than 500 hrs, could possibly be had for roughly the same $$, tho maybe that is a bad assumption.
</font>

Bill
Finding a B21 or B20 for less than a BX23 new will be a great find. A low hour (less than 1000) B21 would have a price close to $20,000. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
The B21 TLB is a heavy-duty tractor that its horsepower tends to hide.

Jim_Becker · Sep 30, 2004

Do consider that the B21 was designed to be largely employed as a TLB, rather than a nice general pupose machine as the BX is.

Rick Jay · Sep 30, 2004

Tallguy,

If your handle is related to your physical stature, you might want to sit on several tractors to make sure they feel right. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

If you're comparing the B21 and BX23 with intended use being for home use, you should be comparing the B2910/B7800 vs. BX23. The B21 is really overbuilt for most home use. It is designed for contractor use and lots of backhoe work. That's why it comes in somewhere around $25,000.

I doubt you'll be able to find a B21 in good shape at anywhere near the price of a new BX23.

I have a B2910 with a Woods 7500 backhoe on 2/3 acre and love it! I considered the B21, but the FOPS wouldn't allow me to park it in the garage. So, I went with the B2910.

The BX22/BX23 was not out when I bought mine in 2000. My only concern with a BX backhoe for my use is that I'm always wanting for more reach. I'm not even digging long or deep trenches, but it seems like I always wish the hoe could reach just one more foot...or sometimes just another couple inches.

Still...anything is better than a shovel. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

~Rick

Tallguy · Oct 1, 2004

Hi Rick,

Hey that sounds like a great idea. I suppose I was reading in a bit too much logic into Kubota's model numbering scheme.

I should probably check out the other major players models too, ay? But this is the Kubota area.... shhhhh!

Tg~

MarkV · Oct 7, 2004

Tallguy, another thing to consider is that you cannot use a midmount mower on the B21 nor can you remove the loader on the B21. Someone referred to the BX as an “estate TLB” in another tread and I thought that good terminology. The B21 is a small commercial TLB built for a different environment of use. Most everything on the B21 is extra heavy duty but you do pay the price for it. I think my B21 is great and now has about 1100 trouble free hours on it. That said, for a general purpose tractor that will only see occasional backhoe work you can get into the more powerful “B” series tractors with a backhoe for about the same money. This can be a real advantage if you plan to run many PTO implements because the B21 only has 13.5 PTO horsepower.

As others mentioned it can be real hard to find a low hour used B21. These tractors are mostly bought by contractors, utility companies and rental agencies that tend to use them hard and long before selling.

MarkV

Keybal · Oct 13, 2004

I have a BX22 (last years BX23) for my three acre property. I have close to 100 hours on it and am very happy with the machine. My son is a landscape contractor. He bought a B21 about 5 years ago. It gets used hard and has worked very well. We have work the two machines side by side on some projects at the house. His machine will dig faster, deeper and quicker than the BX22. They are two different machines with two different uses.

Keybal · Oct 13, 2004

I have a BX22 (last years BX23) for my three acre property. I have close to 100 hours on it and am very happy with the machine. My son is a landscape contractor. He bought a B21 about 5 years ago. It gets used hard and has worked very well. We have worked the two machines side by side on some projects at the house. His machine will dig faster, deeper and quicker than the BX22. They are two different machines with two different uses.