BX2370 loader -vs- something larger

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

You've kinda got me thinking about the L's again.

Coming up on 50hrs. Planning to have the tires filled and add wheel weights. Box blade (or maybe that Ratchet Rake instead).

View attachment 504630

We've been talking about a rototiller, but not quite sure it's worth buying -vs- renting.

Your a very indecisive person lol

Cough* M7 Cough*

 

[RaydaKub]

I'm sorry, Kubotas biggest tractor is the M7 a 130hp tractor and not sure if they offer it with a FEL or not.

M7-171 -- 168 HP, Front loader LM2605
Kubota Tractor Corporation - M7-171

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

M7-171 -- 168 HP, Front loader LM2605
Kubota Tractor Corporation - M7-171

I googled kubota's biggest tractor and it showed 130hp, later I found the 168hp M7, I didn't feel like correcting myself but I see you did lol.

 

[RaydaKub]

I googled kubota's biggest tractor and it showed 130hp, later I found the 168hp M7, I didn't feel like correcting myself but I see you did lol.

Probably was accurate at the time, but things change. :thumbsup:

 

[s219]

	BX2370	B2320	BX2680	B2601	B2650
Loader	LA243A	LA304	LA344	LA434	LA534A
500mm max height	518	545		659	827
pivot pin, max height	745	772		948	1146

I bought the BX2370 predominantly to build / rebuild a bunch of privacy fence. Thinking post-hole digger and a powered wheelbarrow. Also wanted to address several landscaping / deferred maintenance issues.

It's been great in that regard. Discovered a bunch of uses for it that I'd hadn't anticipated. Also realized some things are a lot heavier than I would have guessed. Weight matters.

Wishing it could lift more, I'd been glancing at specs and comparing the 518lb (500mm, max height) on the BX2370 -vs- 948lb (pivot pin, max height) on the B2601.

Got me thinking I could get nearly twice the lifting ability for not a lot more money. I finally wrote some numbers down so I could see things side-by-side.

Not as much difference as I thought.
--

I think it's a mistake to compare these tractors at max height, since they have different sizes and FELs. The 2650 max height is probably quite a bit higher than the BX, right? A fair comparison would be to consider them all at the same height, in which case the 2650 will look even better. This matters because the lift capacity is weakest at max height and increases as the loader goes down. The 2650 capacity will be higher at an equivalent height to the BX's max.

You really need to consult the lift curve in the owners manual for the FEL to get a feel for this. And realize that most of us use the loaders to lift stuff down low, where the lift capacity is much much greater. If I remember right, the capacity on my L3200 near ground height is more than double the capacity at full height.

 

[wrooster]

There's a reason they lowered the pressure, the little Kubota's got a bad name for blowing hydraulic hoses.
Something to do carefully

Have never heard that. Anyway, even if it were true, it's a heck of a lot cheaper and easier to replace hydraulic hoses than all those cracked JD PTO housings... :thumbsup:

wrooster

 

[wrooster]

Not as much difference as I thought.

I have a BX and my neighbor has a B, and they both have their strengths.

The B has 4" more ground clearance at the axles, which in some cases will make it more suitable for use in the field (e.g. tilling) or in the woods (e.g. dragging timber).
The BX weighs approximately 300lbs less, and has a lower center of gravity, which in some cases will make it more suitable for estate mowing due to less ground compaction and additional stability on hills.

After 6 (7?) years of BX ownership, i want for only two things:

1) A bigger bucket. More often than not I am moving loose material (e.g. topsoil or mulch) and the weight is well within the loader capacity; what I really need is a bucket that is 1.5 or more times the volume, which would reduce the number of trips between the pile and the destination. In the wheeled-loader world, these upsized buckets are called "loose material" buckets. It is the case that if you fill such a bucket with (example) stone aggregate, the loader may not be able pick it up; but that is not the purpose.

2) Better lighting fore and aft.

wrooster

 

[wrooster]

Wishing it could lift more, I'd been glancing at specs and comparing the 518lb (500mm, max height) on the BX2370 -vs- 948lb (pivot pin, max height) on the B2601.
--

see also
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/311309-bx-weight-lifting-test.html

 

[Michael Aos]

Very good point. Thank you.

What is the term for lift capacity at "ground level" or something like that?
--

I think it's a mistake to compare these tractors at max height, since they have different sizes and FELs. The 2650 max height is probably quite a bit higher than the BX, right? A fair comparison would be to consider them all at the same height, in which case the 2650 will look even better. This matters because the lift capacity is weakest at max height and increases as the loader goes down. The 2650 capacity will be higher at an equivalent height to the BX's max.

You really need to consult the lift curve in the owners manual for the FEL to get a feel for this. And realize that most of us use the loaders to lift stuff down low, where the lift capacity is much much greater. If I remember right, the capacity on my L3200 near ground height is more than double the capacity at full height.

 

[Fallon]

You really need to consult the lift curve in the owners manual for the FEL to get a feel for this. And realize that most of us use the loaders to lift stuff down low, where the lift capacity is much much greater. If I remember right, the capacity on my L3200 near ground height is more than double the capacity at full height.

My 1,200lbs rated loader on my L3200 would get "1,200lbs" big square bales to 4-5'. Add in the 200+ lbs for the forks & the bales sticking 4' out and it was dealing with 20-30% more than rated capacity. More down low, yes, but not near double.

 

[TMGT]

Very good point. Thank you.

What is the term for lift capacity at "ground level" or something like that?
--

That would be listed as breakout force, the height varies based on the tractor but usually it's a few feet of lift.

 

[tractorshopper]

OP, you mentioned your loader feeling weak. Have you been using some type of ballast? Were you lifting your rear wheels when trying to lift the stump you mention? I ask because you mention filling wheels, wheel weights, BB, etc.

With ballast, you'll get all of the use of your loader and feel more stable doing so. I have my rear wheels filled and always have on a box blade or tiller or something for extra ballast when doing loader work. Makes a huge difference.

 

[Michael Aos]

Yes, experienced what you mentioned. I only have the post-hole digger on the 3pt right now.

Trying to decide whether maybe I should move to larger model -vs- throwing good after bad trying to add weight to the BX2370.

 

[s219]

My 1,200lbs rated loader on my L3200 would get "1,200lbs" big square bales to 4-5'. Add in the 200+ lbs for the forks & the bales sticking 4' out and it was dealing with 20-30% more than rated capacity. More down low, yes, but not near double.

Here's the curve from my L3200's LA524 loader owner's manual -- you can see the 520kg at max height at pins (which is where the "52" in the loader model number comes from). Follow the curve down to zero height and it's approximately 1200kg, slightly more than double. Again this is at the pins -- the curve will be different depending on whatever is mounted on the loader arms, but for the OP's purposes I was talking about specs and the curves in the owner's manual.

 

[s219]

That would be listed as breakout force, the height varies based on the tractor but usually it's a few feet of lift.

Breakout is the "prying force" developed at/near the bucket lip, and not quite the same as the lift capacity at zero height (which would be given at pins or a distance from pins). Normally you see breakout force numbers specific to a particular bucket. It depends on the leverage the bucket develops with the heel of the bucket resting on the ground. There's an ISO spec for this with more details.

 

[tractorshopper]

Michael, not trying to talk you out of something bigger because that may be what you end up deciding is right for you in the future. I had an L3800 that I absolutely loved and was a beast, but I would recommend something heavier for ballast being tried out by you before making your final decision. Filling your rear wheels will make a big difference alone. A PHD is not very much counterweight by itself. Would be nice if you filled your wheels and put on a box blade or tiller or some attachment with more weight and then try your machine out with all it's capability, then decide whether to spend more $. Heck, even if you could just borrow someone's box blade alone will show you a good bit more of your capability.

 

[Michael Aos]

I am / have been planning to get the tires filled, add wheel weights, and add a box-blade at the 50hr mark (service). I don't have a quote for all of that, but let's guess around $1K.

I was just kind of toying with the idea moving to a B01 or B50 INSTEAD of spending that $1K on the BX -- if I was going to move to something larger anyway.

When I purchased the BX2370, I really didn't look much at the B01's or B50's. I remember they seemed HUGE, but that's about it.

Now, after ~50hrs on the BX2370, the B2601 / B2650 doesn't seem so ginormous.

In fact, the B2650 seems kind of right-sized...
--

 

[Michael Aos]

Spent a few hours on the BX2370 today. Yesterday I staged the materials. 6 yards of fill dirt. 2.25 tons of pea gravel, 4.5 tons of 3/4" river rock, 2 yards of garden dirt.

Pulled a few old 4x4 fence posts. BX had no issues will all but 2. Pulled them with a Hi-Lift jack.