BX24 possible to fit a 48" mowing deck?

[Coyote X]

I am going to buy a BX24 tomorrow. It is mainly going to be used for general work around the house and some rental property I have. I currently use a 15 year old sears lawn tractor with a 42" deck to cut grass. There is nothing wrong with the craftsman mower but it is old enough and has had a lot of abuse so it won't last more than 5 more years I figure before needing some work done to it. Some of the areas I cut with it are tight and a 48" deck is right at the limit of what fits around everything.

Some of the other BX models come with a 48" mowing deck option but not the BX24. I need the backhoe and loader so I am pretty much settled on the 24, plus the local dealer has one in stock and is giving me a good price for it. So would it be possible to fit the 48" deck under it or slightly modify the deck by welding different brackets to get it to fit or are they just totally different and not compatible at all? If I can't get a smaller deck for it though I can always just get another mower from sears or somewhere after I kill my current one but it would be nice to only have one thing to store instead of two.

 

[bx24d]

Not sure if you are talking about modifying your sears 48" deck or buying the kubota 48" deck. Both options would require significant modification and leave you with a mower that has a very difficult time cutting close to obstacles (the deck will not be wider than the back tires). If you're talking about the sears deck, does it have a drive shaft with a six spline pto?

 

[Coyote X]

Sears deck is belt drive and nothing like the bx stuff from what I can tell

I was thinking some of the other B series decks might be similar to the BX mounting system and hopefully only require moving a few brackets around. I was looking at the spec sheet and a 48" deck would just barely be wider than the back wheels but that would be fine seeing as how it would actually fit throughout the yards to cut the grass. My only other option if I was to get a 54 inch deck would be take it off drive the tractor into the yard, around the trees and fencing and then reinstall it. Then use a push mower to get the tight areas. I have used 38 or 42 inch mowers for years so I always kept everything at least 48 inches wide because I really didn't plan on going any larger ever.

Really the main job of the BX is going to be working it as it is configured with the backhoe and front loader with occasional box scraper use, I was just thinking it would be handy to get a deck that would fit everywhere so I can forget about the little lawn tractors and just keep one good reliable machine to do everything.

 

[LBrown59]

Sears deck is belt drive and nothing like the bx stuff from what I can tell

I was thinking some of the other B series decks might be similar to the BX mounting system and hopefully only require moving a few brackets around. I was looking at the spec sheet and a 48" deck would just barely be wider than the back wheels but that would be fine seeing as how it would actually fit throughout the yards to cut the grass. My only other option if I was to get a 54 inch deck would be take it off drive the tractor into the yard, around the trees and fencing and then reinstall it. Then use a push mower to get the tight areas. I have used 38 or 42 inch mowers for years so I always kept everything at least 48 inches wide because I really didn't plan on going any larger ever.

Really the main job of the BX is going to be working it as it is configured with the backhoe and front loader with occasional box scraper use, I was just thinking it would be handy to get a deck that would fit everywhere so I can forget about the little lawn tractors and just keep one good reliable machine to do everything.,

I have a spare 48'' Kubota BX 1500 mower deck I'd like to get rid of.

 

[KeithInSpace]

Don't think the "older" series BX decks will work with the "newer" series BX tractors. Not sure about that, though.

There is another thread about someone who didn't have any trouble putting a new or lightly used 48" deck on his BX2350. If it fits on there, you shouldn't have any trouble.

Math problem from 2nd grade: If 48" and 54" fits on BX1850 and 54" and 60" deck fits on BX2350/BX24...being as the 54" deck is identical in both applications, the 60" deck should fit the BX1850 and the 48" deck should fit the BX24.

Therefore, there should be no modification necessary.

 

[TheFlatlander]

Odd mower size combination. I also didn't want a wide deck as I have more trees to fit between than grass to cut. In England this deck size is a factory option on the BX. They only have the BX2350.

I put a 48' deck on my BX2660 from a BX1850. This fit with minimal modification. 48" deck will level as the other two larger decks do, drive shaft fits, and front hanging brackets fit with out modification. the only modification was cutting the rear stop brackets where they come to the frame 3/8 inch for clearance to allow the deck to get to top position. One draw back is that the cut height is 1 inch higher than the indicator. For me this was no issue as I do not cut grass lower than 2". One additional benefit is that the ground clearance with the deck raised is 1" taller. The deck cuts about 1" wider than the rear tires on both sides.

I don't know for sure if there is any additional clearance problems associated with the BH sub frame kit of the BX24, but I would be inclined to think this would fit. I had a good dealer that had access to a 48" deck and supported me in trying this out. I did the final modifications myself. This is the second time I have done this with a BX. Before you do this look at the anti-scuff rollers so that you will not be disappointed later. The larger decks have more adjust-ability and can be turned sideways. On the same hand the smaller deck is less likely to scrape and will push out from under the tractor pretty easy, as it is lighter.

If you are going to use R4 tires (I also have a set-Ag's shown in pictures) the rear anti-scuff rollers will have to be moved forward. This is simple and requires just a new hole to be drilled on each side. About 1/2" forward will do. I also lowered the hole a Little from straight forward since I moved them closer to the deck.

You still might want to consider the cost of the deck and possibly to buy a Home Depot or Leows Disposable tractor with deck for similar cost. I didn't want to do this for three reasons- Extra engine & maintenance, garage floorspace, and explaining to my wife how my yard tractor got too big and new we need another.........

Kubota is the only tractor of this size that can do this deck size, that I know of. Hope the pictures help. Shown is 48" deck mounted to BX2660 and bracket that was trimmed at rear of deck. The other side opposite bracket will require same modification.

 

[Coyote X]

Went and did the paperwork on the bx24 today. While I was there I asked if they had a 48 inch deck they would let me try out under the tractor and see how it fit. They didn't have anything not already attached and they didn't want to sell me one even if they did so I quit asking them about it and just took the tractor.

It will be delivered in the morning and I will call around some of the other dealers and see what I can figure out this summer. I am not in a real hurry to fit it since the sears lawn tractor I have runs fine and will have no trouble running for the next few years now that I will not need it for anything except cutting grass anymore. Does anyone know a part number for the 48" deck so I know what to ask about when calling around? The kubota website sucks for any specific details.

LBrown59: I would be interested if it would fit but I have no idea how far away you are from me but being northwest it will probably cost more to get it here than just to buy a new one.

 

[Coyote X]

Now that I have a better idea of what I am looking for it looks like RCK48P18BX is the deck I am needing. I will have to look around and see if any other dealers have one they would let me see how it fits. If nothing else since I know it can be done with only a bit of minor modifications I could go ahead and buy one sometime this summer.

 

[radioman]

king cutter has a 48 inch rear 3 pt hitch mounted mower. perhaps this is what you are looking for ?

 

[LBrown59]

LBrown59: I would be interested if it would fit but
*I have no idea how far away you are from me but being northwest it will probably cost more to get it here than just to buy a new one.

I'm across the I 77 bridge over the Ohio River from Wood County W.VA in Washingtion County Ohio.