BX25D hydro fan and underside

[Code54]

I just ordered our BX25D and am interested in seeing how the HST fan is arranged. I understand it is vulnerable but have not seen any photos of them and was wondering if anyone has made a plate to protect it or if everyone ordered the Bxpanded one. Theres looks super nice I was just interested in seeing everyones set ups and why it is so easily broken.
Thanks

 

[4shorts]

It was one of the first things I did with my BX25-D. I made my skid plate in 3 sections out of 1/8th plate. Congrats on your new tractor. Your going to love it.

 

[Code54]

Very Very Very nice work - that looks great!!!!
We are getting the mid mount mower so I guess I am protected while that is on but want something to protect it with the mower off. I really like that plate system you made!

 

[Cherokee140]

Here is a photo of the fan with the mower deck removed. It looked like it was tucked up in there, but so many people say it gets busted all the time so it just must be a magnet.

Kinda a bad photo, but hopefully you can get the idea. I could tell that if you did get the fan busted it would be a big bucket of pain in the ***** to get it fixed....tons of stuff you have to take off.....looks like it would be labor extensive.

 

[HeLa]

It was one of the first things I did with my BX25-D. I made my skid plate in 3 sections out of 1/8th plate. Congrats on your new tractor. Your going to love it.

very nice plate. i wish the BXpanded model covered the front boot of the main shaft like that.

BTW, you might consider accentuating the text 'specialty repairs' with bold or the like and placing the TM mark directly after that text (assuming that 'specialty repairs' is the part that you are claiming as your word mark) :2cents:

 

[AStanton]

He's a shot of the fan on my BX-25. If you go into the weeds, you best get this thing covered.

 

[Cherokee140]

He's a shot of the fan on my BX-25. If you go into the weeds, you best get this thing covered.

Is that on a BX-25 or a BX25D.

On my new D there is a large metal "pan" that is right under the fan. On this photo I outlined the pan in yellow, and I am thinking that the long "tube" sections you have I did in red.
Now you have me real interested....I am going to climb under the thing again tonight and try to get a better pic.

 

[AStanton]

I've got a 2010 BX-25.
I posted the year wrong: it's a 2008.

 

[Code54]

Thanks for the photos! Did They add some protection on the "D" perhaps? Seems Kubota could add 50 bucks to the price of the machine and have it we'll protected from the factory and easy put the whole issue to bed...... And still make an extra 25 bucks in the process.

 

[Cherokee140]

Thanks for the photos! Did They add some protection on the "D" perhaps? Seems Kubota could add 50 bucks to the price of the machine and have it we'll protected from the factory and easy put the whole issue to bed...... And still make an extra 25 bucks in the process.

I had read so many threads on this fan issue that after I took the deck off I wanted to take a look. I was thinking now how in the world does something get up in there and busts that fan....but so many people have issues with it, the fan just must be in the right spot to catch everything.

I am not sure my lift can get the machine all the way up....the tractor is pretty small, but at least I will prop up the butt end of it and snap a quick pic. I am real interested if this is something they added to the newer D machines, and wonder if other D machines have it or if this is like a mid model year change.

 

[Scooby074]

Its not exclusive to the new D's.

Mine is a 2yrs old BX25 and it has fan protection just as pictured. Not sure when the change was made, but it was at least a couple years back. The new guard works, frankly I was suprised it works as well as it does.

 

[Cherokee140]

All I really did tonight was run out and take the pics...I did not feel like screwing with moving the buggy and everything so I just crawled under it again with a better light....the photos are much better this time.

Yea I am a bit lazy....and too much crap to move

 

[AStanton]

I was thinking now how in the world does something get up in there and busts that fan....

I think this fan gets targeted as offer as your kitchen/bathroom sink: Why does everything small seem to fall in them?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

A few years ago Kubota did do extra protection for the BX25.
The statement that these break really often is probably not true, we just hear about the very small percentage that do. I've never had one break and I've had several BXs. I did have a BX2200, my first tractor, that the fan should have broke on it where all I took it but I never took the mowing deck off of the tractor so the fan was protected. Guess I never took any of my other ones out into big stick standing up or laying down to pop up country. Just yards and regular grass and they'll never break or rarely will they if a mowing deck is on the tractor. I don't even know anyone personally that has had one break.
No one ever posts here that says "I've never had a fan break on my BX, have you?" Look at the number of members and those that have had the breaking fan and it's probably under 1% (theory, not fact) which means 99% (theory, not fact) haven't experienced this bad happening.
How many GM cars (percentage) have wrecked because of the key issue and it may close down the company. How many jets have just disappeared from Malaysia but watch what happens on all future jets.

 

[varmint]

I don't have a BX25, it's too small to push the snow I need moved, but I can see why guys like them. That factory protective plate seems to me to be inadequate- a branch could easily get pushed in there, and wham. You gotta problem. Paul Shorts plates look like total protection, from below, anyway.

 

[kcender]

When I had my 09 BX25 I made up a protective plate for the underbelly and fan.Looked real good until I installed the mower deck.When I tried to raise the deck the linkage bound up on the skid plate.After much trimming I was able to have protection for the fan and be able to use the deck as well.Just a word of caution to anyone who is thinking of making their own skid plate to use in conjunction with the deck,there is enough room but just barely.I think if I had one of the newer machines I would just add a vertical piece to the existing guard.

 

[Code54]

Cherokee140 - lazy? I. Think not. Anyone that would go out and take photos to help others out is far from lazy. Thank you for doing that.
Now that I have seen it I am going to hold off ordering a plate. My thoughts are similar to kcender - adding a vertical piece to the top would add the needed protection. Seems like some minor fabricating and it would be a lot better.
Thanks

 

[Cherokee140]

Cherokee140 - lazy? I. Think not. Anyone that would go out and take photos to help others out is far from lazy. Thank you for doing that.
Now that I have seen it I am going to hold off ordering a plate. My thoughts are similar to kcender - adding a vertical piece to the top would add the needed protection. Seems like some minor fabricating and it would be a lot better.
Thanks

Yes I would hold off. I wanted to feel the fan...see how bendy it was and such and I could just reach it with my finger tips....it is a good bit back there.

Truth be known I really thought about buying the armor without even taking a look under the machine. Now that I have been under there. I am really thinking I will risk it. I am thinking it will take a pretty good bit of wood or whatever to snap a blade...and the planets will have to be aligned just right for it to get in there. I would suggest waiting to see for yourself then make your own judgement based on the work you plan on doing.

 

[coveredbridge]

After seeing your pics, your plate is much more substantial than any other factory plates I have seen. If mine has the same plate as yours (when it is finally delivered), I doubt that I would see the need for an aftermarket skid plate. Thanks for the pics!