Traction BX2660 Towing capacity

[jimbog]

I have seen on some forums the statement of the bx26' You will run out of traction before you run out of power'.
I use my bx2660 (Turf tires) to move around my 20ft cape island fisher (on a 4 wheel trailer). I have trouble pulling the boat up my ramp (quite shallow incline).
I can back her down and stop her comfortably but pulling back up... no go.

I tried increase revs to near max but no movement and I am afraid I will damage something trying (so stop!).

But the wheels definitely dont lose traction or spin. It will move it around on the flat no problem. I dont know how much the boat and trailer weigh, but its quite a heavy 20footer, i would have thought 3-4000lbs max! and yes, the wheels on the trailor are nice and free.

I just assumed its too much of a job for it. Am I right?
I currently use a 3500lb winch (cable doubled) fitted to the tow bar to pull it up, no problem.

 

[bp fick]

In "turtle"? I am surprised it doesn't move or the tires don't spin, frankly. One or the other. I am also a bit surprised a 20' boat and double axle trailer doesn't weight a bit more then you are estimating. Hmmmm. I don't know.

You also have to figure the BX is up against the water resistance and an incline, so it likely is asking too much of it.

 

[unfinished]

There should be a towing spec in your manual for the tractor.

I don't have a bx tractor, but FWIW, my L3700su is 2200 lbs max trailer load (730lbs tongue weight). This number seems conservative to me.

 

[wrooster]

I just assumed its too much of a job for it. Am I right?

You should tell this guy -- who says 6000lbs is no problem, and safe:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/217396-towing-bx24-25-a.html

Wrooster

 

[johnk]

If you run out of power the RPM's will fall. If you run out of traction the tires will spin. What did yours do?/

 

[jimbog]

I would be extremely surprised if it weighed more but you could be right. I put it on the trailer at high water and pull it out and low, so the boat and trailor are out of the water.

I havent pulled it out since last october, just put it in and left it in so I am working off memory, but I would say it just whines from the back, cant remember if the revs dropped. (I had it from new and it has less than 150 hrs)

 

[jimbog]

Just read the manual (who reads those things!)
Max load 1765lbs, so looks like I should not expect it to pull the boat.
I was just intrigued by the statement 'lose traction first' .

 

[Grandad4]

1. You are using LOW (turtle) range, right? If it's in HIGH (rabbit) range, no, you wouldn't be able to spin the wheels.

2. Concrete boat ramp or ??? The horsepower vs. traction thing usually relates to open ground, being that it's a tractor and all. Wouldn't expect a tractor to spin its tires on pavement (dry or wet).

3. Similarly, a 4000lb boat may put so much weight on the back of the tractor that its rear tires couldn't break loose and spin.

You are putting the HST into relief, so it won't bog the engine. But, instead of burning something up, a relief valve is triggered and the wheels don't turn.

 

[bp fick]

Losing traction is very easy. Just be in dirt or pull a box blade, middle buster or other things such as that and the wheels will easily spin.

It may be that the boat ramp provides good grip and the boat is so heavy and the resistance so great that the HST indeed, just bypasses to protect itself.

I've pulled 3000 lbs very, very slowly with my BX, in Turtle, on level ground, and not very far, back in the day, but it was all it could do. Of course, it wasn't uphill and it wasn't with the trailer wheels down in a lake.

 

[BXinNH]

I would be suprised if your boat and trailer were not heavier than you think. I had a 17' fiberglass bow rider with a single axle trailer and it was over 4000lbs. (I realize this in no way solves your problem)

Matt.

 

[Gods Country]

If you run out of power the RPM's will fall. If you run out of traction the tires will spin. What did yours do?/

This has been my experience as well in low range.
Either the tires spin or the engine begins bog down.

 

[jimbog]

I hope I was not stupid enough to be in High and not Low.
My ramp is 60ft of 2x4's with around 1/2 inch gaps. Slippery when wet but not so much when dry and its quite a gradual slope.

You are putting the HST into relief, so it won't bog the engine. But, instead of burning something up, a relief valve is triggered and the wheels don't turn.

(how do you do that Originally posted by with the arrow?)

Does this mean that its safe ie not going to do any damage by over working the HST? if so thats a relief (no pun intended).

 

[Grandad4]

Does this mean that its safe ie not going to do any damage by over working the HST? if so thats a relief (no pun intended).

Sounds like you have lots of traction and a very heavy load. Not surprising it's triggering the relief under those conditions. If you had a gear tractor instead of the HST, it would happily attempt to pull until either the engine died or something expensive broke. If you ever watch a tractor pull at the county fair, those are among the most common occurences besides losing traction.

The thing is not going to burn up or break in half if you briefly overload the drivetrain like that from time to time, but it's telling you it's beyond its limit and to back off.

Although I think you are basically overmatching the tractor with what you're trying to pull, I should mention that it's possible for the releif circuits to not function properly, sort of like a clutch that slips. If you see any signs of similar problems in less extreme conditions, you may need to get the dealer to check it out.

P.S. One other thought here: Being that it's an HST, did you understand that flooring the foot peddle is not what you should do? The more you floor it, the higher the "gearing". For maximum pulling power, you want to use the least amount of peddle, not the most. Just checking.

 

[jimbog]

I was not aware of the minimum peddle rule... I will be taking her out in around a months time so will bear that in mind. Will probably stick to the winch as the safer option.

 

[jakell2010]

The weight of the trailer in this argument is of no consequence,,,,,,it should stall if your trans is functioning properly and the boat is too heavy,,,,,,or spin,,,,,,you have transmission issues,,

 

[Grandad4]

The weight of the trailer in this argument is of no consequence,,,,,,it should stall if your trans is functioning properly and the boat is too heavy,,,,,,or spin,,,,,,you have transmission issues,,

Gotta respectfully disagree here. Kubota and other well-designed HST's will go into relief before stalling the engine to prevent overloading and eventual catastrophic failure in the drivetrain. That's the specific purpose of the relief circuit and there would be a "transmission issue" if they didn't work like that.

 

[BXinNH]

The weight of the trailer is, in fact, of consequence here as the OP stated he was pulling up a hill so the weight of the trailer is just as relevant as the weight of the boat.

Matt.

 

[jimbog]

Well You guys were right! I must have been trying in high last year. In low with around 2800 revs it pulled the boat up no sweat. When it could not cope (the trailer dolly wheel had dug in the ground - at that point it was on a chain not the ball hitch) then the real wheels did in fact lose traction.

 

[newdeal]

Not surprising it wouldn't get it out in high. I can't even get my BX into my barn in high and its only like a 4" step maximum lol. It needs low and unless I get a running start it also needs 4x4 to get it in

 

[LBrown59]

Well You guys were right! I must have been trying in high last year. In low with around 2800 revs it pulled the boat up no sweat. When it could not cope (the trailer dolly wheel had dug in the ground - at that point it was on a chain not the ball hitch) then the real wheels did in fact lose traction.

Glad you discovered your tractor is performing correctly.
Bet that was a great feeling of relieve!