BX2660

[ChuckinNH]

I was picking up some maintenance stuff for my Legacy this morning at my Simplicity / Kubota / Polaris dealer, and got a chance to look over a BX2660 a little. There is a decal on the hood that says "Extra Power", the grill is all black, and doesn't have the orange bars across the sides of it, and it has a more deluxe seat with reclining back, and manual storage pocket on the back. I also think the seat doesn't have quite as much travel as the standard BX seat. Other than those things, it looks just like a BX2350. Sorry, my camera was at home.

 

[Tom_H]

Interesting, I know that Neil Messick will say that the extra hp comes at the expense of torque. I imagine we will have a thread discussing which applications will benefit from higher hp/less torque and which applications will benefit from less hp/higher torque. Might be good for all of us to have a refresher course on the math formula used to determine hp and how it can be manipulated.

With this concrete like hardpan of mine, I surely understand how an old 16 hp utility tractor with 6' dia wheels, high torque, and an ultra low pulling gear is able to rip hardpan, while my BX2200 barely scratches it.

 

[art]

Interesting, I know that Neil Messick will say that the extra hp comes at the expense of torque.

WIth the same size engine is where that reference was made I believe. Parts will only take so much load before breaking.

With this concrete like hardpan of mine, I surely understand how an old 16 hp utility tractor with 6' dia wheels, high torque, and an ultra low pulling gear is able to rip hardpan, while my BX2200 barely scratches it.

I would say that there must be an adjustment needed to perfect the BX's ripping ability.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Interesting, I know that Neil Messick will say that the extra hp comes at the expense of torque.

Did I say that about this model? It is a physicaly bigger engine thats producing that extra power. Its not just running at higher rpm's, so it should have more troque than the BX2350.

 

[Tom_H]

You did say that when it was first announced that there would be a BX with a 26 hp engine. You also said that a 26 hp engine was not well matched to this chassis size. Have the engine specs changed since the announcement was first made?

 

[Tom_H]

I would say that there must be an adjustment needed to perfect the BX's ripping ability.

The large wheel diameter, the direct drive low gear (you can't create those ratio differences with a hydrostatic tranny), and the sheer weight of those old utility tractors are things you can't have in a BX. If you gave a BX 6' dia wheels, quadrupled its weight, and gave it an ultra low direct drive pulling gear, you would have an M or L series tractor rather than a BX.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

You did say that when it was first announced that there would be a BX with a 26 hp engine. You also said that a 26 hp engine was not well matched to this chassis size. Have the engine specs changed since the announcement was first made?

Oh yea, when is the last time you've heard of anyone complaining about engine HP on a BX? Its nothing but a HP race because customers tend to focus on it. Now after the first announcement that this thing was comming out, they did change a few things. This is comming with metal fenders, bigger radiator, etc. There are a few nice changes. I've not gotten one yet, but I think there are some people that will be attracted to it. It will start to push its price rather close to a B2320. I just don't get excited about the continual addition of engine HP when its not really needed. I don't blame Kubota, thats part of the game thats being played.

 

[KeithInSpace]

These folks have a decent description of what to anticipate:
Fiser Truck & Tractor: Agriculture: BX Series Tractors: BX2660

Not sure what price difference they're talking about...used to be that the difference between the BX1830 and BX2230 was $500...so nobody ever bought the BX1830...I didn't. That is part of the reason, I guess, that when redesigned the BX1850 got the smaller wheels of the defunct BX1500 and the line was consolidated to 2 models with an 'appropriate' price gap. Makes sense, really.

Now they've distinguished this tractor with a metal hood and fenders. I'm not sure why they got away from them in the first place.

Not sure what the price difference will be, but if it is under $1,000, Kubota will be right back to where they were before...why buy the BX2350 when I can get more power and METAL FENDERS for a few bucks more? It'd be worth it to me.

And as Neil said, the price is getting very close to, if not a little over, a B2320. And it can't cost more than a BX24, either. Why get a BX2660 when you can get a backhoe for a few bucks more?

My $0.01 (not even two cents) would be to have only the BX1850 (call it a BX1860), a BX2660 as shown, and a BX26. Have all of them with metal fenders and hoods, but don't change anything else. Offer a 54" and 60" deck with the 18 HP model and a 60" and 72" deck with the 26 HP model. And put a second hydraulic pump on the 26 HP model so you can have more flexibility in attachments and use more BH functions simultaneously for increased productivity (there'd be two hydraulic loops going to the BH instead of just one). Charge a nominal amount more for each over current prices. Consolidating your offerings would cover a hunk of the price difference, I would think.

Again, my one cent.

Of course, I've stated before that I haven't tapped any of my 22 available HP yet. Perhaps if I had a monster chipper, but if I was fiddling with that stuff, I'd have/need a bigger tractor than a BX. Where will it end? A 48 HP turbo diesel on a BX? Not that it wouldn't be cool and all...

I think I'm with Neil on this one. This is an example of keeping up with the Jones' so you can say you have the best [something] in the class.

 

[Tom_H]

We did discuss this same thing before. The only advantage I see in having the same size tractor, with more overall power, would be in the ability to use a bigger chipper or bigger generator at the rear pto. I realize that to be able to actually rip my hardpan I'd need not just more power, but a heavier tractor with larger rear wheels and a pulling gear, which means that I would need a tractor in a class bigger than a BX.

 

[KeithInSpace]

The horse we had beat to death earlier is what SHOULD a more powerful BX also incorporate. Metal hood and fenders was a biggie, and they did that.

I absolutely 100% agree that more TRACTOR is needed to do more with a BX...not more POWER.