Considering a BX23S - thoughts

[djefferis]

Ok - so just looking for some opinions on if a BX23S would fill part of my needs - or is it too small to be useful?

So short rundown of my situation- I’ve got a 100 acre former family farm I maintain in SE Ohio and my acre plus home in NE Ohio. Obviously very different terrains and needs - my home here is developed landscaping and slight incline - SE Ohio is hilly terrain and a lot of brush hogging required. Also have 1 house and a few mobile home lots in SE Ohio requiring minimal maintenance.

Goals are to have the right equipment for doing small things around both the homes yard wise - and to have something to use to clear land and clean out alot of brush left by timbering done about 6 years ago on the SE property (inherited property - parents didn’t know enough to make sure person cutting timber cleaned up all the tops and crap they left behind).

So obviously a BX series is not going to be anywhere near a “one and done” machine to maintain 100 acres. In my mind - it’s a fancy lawn tractor - fine for moving mulch around - mowing irregular and non level bigger yard and doing light landscape work - but not fit for say digging out and developing a water spring, dragging brush or really any level of mowing fields covered in multiflora rose.

So with that said - I’ve been offered a few well kept used BXS for just under 15k - thinking of going with one to keep down at the SE property for mowing the lawn and to have at my disposal for light landscape work at both places when needed. Obviously a handy little tool for moving stuff around and doing a little digging aside from mowing I think - and at the price not super pricey. From there - figured to buy a larger tractor/loader (figure 50-65hp) for doing work around the SE Ohio property and possibly either a skid steer or mini ex.

I just don’t see the need for a larger tractor with backhoe attachment based on cost and use ability. And given my limited needs - unless I can find a really good deal on a small used mini ex (like under 15k) - I think renting is the way to go (as inconvenient as it is - the cost of maintaining something older likely defeats the convenience/cost of renting). Having a larger tractor with loader would give me what I need to start tackling the land when I’m ready. A skidsteer might be useful too I think - again if I can find something used, 50ho or so and around 15-20k. If I could find the right one - I might think of doing this and a older tractor without the loader.

I’ve got a Ford 3000 now as a “backup” tractor - I think it’s a good for that - big enough to mow with - but without a loader.

Thoughts on a BX as a starting point or the plan overall ? Suggestions on what else I should be considering?

 

[Eagle1]

I bought a bx to maintain 6 ac 20 years ago then moved to 92 ac. It was my main tool for years. Amazing what that little machine will do. I beat the snot out of and is still ticking (well needs a shut-off solenoid right now). It will do a lot just slower and more trips than a bigger machine. Not great for bush hogging rough terrain, low ground clearance and the hydro filter and fan are pretty exposed under the tractor. Grass and saplings it will eat all day long.
I've moved tons of material, wore through the bucket at least twice and at 4500 hours it is just to handy to have around for the small stuff. It is light and can tippy but with prudent operating I get places my bigger tractor just can't

 

[sea2summit]

I think if you have the right expectations for the machine it is a great tractor to have, I wish more often than not I still had my BX kicking around even though I’ve got an MX and M the BX is the right tool for a lot of little jobs and I miss it.

Few things to consider based on your comments:

First, you mentioned rough ground mowing. The BX will do no better than any other standard mid mount riding mower on rough ground. In some cases possibly worse because it will sink into soft material more. The tire size and overall dimensions just do not allow it to go over anything other than fairly maintained terrain without risking damage (I think with the mower it’s only got 4” of clearance?).

Second, 100 acres. Just understand the very slow transport speed of a BX. In high range I think you’re looking at 6 mph…and unless that’s on pavement at 6 mph you will literally be knocking out all your teeth. Realisticly on a dirt road or hay field the BX speed is probably 2-3 mph max. That can take you the better part of an hour to get to a job site on a 100 acre parcel depending on your road/trail network. I’m a firm believer a BX can do any job a 200 hp tractor can do, but it’s going to take forever to do and may even wear out the BX. Like I said, just keep expectations relevant.

If it where me on 100 acres with another property, I don’t think I’d look at a BX until later. I think you have a lot of jobs bigger than you think they are. If you’re already thinking about skid steer jobs you’ll hate the BX because it’s slow and limited in capabilities, not because it’s a bad tractor. I’d say a BX tractor is probably a great addition 1-2 tractors down the road for you.

 

[dodge man]

I had a BX for around 10 years. I’d personally pass and step up to a B sized Kubota. How bad do you need a backhoe? They add a lot of cost but if you need one you need one. I’m thinking for the money you could get a bigger machine that is still small and handy but a much more capable machine just no end loader.

 

[jeff9366]

VIDEOS:

 

[dodge man]

The last video Jeff shows isn’t a fair comparison, the guy sells Kubota. The truth is a 1 series Deere outperforms and out specs a Kubota BX, it should, the JD is physically bigger machine.

 

[ultrarunner]

Brother wanted a BX like mine for his tree farm... parts were quite rough and he tried mine with the small bx tires and eventually bought L3800 and it is a workhorse...

I love my BX23 and that is why he originally wanted the same...

 

[Williy]

Have you had a chance to check any of these tractors out??

SA Series | YANMAR Tractor

Explore YANMAR tractor models in the versatile SA Series. Popular for 2 to 25 acres.

www.yanmartractor.com

YT2 Series | YANMAR Tractor

Explore YANMAR tractor models in the innovative YT2 series. Popular for 10 to 50 acres.

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willy

 

[djefferis]

Keep in mind - if I went with the BX, its use is pretty much limited to lawn/landscape.

I do not see this machine being capable for doing "ag" type work - moving round bales, plowing or even running a 5' brush hog (unless it is very light mowing and then it would be slow going). Might be able to run 3 point tiller on previously worked ground or use backhoe to dig lines (again - slowly)

Might watch for a L series - but again, price and availability. Clearly BX is a cheaper entry point and more are bought and then resold - some people just realize they didn't need them - others think its going to take the place of a heavier piece of equipment and then give up when they realize it won't. For as much as I use a backhoe - I just am not sure if it's worth the cost to upgrade to a heavier tractor with the attachment. This is an expensive attachment and used people seem to have some outrageous expectations because they used it very little - which is not exactly how it works.

Mowing - I'm seriously thinking a skid steer might be more suited for the some of the steeper hills in SE Ohio - just from a safety point of view. Speed will of course be less than a tractor by half - but better slow and alive than quick and injured.

 

[Rich_Z]

I sort of looked at this model when I first started looking for a tractor. Might be rather silly of me, and perhaps inconsequential to you, but take a look at the engine and tell me how you replace a broken or deteriorated fan belt.

 

[rScotty]

We have less than 20 acres and only about 5 are even remotely tractorable. We went with the M59 Kubota TLB because we had a lot of work to be done in the creek and building rock walls. It had the needed ground clearance and reach. As far as power, the B26 with a hydraulic thumb on the hoe would have been just as useful. More so sometimes because of the size.

Downside is my wife doesn't feel as comfortable on the M59 as she did on our little compact tractor. We are working on it, but don't know if it will ever really change. Upside is the Kubot TLB series are seriously tough.

The backhoe is rarely used for digging - although it digs just fine. What it is really handy for is picking something up and holding & placing it. Anything from rocks to holding logs at waist level to chainsaws into rounds - and then stacking the heavy unsplit firewood rounds so they can dry. W've used it to lift shed walls into position and to put up beams for the barn.

The backhoe/thumb combo is our handiman. The loader is our power wheelbarrow. The whole contraption is our pusher, smoother, and sometimes dozer. It could mow if we wanted, but we prefer to mow with a Honda self-propelled type.
rScotty

 

[kthompson]

Lady who works with me bought a used BX about two years ago. I have used with a small tiller. To me it was decent tractor and ran the tiller fine. Now that is dirt that has been tilled for years. One thing I think is correct it does not have CAT 1 3 point hitch. I know they have to get implement for it and not able to use at least most Cat 1 based upon what she tells me. Had to special order a post hole digger for example.

I would really in the Kubota line look at the B over the BX and yes maybe the L. I have a B and a L. To me the B seems just lot more tractor than her BC. Clearance, 3 pth capacity and so forth.

 

[dodge man]

I think a BX is a cat 1 3 point, mine was anyway. It might be considered limited though. I own a JD 2025r which is a bigger tractor than a BX but the 3 point had better lift than my JD. The JD barely has enough lift for my brush mower and is barely adequate for a rear blade. The BX just has a higher lift in back.

 

[BigGG]

You've got some good comments. If you find a reasonable deal on a used BX, you could get your feet wet with it and sell it at little or no loss. Be careful buying attachments, though, since they probably won't scale up to a larger, future tractor.

Unless your area is different from mine, any skid steer or mini-ex you find at the price you mentioned will likely be a maintenance nightmare. Plus, you'll wear out the tracks (and your patience) traveling it. You'd come out better renting. I have an old Kubota L35 on 74 acres of tree farm and it has worked out pretty well.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I think a BX is a cat 1 3 point, mine was anyway. It might be considered limited though. I own a JD 2025r which is a bigger tractor than a BX but the 3 point had better lift than my JD. The JD barely has enough lift for my brush mower and is barely adequate for a rear blade. The BX just has a higher lift in back.

Ayuh, subcompact tractors are almost all Limited Cat 1.