Decided on BX24 - $? and what should I add?

[donn12]

How much should I pay for the standard model with turf tires?
What items should I consider having the dealer add before I get it (too hard for the average person that can't weld to install later) and what should they cost? I am interested in a tooth bar or thumb and maybe hooks or teeth for the loader.
Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[Tom_H]

Welcome to the board and congratulations on the tractor. I'd recommend reading through both Kubota forums. All of the questions you pose have been discussed in great detail in just the last 3 or so weeks. You'll find answers to each of those questions in the first 10 or so pages of each forum.

The links below may help.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...9282-bx24-need-recommendations-bolt-edge.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/119624-price-check-bx24-2.html#post1380322

 

[Hedgy]

What items should I consider having the dealer add before I get it (too hard for the average person that can't weld to install later) ... I am interested in a tooth bar or thumb and maybe hooks or teeth for the loader.

Those attachments (tooth bar, thumb and bucket hooks) are probably the most common attachments recommended here by BX owners (along with a skidplate for protection). Of those only the bucket hooks typically require welding, but you can find bolt-on hooks also. Had I been paying more attention I probably would have asked my dealer about welding some hooks.

Tooth bars usually require drilling a pair of holes in the bucket.
Thumbs just bolt on.
The skidplate (from Bro-tek) also just bolts on.

There are a lot of threads here covering those topics as Tom_H mentions, though searching can often give too many results. You can also browse BXtractors.info which will give you links into some of the more definitive TBN threads on those topics.

 

[donn12]

Thanks for the input. I have read most of the posts here but I still need some info on the add ons.
The brotek thumb - Is it hydraulic and if not how does it work? How much is it?
How about the rippertooth price? I am going to remove about 50 stumps so this and the thumb interest me quite a bit.

Is there anything anyone else can think of that I should have the dealer do before I get it?
Thanks again for the help!

 

[KeithInSpace]

If you contact Richard at Bro-Tek, he'll work with you on a combo package. Highly recommend thumb and ripper, both. Thumb is held by your un-used 3PH upper link (un-used when your backhoe is in use, anyway). It is not hydraulic. It folds flat when not in use and is easy to deploy when you need it, but it is manual and requires you to get out of the seat.

I'd figure you'd be some $500 into a thumb, ripper tooth, and skid-plates if he works with you. All are very highly reocmmended.

There is another thread regarding costs that has gone through recently. They are regional, but at my dealership, a "bald" (no MMM) BX24 is $15,600. That's a pretty decent price. Over $16k is getting a little more expensive, $17k is stratospheric, and anything under $15k is a very good deal.

Your machine should have it, but make sure you get the new seat, battery cover, and braces under the platform. All have been discussed extensively in this forum in the last 6 to 9 months if you do a quick search.

Lots of guys love their toothbars, but I don't have one and get along just fine. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing, but I love being able to back-drag things flat and you can't do that as well with a toothbar installed.

Keep asking questions and we'll keep answering...

 

[Tom_H]

If you contact Richard at Bro-Tek, he'll work with you on a combo package. Highly recommend thumb and ripper, both. Thumb is held by your un-used 3PH upper link (un-used when your backhoe is in use, anyway). It is not hydraulic. It folds flat when not in use and is easy to deploy when you need it, but it is manual and requires you to get out of the seat.

I'd figure you'd be some $500 into a thumb, ripper tooth, and skid-plates if he works with you. All are very highly reocmmended.

There is another thread regarding costs that has gone through recently. They are regional, but at my dealership, a "bald" (no MMM) BX24 is $15,600. That's a pretty decent price. Over $16k is getting a little more expensive, $17k is stratospheric, and anything under $15k is a very good deal.

Your machine should have it, but make sure you get the new seat, battery cover, and braces under the platform. All have been discussed extensively in this forum in the last 6 to 9 months if you do a quick search.

Lots of guys love their toothbars, but I don't have one and get along just fine. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing, but I love being able to back-drag things flat and you can't do that as well with a toothbar installed.

Keep asking questions and we'll keep answering...

True, Richard is great to work with. He gave me a good combo package; it's on the way right now.

My second link above is to the pricing thread Keith mentioned.

Also make sure your BX24 has the metal fender/floorboard. First BX24s had a plastic one that kept breaking. That was followed by a sturdier plastic one, but the most recent are back to metal, which they should have stayed with all along.

Keith, if you ever get a tooth bar, you'll wonder how you got along without it.

 

[C6rider]

If you have not paid yet get your dealer to throw in loaded tires, weld on bucket hook(s), free first service at your home and maybe a gallon of Super UDT and a quart of oil. You didn't mention where you are but maybe chains for winter?
In any case good luck.

 

[Tom_H]

As far as loaded tires, some people have a reason to need them and others do not. If this tractor is not going to be used in applications which need the extra ballast, and will primarily be used mowing, then you would be better off without having them loaded.

Also, before you get loaded tires, you should read up on the various things used for loading, and the pros and cons of each.

As far as bucket hooks, read through my first link above. If you ever want to add the American Solutions grapple, that will affect the placement of hooks.

As far as Super UDT, that depends on the climate where you live. I live where it never freezes and regular UDT is more appropriate here. Having a gallon on hand and the right oil is excellent advice. Other things you'll need are a grease gun and some tubes of grease, coolant, something capable of inflating tires (you likely won't be able to cruise into the service station-I got a very good elec. air pump from Grainger), yellow fuel cans for diesel fuel (unless you have a big elevated tank and have a few hundred gallons delivered at a time, and a very large funnel (I have a 17" dia. funnel sold by a racing supply retailer).

Having a smooth paved surface makes it possible to put implements on custom built dollies and roll them right into allignment for attachment. Dollies are life savers, cost little, are easy to build, and a huge variety of casters is available online at N. H. Northern Tool and Supply and at Grainger. I keep my implements in a corner of the garage and move the cars out when I need to roll dollies around and change tractor implements. Having a strong beam overhead in the garage and a chain or electric hoist also makes lifting stuff easy. I got one of each for half off @ $40 @ Harbor Freight Tools.

Initially, I had 2 sets of tires, turf and ag, each on their own wheels. I got an inexpensive hydraulic jack and elec. impact wrench and correct socket (again during a 50% off sale from Harbor Freight) and could quick change wheels NASCAR style in a couple of minutes, but I discovered the turf tires got poor traction when plowing and doing hard toothbar loader work, while the ags did well there and did no damage to the lawn, so I now use the ags exclusively. If you live in snow, I agree about chains.

A very inexpensive ($99) attachment that comes in handy in many ways is a carry-all for the 3ph. You can haul all kinds of things around on it. I strap an ATV elec. sprayer to mine. Getting the sprayer without wheels and steel frame more than offset the cost of the carry-all. I put 1" rigid casters on the bottom for easy movement; it slides under the brush hog (on its dolly) for storage and I hoist the rear blade piggyback onto the brush hog with the elec. hoist. The tripple stacking saves space. There are a couple of carry-alls available at Northern, maybe also at TSC (Tractor Supply Co.) as well. The 15 gal. sprayer came from Northern for less than $100, and without a frame, it is easily lifted up into garage trusses for storage.

C6rider, did you get first free service at home? If so, you have one of the most accommodating dealers I've ever heard of. If you got this, I'm impressed.

 

[donn12]

I am not going to plow with the Bx and it will be on my grass alot so I am leaning towards not having the tires filled. Won't the BH be enough weight in the rear? I am also thinking about two sets of wheels. When you guys refer to Ags do you mean R4s? Ags don't seem to be available for the Bx 24.
I like the Dolley idea - any pictures ?

 

[Hedgy]

To save Tom_H the trouble here's a thread where he posted a lot of dolly pictures.