Kubuto BX1880

[JohnN99]

I'm thinking about buying a BX1880. My primary use would be cutting grass. However, my yard has lots of landscaping and I generally have to spread 30 yards of mulch every year. Loading it and spreading it myself via a wheelbarrow is too hard on my back to I usually pay someoeme one to do it. The BX1880 with a front end loader should allow me to do it on my own and would save me several thousand per year. So over time the 1880 should pay for itself. I also have a long hilly driveway and it can be difficult to get out when it snows so a snowblower would be nice also.

Would apprecaite any thoughts on whether this would be a wise purchase. My main concern is that I am on a hill so in parts of my yard I worry about tipping over. I assume (hope) I could alleviate that risk with a ballast box and keeping the front low to the ground while moving the mulch.

Currently I have a John Deere X300. I put a 40 inch tractor shovel on it but it only moves a max 1.7 cubic feet at a time. It takes forever to get the mulch moved with it.

 

[RjCorazza]

For spreading 30 yards of mulch alone I would think a small tractor and front end loader would be worth the money (and time).

If you are concerned with just getting around on hilly terrain, there is almost always an angle or path to traverse terrain safely. Doing work on slopes is another matter, as you are aware. You are correct that ballast and keeping the fel low to the ground are good ideas. Also consider filling the rears with fluid and widening the rear tires with spacers. Spacers are a frequent addition to BX sized machines. Throw some numbers out on the slopes you are concerned with. 10-15 degree slopes are GENERALLY doable with common sense operating. I personally stay off my sloped areas that are over 10 degrees or so, and run other equipment across my 28 degree bank, usually the zero turn or walk behind. There are too many variables to make blanket statements concerning operating on slopes, like the machine itself, smooth or rough surface, moisture, etc...

I would never be without a loader tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

In succession to a 2-WD Lawn & Garden tractor a 4-WD Kubota BX will be a significant upgrade.

The BX, like most Subcompact category tractors, sits low to the ground. Not good for woodlands nor lumpy pastures. Fine for smooth lawns.

The BX, like most Subcompact category tractors, sits low to the ground. Because of minimal 7" front / 8" rear ground clearance many operators feel comfortable with the stability of a subcompact tractor but less comfortable on a Compact tractor with 12" to 15" of ground clearance.
Wheel spacers on a BX will certainly make a BX feel more stable.

Bro-Tek

Welcome to Bro-Tek! We make some of the best tractor accessories available. Learn about our high quality offerings on our product pages, or see what fits your tractor.

bro-tek.com

Most only add wheel spacers to the rear. Front spacers increase tractor turning radius.

My primary use would be cutting grass.

My yard has lots of landscaping. I generally spread 30 yards of mulch every year.

Kubota BX Tractor Light Material/Snow Bucket 60" - Redline Systems Inc. Equipment Attachments

The Redline Systems Inc. 60″ light material bucket was designed to work specifically with the Kubota BX tractors. It gives you the capacity that the factory dirt bucket doesn’t have for moving light material like leaves, mulch, wood chips, firewood, snow or anything that’s bulky and light. The...

www.redlinesystemsinc.com

I have a long hilly driveway and it can be difficult to get out when it snows so a snowblower would be nice.

BX1880 has only 13.7 PTO horsepower. With this minimal power snow will not be blown far. Consider a plow or snow-box.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=BX+plowing+snow

Consider if BX1880 will have enough power to climb your hills when laden.

https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/spec-sheets/new_bx80_specs.pdf?sfvrsn=c33ba332_2

 

[jeff9366]

John Deere X300​

2006 - 2015 Model year 2006-20102011-2015 Select X300 Series Lawn tractor

Mechanical

Two-wheel drive

Manual steering

Dimensions
Length	72 inches 182 cm
Width	38 inches 96 cm
Height	43 inches 109 cm
Operating weight	501 lbs* 227 kg

Engine Detail
Kawasaki FH491V
gasoline
2-cylinder
air-cooled vertical-shaft V-Twin
Displacement	472 cc 28.8 ci
Bore/Stroke	2.68x2.56 inches 68 x 65 mm
Power (gross)	17 hp 12.7 kW
Fuel system	carburetor

 

[JohnN99]

In succession to a 2-WD Lawn & Garden tractor a 4-WD Kubota BX will be a significant upgrade.

The BX, like most Subcompact category tractors, sits low to the ground. Not good for woodlands nor lumpy pastures. Fine for smooth lawns.

The BX, like most Subcompact category tractors, sits low to the ground. Because of minimal 7"/8" ground clearance many operators feel comfortable with the stability of a subcompact tractor but less comfortable on a Compact tractor with 12" of ground clearance.
Wheel spacers on a BX will certainly make a BX feel more stable.

Bro-Tek

Welcome to Bro-Tek! We make some of the best tractor accessories available. Learn about our high quality offerings on our product pages, or see what fits your tractor.

bro-tek.com

Most only add wheel spacers to the rear. Front spacers increase tractor turning radius.

My primary use would be cutting grass.

My yard has lots of landscaping. I generally spread 30 yards of mulch every year.

Kubota BX Tractor Light Material/Snow Bucket 60" - Redline Systems Inc. Equipment Attachments

The Redline Systems Inc. 60″ light material bucket was designed to work specifically with the Kubota BX tractors. It gives you the capacity that the factory dirt bucket doesn’t have for moving light material like leaves, mulch, wood chips, firewood, snow or anything that’s bulky and light. The...

www.redlinesystemsinc.com

I have a long hilly driveway and it can be difficult to get out when it snows so a snowblower would be nice.

BX1880 has only 13.7 PTO horsepower. With this minimal power snow will not be blown far. Consider a plow.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=BX+plowing+snow

Consider if BX1880 will have enough power to climb hills when laden.

View attachment 797379

https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/spec-sheets/new_bx80_specs.pdf?sfvrsn=c33ba332_2

Thanks for the info. Very helpfu. In regard to the snow, where I live we don't get a lot of snow and it's usually less than six inches. Does that change your opinion on wether the BX 1880 would be powerful enough for that task? (I currently have a Husquevana walk-behind snow blower which works great but it takes a long time to get the whole driveway cleared with it).

 

[Paystar]

Quote: "Consider a plow"

I'm sorry Jeff, but that is the worst advice ever. No plow, on ANY machine will ever outperform a snow blower. And the snow blower is the easiest thing for a machine to handle because it is eating it's way through the snow, not trying to push it.

I have an RTV-X1100C with a Boss vee plow. It has way more heft than a BX and when the snow is wet heavy it gets steered by the snow. So I couldn't even imagine trying to plow with something as light as the 1880.

My B2620 and blower will run circles around that RTV and plow, and never spin a tire or lose traction.

Edit: sorry that sounded harsh. Not the worst advice ever, but I strongly disagree with a plow.

 

[Paystar]

Edit to above....the front loader would be better than a plow.

And I'm sure that even at 13.7 PTO h.p. that Kubota diesel is going to have more torque than a 16 h.p. gas lawn tractor that can blow snow just fine.

 

[jeff9366]

Thanks for the info. Very helpfu. In regard to the snow, where I live we don't get a lot of snow and it's usually less than six inches. Does that change your opinion on wether the BX 1880 would be powerful enough for that task?

A BX with turf tires and tire snow chains should have ample traction to move snow either with a plow, snow box or the FEL bucket outfitted with low cost Edge Tamers or Snow Edges.
(Some use snow tire chains on front tires, some on the rear tires.)

snow chains on BX tractor front or rear tires site:tractorbynet.com

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tractor+edge+tamers

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=snow+edge+by+ratchet+rake

Most here would not buy a snowblower for just occasional six inch snowfalls.

Others may differ with my recommendations.
It is the diversity of opinions offered that gives T-B-N its value.

 

[jeff9366]

Bear in mind:

Your Deere X300 has a 17-horsepower gas engine mobilizing a 500 pound piece of equipment.

The BX1880 has a 16.5 horsepower diesel engine mobilizing a 1,336 pound piece of equipment. FEL adds more weight over bare tractor weight of 1,336 pounds.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR
​

 

[al3]

Knowing what area of the country you live might increase the utility of the advice for snowfall removal.



You’ve got a walk behind blower, so you know the joys of trying to remove high water content snow/slush when the temps are hovering at around freezing. A back blade/rear blade on a sub compact could turn that task into something a lot less onerous. Instead of having a blower chute/auger repeatedly freeze/jam up, you can simply push it to the side using a blade. Often very useful in the spring/late fall.



As other have pointed out, a sub compact tractor doesn’t have a lot of weight, so pushing anything more than a few inches of wet slush would likely be out of the question. Still, if you blade one way (down hill only) the results can be surprising.



We get enough slush in central Wisconsin that my BB gets a lot of use cleaning off a Northern exposure hillside. Some years almost as much use as the blower.



Pushing snow with a FEL bucket isn’t something I’d want to do too often. BTW, take the FEL advertised lift capacity figures with a grain of salt, as they say. Do your homework to avoid any unexpected surprises.



Good Luck.