Using MMM as Skid Plate

[Billy_S]

I have had a few problems using my BX2230 to bush hog my woods, so I decided to buy the skid plate from Bro-Tec. I have installed it but it offers limited protection, especially without the MMM installed. Which brings me to my question.

Much of what I am mowing is thorn trees 1 to 1-1/2 inch diameter. They can be fairly stout but the FEL pushes them down without protest and the rotary cutter does cut them. Is it reasonable for me to leave my MMM installed and expect it to provide skid plate type of protection without damaging the MMM?

 

[rdsaustintx]

Much of what I am mowing is thorn trees 1 to 1-1/2 inch diameter. They can be fairly stout but the FEL pushes them down without protest and the rotary cutter does cut them. Is it reasonable for me to leave my MMM installed and expect it to provide skid plate type of protection without damaging the MMM?

Man that sounds scary (Happy Halloween).

Using a $3000 mower deck to protect a $1500 tranny housing, plus the thing cuts your ground clearance in half...

Just my .02

 

[Charlesaf3]

Do what I do - brush hog the woods in reverse. I find it works far better

 

[Volfandt]

The main problem w/useing the MMM as a skidplate when in TLB mode is that all the knocking around will jar the MMM out of level. I left my MMM on when I dug a pond out and it gave very good protection but the cut wasn't worth a hoot the next time I mowed. Ended up I had to readjust both the lift arms and front backet to get it back plumb.
I've since decided that when I do serious digging that I would remove the MMM.
I'm also in the decision making process on either making a quick attach skidplate or going with something like Bro Teks permanent mount one.

Volfandt

 

[fishpick]

Man that sounds scary (Happy Halloween).

Using a $3000 mower deck to protect a $1500 tranny housing, plus the thing cuts your ground clearance in half...

Just my .02

If you add mine - you now have .04 worth of this opinion.

 

[RobJ]

If you add mine - you now have .04 worth of this opinion.

I'll make it a nickel. Why a RFM is what I prefer. With a MMM it looks to much like a riding lawnmower.

 

[rdsaustintx]

Why a RFM is what I prefer. With a MMM it looks to much like a riding lawnmower.

Maybe I misunderstood the original question. He is using a rear mount brush hog, but is worried about stuff getting into the tractor innards as he pulls it.

I like Charles' suggestion (hogging in reverse). Plus anybody with a posthole digger THAT cool has got to be pretty smart.

(Been trying to figure out how to get that comment in here for two days without drifting the topic - That is a VERY impressive implement!).

Russell in Texas

 

[fishpick]

ok - rdsaustintx derailed this one - I completely agree - it solves the ills of all other post-hole diggers... it gives you substantial downward force!
Sweet.

Back on topic - I know I already replied... but I feel compelled to again - please don't use your MMM as a rock/stick shield... it hurts me.

 

[RobJ]

Originally Posted by RobJ
Why a RFM is what I prefer. With a MMM it looks to much like a riding lawnmower.

Maybe I misunderstood the original question. He is using a rear mount brush hog, but is worried about stuff getting into the tractor innards as he pulls it.

I was just making a general comment why I think a RFM is better than a MMM. You put it on when needed, take it off when not. If it's on when you are doing some boxblading, and you have some mounds to even out, you can get high centered or cause damage. If you are plowing, tilling soft soil, you could get high centered in some deep soft loose soil.

And backing up...well that would be ok for small area (hate to cut a 1/4 mile long ATV trail in reverse). But I would think running in reverse is harder on the mower and tractor. I have a nice bid guard on the front of my tractor, then the axles to help push trees over. So they are already laying over (for the most part) when the mower hits them. Backing up the mower is taking the full force of pushing over a 1.5-2" tree, then chopping. I can see the mower wanting to ride up the tree as well.

JMHO...

Rob

 

[Volfandt]

Have to respectfully disagree, when finish mowing the MMM is the best

It's already cut the grass before the heavier/bigger rear tires have a chance to compact the grass, cutting around obstacles is closer and easier to manuver around, connection of a grass/leaf collection unit is an option the RFM doesn't have and the MMM CAN be left mounted when boxblading or tilling, working a rear grader blade, cultivating etc, can't leave a RFM on when doing these
Of course one would want to dismount the MMM if it impedes the ground engagement tools or the terrain is too high, But then again you'll have to dismount the RFM too

I used to cut the back w/a 5' bushhog behind my ole TE20 for many years and a rear cutter does have it's advantages too. I like that I could back up and cut areas's that would have been harder w/a MMM and I liked that the noise form the cutter was behind me. The negatives were cutting around tress/obstacles meant lots of gear and direction changing, cutting turns and the times when I've gotten into the high stuff and I got a shower of chaff down the back of my shirt.... Yeah, itch city on those hot summer days

In an answer I just did to another thread, I just don't see why the MMM is considered to be such a bear to R&R, I mean anything that can be R&R'ed without the need of any tools can't be that bad, can it? Tain't for me....

Don't mean to direct this at anyone in particular, it's JMHO

Volfandt

 

[Billy_S]

<snipped> With a MMM it looks to much like a riding lawnmower.

It is a BX2230 with turf tires. It IS a riding lawnmower.

 

[Billy_S]

<snipped>please don't use your MMM as a rock/stick shield... it hurts me.

Let me mention that I don't have a problem with rocks. Sticks are certainly an issue though.

As I said, I have installed the Bro-Tec skid plate, which offers some protection to the back of the tractor. Would you suggest removing the MMM and leaving her soft underbelly exposed?

Actually, the damage that I have done either would not have happened with the skid plate (HST fan) or likely would have happened with both the skid plate and MMM installed (rear axle seal, 2 times, same seal).

I do prefer hogging without the MMM, not because of a ground clearance issue but because I can get between trees better without it. Also, sans MMM, there is that much less that I need to pay attention to.

IMO, looking at the limited ground clearance of the tractor and how exposed some pretty important stuff is without the MMM attached, all a BX2230 is is a glorified lawnmower.

 

[rbarker]

Actually, the damage that I have done either would not have happened with the skid plate (HST fan) or likely would have happened with both the skid plate and MMM installed (rear axle seal, 2 times, same seal).

I was wondering what the mmm could possibly be protecting that the skid plate doesn't...

all a BX2230 is is a glorified lawnmower.

Careful! Them's fighting words around these parts!

 

[fishpick]

As I said, I have installed the Bro-Tec skid plate, which offers some protection to the back of the tractor. Would you suggest removing the MMM and leaving her soft underbelly exposed?

Um - no - I'd recommend a front skid plate too... especially if my other option was at very expensive MMM.

 

[KeithInSpace]

Not much experience with RFMs, but I saw a guy clear a site of densely overgrown junk by backing into it with a BushHog on the back of what may have been an older "L" model...not sure...definitely Kubota. He'd have the thing going full boogie, then back into the trees (probably 2" diameter scrub stuff) until the BushHog was riding up on them a foot or two and the engine started to bog down. Never thought the thing would last more than an hour, but the guy cleared...get this...25 ACRES of land this way.

Me, myself, and I would probably back into big stuff with the RFM before using my "glorified lawnmower" (more on that later) to mash them down. Or I'd at least take a run at them with the loader before pushing them over with the front axle as someone also suggested.

Not a real fan of using the MMM simply to deflect junk from the undercarriage. Not that I think it would REALLY damage the unit, but it just doesn't seem/sound quite right. Especially if you have skidplates.

Now about the lawnmower comment. I'm very sorry, but my BX is to a "lawnmower" as the Corvette Z06 is to a freakin' Nissan Versa. Some things are in a WHOLE different class and shouldn't even be compared lest feathers get ruffled.

This whole ripping-out-rear-axle-seal thing is starting to get me a little concerned, though. Between that, my naked white fan, my unbroken air filter thingy, and a couple other things I'm starting to think I'm living on borrowed time with my trouble free 72 hours and counting. And yes, I'm knocking on my wooden head right now.

 

[Timber]

I have to agree with everyone hear; Do not do that to your finish mower. You already have a skid plate. If it is not covering enough then add to it. I was a Dune buggy guy and what made the VW such a great stock off road machine was the pan design on the bottom. You could teeter it up on top a dune & slide it over rocks. Personally I like to plate the entire bottom of a machine. My own tractor I do not use my mid PTO so for me it is not an issue. But I do want it removable for service. When you make skid plates you do not want your attaching bolts on the bottom because the will get mangled and then you can't remove them. My tractor is New so I haven’t gotten around to doing it yet but it is on the top on my list. I will document they entire construction though. But my point is what you really want for a skid plate is a complete belly pan to covers the entire bottom from the brush guard under the front axle all the way to the rear axle. You also want it mounted to the frame and not any of the drive components. Partial skid plates are fine but they are just that partial protection

 

[Billy_S]

Um - no - I'd recommend a front skid plate too... especially if my other option was at very expensive MMM.

I have emailed Richard with Bro-Tec to see if he makes one for the front. If I was handy with a welder...

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Billy_S]

Careful! Them's fighting words around these parts!

I didn't necessarily mean it to be taken in that context however, I do own a BX2230. I am not expressing my opinion from the seat of a John Deere. IOW, I do have SOME qualification (200 hours in 8 months) to say what I said.

You guys have helped me A LOT and I certainly don't mean to alienate anyone. It is just aggravating because it seems that everytime I use the tractor for something other than mowing the yard, I damage it. I have spent about $600 repairing stuff that I broke.

I expect to break stuff. That is part of the game. When I ran over some bailing wire and wrapped it around the rear axle, trashing the axle seal, that was my fault. Expensive to repair, but my fault. However, when I damage the same axle seal mowing through briars, I wonder, should those seals be a little tougher or better protected? When I damage the HST fan running over a 1/4 inch stick sticking up out of the ground, to me, a design flaw. That fan ought to have a shield or be easier to replace. I broke off a turn signal when I slid down a hill I was mowing sideways and clipped a fence post. Again, my fault but why not put the turn signals inside the ROPS and mount them higher so they would still be visable from the front?

Remove the MMM and look underneath a 2230. Notice how limited the ground clearance is and see how much stuff just hangs out under there exposed and ready to be damaged. With all due respect, is it unreasonable to look at that and conclude that this tractor is a very expensive lawn mower?

Perhaps I bought the wrong tractor. Maybe I am abusing it by using it for things it just was not designed for. I can accept that. In fact, I really do think this is the issue I face. I bought the wrong tractor. Next spring, I will probably trade it for something a bit more capable and it will probably be another Kubota. I do like their quality.

 

[bird1968]

Hi Billy,

Once you've got this installed (next few weeks), you'll feel like a tank!

I'm always amaze, how much work these BX can do! + it cuts lawn!

Thanks,

Richard

 

[rbarker]

I bought the wrong tractor. Next spring, I will probably trade it for something a bit more capable and it will probably be another Kubota. I do like their quality.

Yeah, it sounds to me like you would have been better suited to a B series. Much more ground clearance. As for the rest, don't sweat it, I was only having a little fun with you!