Would You Buy Another BX?

[Carl_NH]

I've been mulling over 54" vs 60" deck. My concern is my lawn is about half hillside and I have some tight spots with my 48" deck. I'm also mulling over tires in lawn areas, turf vs R14.

I've read your reply and thanks for your input. I'd be very interested to know what you're using as your leaf vac and how well you like it. I have an older tow behind powered vacuum for my JD 265 Garden Tractor. It works great on level ground but mowing and turn on slopes, it's limited and it's long. I'm likely going to buy either a BX 2380 or 2680, still pondering that option. As someone suggested, I've pretty much decided to go with a 60 inch instead of the 54 inch mid
deck. One important option I will defiantly be researching is leaf removal with the BX. I move a whole bunch of leaves to pick in the fall and the BX Bagger is small for my needs.

Your JD265 is a 50 or 54" deck? The vac system may need to be upgraded for the BX larger deck. I have a Cub 1811 with 48" deck and when I upgraded to a Ferris 52" zero turn, the Trac Vac 580 couldn't keep up with the additional volume of air and blade speed. I upgraded it with a 7" intake hose, and same 6" output. Much better pickup now, but still could use a bigger vac turbine/impeller but overall happy with it. I use Gator blades and mulch the leaves down first then vac them up.

 

[civilian]

Dad and I both have a BX2230. Mine has 2750 hours, not sure of his hours. I use a 54" mower, him a 60" wide deck. A little more coverage for him and has that wider bit on the left like someone else mentioned above. Snow blower and Sims cab on mine. 3/8 of a mile drive for snow blowing. All metal fenders, hood, etc. The 50 series Kubota tried some plastic, and went back to metal on the 60s. Told my dealer to hold a BX2680 with a loader, blower and drive over mower for me. We will finalize in the new year.

My BX2230 has served my well. Built new house and 2 out buildings in 2018/9. Walk out basement in the house. The BX2230 and my dad used my B26TLB to back fill all the foundations. Also having gravel brought in since to build up the drive. 40 yards dumped at a time in piles. Then hauled mostly with the B26TLB but back blade with grading scraper on the BX2230. Worse thing for me hooking up the mower is connecting the pto shaft. Always hooked shaft after deck was mounted. Messicks says hook pto first.

So yes for our needs, the BX size is nice for our acreage. Wife can use either tractor but the BX fits her needs well. And after putting 2000 hours on it, I have my sights on a BX2680 for the higher horsepower and PTO horsepower. Jon

 

[Fxfymn413]

I bought mt BX2660 to use primarily as a mower in 2009 and it has been a reliable tractor. I added the loader a couple of years after I bought it, mostly in case I needed to sell the machine at some point. Much to my surprise I have used it several times as it is really easy to trailer and fits in places the L4060 will not go.

 

[check]

I have the 2009 BX 25 that I bought in the fall of 2008,and it is ideal for me. I did not get the mower, but it came with a backhoe attachment that I detach and replace with a 54 inch rear mount snowblower in the winter.

The backhoe digs 6 feet deep, and I have used it quite a bit. I have also purchased a bucket expander from bxpanded.com for moving snow (which doubles the heap capacity), and some really deadly bucket teeth from the same company. They also make bucket forks which I bought, so it is overall a pretty versatile machine, and gets into tight spaces when I need to.

It has been extremely reliable, and I would buy it again, rather than a larger one, because it fits inside my garage with the ROPS up.

It has all the power that I need, and I put 2 inch wheel spacers, front and back to add stability.

It also fits nicely in my 24' x 24' garage, with along with two ATVs.

One amazing fact, is that, in the seventeen years that I have owned it, I've never had to replace the battery even though it is up north where it can get way below zero. And it always starts, even in the debt of winter. I bought a block heater for it, and in the coldest dead of winter, I will sometimes plug it in for an hour or so before I start it. But I have only needed to do that rarely.

All in all a good buy.

 

[Sid Post]

Take a look at the "Baby" B Kubota.

Mine is roughly the same engine as what you are looking at. I find the slightly larger tires work much better for me on my sloped land and provide a much smoother ride for a modest increase in size. Those larger tires also pull a lot harder than my friend's BX tractor, which I used some prior to getting my Baby B.

 

[Keuka]

DRSSG, I surprised you had problems. MY Kubota L35TLB has been bullet proof for 1800 hrs, other than replacing a few hydraulic hoses. Recently, I'm having issues with leaking hydraulic cylinders on both the loader and backhoe. That said, she's 24 years old and hoses/seals weather so that's expected. Mine is a different drive system, Glide Shift, not sure if that's a valid difference. This winter I'll be contemplating having all the cylinders repacked vs buying a new unit. Question: were you using OEM hydraulic fluid and motor oil? My neighbor literally beats the hell out of his 60hp Kubota, he hasn't had any problems that I know of. I asked him if he uses UD-2 hydraulic fluid, I think Kubota charges a "premium" price for their fluids. He commented "oil's-oil" so I'm sure de doesn't. I stayed with the UD-2 because my Glide Shift Transmission and Hydraulic system use the same fluid & reservoir. I never felt comfortable second guessing the transmission fluid requirements. I know it's a very
highly debated topic and I'm not trying to go there, just wondering?

 

[Byrdnyrd]

I want to say scoring on the piston shaft

….once those “Piston Shafts” get “Scored” there’s nothing you can do……kniflin pins are sure to fail next!

BN

 

[Keuka]

Sid, I looked at the "B" and if my land was flatter I'd defiantly consider and likely go with that model. However, this unit will likely be used 75% mowing and the lower center of gravity, on my sloped ground, is the major consideration. I obviously prefer the lifting capacity of the B vs the BX. Due to its' limited lifting capability, I'm still pondering my needs vs coat with respect to adding a loader to the BX. My L35TLB Loader has several times the lifting capability of the BX but I can't always access tight areas where I need lifting. With that said, I'm 74 years old and my back is not what it used to be so I'm probably opting for the loader option.

 

[tacticalturnip]

You're absolutely best off getting the loader. As you're thinking, it'll fit in much smaller places, and you'll find so much utility for it.

 

[Skypuppy]

Absolutely! Mine is a BX2660, purchased in 2009. Now with 120 hours, so I'm still a baby at 71 yo. I chose the 60" deck as there was something I didn't like about the smaller one. A weedeater instead of the 54" will save you LOTS of time. 1. Get the coffee strainer inlet filter to keep your fuel tank clean. $8 for two. They are metal and last forever. 2. Wire around (bypass) all those useless "safety switches" right away. 3. Keep lubed and maintained, and change oil religiously. 4. Do all the owner's manual PM's on time.
I think all the BX's have gone to pull metal instead of plastic. 5. Install some extra front and rear floods/spots. 6. Don't forget to lube those zirc's under the floorboard. 7. Get a larger, real fuel/water filter/separator -- you'll be glad you did. $40-$80. Crawling under the tractor to change those crappy fuel filters is a REAL PIA.
Now, I want a BX-23-24-25. I have no routine need for a backhoe, I just want one now. I can lose my mind if I want to!
Just like RV's. Now I want one with 4 slideouts. Truly lost my little mind...

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I'll add one more comment that reinforces the rest. A neighbor has both a BX, 26 horse, and a L, 35-ish horse. He gets plenty of work out of both of them without any complaints. My B 2301 is right for me, but the BX might do some of my chores a bit better. If I had the resources and variety of needs to justify two tractors, I'd do about the same thing.

 

[drssg]

DRSSG, I surprised you had problems. MY Kubota L35TLB has been bullet proof for 1800 hrs, other than replacing a few hydraulic hoses. Recently, I'm having issues with leaking hydraulic cylinders on both the loader and backhoe. That said, she's 24 years old and hoses/seals weather so that's expected. Mine is a different drive system, Glide Shift, not sure if that's a valid difference. This winter I'll be contemplating having all the cylinders repacked vs buying a new unit. Question: were you using OEM hydraulic fluid and motor oil? My neighbor literally beats the hell out of his 60hp Kubota, he hasn't had any problems that I know of. I asked him if he uses UD-2 hydraulic fluid, I think Kubota charges a "premium" price for their fluids. He commented "oil's-oil" so I'm sure de doesn't. I stayed with the UD-2 because my Glide Shift Transmission and Hydraulic system use the same fluid & reservoir. I never felt comfortable second guessing the transmission fluid requirements. I know it's a very
highly debated topic and I'm not trying to go there, just wondering?

I use Kubota SUDT transmission oil and Kubota engine oil. I do suspect that Kubota charges a premium for their fluids, but in the grand scheme of things, I couldn't save that much money per year to try to find something cheaper.

 

[drssg]

….once those “Piston Shafts” get “Scored” there’s nothing you can do……kniflin pins are sure to fail next!

BN

As I said, I don't remember exactly what they said, as to why the engine needed to be replaced. My terminology could be nonsense, as I suspect you are implying.

They had the engine substantially disassembled, and I remember $8000. That was the most important detail to me.

 

[bgr]

A couple of thoughts on your BX purchase. Unless you need the width, 54 inch decks are lighter and easier to get on and off. 60 inch decks are pretty heavy and will need to be taken off on a cement floor so you can roll it out, if you don't want to struggle. Having a loader on the tractor to lift the front will help.
Higher HP is something you won't regret especially if you want to run a leaf collector. Kubota makes an excellent 3 bag collection system for the BX series. Usually you can find them used for sale online in good condition. They have a very good blower.
A mulching kit is another option unless you have something like heavy oak leaves. I run a factory mulch kit on a ZG227-54 zero turn mower. I have run it for 12 years on my lawn and mulch all leaves. After 13 years and no fertilizer, the lawn is much greener with more grass and fewer weeds. The Kubota mulch kit is a permanent install. Have to pull the deck and change baffles, as well as change blades to go back to regular. If you mow a wet lawn, the mulching deck will plug up completely in about 20 minutes and is a bear to clean out. So I tend to stay with mulching and work with the weather. You will definitely want the higher HP to run the mulch deck.
As others have commented, the two fuel filters with one directly over the mower makes the fuel filter set up not idea. Two speed hydro limits road speed a bit. I do most mowing and loader work in range 1.
I have an L35TLB, too. Used in business, 4500 hours so far. Always used Kubota UDT, which is not synthetic. I don't want to switch to synthetic SUDT now, so I use a high quality name brand equivalent which labels itself as meeting UDT specs. Engine oil for the L35 has always been Shell Rotella 15-40. The BX has gotten UDT, too. SUDT is a little thin for a machine built to run non synthetic UDT. But a new machine might do fine with SUDT.
I don't know the engine oil spec for the new BX series. If it is 10-30, I would run 10-40 synthetic to give you some margin if you work it hard. I change oil yearly or at 150 hours, a little earlier than the specs.

 

[Keuka]

Well thanks again to all of you for your time and effort helping me sort things out. I just bought the BX 2360, R14 Tires - Rim Guard Loaded, Front Loader with Quick Attach Bucket, 60" MMM Deck and winter plug in heater.

 

[Eagle1]

Well thanks again to all of you for your time and effort helping me sort things out. I just bought the BX 2360, R14 Tires - Rim Guard Loaded, Front Loader with Quick Attach Bucket, 60" MMM Deck and winter plug in heater.

Hope it serves you has well as mine has. Just remember smaller bites but will keep on keeping on.

 

[Keuka]

Well if need be, I still have my old JD!

 

[tacticalturnip]

Ask if the dealer will toss in a ballast box, you'll want something off the 3 point to offset the loader.

Excellent choice though.

 

[dodge man]

Yes get a ballast box. Also check the fluid level in the front axle after a few hours of use, they are known for being low. Congrats on the buy!

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Yes get a ballast box. Also check the fluid level in the front axle after a few hours of use, they are known for being low. Congrats on the buy!

And ... Drain and CHANGE the front axle fluid at or before 50 hours!

There is no filter up there, and you will be amazed at the crud you get out of it that first time, after that, go back to the recommended intervals if you want too, I generally do half that though ...