After reading this forum, and seeing all of the high-marked reviews on the 22XX series tractor, I purchased a BX2230 just a couple of weeks ago. After an initual two uses, Here are a couple of my thoughts. I should mention, I am a John Deere convert. My previous tractor was a 17HP JD Lawn Tractor, which I absolutely loved. The problem was that I mow three acres in an apple orchard --very hilly and rough in places. The front end of my JD actually broke, ruining the linkages and would have cost more than the tractor was worth to replace. That said -first the pros then the cons...

PRO:
1. The tractor (and FEL) are both incredibly sturdy, and well built. It handles the terrain nicely.
2. The 5' mower deck offers plenty of power in the high grass and around the trees.
3. The diesel engine should last a good long time.
4. The FEL is a real bonus. I've had it on and off a couple of times, with no real issues to speak of. Yesterday, I wiped out an entire species of poison ivy ;)

CONS:
1. RIDE: The tractor has one heck of a hard ride on rough terrian. After first use (about 3 hours), my lower back felt like I'd been ripped in half. The pain lasted until this weekend, when I needed to mow again.
2. FOOT PEDAL: I'd tested a couple of tractors. Out of those, Kubota had the only foot petal in the new with heel and toe control. This was incredibly counterintuitive. I bought the tractor despite the foot pedal configuration because of it's small frame size (as compared to a JD and New Holland), but find operation -especially reverse, requires some getting used to. The motion is extremely jerky as a result of the requirement for good heel control --probably the reason for the sore back.
3. RUST: I have rust after the first use. This is absolutely amazing to me. Paint chipped off around bolts, and the FEL mount, causing rust (even with the tractor garaged). I'm glad it's 3/8 inch steel, but I'm going to have to do some preventative spray painting to keep the rust at bay in future years.
4. HOOD: The one thing I loved about the JD was the nylon hood. I take a lot of scratches in the orchard, and the nylon hood didn't rust. I'm already noticing spider-webbing in the paint on the metal hood on the Kubota. I'll have to keep an eye on it.

Bottom line: There is no returning this tractor, but at $13,295 with FEL it was a decent price. I purchased it from a local dealer with an exceptional reputation for service. I had some misgivings about the Kubota, but bought it based on feedback in this forum. I'm not sure if I'm experiencing buyers remorse, but probably wouldn't make the same decision again. I'll post again at the end of the summer.

-Jeff

Date Purchased: 7/2004
Purchased: New
Price Paid: US$13295
Pros: Sturdy tractor
Cons: Foot pedal, ride, rust, hood
Rating: