BX25 questions

deerhunter1 · Jun 11, 2009

Hello, I know pretty much zero about tractors. I recently bought 30 acres mostly wooded land and will be building in a few years. at this time i need to do some work arond the property like clearing an acre or two for a food plot in an area that is mostly overgrown brush, saplings and small trees. I am looking at the BX25 because i would need a loader and backhoe and this is the least expensive of the lineup. My concern is that will it be big enough. I will want to dig out the large brush an smaller trees and in time i may want to use it to skid some larger trees but i would cut them to lenghth first and that would be around 8 to 12 foot logs. i wonder if this tractor has enough power to basically clear an overgrown old farm area by lowering the loader and pushing. any insight is appreciated. thank you.

EAGLE1PAR3 · Jun 11, 2009

Hey Deerhunter, I, like you bought 25 acres mostly overgrown and wooded, I bought the B7800 30 hp with front end loader and brush hog, used it for 2 1/2 years clearing out 1 to 3 acre areas at a time. Sold the B7800 and bought a new BX 25 with the back hoe, I liked the B7800 for the rough clearing, a bit more hp, ground clearance and bigger tires seem to serve me right. Now with the BX 25 i have a great machine for keeping the place up now that all the meat of the work is done, not that the BX couldnt handle it, it does amaze me the power this little machine has, but for the initial clearing i felt personaly the larger B7800 fit my needs better, I ended up with a nice semi cleared 25 acres and a new BX25 to boot.
Wish you the best
Greg in Pa

deerhunter1 · Jun 11, 2009

greg, in your opinion could you have done the inital clearing with the BX25? i know it would take longer but because of price i cannot go with the larger tractor.
thanx for you help,Bill

oakwoods · Jun 11, 2009

I have had a BX24 for the last 3 years and have used it extensively on my 54 wooded acres. I've found that a brush grubber (from Northern Equipment) and a chain work great for pulling out brush. I use it to remove invasives like autumn olive and Japanese honeysuckle. I welded a chain hook on the top of the bucket in line with the curl/roll cylinder.
I also use my BX for getting in firewood. I have no trouble skidding tree-length logs 12"-16" at he butt. A Bro-Tek skid plate is a necessity when running the tractor in the woods

RayCo · Jun 11, 2009

Based on what I've read and heard from other people, many times, the BX might be too small of a tractor for a property of that size, although if it's mostly wooded, it shouldn't really matter. But, as for the trees, I have used my BX to skid trees 50-60' in length with surprisingly little problems. There were a number that I thought I'd have to drag with my truck, but the tractor managed just fine. And I don't fish, so they weren't really 20' trees that I'm exaggerating.

EAGLE1PAR3 · Jun 12, 2009

Deerhunter, I do believe I could have done MOST of the work with the BX 25, would have taken a bit longer, but truth be told, there are very few places I would rather be then the tractor seat, if you know what I mean. I find ground clearance to be my main issue with the BX 25 over the B7800, in the woods every inch of ground clearance matters, with the BX 25 it just takes alittle longer to get to the spots i need to get to, and there is something to be said for a good sturdy lenght of chain.
Good luck

Greg in Pa.

radioman · Jun 12, 2009

If you only need to clean up areas in sections at a time and not do all the rough work all at once, the BX will do it. If you need to drive over to areas that is really rough then B series would serve you better. For me, I rather clean up as I go so there are no rough areas driving. As long the MMM is off, with skid plate on- You can go to most places like B can, You just can't go as deep in water, soft soils, over large logs, big bumps in land like rocks or bumpy land, etc. I have gotten the BX stuck only because where my wood lot is, it has clay like soil and in fall and spring its no fun, I had to add the atv v bar chains I had laying around and it works.

rlsmith · Jun 12, 2009

I own a BX 23 for 5 years now bought new and have put on it over 900 hours. I have dug out 25 stumps ranging from 5" to 24" across. Dug hundreds of feet of trenching with the BH and moved tons of dirt and stone. Mow 5 acres with the 60" and and replaced all my field tile ends along the ditch. Have a small garden 120'X200' that I use my bx rototiller on also. I used it to drag and haul all my wood for burning and just love what this little beast does for saving my back. It may take a bit longer but if you have the time this unit will get most of what you need to get done and then maintain it. Rend a larger machine for the the odd stuff the BX may not handle.

rlsmith · Jun 12, 2009

I own a BX 23 for 5 years now bought new and have put on it over 900 hours. I have dug out 25 stumps ranging from 5" to 24" across. Dug hundreds of feet of trenching with the BH and moved tons of dirt and stone with the FEL. Mow 5 acres with the 60" and and replaced all my field tile ends along the ditch. Have a small garden 120'X200' that I use my bx rototiller on also. I used it to drag and haul all my wood for burning and just love what this little beast does for saving my back. It may take a bit longer to get it done but it will get most of what you need done and keep your lot up and just rent for the work it can not handle.

deerhunter1 · Jun 12, 2009

Thanx to you all. very helpfull. I will only be doing fairly small jobs at a time i do not need to do a lot of work all at once. but occasionally i will need to ask the tractor to do some pretty good lifting and pulling like moving blowdowns and stuff. I think this machine wil do what i ask. i have heard that HST can be week at times, is this true?

BXpanded · Jun 12, 2009

deerhunter1 said:
Thanx to you all. very helpfull. I will only be doing fairly small jobs at a time i do not need to do a lot of work all at once. but occasionally i will need to ask the tractor to do some pretty good lifting and pulling like moving blowdowns and stuff. I think this machine wil do what i ask. i have heard that HST can be week at times, is this true?

"is this true?"
No

rdsaustintx · Jun 13, 2009

The only shortcomings you *may* find with the BX are obvious from looking at it: Low weight and limited ground clearance. It is absurdly overpowered, no worries there.

LBrown59 · Jun 13, 2009

deerhunter1 said:
Thanx to you all. very helpfull. I will only be doing fairly small jobs at a time i do not need to do a lot of work all at once. but occasionally i will need to ask the tractor to do some pretty good lifting and pulling like moving blowdowns and stuff. I think this machine wil do what i ask. i have heard that HST can be week at times, is this true?

No Way.

alchemysa · Jun 13, 2009

deerhunter1 said:
Hello, I know pretty much zero about tractors. i wonder if this tractor has enough power .

If you know zero about tractors then the thing you will probably mostly underestimate is the importance of 'traction'. Power usually isnt the problem - even with small tractors. The problem with small lightweight tractors is that even small obstacles can stop them dead... the wheels are spinning but they are going nowhere. Add a bit of a slope or mud and it gets even worse.

You need plenty of weight to provide the traction to pull or push 'heavy' objects. Even loader work can be a pain in a lightweight tractor. Look at this site and you'll see tons of threads about ballast, weightboxes, loaded tyres, tread types, toothbars etc. Basically they are all discussions about trying to overcome a lack of traction. I dont think I can stress this enough. Traction isn't occasionally a problem. Its ALWAYS a problem! Just about every time I drive my tractor I hit its traction limit.

I haven't got a BX but I suspect you might rapidly find its way too small and light for such a big acreage and the jobs you've got in mind. I seriously suggest you test something bigger before you shell out for a new BX. (And I mean test it, don't just drive it). Why not look at a larger 2nd hand unit? You've got plenty of room to park it.

LBrown59 · Jun 14, 2009

alchemysa said:
2*You need plenty of weight to provide the traction to pull or push 'heavy' objects.
4*Even loader work can be a pain in a lightweight tractor. Look at this site and you'll see tons of threads about ballast, weightboxes, loaded tyres, tread types, toothbars etc.
6*Basically they are all discussions about trying to overcome a lack of traction.
I dont think I can stress this enough; traction isn't occasionally a problem.
8*Traction is always. a problem!
10*Just about every time I drive my tractor I hit its traction limit.
I haven't got a BX but I suspect you might rapidly find its way too small and light for such a big acreage and the jobs you've got in mind. I seriously suggest you test something bigger before you shell out for a new BX. (And I mean test it, don't just drive it). Why not look at a larger 2nd hand unit?
12*You've got plenty of room to park it.

2*I seem to have plenty of traction with these as pictured.

4*Never had such a problem with this one

6*Weight for ballast and weight for traction are 2 different issues.
8*Traction has never been a problem for me with any of these.
10*I almost never do.
12*I don't think room to park would be my concern.

alchemysa · Jun 14, 2009

LBrown59 said:
2*I seem to have plenty of traction with these as pictured.

OK, I stand corrected. It's awesome the way the BX can drag that empty pallet.

deerhunter1 · Jun 14, 2009

I appreciate everyones input, both pro's and con's. I need as many experiences from as many as possible being that I have no experience. Thanx to all of you.

J0be269 · Jun 14, 2009

I considered the BX24 when I was tractor shopping last year.The dealer did not have one on the lot, but gave me a price for the BX with a MMM. I ended up with a b2620 TLB setup, and I'm very happy. The price, while while higher than the BX, was affordable in my mind and I believe I ended up with much more machine.

I agree that weight is a big issue. The BX25 only has one more engine HP than my 2620....but my machine is hevier, has larger tires and my engine runs much slower to reach the max HP output than the BX.

I'm not saying the BX is a terrible machine, I think it's very well suited for some things. If I were you though I would at least have a look at the B series. The TLB setup is the same as the BX where the tractor seat serves both tractor and BH, the BH is tucked in nice and tight to the machine unlike many others with add on hoe.

Long story short, if I had it to do over I would buy what I have now (B2620 TLB) or LARGER. I also wouldn't fool with the MMM on a tractor. For what the decks cost you can buy a REALLY nice dedicated mower and not have to mess with mounting and unmounting the deck on the tractor.

rdsaustintx · Jun 14, 2009

J0be269 said:
I considered the BX24 when I was tractor shopping last year.The dealer did not have one on the lot, but gave me a price for the BX with a MMM. I ended up with a b2620 TLB setup, and I'm very happy. The price, while while higher than the BX, was affordable in my mind and I believe I ended up with much more machine.

I agree that weight is a big issue. The BX25 only has one more engine HP than my 2620....but my machine is hevier, has larger tires and my engine runs much slower to reach the max HP output than the BX.

I'm not saying the BX is a terrible machine, I think it's very well suited for some things. If I were you though I would at least have a look at the B series. The TLB setup is the same as the BX where the tractor seat serves both tractor and BH, the BH is tucked in nice and tight to the machine unlike many others with add on hoe.

Long story short, if I had it to do over I would buy what I have now (B2620 TLB) or LARGER. I also wouldn't fool with the MMM on a tractor. For what the decks cost you can buy a REALLY nice dedicated mower and not have to mess with mounting and unmounting the deck on the tractor.

Couldn't agree more. The OP's last worry should be power. The BX is same power as the B series. In tractor terms it is like a V-8 in a volkswagen.

Agree about the MMM. Although with 30 acres a rear deck or brush hawg could be useful on a larger machine.

megaboz · Jun 15, 2009

I have a BX 24, I use it for all kinds of jobs. Traction is a constant issue, especially on hills, and as others have stated part of that issue is because of the lack of weight. I actually got the FEL stuck in some muck and the tractor couldn't pull it's self out without a lot of wiggling.

The short wheel base will often cause problems, not having independant brakes makes it useless if the front wheels come off the ground, which happens all the time especially with the FEL being used.

Don't get me wrong, I love the little tractor, but often wished it had some better features, a little wider, and longer. It would be nice to have indendpent brakes, on the left side of the tractor. Of course it is also nice that it small too.

The lightness of the tractor does have it's benefits, it really depends on the type of use. If you are going to use a brush hog, you better add some substantial weight to the front.

The FEL does cause a little bit of problem because it raised the center of gravity some.

The FEL does not have greak break out, and sometimes I will even lift the rear wheels off the ground (and they are loaded).

You might be ahead to find a bigger USED tractor, it really depends on the situation.

As far as the hydrostatic drive, I have actually stalled into going into a pile with the FEL. Now, there is a weak part, in HI range, I have noticed that it doesn't have any real power, should only be used for transport.