Just took delivery of a BX2660

[JOHNTHOMAS]

So, I've been thinking between the BX and the B. Of course the dealer won't let me test drive each with the FEL, so I don't really know whick one to get. Fxfymn and Robertm - you both changed to the BX because of why? Also, you mentioned cutting into your yard, does that mean the front tire were cutting ruts in the yard?

Robertm - Why did you "downscale" from the B to the BX? Have you found the BX to not lift or dig as much as the B did with an FEL? How about cutting, do they both cut as well using the MMM or a bushhog?

Any help will be great... just wish I knew how each handled...

What's this "of course" mean. Like you accept not being able to test drive it as OK. It's not OK unless your like 12 years old and even if your 12 years old and have the money you should get the test drive. Find another dealer.I have a B and a BX. The biggest difference is in ground clearance. If you get a bigger bucket on the B then you can haul a bit more but that's because of the bucket size and not the tractor size. Some B's will have more lift capacity than some BX's and vice versa, depends on which one you get between each model. Glad you said "downscale" instead of "downgrade" because the BX is smaller but it is not a downgrade. Like a laptop is not a downgrade to a desktop computer, as you said it's a downscale. The MMM will probably cut better on the BX than the B. The bushhog for rough cutting would probably be better on a B if the ground is not level because of the ground clearance.

 

[robertm]

JOHNTHOMAS, will I ever live down my post on "Downgrading" to a BX from a B? I said I meant DOWNSIZE! Cut me some slack! Alright... kidding aside, the BX is a fantastic machine, although I am not sure the BX is actually a DOWNSIZE either. Dimensionally, it's barely smaller. Capacity wise, it's barely weaker. I just think the difference is in FEEL. The B feels more like a tractor. The BX feels more like a garden tractor, or lawn mower. The BX is more gentle on turf (I find), but the mowing differnce may not be much now with a suspended deck on the new B's.

 

[Fxfymn]

tommyz270; Sorry I haven't checked this post for a while.

I bought the the BX2660 because I was tired of cutting up the lawn with the front tires of the 3430. Now that I've had the tractor for a month I really think I made the right choice. I can cut the lawn in the same amount of time as it took with the 3430, and the cut is much better. And the 3430 is always ready to use all the other implements I have without removing the mower. The only down side is the 2660 rides a lot rougher.

In essence I bought the BX to use as a really good lawn tractor. I went for more tractor than I needed because I thought re-sale on a tractor with 3 pt and the ability to mount a FEL would be far more than a diesel lawn mower such as the GR. Plus if I ever down-size my property I could keep the 2660 and sell the 3430.

I did not get the FEL for the 2660 because I have no use for it, so I cannot comment on it.

If I had to keep only one unit it would be the 3430 because it's just more versatile for my needs. However, comparing the two is like comparing a compact pick up to a one ton dually. They are both tractors, but the 3430 is 3x the size of the BX.

 

[shrekbelly]

no, . . . oh no! you just didn't call a bx a "lawn tractor," did you?!? now my wife is p.o'd at me and my bx is really pi-sed at you . . . take your head off mad . . . i'd say i have the easier road to go. guard your five hole and don't leave your baby bx in an unlit area . . . especially if the lights start to flicker and you sense a storm coming on . . .
shrekbelly

 

[Evil the Weasel]

I sat on a BX2660 and the size felt like a Cub Cadet super garden tractor. The B is substantially bigger if only slightly more capable than the BX.

 

[KeithInSpace]

...I thought re-sale on a tractor with 3 pt and the ability to mount a FEL would be far more than a diesel lawn mower such as the GR. Plus if I ever down-size my property I could keep the 2660 and sell the 3430.

You will maximize your resale if you get the OEM FEL for your tractor. Even if you don't make any MORE money on the sale ($2,000 in = $2,000 out) I promise it will sell FASTER with the FEL than without. Put another way, I bet 4 of 5 phone calls will first ask if it has a FEL...and all 4 of those folks will hear "no" and say "oh, ok, thanks anyway".

On the upside, you have time and can add it whenever you want. But before your "generation" of FEL goes away, I'd seriously consider purchasing. It really doesn't take up much floor-space. You could hoist it to the ceiling for that matter.

...oh no! you just didn't call a bx a "lawn tractor," did you?!?...

Unfortunately, that's the easiest way to tell someone what it is. I'm guilty of it. If you tell folks you have a "tractor", most people imagine a rusty old Ford with a cup over the smokestack. I describe mine as a "super-duper garden tractor on steroids". Or if the person can place the image, I simply call it "my backhoe".

 

[LBrown59]

1*I feel the BX2660 is much better balanced than the B
I always wanted the BX from about seven years ago when I bought my first B7500.
2*I thought bigger was better.
When I traded to the B7510 for financial reasons and to get different tires to try and eliminate the tearing up, I looked hard at a BX again.
3* Stupidly, I passed for a B7510.
This weekend I did a fair amount of loader work. I need to get my ballast box filled. Anyway,
4*the little loss of loader weight capacity of the BX over the B was unnoticeable.
5*Go for the BX! No matter what you do, you won't be sorry.
6*Ground clearance is the only separation in my book, If mowing is you primary use with loader work second, I doubt you'll be disappointed in a BX.
7*For the few bucks, though, I'd pass on the smaller HP BX's and go for the BX2660 !

1*Which means better stability.
2*A lot of people get burnt when they get caught up in that myth.
3*Making the same mastake twice in a row ain't to swift so I have to agree with your remark .
4*Or the gain on the B was worthless.
5*I second that.
6*I think that is really overplayed .
7*I have a BX23 and 2 of the BX1500s.
The BX1500s are perfect for what I use them for and are a lotter better than a larger BX in those situations.

JOHNTHOMAS, will I ever live down my post on "Downgrading" to a BX from a B? I said I meant DOWNSIZE! Cut me some slack! Alright... kidding aside, the BX is a fantastic machine, although I am not sure the BX is actually a DOWNSIZE either. Dimensionally, it's barely smaller. Capacity wise, it's barely weaker. I just think the difference is in FEEL. 8a*The B feels more like a tractor.
8b*The BX feels more like a garden tractor, or lawn mower.

8a*That's ok unless you don't like the tractor feel.
8b*Nothing wrong with that nothin at all.

tommyz270; Sorry I haven't checked this post for a while.
9* the 3430 is always ready to use all the other implements I have without removing the mower.
10*In essence I bought the BX to use as a really good lawn tractor.
11*I thought re-sale on a tractor with 3 pt and the ability to mount a FEL would be far more than a diesel lawn mower such as the GR. Plus if I ever down-size my property I could keep the 2660 and sell the 3430..

9*With 3 tractors I never switch attachments.
10*Makes sense.
11*Good thinking and one of the reasons I recommend A BX over the JD x700 or g or gr Kubota.

12*I sat on a BX2660 and the size felt like a Cub Cadet super garden tractor.
13* The B is substantially bigger if only slightly more capable than the BX.

12*Yeah great feeling.
13* More like taller that bigger which means less sure footed on slopes.

 

[harpoonalt]

You will maximize your resale if you get the OEM FEL for your tractor. Even if you don't make any MORE money on the sale ($2,000 in = $2,000 out) I promise it will sell FASTER with the FEL than without. Put another way, I bet 4 of 5 phone calls will first ask if it has a FEL...and all 4 of those folks will hear "no" and say "oh, ok, thanks anyway".

On the upside, you have time and can add it whenever you want. But before your "generation" of FEL goes away, I'd seriously consider purchasing. It really doesn't take up much floor-space. You could hoist it to the ceiling for that matter.

Good advice!!! FEL is a must on these tractors if you want to ever sell or trade. Once they go away for a model, they can be almost impossible to find or get very expensive. The loader is what makes the BX valuable, otherwise it's just a big "garden tractor". Put on my flame suit now!

 

[DavidVT]

BX2660 hmmmmm

PAST) In the 10 years I have been in this house we are on the second 'new' garden tractor and at least 3 'used' garden tractors. I liked the Gilson but parts are an issue. The 2000 Sears aluminum kohler engine bit the dust but that garden tractor (50" deck) was stable on the slopes of my property. The 05 Husquvarna operator seat sits higher causing the COG to be higher and thus makes the tractor unstable on our property. It's tranny will not hold on steep grades that the Sears did just fine.

PRESENT) The Husquvarna runs ok but since it is unstable on the hills, I have to keep strapping on the brush hog to my 3430 to keep the grass under control on the hills. I have considered a finish mower for this tractor but suspect the lawn will suffer from the turning damage of the R4s. The 3430 handles snow removal, the backhoe, scraper and brushhog.

FUTURE) After wasting (IMHO) money on several low end garden tractors, I am watching these threads for where to invest my hard earned $ into a garden tractor I will not have to replace any time soon. This BX2660 looks promising.

Thx for the education!!

 

[Fxfymn]

Yeah guys I agree the tractor will not sell well without the loader, but while I could afford the loader I couldn't afford the divorce over buying a loader that would sit out back rusting. I may regeret it later, but I do love the wife so for now it was the right choice!

DavidVT you hit it right on the head. One of the biggest sales convincers my wife had was an off hand comment by a gent at TSC about how his JD lawn tractor's deck had rusted out after a couple of years. I wanted to do this once and the quality of the Bota more than makes up for the cost.