Would I be happier with a B series?

[dodge man]

So I've owned a BX2350 for a little over 10 years and have 760 hours on it. It does what I want but I often wish when I'm doing end loader work that it had a bigger bucket. I also feel the front tires are too small at times. I mow with it about half the time and have some side hills that push my comfort level on the BX but it gets the job done. I'd go with a 60" mid mount deck on the B. The other half of the hours I'm moving dirt, gravel, and snow. My driveway is paved and about 600 feet long. Sometimes we get a lot of snow, sometimes almost none. I also would like the better road speed of a B tractor.

Would one of the smaller B tractors, I'm thinking either 23 or 26 horse increase the bucket size enough that I would notice the difference? I couldn't find the specs on bucket capacity. Would it seem too big when it comes to mowing? It doesn't look like the turning radius is that much bigger but they spec that while using the brakes to make it turn tighter on the B tractors. With loaded tires would it seem as stable on the hills as a BX? I'd like to get into a used B for 5k with a trade in on my BX but I don't know if that's possible or not. Thanks in advance for the answers.

 

[ovrszd]

I mowed with a B2910, 60" mmm for several years. It did a better job mowing and was more stable than my JD2210 which is comparable to your BX.

There's considerable difference between a BX and a B. I think with an FEL a B would work circles around a BX.

 

[oldballs]

^^^^^What he said. My first Kubota was a BX2660 (2012 @ about 500 hrs) which did everything that I asked. In fact, never having had such a machine, I was amazed at what it could do....without any performance/manufacturing defects.

Yet, I was frustrated when doing maintenance under the tractor because it sat so low...and worried about its low clearance in the woods. Having the money, I traded at a good price to go up to a B2620 (2012) and now also own a B2650(2018), which is even better at everything. If you can afford it, do it.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Jchonline]

BX lift capacity is 518 full height, 990 breakout, capacity 0.18 cu yds
B2601 lift capacity is 1520 full height and 2146 breakout, capacity .3 cy yds for the Light Material bucket...so about a 50% increase. However this is the LM, not designed for dirt of heavier.

BX2350 weight 1332lbs
BX2601 weight 1622lbs

Considerable differences in FEL lift capacity, not so much in overall weight.

Keep in mind with a B2601 you are HIGHER off the ground, so you will probably need spacers to lower the COG. If you are worried about tipping, getting a tractor with a higher COG isn't the best way to address the issue outright.

 

[SDT]

So I've owned a BX2350 for a little over 10 years and have 760 hours on it. It does what I want but I often wish when I'm doing end loader work that it had a bigger bucket. I also feel the front tires are too small at times. I mow with it about half the time and have some side hills that push my comfort level on the BX but it gets the job done. I'd go with a 60" mid mount deck on the B. The other half of the hours I'm moving dirt, gravel, and snow. My driveway is paved and about 600 feet long. Sometimes we get a lot of snow, sometimes almost none. I also would like the better road speed of a B tractor.

Would one of the smaller B tractors, I'm thinking either 23 or 26 horse increase the bucket size enough that I would notice the difference? I couldn't find the specs on bucket capacity. Would it seem too big when it comes to mowing? It doesn't look like the turning radius is that much bigger but they spec that while using the brakes to make it turn tighter on the B tractors. With loaded tires would it seem as stable on the hills as a BX? I'd like to get into a used B for 5k with a trade in on my BX but I don't know if that's possible or not. Thanks in advance for the answers.

Probably.

The B series, aside from the B3350SU, has position control. Not having position control is a show stopper for me.

I've been mowing my lawn and plowing snow with a B1750HSD since I bought it new in May of 1993. The 1750 is simply the best significant purchase that I have made in my 69 years of life.

SDT

 

[Michael Aos]

I wish I would have purchased a B2601 instead of my BX2370. Realized it at about an hour on the clock.

As I recall, the B2601 was around ~$2K more initially, but would have been more like $4K to trade up from the BX with 1hr.

That said, I'm AMAZED how much happier I am with the BX since I added ballast. Beet juice, wheel weights, and a land plane hanging off the back.
--

 

[jeff9366]

BX lift capacity is 518 full height, 990 breakout, capacity 0.18 cu yds
B2601 lift capacity is 1520 full height and 2146 breakout, capacity .3 cy yds for the Light Material bucket...so about a 50% increase. However this is the Light Materials Bucket which is not designed for dirt of heavier.

BX2350 weight 1332lbs
BX2601 weight 1622lbs

Considerable differences in FEL lift capacity, not so much in overall weight.

Keep in mind with a B2601 you are HIGHER off the ground, so you will probably need spacers to lower the COG.
If you are worried about tipping, getting a tractor with a higher COG isn't the best way to address the issue.

From personal experience it takes a 50% increase in bare tractor weight before you notice an increase in tractor capability.

Light Materials Bucket good for snow but if filled with earth the Loader hydraulics may not lift it, certainly will not lift filled Light Materials Bucket very high.

For a 600' driveway a plow is the primary tool to consider.

VIDEOS (3): Snow Attachments, and their pro's and con's. Snow Blower, Push Box, Snow Blade. - YouTube

Kubota BX Series VS. B Series - YouTube

So you want to TRADE UP for a new Tractor? - TMT - YouTube



How much FEL counterbalance weight in the form of filled rear tires, wheel weights and/or a Three Point Hitch mounted implement do you use during Loader work?

 

[dstig1]

Sounds to me like you could use a smaller skid steer in addition to your existing BX. If you have a regular diet of dirt work, then a SS is the better tool for the job than any tractor.

 

[dodge man]

I am not going to get a skid steer. To expensive although I would love to have one. A couple things prompted me to start this thread.
One is a lot of snow. The rear blade works great for small snows but I use the FELfor deeper snows. Some winters I hardly move any snow. I drove the tractor into town this last weekend and the road speed of the BX is pretty bad.

I also had a creek cutting into my yard so I have been dumping rock over the edge. The bigger bucket would be nice. I would let the creek do its thing but long term I am concerned about it getting close to the house.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've done this trade several times. The BX is a better mower but it's a smaller tractor than the B series in every way. I've actually written several comparison posts between them sitting side by side and another old poster also did a comparison piece as he traded and then traded back.
Higher seat off the ground feels like your higher off the ground and is a little more unnerving.
I originally bought a BX2200 MMM FEL 15 years ago as my first tractor. I was on new hillside rocky gullied treed land and kept going more and more into FEL tractoring while also mowing. After a year I decided I wanted to go more into excavating but ground clearance on the BX limited me, actually got it stuck on top of a big brush pile once and had to have my real dozer excavator get it down/off when he came back to do more leveling/tree clearing.
I traded my BX2200 MMM FEL to a B7800 RFM FEL and a BX1500 MMM and stayed with that combo for a history breaking for me three years with awesome results and work accomplishments. I messed up and traded the B7800 to a L3240 FEL and it had a seat so high off the ground I wouldn't use it on my mostly hillside landscape work areas so rapidly traded it to a B3200 FEL and that BX1500 MMM kept on mowing the steep areas while I used the 6' RFM for the flatter front yard.
I traded for a skid steer a couple of years ago and that was my biggest mistake ever, lost $6000 in less than a year on that mistake. It would slide sideways down my hillside in the snow and get stuck and had to wait till the snow melted to ever get it out. Skid steers are construction/landscaping equipment and for mostly level ground or straight up and down excavating work in my opinion and personal handson experience and they are one of those rent by the day machines.
Find some of the older B vs BX comparison posts and see more opinions by those of us that have done it or ask specific questions here. I like the 3 speed over the 2 speed. The B26xx is a nice machine and sure Barlows would give you a trade price for your BX.

 

[skipperbrown]

What John Thomas said. I have a bx2200 and a b2650. I was going to replace the bx with the b, but after mowing my yard with the b, I found it wasn't nearly as nimble and took longer to mow due to mowing around landscaping and trees. So now I mow with the bx and do everything, and I mean everything, else with the b. I probably should trade the bx for a zero turn, but we have history! The b is much stronger, has the necessary ground clearance, greater lifting power/height, position control, room to work around the 3 pt hitch for hookups, more comfortable on rough terrain, and is just a great size for my needs. My only concern for you is your hills. If you are pushing the limits on your hills with the bx, I fear you will be really uncomfortable with the higher b.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I'd suggest you go with the B - bi-speed. With bi-speed the front wheels turn faster on tight turns than the rear, which allows a much tighter turning circle.

Bi-speeds are getting rare, but certainly worth the few extra dollars for that feature. oh - IMHO, there's no comparison between the BX and the B; B wins hands down.

 

[HillStreet]

I have owned a B2320 and now have a B2650. Great tractors both of them. Almost bought a BX when I started to shop but no doubt I like the B size better. I move snow and use the bucket but don’t mow. For mowing I have a zero turn.

 

[Pete6114]

I had a B1700 once and there were times when i wished i had a B2100 or B2400, but i never regretted buying a B Series.
If i was to buy another Tractor, i wouldn't even glance at a BX by accident and go straight to the B's and check the new ones out.

 

[628pm]

I've had both bx's and B tractors, in my opinion, for mowing yards the bx is better. For overall tractor use the B is better. I am back with a bx2680 right now, probably will stay with it. It is great around the property for general landscaping and mowing. Wife using the bx to mow 3 acres while I use the f2690 to mow about 7 acres ( all yards mowed are ours, 100 year old neighbor and inlaws). Would like bigger tractor for special projects but then I would need a bigger shed to store it in. I need to start downsizing instead of adding to what I have.

 

[SDT]

I'd suggest you go with the B - bi-speed. With bi-speed the front wheels turn faster on tight turns than the rear, which allows a much tighter turning circle.

Bi-speeds are getting rare, but certainly worth the few extra dollars for that feature. oh - IMHO, there's no comparison between the BX and the B; B wins hands down.

Agreed.

I bought my B1750HSDT, Bi-Speed Turn new in 1993. It has been and continues to be the best significant purchase that I've made in my life.

Sadly, the expensive Bi-Speed Turn option has not been available for some time.

SDT

 

[ovrszd]

Agreed.

I bought my B1750HSDT, Bi-Speed Turn new in 1993. It has been and continues to be the best significant purchase that I've made in my life.

Sadly, the expensive Bi-Speed Turn option has not been available for some time.

SDT

Why don't you quit beating around the bush and tell us how you feel about your B SDT???

I've never heard anyone complain about that era B. Great tractors.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

If you do move up, consider getting a zero turn mower instead of the mid-mount mower deck. Its about a wash price wise. The zero turn will be much more stable on your slopes. You pretty much can't roll one. They will slide way before rolling. (of course, if you try real hard...) This is what I do. But, I have a MX and it doesn't have a mower option. That and the weight would make ruts large enough to kayak in.

 

[4570Man]

If you do move up, consider getting a zero turn mower instead of the mid-mount mower deck. Its about a wash price wise. The zero turn will be much more stable on your slopes. You pretty much can't roll one. They will slide way before rolling. (of course, if you try real hard...) This is what I do. But, I have a MX and it doesn't have a mower option. That and the weight would make ruts large enough to kayak in.

I agree but it takes a big heavy unit not a light dinky one that $3000 or less buys. Here’s a hill that I mow on ZTR that’s about 30 degrees. And the tractors can’t touch the mowing speed of the ZTR. And I don’t have to bother with dropping a MMM for tractor work or dropping a loader for mowing.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Yeah, I mow a pasture with a zero turn. Way faster than a tractor. I have a similar, but large expanse, slope I mow. I'm fearless on the ZT. Wouldn't put the tractor on it for nothing.

In terms of cost, I have no clue on the OP's mowing situation except that his existing mid-mount works for him. Given that, I think a modest ZT would work. He could get a consumer grade 48 inch and still cut the lawn way faster than the tractor. Now, if his mowing is "robust", your into a $6 to $10k unit. My mowing exceeds "robust" and I went gently used and got a Simplicity Cobalt (same as a Ferris IS2100). A Snapper 360Z is about $3k and would likely do fine.