Buying my first Kubota - education needed!

[coryfavre]

Good afternoon everyone!

I will be buying a BX2380 very soon - with the following build:

54" MMM
LA344 Front Loader
R4 Tires

I will be using this mainly as my primary mower on almost 3 acres of mainly flat ground in Missouri. Also for driveway maintenance and snow removal of 2 driveways. Maybe transporting some fire wood as well

I can't get the 60" deck, won't be able to get around the wife's flower beds/yard decorations etc. So I went with the 54" and I don't need the drive over deck

I have a few questions if everyone doesn't mind.

I will be financing this through my dealer. Do I have to take the extended warranties he quoted me on the tractor and loader? I'd rather take that $1400 and buy another implement honestly. Maybe a rear blade? If I can take that $1400 and spend it on something else, what would you recommend? Quick hitch? Box scraper

Do I buy the Kubota bolt on cutting edge for the loader or is there an aftermarket edge that will be better?

Am I correct in assuming I want to add the 3rd function valve if I want to use the loader as a grapple to move sections of tree trunk? I don't actually know what the rear remote hydraulic valves are, would adding them now be beneficial in any way?

Finally lets talk about weights? I think I'd prefer to add weight as needed for snow removal etc and not fill the back tires. Is that correct? What would be my best bet to accomplish this? Wheel weights? Make a ballast box?

Thanks in advance and I hope I haven't been too annoying with all the questions

 

[jeff9366]

You do not have to buy an extended warranty.

You do need insurance coverage to finance. I have had excellent experience with Kubota's KTAC insurance, which I maintain on my tractor though tractor is paid off.

Few buy a bolt on cutting edge to reinforce the LA344 bucket. Most use the factory bucket "bare". If you want to dig to a limited extent with the Loader, consider a Piranha Tooth Bar, rather than a bolt on cutting edge. (BXEXPANDED also makes snow extensions for FEL bucket.)

LINK: BXpanded Piranha Toothbar


You may want an industrial plastic Snow Edge for your bucket, to prevent gouging driveways clearing snow.

LINK: RATCHET RAKE SNOW EDGE - Google Search



Weight behind the rear axle (on the Three Point Hitch) is more effective, pound for pound, than weight in the rear tires for counterbalancing FEL loads, due to leverage. While I am in the minority, all three of my tractors have had tires inflated with air.

However, for snow traction you may wish to weight the rear wheels. The tires on a BX are so small they do not accept much liquid. I believe you can add more weight with iron wheel weights than through adding liquid. Snow chains are another option.

Grapples on a subcompact tractor are not very effective.
VIDEO: The downside to a skid steer quick coupler - TMT - YouTube

For moving tree trunks fairly short distances, consider <$400 short Three Point Hitch mounted Pallet Forks. The rear axle is much more robust than the front axle. Easy to load a pallet to serve as counterbalance to FEL lifts.

LINK: three point hitch pallet forks - Google Search

You can't drag much weight with a BX and chains. BX has only a two-range HST transmission, which means BX is not geared as low as a heavier tractor with a three-range HST transmission.


IMPLEMENTS: https://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media...aa214276e14dacb/pub2917tractorimplements1.pdf

Buckeye Tractor Online Catalog - Garden Series Page 01

There is very limited space around a BX Three Point Hitch. Most implements require reduced dimensions to fit and function behind a BX, which has 9" ground clearance. Most implements are designed around 12+" of ground clearance.

There are plenty of implements for subcompact tractors. You just have to purchase reduced dimension implements.

 

[KennyG]

Just a few thoughts, only my opinion.

Extended warranties are, like all insurance, profit centers. If you will be bankrupted by a breakdown, maybe you should consider it. Otherwise pass on it.

You're going to move sections of tree trunks with a BX2380? What is the lift capacity? My tractor will lift about 1100 lbs and a grapple would be waste because any significant log weighs too much. I move small stuff with forks. I think forks are a much better first investment.

I assume you are looking at a cutting edge for the loader for snow or are you looking at a toothed edge for dirt? Plowing snow with a loader gets old real fast. I adapted a snow plow to mine after a few years. Yes, you need weight for snow. I put my box blade on. If I didn't have that, I would get a ballast box. If you are mowing a lot, pass on the filled tires.

 

[coryfavre]

Thanks guys! I'll skip the plans for a grapple and look at forks. Is there any reason to add the 3rd function then?

 

[jeff9366]

Most consider implements for BX are so light that adjusting BX implements manually via Three Point Hitch Top Link and Three Point Hitch adjustable right Lifting Rod, is reasonably easy.

Once implements weigh 600 to 1,200 pounds on heavier tractors, hydraulic adjustment via rear hydraulic ports, a pair for each adjustment desired, may be worthwhile. Rear ports substitute hydraulic adjustment for Three Point Hitch Top Link and Three Point Hitch adjustable right Lifting Rod.

 

[3gunr]

Wou might yyelcome cory favre.I have a farm just north of labelle, are you buying from the farm shop in edina. They have worked on our old massey several times and seem to be good guys. I also think with your list of things to do you might want to look at an L size tractor .

 

[jeff9366]

No mid-PTO for standard L models, therefore no MMM possible. Could consider B2650.

VIDEO: Kubota BX Series VS. B Series - YouTube


Certainly easier to purchase standard dimension implements for a 'B' over the BX.

 

[jeff9366]

Thanks guys! I'll skip the plans for a grapple and look at forks. Is there any reason to add the 3rd function then?

No.

Third function closes grapple maw.

I suggest Three Point Hitch Pallet Forks, not FEL Pallet Forks.

 

[dodge man]

I've had a BX for 10 years and haven't found a need for a 3rd function or a rear remote. A hydraulic rear blade would be a reason for a set of rear remotes. I have bucket forks for mine, but they won't lift a lot of weight but are good for brush and such. I also have a rear blade for snow removal. Look at a company called BX Expanded, they sell a lot of stuff for the BX's.

 

[oldballs]

Here's my thoughts.....I've owned a BX2660 and now own a B2620 and a B2650:

If you can afford it, get a B2650.
I've never had the filled rear tires and got along fine without them....moving lots of rock, gravel, dirt, plowing and tilling and moving snow.
The Piranha Bar is a good attachment.
I've moved a lot of brush/logs and other "stuff" with FEL with/without clamp on forks.
For one initial investment get a Box Blade for general dirt/gravel work, even snow.....and it is good for ballast without buying a "Ballast Box".
If you have any money left over, get a rear Quick Hitch....for more attachments to come.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[coryfavre]

Wou might yyelcome cory favre.I have a farm just north of labelle, are you buying from the farm shop in edina. They have worked on our old massey several times and seem to be good guys. I also think with your list of things to do you might want to look at an L size tractor .

I do have a quote from The Farm Shop, they have been very helpful!

 

[Hunter29]

Buy bigger that what you think you need, why ? because you will anyway sooner or later..

 

[oldballs]

Buy bigger that what you think you need, why ? because you will anyway sooner or later..

Good point Hunter...........One good reason is that the attachments that your buy for a SCUT may not be the right ones for the larger tractor. Then you either take a loss on selling them, or try to use the undersized implement anyway, wishing you had a better fit.:2cents:

Another good reason could be that the "shed" that you built for parking the SCUT, may not be big enough (height) for storage.

P.S. If you want some other local and knowledgeable advice, go to the bottom of the "Forum" listings @ the Midwest & Great Lakes..."Missouri Roll Call"...You'll get some good advice there too.

 

[coryfavre]

I've checked out the B2650, it was actually the first quote I got. I just don't think I can make it work size wise with some of the things I'm wanting to do at this time.

Right now I think I'm going with this:

3 pt pallet forks
FEL
Rear blade
54" MMM

And maybe switching from the R4 tires, but I have to research that one more.

 

[coryfavre]

Good point Hunter...........One good reason is that the attachments that your buy for a SCUT may not be the right ones for the larger tractor. Then you either take a loss on selling them, or try to use the undersized implement anyway, wishing you had a better fit.:2cents:

Another good reason could be that the "shed" that you built for parking the SCUT, may not be big enough (height) for storage.

P.S. If you want some other local and knowledgeable advice, go to the bottom of the "Forum" listings @ the Midwest & Great Lakes..."Missouri Roll Call"...You'll get some good advice there too.

Thanks for the advice! I'll check it out

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've checked out the B2650, it was actually the first quote I got. I just don't think I can make it work size wise with some of the things I'm wanting to do at this time.

Right now I think I'm going with this:

3 pt pallet forks
FEL
Rear blade
54" MMM

And maybe switching from the R4 tires, but I have to research that one more.

I started with a BX2200 FEL MMM 15 years ago first tractor to be my lifetime mower with high priced wheelbarrow on the front. I lived on a hillside gullied rocky treed 3+ acres lot. I discovered the little tractor was more than any of the riding mowers I'd ever owned by about a thousand. l started looking for projects to do but alas my ground clearance with the BX was very limiting and some of the bigger rocks I wanted/needed to move wouldn't budge with the BX so after one year I traded the BX to a B7800 FEL and a 6' Rear Finish Mower and bought a BX1500 54" MMM for mowing aroundthe house and on the steep land.. Kept this combination for 3 years and then traded the B to a L3240 FEL which was mistake since it sat so high off the ground on steep hillside was scary so quickly traded the L to a B3200 and then kept trading about 20 times over the next 12 years till I've owned about every BX and B size. Have since bought another 30 adjoining acres so have a different combination now but do still have a BX. My recommendation is go up to a small B for a lot of the reasons others here have suggested but if your not going to do that now then keep the R4s always with a FEL and no grapple with a BX and no remote controls with a BX. I have a Piriniha bar attached to my FEL and is worth the money and allows you to dig a bit and helps with picking stuff up with the front bucket rather than just push it. With this BX FEL MMM then you have to have rear weight which my first recommendation is a boxblade which is also the most valuable/usable/helpful/multi purpose attachment/implement available. Don't waste money on weights when you can apply that money to usable implements. Not sue about best to buy rear forks or front attach to bucket forks since both have the advantages/disadvantages and with a BX they aren't going to be os much use for heavy lifting anyway but OK for some lifting, mostly choice should be made on your needs/uses.
No to the warranty purchase. These are near indestructible machines.
Everything Tractor Attachments And Skid Steer Attachments For Any Tractor Or Skid Steer Attachments is a site you need to visit and watch some of their videos which show how and what attachments do and their prices are reasonable. Also Titan Attachments - PalletForks.com - 8-65-8241 is a source of attachments for fairly cheap prices. You may also want to do some research on a RatchetRake for the FEL.
Good luck on your purchase and adventure. With 3 acres and more than mowing I'm sure you'll ponder many times as to whether you should have went up one step to the B series but you can always trade and only be out a few thousand dollars by not going there to start with. I've done a side by side eval as did BPFick as we owned both and I owned both at the same time. See if you can do a search and find those evals and then buy what will work best for you.

 

[Fallon]

Thanks guys! I'll skip the plans for a grapple and look at forks. Is there any reason to add the 3rd function then?

Grapple or a thumb for a bucket, hydraulic post hole auger ($2,500 vs a $600 3pt phd, but that doesnt hsve downpressure), hydraulic angle on a SSQA snow plow. There are others, but those are the most common for a compact tractor.

As others have said, look at your requirements. Weight is what makes a tractor work, HP just defines how fast it will do the job. A 25hp L2501 will pull a blade or lift a load circles around a 30hp B series. Weight is traction & ballast, you need both to pull things & lift things. You need HP to run a mower or do other PTO tasks, but pulling & lifting take less power than you'd think at lower speeds. And at higher speeds you mess up what you are grading as you can't react quick enough or roll the tractor.

 

[skipperbrown]

Thoughts on a 54" vs 60" mower deck: Unless you can't fit the 60" deck between trees, bushes, rocks, posts, or other landscaping, go with the larger deck. It gives you a tighter mowing turn radius and makes it easier to mow around bushes and other things that stick out but you want to get close to the trunk.

 

[4570Man]

I’m a big fan of my 72” deck. I’d buy the bigger one unless there’s a good reason not to.

 

[TripleR]

I couldn't find the one by bp fick, but like John, does a good comparison between the BX and B. oldballs also has a good chronicle of how he wound up with what he has. My story/advice so closely follows their I won't bother.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...30-b3200-bx2660-side-side-not.html?highlight=

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...ing/147841-bx-just-isnt-b-you.html?highlight=

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...224-buying-first-test-tractor.html?highlight=