12 miles on the road?

AMR · Feb 7, 2006

My 50 hour service is approaching, I have 34 hours on my BX23. The nearest dealer is 12 miles away on paved roads, fairly hilly. To pick up and drop-off the machine is $180. Can I save the $ by simply driving it back and forth? Is this too far and too much wear and tear to save a pretty good chunk of change? I believe that top speed is 8 MPH, but I will go at 1/2 throttle say I average 4 MPH, that is 6 hours of driving.

Egon · Feb 7, 2006

I have taken My Kubota B7100 HST six or seven miles on the highway with no problems.

Don't think you should have any problems. Two wheel drive and I'd run it at almost full throttle.

For $180.00 wouldn't think twice about driving it there.

As an added benefit you will get to see lots on the drive due to slow speed.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tawilson · Feb 7, 2006

You have to pay for the service, don't you? If so, why not buy the filters and fluids and do it yourself? I've got a Kubota ZD28 ZTR with about the same hours and that's what I"m doing. It won't affect your warranty. If that's not feasible, can't you pay the dealer to make a service call? Or maybe you can find a loose nut so the dealer has to pick it up under warranty. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I know I didn't answer your question, I'm just throwing a couple of alternatives at you. As for your question, I'd do it but I'd go faster than 4 mph.

KubotaSteve · Feb 7, 2006

Have you thought about doing the 50 hour service yourself to save even more money and time. It really isn't that hard. I would do that before I would drive the tractor 12 miles each way. If you run into any problems along the way, TBN is only a post away. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Good luck and be careful if you decide to drive it to the dealer.

Bird · Feb 7, 2006

It was 7.75 miles from my place to my brother's place and I drove both my B7100 and my B2710 there and back numerous times. And I ran full throttle on the road. I wouldn't be concerned about the wear on the tractor at all. My only concern was watching for traffic (usually saw 1 to 4 vehicles on the trip and of course it was an area with 55 mph speed limits, but also an area where people were accustomed to seeing tractors on the road). That was the reason I put a rear view mirror on the B2710.

DmansPadge · Feb 7, 2006

If you do it I would run at or near full throttle. Like Bird mentioned, it's not going to hurt the tractor, and it'll get you there a lot quicker. Keep it in 2WD and be careful. The only bad thing I see is that pavement can be pretty hard on your tires... R1's in particular.

GeneD14 · Feb 7, 2006

I would recommend doing the 50 hour service yourself. If you have ever changed oil in a vehicle, it should be a sinch. If you are thinking about having the dealer do it, I wouldn't hesitate driving it. Wear and tear is minimal, there is very little load on the engine and assuming that you keep it in 2wd tire wear shouldn't be an issue.
Keep the throttle wide open(the slower you go the more of a hazard you become), lights on, and have some one follow you in a car with it's hazard lights on for safety.
A few years ago I drove my antique Allis Chalmers 105 miles in a tractor caravan with a group of other tractor nuts and we had a ball!
Here is a link with the story of the ride:

http://www.ytmag.com/articles/artint147.htm

Boondox · Feb 7, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I would recommend doing the 50 hour service yourself. If you have ever changed oil in a vehicle, it should be a sinch. If you are thinking about having the dealer do it, I wouldn't hesitate driving it. Wear and tear is minimal, there is very little load on the engine and assuming that you keep it in 2wd tire wear shouldn't be an issue.
Keep the throttle wide open(the slower you go the more of a hazard you become), lights on, and have some one follow you in a car with it's hazard lights on for safety.
A few years ago I drove my antique Allis Chalmers 105 miles in a tractor caravan with a group of other tractor nuts and we had a ball!
Here is a link with the story of the ride:

http://www.ytmag.com/articles/artint147.htm )</font>

What's that do to your warranty? Most dealers around here take the 50 hour service pretty seriously. They have no problem with others, but that initial service is their chance to catch oversights.

Pete

RonR · Feb 7, 2006

Agree that driving it won't hurt, but gee, your time is worth something--even seat time!

I drove my BX2200 to a job about 2 miles away (In town--30MPH speed limit). Figured it would be faster than getting my trailer out of the back yard, loading up, unloading, and putting the trailer back in its spot.

I didn't have any issues with the drive, but I won't do it again. Driving didn't put any load on the engine (or very little). It was loud and BORING and I was worried about being rear ended. Had the lights on, the SMV, and flashers. Still worried about it.

And had my unit broken down or I need something else at the job site, I had no wheels to get home.....................

I'd not pay the $180, but if I had a tow vehicle, I'd spring for a trailer. My new one (5x14ft) was <$1K. A used one might be $600-800. And you'd have one for the next trip or for hauling other stuff.

Edit: After re-reading your post--if it's very hilly, no way would I drive it! Even with your SMV and flashers, if the timing is just wrong and someone not paying attention tops a hill just after you've gone out of his sight, a couple of seconds lapse and he's hit you. Granted, it would likely be "his fault", but you and your tractor might be the dead ones........... Not worth it at all in this scenario. Borrow, rent, buy a trailer, or find someone to haul it. If they are moving 50-70MPH and you are moving 6-8 MPH, the closing time is almost NOTHING!

My two cents.
ron