A coupe not-so-serious BX24 questions

[RayCo]

1. Why is the engine mounted backwards? It's an odd configuration, but I reckon there must be a reason.
2. Is this thing really Japanese? Every nut or bolt I've had to turn has been SAE. Do the assemblers in GA influence this? This is the first Japanese vehicle I've ever owned and it's also the only one with no metric fasteners. (I especially love the 80's GM alternator bracket that used one SAE nut and bolt and one metric.

 

[Tom_H]

Do the assemblers in GA influence this? This is the first Japanese vehicle I've ever owned and it's also the only one with no metric fasteners.

As I was born and raised in south GA, I can dare to say this: nobody in GA can do foreign math, they can figure 9/16 minus 17/64, but they don't know how to figure the number of millimeters in 0.7 centimeters. Just kidding

This is the first Japanese vehicle I've ever owned

Once you own a Toyota, you'll never want anything else.

 

[Skyco]

1> It isn't backwards- its everyone else that is backwards

No seriously it isn't backwards, it is just the fan is on the rear, a dang good idea actually for a low speed vehicle

2> Well gee- some of it may be American but mine is metric, sure your wrenches aren't marked wrong

 

[David_G]

The engine is more convenient that way round. Puts the radiator away from trouble and dirt.
ps It is NOT backwards in the zero turn mower version.

The tractor part is made in Japan and is all metric.
The loader, Backhoe and fittings are made in US and are SAE.

 

[RayCo]

I've only really had a wrench on a few nuts and bolts so far, so I guess I've only come across the US ones so far. I need to beef up my metric tool supply.

 

[Volfandt]

My BX23 is all metric. Now theres close similarities between certain sizes of SAE and metric wrenches/sockets and either will work on a metric fastner. I can use my SAE impact sockets for the wheel lugnuts and some other larger fastners but they're definitely metric.
These machines are assembled in GA so it's possible the frame hardware could be SAE but since the engine and HST are assembled in Japan I'd say they'll all have metric threads and fastners.

The backwards facing engine config on the BX's is actually a + for a machine primarily designed to mow.
With conventional engine configs w/the radiator up front, just the forward motion of the machine going through tall grass can clog it up causing overheating problems whereas the BX minimizes this somewhat by drawing it's cooling air from behind the forward motion. Course the screen will still clog up eventually as theres quite a suction going on but it's not as suseptable to clogging as the conventionally forward facing engines. Another great feature realized by this config is once the screen does clog, one doesn't have to stop and dismount to clear the debris, on a BX you just simply reach down and wipe it away.
The only negative I see is it makes swapping out the fan belt harder but you should get well over 500 hrs or more before that becomes a concern.

 

[rdsaustintx]

The backwards facing engine config on the BX's is actually a + for a machine ...the BX minimizes this somewhat by drawing it's cooling air from behind the forward motion. ...Another great feature realized by this config is once the screen does clog, one doesn't have to stop and dismount to clear the debris.

ANOTHER feature is it pulls heat away from the operator, which is essential down here in BubbaLand.

(And if you know how to change a fan belt, IMO it don't really matter which end it's on)