Am I abusing my BX ?

newtractorowner · Mar 25, 2001

Have started using my box scraper. Have got the driveway under control. Started clearing an area where I cut down the 1-3" saplings with a DR trimmer with the beaver blade. Used the box scraper with only 2 of the scarifiers attached. Used the hydralics to pull the small stumps. Is this too much for this little tractor?
On some larger stumps, the tractor will come up off the front wheels (quite easily). Dosen't seem to bring rpms down much ( am running about half throttle during break in period ). Should I be doing this kind of stuff in the break in period? Seems like it does not bother the tractor much.
Any input would be great.
God bless.

newtractorowner

Boondox · Mar 25, 2001

I'll admit that there are times when I abuse my tractor. Funny thing is, they just keep taking it!

Seriously, you're in the stage where you're discovering the limits of your tractor's capabilities. Be careful. Be safe. Consider the need for counter balancing (i.e., weights in the FEL bucket). Be really careful on slopes. But don't be afraid to stall the tractor. That's how you learn.

Did I mention the need to be safe?

Pete and Clementine (L3010)
www.gatewaytovermont.com

JATO_RaT · Mar 26, 2001

No, you are not even close to abusing it from your description. The loader lifting the front end off the ground is not only normal, its to be expected. You can put down all of the rippers on the box scraper as long as you have the traction to pull it. One tip is to load the bucket with material like dirt or sand for added weight for traction in 4WD. Rat...

Bird · Mar 26, 2001

Tractors are made for working. Just try to keep the rpm up enough to avoid stalling the engine (I hate to do that to one, but I'll bet we've all done it a few times), and be careful not to turn it over.

Bird

Steve_S · Mar 26, 2001

How you treat your BX shouldn't be too important IF you remember to keep all the lubricants fresh and follow the manual (not religiously, but close). Check all your connections frequently and make note of how the tractors acts. When it begins to act strange you know you may have a problem. When I first took delivery of my BX2200 I didn't pay attention to the "break in period" and ran it full throttle expecting that to make a difference in how much work it can do. Now I have learned that under most conditions there is no need to run it full throttle. The extra throttle is always there if you need it, but don't just fire up your rig and open it up immediately. Although it didn't hurt my BX, I don't think it would be too healthy to always run it wide open. Also, when I first got mine, I had about 70 ton of stone that needed moved. After burning up a lot of diesel running it wide open I finally learned that I could do as much at half throttle as I could at full. It's all a learning process, but these little machines are hard to hurt unless you are really trying to beat them. As a side note, I also learned that stone is MUCH heavier than dirt, and without rear ballast I dang near tipped quite a few times!

TresCrows · Mar 26, 2001

You should follow the break in procedure in the manual. According to the manual, also just for your info, the correct engine speeds for the FEL are 1700 to 2200 RPM. Full throttle is about 3200 RPM. I mow at about 2800 RPM or slightly less. I am not sure I have ever opened the throttle up fully. J

Charliebrn · Mar 26, 2001

OK, how do you all know what RPM you are running at? Being new to diesels, I have no trained "ear" for it. The BX doesn't have an RPM gauge...(my only true complaint about the BX, it should have one!) there is no kit or easy way to add one, either....

Bird · Mar 26, 2001

Charliebrn, this has been discussed a lot in the past, both in relation to the BX series and some others, like the B7100 I used to have. Dealers and service reps say open the throttle all the way, then back off just a tiny bit and you'll be at PTO speed (a couple hundred rpm below wide open). I don't like that method either; I like tachometers, but actually that's right. Most tractors' PTO speed is just a little less than full throttle.

Bird

TresCrows · Mar 26, 2001

I run about half throttle for FEL work and a bit more for the box scraper. For mowing I do as suggested and run it up to near fulll throttle and back it down a bit--probably right about 3/4 throttle or a bit more. A tach would be nice but this is not rocket science--just listen to the engine. There is no reason to use full throttle but in the heaviest grass--so far not encountered by me and certainly not for loader work. J