broomjob,
While I have had various "B" series Kubotas over the past few years, I am new to the
BX23 as well as Kubota backhoes. Given that limited qualification, I'll attempt to answer your questions. There are plenty of other regulars on this board that have more experience than I do with Kubota backhoes and
BX22/
BX23s, and I'm sure that they'll jump in and give good answers and correct my answers as needed! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( When digging with the backhoe, should the tractor be in neutral with the parking brake set? )</font> I'm recalling from memory here, but I believe the owner's manual says to lower the stabilizers such that the rear wheels are barely in contact with the ground. Without any traction on the rear wheels, it should not make any real difference whether the parking brakes are set or whether the transmission is in neutral or not. Personally, I have not set the parking brake and I have typically left the transmission in low range.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Is it ok to slightly reposition the tractor by pushing or pulling with the hoe. )</font> I can't help much on this question. However, this topic has been discussed on this board before; I remember it being stated that many of the big TLB operators do this maneuver frequently, but I don't remember what the recommendations were with regard to smaller TLBs such as the BX.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( And lastly, when digging on level ground, how dangerous is it to slightly reposition the tractor by activating the pedal with your hand. )</font> I'm sure that most people with advise against this maneuver as well, but I have done it on several occasions and have felt comfortable doing it. That is the main reason that I leave the transmission in gear and the parking brake off.
One last suggestion: The main "short-coming" of the BX that I have found so far is that when digging out stumps the backhoe will pull the tractor towards the stump before it'll pull the stump out of the ground. I have found that one technique to minimize this is to curl the FEL bucket as far forward as it will go such that when it is lowered to the ground it will have the edges of the FEL dig into the ground slightly. My
BX23 came with a tooth-bar that was not on the tractor when I got it and I haven't put it on yet (my larger Kubota FEL has the tooth-bar installed).
Good luck with your BX!
Kelvin