Breaking in a Virginal BX

DaninGreenBay · Feb 20, 2002

Well I finally traded in the old 53' Ford Jubilee for a BX2200 and brought her home last night. Got to push some old semi hard snowpiles around with the FEL before it got dark. The Chairman of the Board (wife) even sat on it for a minute and said that it was "cute". (Usually she just shakes her head and mumbles under her breath when she see me come home with a new toy errr..... I mean investment.) You guys were right. This is one heck of a fun machine! Supposed to get 4-8" of fresh snow tonight. Looking forward to pushing it off the driveway in the morning. Was reading the owners manual last night and it said not to run it WOT for the first 50 hours. With no tach I guess I will have to rely on throttle lever position and sound to make sure that I don't over rev during break in. Wish I had a tach but I don't how to hook one up since there is no ignition system like on a gas engine. Maybe I can rig up a throttle stop so my teenage son doesnt abuse her. 50 hours seems like a very long break in period. Any of you bota brothers out there have any comments regarding break in time?

frank_f15 · Feb 20, 2002

DAN CONGRATS ON THE NEW TRACTOR: and welcome to the forum. as for the new bx break in, just never run it wot for any length of time. go by the sound of the engine and use as much throtle as u need not to lug the engine.sometimes too little throttle is as bad as too much throttle.just use good common sense.

frank_f15 · Feb 20, 2002

dan: forgot to mention that my bride of 38 yrs. STILL mumbles and shakes her head when she sees me on the tractor.she can't figure out why i enjoy freezing my butt off moving snow or sitting on the darn thing knocking over trees when it is 90 deg. out/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif ALSO quite a switch from the old ford? i moved up from a ford 2n to a b2400.

rmcess · Feb 20, 2002

DAN, Congrats on your new "investment". I just brought my new BX2200 home last week. After a little time in the seat I agree that you really can go by the sound. In your case with a teenage son possibly using it I think a throttle stop is a good idea. Have Fun, and be carefull. Wish I would get some snow so I could play./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
RM

looch · Feb 21, 2002

Dan, Congratulations on the purchase and welcome to TBN /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.
Get yourself something to eat and drink, then do a search on BX tach. Lots of info here on that subject.

As for break-in, 50 hours is a long time. I bought my B7500 in June and still haven't hit 50 hours yet (snowless winter). Don't go WOT for extended periods - use enough power to do what you need to do. Also, vary your RPM's frequently. This does to your engine what stretching before excercise does to you.

Anonymous Poster · Feb 21, 2002

Dan, Did you end up buying from Service Motors? If you did did you get anywhere close to Carvers price? Just curious, and still planning on a BX this spring, just not happy with what the cost around here.

DaninGreenBay · Feb 21, 2002

Regarding pricing for the BX, after some negotiation I got within a few hundred $'s of Carvers price at Service Motors. I wrestled with that for quite some time but finally gave in when they agreed to take my old tractor in on a no charge consignment type deal. Also they offered the use of a free loaner Kubota if I broke down. Decided these two things plus close by service was worth the extra bucks. I was digging around in the snow again tonight. Yikes! The chairman of the board is not going to be too happy when she see all of the scalping I did to our lawn. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif I thought the ground was frozen harder than it was. (Where's the "Frozen Tundra" when a guy really needs it...) I covered them back up with snow but I will have to pay the piper when this last batch of snow melts. I guess I best start shopping for some fast growing grass seed.
Now I am on the horns of a dilemma trying to decide between a 48" or 41" brush hog......

TresCrows · Feb 22, 2002

OK, where you find a 41 inch brush hog at? The BX can handle a 48 inch except in possibly the really big stuff. You will most likely find the balance better with the 48 with the FEL left on but a 41 inch will balance better than the 48 if you plan to hog without the FEL.
J

BlackforestBill · Feb 22, 2002

Rhino makes the smaller rotory mower. My dealer was pushing the 41" when I bought my BX last spring. I went for the 48", not so sure I did the right thing.

I'm cutting mostly field grass and weeds and I don't let it get very tall before I hit it (gotta have the seat time). But the first time I cut it was not so fun, it hadn't been cut for 20 years. The real problem is my elevation. I'm above 7000'. You lose considerable HP at this altitude and I did notice it.

So, the 48" rotory works well on the BX if you have the ponies to run it or you're cutting light stuff.

Bill