BX 15 is it enough

[redharley]

Looking at the bx 15 for mowing lawn, snow plowing about 800 feet of level driveway,and brush cutting no larger than 1" thick around woods [underbrush],and once and a while some higher grass field about 1' to 2' high 5 acres.The main use would be lawn and snow removal in central Pa. Thanks for any info

 

[coveredbridge]

Greetings, redharley, and welcome to TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I assume you are referring to the BX1500.

I think the BX1500 would be fine for mowing your lawn, and would probably handle the snow plowing duties ok. However, I wouldn't recommend it for the brushcutting and field mowing.

The low clearance makes the BX series less than ideal for working in the woods and 5 acres of 1 to 2 ft grass is really going to push the limits of its capabilties, IMHO.

 

[redharley]

Thanks for the input,the brush cutting would mainly be to keep the mutiflower rose in check,the feild mowing is not a big deal,just wandering if anyone is using a bush hog and their input.any problems pushing 10 '' of snow?

 

[cart99]

Based on your description, IMO you should be looking at the next size up B-series Kubotas. My neighbors and I all have 10 acre homes similar to what you have, and we all have B or L-series tractors except for one guy who has a BX size NH. He really wishes he had bought a larger tractor.

 

[Botabill]

I have 30 acres and cut weeds up to 3 plus feet tall with my BX 1800 and 54 inch MMM as I am reclaiming some rough pasture for lawn. Probably not the best for the MMM but I have no trouble doing it and ground clearance hasn't been an issue. I don't mow the whole 30 acres only about two plus acres as well as nature paths throughout. I was thinking about getting a larger tractor because I needed (wanted) to get a backhoe but decided against it as I love the little BX and besides it fits neatly in my garage. Instead I went crazy and bought a KX 41-3V excavator. Now I have Krusty (the BX) and Kreepy (the KX) cozied up together in my garage. You might want a bigger tractor but mine is perfect for me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[midlf]

I have a BX2230. I use it mainly for mowing (MMM) and brush hogging with a BEFCO 48" rotary cutter. It works very well and is well matched to loads. I felt the BX frame size was right for my needs with the B series being a bit too large for mostly mowing. I did not consider any of the smaller BX units as I am a fan of HP. I figured for the price differences there was no need to go short and regret it later. I also have a FEL and box blade. Works good with those implements also. I do push the limits of the brush hog hard and have had no problems with the tractor powering it but I am approaching the limit. I don't think I would be able to say the same if I had the 1500.

 

[Dman]

I just purchased a BX1500 about 2 weeks ago. I got it with the loader, 54" mower deck, mulch kit, box blade, and a tooth bar. So far I've mowed the lawn twice and taken it up to my in laws 15 acres at the country and cut out dirt from some high spots and put it in the low spots to get every thing a little more level (not on the entire 15 acres, just two spots probably 200' X 200'.

For my uses power is not an issue. For just mowing the yard and doing dirt work the little 15hp diesel has plenty of power. I have some spots on my 1/2 acre lot that are about 20 degrees - steep enough that I haven't felt comfortable mowing them sideways. So, I mow them up and down and the 1500 climbs up and down like a mountain goat in low range. As someone else on this forum has said, high range is pretty much useless unless you are going to take off down the road or across the field. But low range is quick enough for just about anything. While using the box blade and FEL at the country the tractor will spin all four tires in low range before it runs out of power (I have the turf tires).

I haven't and don't plan to bushhog with mine but I'm sure with a properly sized bushhog (42" maybe 48" max?) I would think it would do fine. I too would worry a little about ground clearance. Doing dirt work it hasn't been an issue, but running through a grown up field is another story. Also, even though I think the 1500 would have plenty of power for bushhogging, with a 42" bushhog I would think you would be looking at a pretty hefty investment of time cutting 5 acres. But on the other side that means more tractor time! Just my opinions so far of my new toy.

 

[kubby]

I have a BX1500 with 280 hrs on it, with 54" MMM, FEL, box scraper, post hole auger, and 42" rototiller. In the 2 1/2 years I've owned it, I have moved lots of dirt, scraped up and loaded 10 yds of horse manure into my truck twice a year, loaded the same manure into a spreader and towed it around the orchard, rototilled 2 acres of hillside orchard several times a year, mowed 2 acres of thick clover several times a year, and lots more. Oh, and I use a Bear Cat PTO driven chipper to chip up all prunings from 200 fruit trees and lots of oaks.

I am constantly amazed at what this little guy will do, and have ample power for most all jobs. From your description, it sounds like the only time you'd have trouble might be mowing real tall weeds. I do a lot of that, but in wet conditions the MMM doesn't exhaust the cuttings well unless you are going very slow. That can bog the engine down, but it's not so much a power issue as clogging of the mower. Of course you need to have the deck as high as possible and then go again at a lower height.

In general, the tractor runs out of traction before it runs out of power. My suggestion though would be to think ahead about what additional work you might need it for in the future. I have found mine to be so darned handy that I now use it for way more jobs than I first imagined. It does them all without complaint, but I kind of worry that maybe if I had gotten the 2300 it would do all this work at lower throttle settings with less strain on the engine and drive train and therefore last longer. Time will tell. In the meantime I try to be really good about frequent maintenance. I now depend on my BX so much I can't imagine not having it!
-Bill

 

[ericbx1500]

I have to dito dman and kubby. My bx1500 still amazes me every time I'm on the seat. Any job I throw at it handles it with ease. I love it and it was the perfect choice for my duties /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[redharley]

Thanks for the input,you guys sound you do what I want a tractor for.sound's like the BX 1500 could be for me.any input from the snow plowing crowd out there.