BX 1500 Questions

crabhab · Sep 4, 2013

I purchased a used 2003 Kubota BX 1500 earlier this year with 440 hrs, FEL, 54"MMM, PTO driven bagger. I have put an additional 40 hours on the machine. I traded in a 1991 Case 1130 2wd compact tractor. I needed Hydro, 4wd, and FEL in a more compact package. I like the kubot it is powerful for it's size but, I am using it for more than what it was designed for. I have added a skid plate to the bottom of the tractor to protect the fan and filters.

The left hand engine counterweight bracket broke this past weekend. I have lost turn signal lenses and popped a stick through the hydro filter.
I should have gotten a larger machine but, this is what I could afford with my trade.

I have had to cut down my 48" bush hog mount twice to get it to work with the BX 1500 tiny little lift arms.

1. How much lift height are people getting out of the rear lift arms. At a standard cat 1 width implement I am only getting about 19" of lift at the eyes

2. My three point lower and lock knob turns but doesn't do anything, has anyone pulled this apart to work on it? I am thinking o rings.

3. When I hit the relief limit on my FEL or start out in HI range with a load in a trailer sometimes the 3 point hitch releases and goes down.

Overall a nice machine but, I wish I could have gone with the larger B series.

AceDeuce · Sep 8, 2013

If you are talking about the engine counterweight bracket, I has the same thing happen to me ... Twice. Welded it back together the first time then it broke again. I believe the failure is fatigue from engine shaking at idle. Now I never bring it all the way down. Instead, I keep it a tick above idle---the problem hasn't reoccurred. I also replace my 3ph lift arms with B series series telescoping hardware. Much better set up. The bx1500 is a solid machine.... Mechanic at the dealer says they sold them out and they never come back. The only issue is it makes you think it is more capable than it actually is.

crabhab · Sep 9, 2013

AceDeuce, do you have any part #'s for your lift arms? I want to fit longer arms to my BX1500. I was thinking about the newer BX series tractor they have much higher lift for the three point hitch. I like my machine I wish I had money for two tractors I find like chainsaws, you need more than one.

I just new left hand engine counter weight bracket it was only 22 bucks from my dealership. I am going to have the old one welded to be used as a spare. I also got the upgraded air filter mount.

AceDeuce · Sep 9, 2013

I should clarify.... I made two separate modifications to my 3PH. First, I replaced the fixed length lift ROD with an adjustable one like the other side. That allowed me to raise the overall height of the lift ARMs to better match implement height. Kubota fixed this issue on later models by raising the point on the frame where the lift arms attach. The second modification was to replace the turnbuckle style stabilizers with telescoping stabilizers found on the premium class B-series. The parts required slight modifications to work properly (not a direct fit) but they've worked for me for years now and are much faster than turnbuckles (I switch implements frequently). I'll have to get back to you with the P/N's but I got them off this site so you might be able to find them faster than me by doing a search. I did not make any changes to the lift ARMs. If you are having trouble spreading the arms wide enough to match your implements there are a couple [cheaper] things you can do. First, flip the cat.1 pins on the implement so they face inward instead of outward. Second, add a short length of chain between the shackle and stabilizer on both sides. That will allow you to spread them further apart.

crabhab · Sep 9, 2013

I don't need more width, I am familiar with flipping the pins. I need more lift height. They were not thinking when they pinned the arms so low!

crabhab · Sep 9, 2013

Did you order a second adjustable lift arm? My Kubota parts guy is black and white no thinking outside the box. If it is not I the IPL they can't help think outside the box.

AceDeuce · Sep 14, 2013

K2561-38220 ASSY ROD LIFT RH

Order one of these and install it in place of the LH lift rod. Then you can adjust both of them up and achieve about the same height as the new BX's where the arms are pinned higher. Agree... not sure what Kubota was thinking with the early models. Glad they fixed it on the later ones though.