BX 2200 Limitations

[Eagle]

I am close to buying a new Kubota and I really, really liked the BX2200. However, I have over 5 acres and all the dealers I talked to were very persuasive in convincing me I needed at least the B series. One thing I didn't seem to care for was the Gas (Diesel) pedal on the BX. For those of you who have the BX2200 what size acreage are you working with? I want to till, push snow and mostly, mow a lot of lawn.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Eagle on 04/08/01 09:20 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Steve_Carver]

This may help a little.
http://www.carverequipment.com/loving_the_bx_2200.htm

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Eagle, I am currently mowing 2 2.5-3 acre parcels with the BX 2200. The tractor seems better suited for mowing than my brother's B2400. The BX is much handier around obstcles, and gives you more stability. I did not think I would like the hydro control, but quickly got used to it. I spend 3 hours yesterday rolling lawn and did not even notice the control. I don't know what your snow removal needs are, but I have handled about 500' of drive in out upstate New York winter with the FEL and have no complaints. I believe you can find tiller talk on some other threads here. Good luck.

 

[Monte]

I have a BX-1800 with over 9 acres. It mows about 4 acres, bush hogs another 2, scrapes snow and tills 'till I have to stop. Even the BX-2200 is overkill for my property - unless maybe I needed/wanted a front end loader (FEL)...

Monte

 

[bpence]

I use a B7100 to work on and around my 10 acres. It mows, bush hogs, and pushes snow. The B7100 has a smaller engine than the BX 2200, but is a little bigger in overall size. It easily mows 5-6 acres of lawn, some flat, some very hilly. The 4 ft. bush hog is no problem. Same with a 5 ft. back blade used to maintain a 300' driveway and push snow around, as long as I use the rear tire chains.

A larger B series might be nice, but probably a little less manuverable and maybe a little more expensive. Would a B7500 work in your situation?

Bob Pence

 

[Steve_Carver]

Good Morning Monte (and other BX owners)

Give us a little more info so the timeline can be better understood.

Let's say its summertime Saturday morning for homesite lawn mowing is the task at hand. Everything's just average.. The grass is not too tall, wet or touogh. Not bagging... just mowing..

60" or 54" cut

How many acres do you estimate could be mowed between 8 am and noon ?

This is the most frequent question I get.
Your advice will be appreciated by many.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mr. Carver,
I hope this helps. I have the 2200 and the 60" mower. I am also gentle on equipment, and therefore don't mow as fast as many others. I mow the 2 acre lawn in around 1.5 hours, and my 2.5 acre lawn in 2 hours (rougher lawn, and more obstacles). I save about 1 hour total when compared to my former tractor, an Ingersoll 448, that also had a 60" mower. I am impressed by the BX, but also realize its limitations. For my personal circumstances, it fills the bill.
Will

 

[Monte]

We have to mow around a steep banked pond and countless trees, so we only get about 3 acres in that amount of time (54 " deck)... I think the BX is faster around trees than a larger tractor due to manuverability... We decided the 60" deck, even, would slow us down based on reduced turning and "get in between" ability, and so stayed with the 54"...

I bush hog (48 inch) over an acre an hour on a hill that scares me, so flat land would be quite a bit more with a 54" mower deck.

I almost replied that this is a silly question due to variations in what constitutes the area being mowed... But that ignores the question. But... it really does "depend"...

How about other people...?

Monte

 

[Steve_Carver]

Thanks Will,

That's pretty impressive production.
Thank for the note.
Everyone knows that every operator-lawn-grass-trees/shrub issues are different is will affect timelines accordingly.

Best wishes .

 

[Steve_Carver]

Thanks Monte,
Best wishes.
You are too kind.
Silly Steve

 

[TresCrows]

I think the BX would be perfect. I mow 6 acres, 4 in alfalfa/broam and two around the house in fescue. Some of my backfield is slightly rough but I am working to smooth it. I just got a 50 inch tiller--new--works wonderful with the BX. I think the BX can mow as fast as the other tractors mentioned with a 60 inch deck and it is more stable on hills and easily cuts around trees and manuvers about obstacles better. I have been told my tractor woulf get stuck due to it's low clearance in ruts--not actually true and in addition to that it can go down inside my rather deep/steep side ditch with the FEL full of rock and then escavate and then carry the soil back out. A larger tractor would not be able to get in there. The BX is probably what you need but if you want look at the 7500 also. For mowing 5 acres--the BX is more than enough. The loader actually works well too but for serious, heavy loader work, if that is to be the main function of your purchase, maybe the 2410. If you can be patient and take smaller bites the BX does the job--actually very well--thankyou. Good luck with your shopping. J

 

[skent]

12 years ago I purchased a Troy-Bilt 3214 Hydro to do mowing, 3.5 Acres, mainly flat, some trees and outbuildings. It has the single pedal hydro and It was absolutely great. No clutch and no shifting. (But no cruse control either) Typical mow times (tractor work) was 5 hours (14HP 2 cyl B&S with 42" cut mower) and typical gas used was just under 6 gallons. Over the years only had small (normal wear) problems with the Troy.

Two years ago, to try to reduce my mow time, I bought a Swisher Trail mower (44" offset cut). It helped in the open areas, but was a real burden around trees. Saved me maybe 1.25 hours a week. No difference in gas used.

Last summer I bought a B7300 w/FEL and 60" mower. (Sold the trailmower) What a difference. I do miss the single pedal hydro thou. . . . . Mowing went to less than 3.5 hours, the cut was 'cleaner' and not as loud. And the amazing thing. . fuel used is LESS THAN 3 gallons per cut. (Half) The air cooled diesels are soooo much more efficient than their air cooled B&S cousins. I believe that if I would have ended up with the BX, I'd be down to under 3 Hours!

IMHO the only limitation with the BX (and this is soon to change) is the Backhoe Options.

 

[GlueGuy]

Eagle,

For the use you describe, the BX sounds like the right machine for you.

We have a B7500, & I think it's a better situation for our requirements. We are on about 40 acres, and mowing is a minor part of our needs. Where we live, the rainy season has just ended, and we are going into a 6 month dry spell. So the grass shoots up for about the next month, then goes dormant. That means that I need to mow about two or three times (total) for the year. That, and although our property is very steep and rough, I still feel the B7500 is a better choice for us.

The BX will do better than the B7500 on hills because of the lower CG. I think the BX will also be gentler on the lawn if that matters to you (we could care less about "lawn", we just want to reduce the fire hazard around the house).

The BX should also be more maneuverable than the B7500, although the specs indicate that the B7500 has a smaller turning radius (probably because of differential braking).

The GlueGuy