Comparison Bx or B? That is the question...

[Garybake]

I picked up my BX24 in 2006 and was really pleased with it changing all the landscaping on our 1 acre township lot. In 2007 we bought 20 acres in northern MI that is loaded with mature cherry trees. Now I loved the BX cutting ability and versatility but it is overworked up north lumberjacking and clearing. I am really happy with the ability to tow it around easily in the Wells Cargo trailer that I store it in now though.:thumbsup:

 

[fredhargis]

I'll just offer my experience, which isn't nearly as much as the others have. I'm in NW Ohio and mow about the same, clear about 5-600' of drive (not Lake Erie, but sometimes Lake Michigan) and do odd jobs on 10 acres or so. I went with a B2920 (only tractor I've ever owned); same as the 2620 except a little more HP. If you are critical of your mowing, this tractor may not be for you. I use a 60" MMM, and often have stripes left in the grass where the front tires press the grass down, it doesn't spring back up quickly enough to be mowed to the same height as the rest of it. The weight (though these tractors aren't all that heavy) can leave tire tread impressions (R4's on mine, less a problem with turfs) in the soil if it's just a little soft. And turning (again with R4's) can be rough on the lawn unless you're gentle. So I gauge this tractor a little large for mowing, even though I'm not one to be real particular about the stuff I mentioned. Then for snow plowing, it's the reverse...the tractor can be on the small side, especially when I'm dealing with the 4' or so drifts I get every once in a while. But I put a snowblower on the back, and keep the FEL on the front just for that....all in all, it's a nice combo. I think my point is, you will be happy with either, and you will be unhappy (in same cases) with either. So, you can't lose, or you can't win...but consider the cup 1/2 full (you can't lose). I do think bp's assessment is spot on, the 2320 may be the best balance. However, like me, you may find that it is too much or too little at times.

 

[lawn_king]

Buyt the B series. I purchased too small twice before i got it right with my L!

 

[cfdwarrior]

All the input has been great, as well as eye opening! Things I like about the 2320 are the height and tire size as well as the class I 3 point hitch as opposed to the BX2360 (even though I thought the BX 2360 had the same). I will be using this as my primary cutting mower and I do like a nice cut, so the input that the 2320 doesn't cut grass all that well concerns me. Like I said, I will be using this as my primary mower, so maybe a B2320 with turfs would work fine...anyone have that setup?
I get back from Austria on Thursday, I may have a buyer for my zturn mower, so the decision is nearing!

Again...thank you all so far for the info!

 

[samofsweden]

Buyt the B series. I purchased too small twice before i got it right with my L!

:thumbsup: Go for the B series. I purchased too small ones now Im waiting for my M7040HD with FEL

 

[skspurling]

All the input has been great, as well as eye opening! Things I like about the 2320 are the height and tire size as well as the class I 3 point hitch as opposed to the BX2360 (even though I thought the BX 2360 had the same). I will be using this as my primary cutting mower and I do like a nice cut, so the input that the 2320 doesn't cut grass all that well concerns me. Like I said, I will be using this as my primary mower, so maybe a B2320 with turfs would work fine...anyone have that setup?
I get back from Austria on Thursday, I may have a buyer for my zturn mower, so the decision is nearing!

Again...thank you all so far for the info!

Not sure about the MMM. I hear that some people are very pleased with the B2x20 MMM setup, because it is the floating type. If you get strips from your tires crushing the grass, you need a high lift blade. I used to think there were mower blades and mulching blades, but that's not the case at all. I have a rear finish mower, and it cuts every bit as good or better than my lawn tractor. Again, I like the rear mower because it's not a specific model that is only good for one type of tractor. It was cheaper, and I can sell it or buy another if I need to do something different. I also think it is easier on and off.

Another interesting part is that it has medium lift blades. There are apparently four kinds of mower blades, Low, medium, and high lift and mulching. The lift is to pick up grass that is laid down from being too tall or being crushed by your tires. The reason you don't want lift is if you have sandy or gritty soil. The higher lift will pick that up and wear your deck and blades out faster.

As far as tearing up the soil, you shouldn't mow when it is that wet anyway. I have, and it can be hard on your lawn. This ain't no lawn tractor. You have to use it different, and then it will work just fine. Make larger sweeping turns. I have a Cub Cadet zero turn tractor, and it can tear the yard up worse than the B2620 if I don't use it right either. I let the yard dry up, don't run 4WD, and make wider sweeping turns. The yard looks like a golf course when am done. I love it, I just can't mow close to trees because of the ROPS and because I keep knicking the bark when I get distracted. I have R4's. They work great. Waiting to see if I need to grove them for working in the snow.

 

[CHDinCT]

The B and BX 3PH's are both Cat 1 just to clear that up. Good luck with your decision.

 

[magicheater]

The B and BX 3PH's are both Cat 1 just to clear that up. Good luck with your decision.

Good point. They do however have different loaders. More lift on the B series.
That can be invaluable as well as the ground clearance mentioned in earlier posts. Personally I would go with the lift capacity of the loader as the tipping factor in my decision. That's just me though...

 

[art]

Unless you have a back forty desire the fan on a BX will not be an issue. I'd be looking at the BX and pick an additional tool for the tractor to make your life easier.

The attachments for the bx should be less then the B-series!

 

[Cruisin]

Good point. They do however have different loaders. More lift on the B series.
That can be invaluable as well as the ground clearance mentioned in earlier posts. Personally I would go with the lift capacity of the loader as the tipping factor in my decision. That's just me though...

I'm missing something here... The Kubota spec sheet lists the lift capacity of the LA304 from the B2320 at only 27 lbs more than the BX's LA243. Hard to see that that's very significant. Certainly less important to me than the stability of the lower tractor and the more nimble mowing capabilities. The B2620/2920 come with a larger loader with more lift capacity and more $$$$.