BX15 vs BX18/23

[montelatici]

"I was just wondering if anyone with 3 cyl Kubota ever runs into engine bogging while mowing slopes in high range."

Yes, with a BX-24 it will bog in high range in high grass and 60 inch mower. Of course maybe it would not have if it did not have the FEB and B/H mounted.

 

[JJPP]

Simply, yes my bx 1850 will bog on steep inclines in high or low while mowing it all depends on the grass and moisture level.
I hope that answers your question.

 

[Tom_H]

First off, I appreciate everyone's concerns about going too fast up & down hills.

First off, I'm not an idiot,

Hmmm, is that first off or second off?? (Just Kidding) As far as the word idiot, nobody here has done any name calling. Most people on this board have a lot of good advice and I don't see any attempts to imply that you are unknowledgable. People are enthusiastic about their tractors and most of what they share is out of the goodness of their hearts.

I was just wondering if anyone with 3 cyl Kubota ever runs into engine bogging while mowing slopes in high range.

I used to teach Physics. There are just too many other variables to reduce this question to three cylinders, uphill slopes, and high range. On the first cut of the season, after the tall fescue has finally dried, but is 18-20 inches tall, the MMM on my BX2200 can bog down in low range while going downhill. You have said you keep the blades sharp, so that variable is addressed. The other factors though are: steepness of the hill in degrees, species of grass, height of the grass, internal moisture content of the grass, degree of wetness/dryness of the grass on the outside (in relation to clogging the deck and chute), type of tires you are running, whether you are in 2WD or 4WD, degree to which these tires are getting traction on this particular grass at whatever degree of wetness it is, height you have the MMM set to cut at. There are just too many variables for any of us to know what a 3 cyl. BX will do on your slope, cutting your grass.

Again, my 3 cyl. BX 60" MMM will bog even in low range going downhill when the other variables are offering great resistance, so certainly it would completely stall going uphill in the same grass in high range. On the other hand, if the grass only needed an inch taken off, and it were very dry and I were on a 4 degree incline, I have no doubt that I could race uphill in high range and have no problem. I have brush hogged in high range at full speed in medium density field grass that is dry, but the rotary rough cutter is an entirely other beast than the MMM.

I really do wish any of us could give you a definitive answer on this, but we just don't know all those other factors. Maybe you could fill in some of those unknowns for us. You have said the Husqvarna had no problem, but the BX1500 bogs in high range on this slope. Given all those other unknowns, I think the only way to know for sure is to have someone bring a 3 cylinder model over and actually try it and see. I had serious doubts that a BX with backhoe could dig in my duripan. I debated for 5 years about spending $5.6k for a backhoe. I asked a TBN member who is a neighbor, BX23Barry, if he would bring his BX23 over for a test dig. He brought it over, the bh dug in the duripan, and I bought a Woods backhoe for the BX2200. It arrives Wed., and I feel like a kid on Dec. 24. (Thanks Barry Claus. The CFO at my house would not have authorized the funds had it not been for you!!!)

I do hope this helps at least a little. If it doesn't, I really am sorry and I do wish you all the best in this agonizing decision. I have been in your shoes and it is scary thinking about spending big bucks when you aren't sure if the machine will deliver. Good Luck !!!

 

[KeithInSpace]

Concur on the humor. They get scrambled around that way sometimes.

Regarding your question:

I mow exclusively in high range. I bag (PTO shaft driven) and have the 60" deck, so there is about as much load there as possible. I also have very significant slopes.

Bear in mind that this is my manicured lawn, not pasture grass. I only whack an inch or 1.5 inches at a time and not when it is wet (clogs bagger and isn't healthy for grass).

I can do whatever I want, whenever I want and I have never bogged the engine. I mow at nearly WOT (lever at even 3:00 from steering wheel on this generation). I have shifted into low for some "delicate" maneuvers, but it has been for control, not for lack of power.

For giggles, I went on one of my steeper spots and, with the bagger full, the mower and bagger on, and in high range, punched the treadle forward to see if I could get some response from the engine. In that extreme and intentional case, it did drag down a big, puff a little smoke, and didn't miss a beat.

In the situation you describe, a BX1500 with a 54" deck on a slope in high range...I can see that being a bit of chore for that smaller machine.

I hope this infomration is helpful to you or otherwise helps with at least part of your question.

 

[LBrown59]

Like I said I just run mine in low range but gave High a Try while
working the BX23 and BX1500 today.
The BX 23 would not even move on a hill in high.
Mowing on a slope in high with the BX1500 I noticed I had to let way off on the petal to get enough power to move the tractor and mow.
In high the travel speed was as slow or slower than the travel speed in low so I don't see where you gain any time by mowing in high.

 

[Jammer]

Mowing on a slope in high with the BX1500 I noticed I had to let way off on the petal to get enough power to move the tractor and mow.
.

LOOKS LIKE YOURE HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE WITH LACK OF POWER WITH THAT LITTLE BX1500.

 

[Harry c]

I have a BX24 with 54" mmm. I mow in high ALWAYS. I mow considerably faster than I can go in low. No problems with hills. Besides my lawn, I occasionally mow about an acre when it gets about 8 inches tall. I still use high. Takes about 25 minutes. Would be quicker if the ground were smoother.
I remove the FEL and BH to mow.

I can't seem to get my grass to grow thick enough to bog the engine.

 

[KeithInSpace]

The BX 23 would not even move on a hill in high.

Concede that with BH mounted and FEL loaded, it is easier to step off a slope in low range. But that isn't what we're talking about here.

In high the travel speed was as slow or slower than the travel speed in low so I don't see where you gain any time by mowing in high.

If that is true for ANY of your machines, I have no explaination. I can 100% assure you it is not true for mine.

I'm curious as to just how daft you think we are? If mowing in high was stressing the hydraulic system SO MUCH that it couldn't physically move any faster than in low, do you really think we'd mow 1, 2, and 3 acre lawns in that condition? C'mon. Give us some credit, here, please.

 

[Volfandt]

LOL.....
It can be argued that a BX22/BX23/BX24 will have a hard time climbing a steep grade in high range when it has implements attached to it that in effect almost doubles it's weight, i.e. BH, FEL & 60" MMM weighing in at approx 1050 - 1300 lbs.
So the most logical thing that one can do to increase it's performance and allow it to mow steep inclines in high gear is to rid the tractor of it's unnecessary weight, i.e. like remove the FEL & BH which are not needed to finish mow (Not to mention how they cut down on the manuverability of said tractor), but, the train of thought of a particular poster that claims that he cannot climb a steep hill while mowing in high w/his BX23 is not to lessen the unnecessary weight of his BX23, no sir, but to purchase two more BX's to mow it.
Tis hard to debate against logic such as that
Good luck boys & girls

 

[LBrown59]

On another note, would stepping down to the 48" deck enable your 1500 to handle the mowing chores in high range? You're losing some cutting width but potentially picking up mowing speed.

People with 54'' decks on a BX1500 report plenty of power to handle it.
Kinda makes me wish I had the 54'' one on my BX1500.
I'd let my 48'' one go for $850.