BX1500 Issues/Reliability?

[BX1]

I've been researching the BX series for a month or so now trying to decide what to get. For about the price of a GT it appears I could get a nice BX1500. I wonder about the reliability of the little 2 cyl. According to the Kubota web site it appears to have the same capabilities of the 1830/2230 just in a bit smaller package. All the rating were the same across the board. I'm guessing it just has to work a bit harder at it is all. Any thing I might be concerned about?? Thanks for your input.

Steve

 

[kevinj]

I have had mine over 2 years and about 200 hours. No problems yet other than the dreaded air filter bracket and defective fuel tank.

 

[JimCald]

I have had my BX1500 for about a year / 120hrs. Only problem was a leaky fuel line caused by the hydro cooling fan rubbing on it. Only limitation I noted is in the FEL strength.

Jim

 

[Robert_Parent]

I have owned my BX1500, FEL, and MMM for almost a year and think its great. Thus far no major problems and only one minor one, a bad faston connection on the temperture sensor. I would most certainly buy the same again today.

The FEL has been a life-saver for me from moving heavy woodworking equipment to retaining wall blocks. The two cylinder engine is not as smooth as a three in my view, but it works just fine and has more than enough HP for my application.

 

[BX1]

Thanks for the replys ya'll. Is the engine vibration worse than a two cylinder gas engine? Anymore owners out there??

 

[WIPPdriver]

BX1

As far as the vibration, the trick is to keep the throttle a bit above idle. I have had mine for almost 2 years and have 170 hrs and have dogged it hard. Amazing little piece of equipment. I have moved approx. 50 tons of dirt, moved pieces of trees, pulled my wifes 3/4 Suburban diesel from the house to the barn up a 3% grade and then pushed it in to the barn. A great tractor for the money.

 

[Tom_H]

The BX1500 is the smallest tractor I know of on which you can put a sub-frame mounted backhoe. This thread is about a Woods BH6000 backhoe on a BX1500.

 

[Robert_Parent]

The vibration is not all that bad especially if you increase it slightly as mentioned. At working speeds its a total non-issue. I just mentioned it as something I noticed being you were looking for all comments and it was something I noted when trying the BX1500 and its larger brothers.

 

[OlyRick]

We've had our bx1500 for about a year and a half and it has been great. I sure don't know what we would have done without it. As far as reliability, the only problem we have had is the broken air filter bracket. Dealer was great about sending a replacement along with a factory bulletin describing the mod to prevent it from breaking again. We don't have a MMM only a FEL, subsoiler and a carry all. This little tractor's main purpose is to lift dirt and chips from a pile into a wheel barrow. Sure have moved a bunch of chips this way.

It's a great little tractor and it's size is very misleading as far as it's capabilities.

 

[rfogle]

I bought my bx1500 in May of 2004. It now has 163 hours on it. Here's the list of issues I've had with it: 1. broken air cleaner strap, warranty repair but avoidable - keep the rpm up!!; 2. turn signal switch failed, warranty repair; 3. broken turn/hazard lamp - maple tree 1, tractor 0. This little machine is an engineering marvel. Once you're used to the quirks, as is true of any machine, it becomes very comfortable to use.