Bx1500 or hold out for a bigger unit?

[deathtoblackberries]

The rear 3 point hitch has what looks like an adjustable shackle but only on one side and I seen only one on another bx tractor in dealer pics as well.
Why only 1 shackle?

That's normal, here's my brand new BX2380 only 1 adjustable 3 point link for leveling/angling implements.

 

[deathtoblackberries]

Ignore the faded paint let me tell you this tractor paint is far from an automotive quality paint job. My B2920 lived the good life always garaged and was already fading with just a few hundred hours of outdoor use. The paint on the side where I climbed on/off wore off completely down to the primer just from my pants leg/shoes rubbing on that area. I plan to put some automotive clear bra in that area of my new tractor.

 

[deathtoblackberries]

That's normal, here's my brand new BX2380 only 1 adjustable 3 point link for leveling/angling implements.

Hey Sparky see that hitch below the 3 point on mine with the 4 bolts holding it on, they call it a "drawbar" which is kind of a joke its not a draw bar just a hole for attaching tow behind implements. Yesterday I ordered a 2 inch receiver hitch adapter from Heavy Hitch for mine so I could extend the hitch out a foot or so, the factory hitch is tucked way up inside the rear wheels so I needed to extend it for my tow behind spreader, for tighter turns. Just saying that's something to think about potentially. My old B2920 had a real draw bar that could be adjusted in/out.



I also considered a 3 point hitch, available priced from about $85 to $300. This one has a blade for attaching suitcase weights. The problem I had with these is it actually positioned the spreader too far to the rear so that I wouldn't reach the on/off lever so I went for the cheaper one above.

 

[bspeedy]

Looks pretty weathered, but it has probably been stored outside. Check hydro fluid for milky color. Mower spindle bearings don't like constant rain. Obviously weathering is not ideal, but you're looking at a tractor for small money. If it operates and mechanical condition is good, it's certainly worth 6 grand.

It's your first tractor - doesn't mean it's your last tractor. Beat the guy up for another 500 and bring that sucker home.

 

[2ndhalf]

That is the general rule of the internet forums. If you do not like the resounding truth that you hear.... keep asking until at least one person says what you wish to hear. If that does not work, go to a different forum and ask again. Make multiple posts if you need to... And then move on in the direction you originally planned because now you found that desperately needed validation. It's wrong. Your screwing up. But dang it, you got validation! If a person does not plan to follow the sage advice, why do they bother asking in the first place?

You going to make some of his tractor payments oh sage?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I live on a hillside with some semi level ground. I've owned all of the BXs over the years, even the BX1500. The BX1500 with a MMM was the most stable going across the steep part in front of my home in the BX series but I didn't have a FEL on it. I did have a BX2200 with MMM and FEL and used it for a year tackeling jobs way to big for it but it had heart and would try. Ground clearance being to low on my gullies finally caused me to trade it for a B7800 FEL with rear finish mower. Traded the B7800 after 3 heavy work years to a L3240 FEL and BX1500 MMM for mowing. Best mower in the BX series, bought my SIL one about 3 years ago for mowing. Get my drift? For mowing the BX1500 is grand. The FEL additional weight with such a light weight sub compact utility tractor will be moving into a different world. It will handle a tiller but don't know about snowblowers in Ky.
BP and I have been up and down the BX and B ladder so we do have some experience of actual hands on experience vs doing written research studies and forming opinions from other peoples studies. The bigger BXs aren't actually a lot heavier but some what heavier and in the tractor world weight starts being king or a good thing. I believe I'd hold out for a good used BX22??/BX23?? at about the same or a bit more money if it were me buying for what you say you need/want.
Your right in realizing you'll be able to get most of your money back on a Kubota cared for and not tremendous amount of hours and looks good and maintenance record will bring a premium price.
Not saying the BX1500 won't do the jobs you mentioned but it will be slow and you can get a bit bigger tractor for close to that money that will be a bit more capable and stable and probably easier/quicker to sale if you decide you need more. Check with Barlows, they may have a good one in stock and a delivery scheduled in your area to save shipping and their prices are right.

I understand what you're saying but I've also taken opinions like a grain of salt. Most people that dont even own one or have any experience even trying one are the only ones saying it doesn't have enough power and go bigger. I then I come across other posts by actual owners that maintain up to 10 acres doing anything and everything with it saying they were never let down power wise doing everything they've asked of it. It's not so much looking for only opinions that agree with my goals as opinions of actual owners with real seat time. I honestly don't understand how people can recommend against something they have never even sat on. I am happy for those with bigger machines with money to blow but thankful for posts of cash strapped people like me that don't put wants before needs.
Enough about that.

I talked to owner of the bx1500 last night and got about 15 or so high res pictures of it. It's definitely more beat up and faded than the original low resolution pictures let on. I need to look closer at display and make sure it wasn't replaced by owner prior to current. I still intend looking at it and will do my best to look it over well with a finetoothed comb. If it's not up to snuff I'll pass and look at that other bx at a dealer on way home.
There's an overpriced bx1870 at a dealer 15 miles from me I'm thinking of checking out just for the heck of it to get a better idea on size comparison prior to my trip too.
I'd post pics if I knew how.
One thing I'm curios about tho.
The rear 3 point hitch has what looks like an adjustable shackle but only on one side and I seen only one on another bx tractor in dealer pics as well.
Why only 1 shackle?
I tried searching with no luck. Probably wrong search terms.

Hmmm, This John Thomas guy says he has owned one (Actually has owned over 21 Kubotas) and I know he even bought another one a couple of years ago for his SIL to use to mow his hillside yard. Seems to be a sight misunderstanding. You do what you want and as I said before, your going to. It's your money and your time. All of us with bigger machines don't have money to blow and we, most of us that have bigger machines didn't buy bigger machines didn't buy them to blow money. We have needs as do you and we are paying the price to get a machine that will meet our needs. All of us bigger machine guys don't pay cash, we finance and pay monthly payments. All of us don't have $6000 or $7000 in hand to go buy a machine but we do have good credit and can and will send our monthly payment in to KCC or let them withdraw it from our checking account.

 

[robertm]

OP, you might want to go on you tube and watch Messicks compare the BX to the B, and then the B to the L series. That will prove to you why the BX1500 (I don't think a video is up on a comparison of the BX1500) is the least of the "tractor" builds, but why it may just work for you.
You mention "those who have never sat on one" like the BX1500 is rocket science. The larger the tractor, the higher the HP, the more weight, the faster things get done. But that might not work for you. Only you know what YOU want it for, and as long as YOU are happy with the smallest of the BX line to do the chores you have ahead of you on YOUR budget, don't accept anyone else's opinions or opinions based upon facts. Many of us on here have experience on BX's, and other tractors, as well. It sounds like you are looking for approval to buy the BX1500 when you already have your mind made up. If you like it, it's your money. What's the worst that can happen? It's not what the seller says it is? It blows up? It turns out to be a lawnmower with a glorified wheelbarrow? OR, it suits your needs and budget just fine. Live and learn. We all do. Some of us 5 times, others 21. Right John Thomas?

 

[Sparkynutz]

Thanks for the input johnthomas. However, if you have searched as much as I have you would have come across more positive reviews by real owners than negative ones in regards to bx1500 capability. I will do my best to guage if it will fit my needs when I test drive it and won't buy it if it's obvious that it won't. I've seen a few posts of actual owners pleasantly surprised when their bx1500 completed tasks no sweat they thought would fail miserably. I hope I'm surprised at its power but also won't be dissapointed one bit if I'm not. I understand you feel a larger unit would be more capable and most likely correct. I do want one sooner than later and good deals seem to go very fast in my neck of the woods. The more seat time I can get now before spring the better so that I can use whatever I buy to best of its abilities when I do tackle the larger jobs.
If a smoking deal comes along on a better bigger unit I have the means to buy it then sell the bx1500 as long as I can recoup 90% of my purchase price before June when I need some cash freed up for other things. Once spring comes I bet I could make money on it if I chose to sell it.
I am a minority when it comes to living within my means. I have excellent credit and could easily afford a $50k tractor if that's what I wanted but also have priorities. I have worked 17+ years at the same job making good money supporting a family of four on my single income. I had my first house paid off in 8 years when my goal was 7 and have always been able to afford nicer new things because I'm not paying payments on every want that I think I need. I save up and buy what I can afford. If I die tomorrow and the income stops my wife can sell everything she doesn't use or need with no hassle from debt collectors or banks. I agree it's totally my choice to live this way but I disagree that taking a loan out for a tractor is more likely a want than a need unless you are a farmer using it to make your living. I could easily rent as big of unit as I want for as long as it takes to do all my projects planned and stay under my budget but then I'd be in the same boat of using a machine that someone else owns. What pride is there in that? Then I might as well pay someone to do the projects quicker with less hassle than doing them myself. I do however take pride in my work and always feel good knowing things were done the way I wanted not having to fix them or pay someone else to.
If you owned 20+ tractors could I also look at it from the perspective that you've made more buying mistakes than most othere reviewers? You surely can't use 20 at once and most likely bought or sold them for reasons other than they wouldn't do the jobs you thought they could. I agree with many here saying buy the right tractor and buy it once but having absolutely no seat time on a tractor in my life besides lawn mowers have no idea what I want or need until I get there.
My grandpa has had 2 tractors he used almost daily throughout my life. First an old 70's yellow one. I have no idea what it was then in 2004 he bought a big clumsy 50 horse kubota that he's damaged the cab more times than I can count driving into things because it's just too big for his needs. He has never once let me sit on one or ride along until last week when I visited him and told him I was going to buy one. He has more need for one than I do using it to maintain 40 acres and farm.
About 4 or so years ago after another mishap running into something he mentioned getting a second smaller tractor. Since then I've tried and tried to get him to go in with me and buy a nice one with all the bells and whistles that he could keep and use as long as I could when needed. After more years of trying to talk him into a bx23-bx26 he says he wouldn't get anything smaller than the 30 some odd horse kubota he was looking at. He can't haul his big clumsy 50 horse kubota now and complains at the cost every time he has to pay the dealer to haul it back to their shop to fix what he wrecked. I don't see how a barely smaller tractor would be any different and definitely too big for me to want to haul back and forth between his house and mine if it even fits on his 6k lb rated 7x14 double axle trailer which I doubt it would. I have since moved to a new house with projects and room to store and use my own tractor. I'd bet money on my grandpa buying bx26 or smaller after I buy one. At that time I hope to be mostly done with my projects where the bx1500 would be better suited anyways. I need to regrade around a large shed previous owner built 5' from the front and rear lot lines. The smaller the better so I rip up and have to fix less of my two neighbors lawns. The other thing I mentioned before is hauling many buckets of fill down a 15 degree slope with no room for error between the front corner of my garage and rear corner of my house. I could use my uncles skid loader for 90% of this work but sooner or later I have a feeling I'd hit the house or garage and have to fix something. The skid loader also most likely can out preform a bx26 on anything I'd want a bigger tractor for anyways. So for now with my budget, goals and other tools available in mind a loan on a bigger newer tractor without a doubt the dumbest, worst option available.... Unless you want to bring yours here for me to use and you can pay the payments?
If my grandpa gets another smaller tractor some day depending on size I'm going to try talking him into letting me buy a backhoe for it if I can use it. At that time I can sell or keep whatever unit I buy this spring to tide me over until then. A backhoe is still just a want tho and I might have other priorities by then. In that case I won't be stuck in a 5 year loan on a tractor I no longer need or lose my *** trying to sell.

 

[deathtoblackberries]

$6,500 - BX1800 with FEL, MMM, back blade, and 3 point hitch listed 2 days ago 21 Kubota BX 18 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[Sparkynutz]

$6,500 - BX1800 with FEL, MMM, back blade, and 3 point hitch listed 2 days ago 21 Kubota BX 18 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

That's a good deal depending on hours! Too bad it's just a little too far for me.