Bx1860 vx B2320 - Contrast/Compare

[TripleR]

Since your "If I was rich and really, really old, I'd have both.:laughing:" Now go get the B.:laughing::laughing:

Actually that is when we bough the Grand L, then the M8540, so now I am not rich just very old. Good thing is if necessary, I can sleep in the cab if I have to :laughing:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Actually that is when we bough the Grand L, then the M8540, so now I am not rich just very old. Good thing is if necessary, I can sleep in the cab if I have to :laughing:

:laughing::laughing:I've found you don't have to be RICH to own more than one tractor. You just have to have good credit. Not saying your not rich but I'm not, but I do have good credit. Actually I'm seeing my last 2 payments (Nov and Dec) to Kubota for my F2680.
I've found that time will pass whether you enjoy life or not, the time still passes, might as well enjoy it while it is passing. Seeing the F2680 ever being paid off seemed far, far away when I bought it. Now just two more payments.

 

[Chilly807]

I've found that time will pass whether you enjoy life or not, the time still passes, might as well enjoy it while it is passing.

Truer words never were said..:thumbsup:

Sean

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

bp started this thread when he traded his BX to a B. Still great and relevant information and is the B still working for you? Haven't seen you on TBN lately. LBrown also seems to have disappeared.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I recently sold my BX1860 and purchased a new B2320. Encouraged by some of the guys, I am going to "log", over some time, my sense of the differences, similarities and how these two machines compare and contrast, doing the chores, I do. This is important. The chores will be my chores, YMMV. But since I will use the same implements, 5' back blade, middle buster, 48" RFM, field cultivator, etc. all on the same property, the comparison will be honest as I can make it.

My hope is to make it interesting reading, if you like tractors and Kubotas in particular. It might be helpful information for those considering either a 20 series B or a BX, or someone considering moving from one to the other.

Since the B2320 just arrived today, I have only an hour of putzing around time, but some things are instantly noticeable. I'll focus on those.

- The sound of the engine is deeper, it must be the exhaust and muffler. Very pleasing. The RPMs are just lower and everything seems quieter.

- The HST doesn't have the whine of the BX. I won't miss that. Nice!

- 3 ranges. Tried them all. I think "Mid" will become a new friend.:thumbsup:

- Getting up into the B is a higher step up, and there isn't much to grab unto to assist. The fender handle is not good. The fender "tin cans". It was a rock on the BX. Getting down is not as easy either, without a decent handle.

- The dash. There's no comparison. The big, beautiful, white faced analog dials are a joy to the eyes. Won't miss the dark, digital read-outs of the BX.

- Lever controls are bigger, nicer and easier to use. The BX controls always required just a bit of zen to operate.

- HST pedal is not as smooth as the BX was. Perhaps I'll check it for grease or tension. The stop is much more abrupt, especially in reverse, but I am learning to ease it to a stop.

- FEL operation seems lightening fast. Whoa! I'll have to adjust. That larger pump is immediately noticeable. The joystick at my hip is new and I like it, like, like it. A much more intuitive and relaxed operating position.

- The height. From the seat, yup, much higher. Gonna have to duck under some things I probably passed under in the past. But, I didn't have any sense of being uncomfortable. It actually feels just fine.

- Familiarity. While the differences are noticeable, the familiarity is all there. This is an intangible, but it is pure Kubota and it all seems as it should. The steering seemed virtually identical. Nothing seemed odd or awkward. It's like my BX just morphed.

Tomorrow I shall plow my garden and perhaps mow with RFM. I'll post my reflections.

Looking forward to reading your reviews/evaluations/comparisons.

This is a timeless review that still provides some great info. I just spent a bunch of time trying to find this to bring it back to life. Wow! 3 years have already passed, part of why it took so long to find, seems like less time ago.:thumbsup:

 

[bp fick]

Hey, everybody.

The B has been an awesome tractor that has never missed a single beat along the way.

I said a long time ago that when the day came I didn't need the B's size, I'd go back to a BX in a heartbeat. They're both terrific machines. It may not quite be time yet, but Father Time marches relentlessly on. The bones ache and the joints are getting about all worn out. May down size the physical space of the vegetable operation next summer. We'll see. Business has boomed and increased each year, but the physical work gets harder and harder, that's all I'll say about that.

So, who knows. Been so long since I wrote this article that I'm coming up on another round of service in spring. I'll still crawl around and do it myself. There really nothing to it and I still enjoy it. I'd still rather do it myself. It's simply impractical to consider hauling a tractor some 50 miles to a dealer. Besides which, the satisfaction of a job well done and knowing it was done right? Priceless.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Great post for winter reading for that spring purchase but why wait, get use out of it now.
Glad your back.:thumbsup:

 

[bp fick]

Wasting time on TractorHouse, I saw a "local" dealer was selling a BX1860 with FEL and MMM for $10K. Used around the dealership, as a demo or some such. Has 37 hours on it. Kinda made me hot and flushed; my wife felt my forehead and thought maybe I was fixing to come down with JT disease.

As long as that old Craftsman rider keep cutting the grass and only the B2320 is big enough to handle my disk gang (gosh it is heavy) there'll be no swapping. But the day will come when the disk gets sold and the Craftsman gives up the ghost.

Good to "see" you too, John.

 

[Bota4me]

Wasting time on TractorHouse, I saw a "local" dealer was selling a BX1860 with FEL and MMM for $10K. Used around the dealership, as a demo or some such. Has 37 hours on it. Kinda made me hot and flushed; my wife felt my forehead and thought maybe I was fixing to come down with JT disease. As long as that old Craftsman rider keep cutting the grass and only the B2320 is big enough to handle my disk gang (gosh it is heavy) there'll be no swapping. But the day will come when the disk gets sold and the Craftsman gives up the ghost. Good to "see" you too, John.

I know i LOVE mowing w my bx25! Power steering, diesel power & sips fuel. Are you SURE your craftsman will make another year?)

 

[bp fick]

The Slow Process Of Reversing One's Course


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It was almost 5 years ago that I first got the BX. As life went on here, the tasks I actually found myself doing, in the gardens, required me to consider selling the BX and moving to the B2320. Never regretted the move, for those required tasks, but always remembered the BX's nimbleness as a positive virtue, thus, I said right here 3 years ago that if times were to change, I'd not hesitate going back to a BX.

As time marches on and the body wears down, that time may be approaching. We may very well adapt the vegetable business to more of a high tunnel type production. We're studying it out. I've about cleared all the dead down and standing oak and cherry off our wood lot, so from now one, I'll be splitting truck loads of "pulp cords" with my neighbor. I'll get a photo up soon. Dang wood log pile is 8 ft wide, 10 ft tall and 60 ft long. LOL.

The B has served us very well the past 3 years. But, this may be the year to make some adjustments looking into the near future, a future in which we don't get any younger. My mind works with an imaginary balance sheet where on one side are the plusses of the B and on the other side are the plusses of the BX. Then you work the negatives too.

As TripleR always says, bigger isn't better, sometimes it's just bigger. Conversely it might be said that smaller isn't worse, it's just smaller but sometimes, smaller IS better. Less room in the shed, easier to mount when you have no knees left. Things like that. My wife and I are talking and thinking. Just sort of letting the Lord lead us in ways we've always sorta recognized as His way with us.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and here's to a healthy, productive, meaningful New Year.

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