BX22 Experience

[SethO]

I am inviting owners of the BX22 to post their experiences with the machine in terms of what projects they have accomplished, what implements they have been able to use, and what problems they have encountered and how those problems were solved.

Thanks in advance.

Seth

 

[nitronut1]

I bought mine 2 months ago. I've cleared about an acre of woods with it, most of which was downed oaks that had to be cut up and hauled off with the FEL (heavy). I've moved/spread 12 yards of mulch and 20 yards of topsoil. I've dug out small to medium sized stumps and countless large rocks throughout the yard. I also have the 60 MMM. No problems whatsoever with the machine. Would I buy this size/model again? ABSOLUTELY.

 

[KWentling]

Seth: I have 42 hours on my BX22 so far. About 30% of that has been on the hoe. I have dug 160' of 2 to 3 foot deep footings for my new shop and have buried 100' of drain tile for the floor drain. Due to our drouth, this clay ground is extremely hard. It's been tough going, but after doing some hand digging and cleaning up the bottom of the footings, it's kind of amazing that such a small rig can do this well. I used the FEL to remove the spoils and site clean up. I have done a little tilling with a 42" Land Pride and it has plenty of power for that. I've mowed about 3 acres of grass/weeds/sagebrush (the sagebrush had been bushhogged a few years back) with the 60" MMM. It did a fine job. The only problems I've had are a loud noise at 3 hours that sounded like someone sticking a srewdriver in a metal fan blade. LOUD. By the time I got the hood open it had subsided. I was on bare ground using the FEL to fill a retaining wall when it did it. It remains a mystery to what had caused it. The dealer mechanic looked it over and we couldn't come up with what it could have been. No noises since. The other problem is I'm getting air in the bucket cylinder on the FEL. It eventually gets worked out, but after sitting a few days, its back. I haven't talked to the dealer about it. I may try cracking the line and manually forcing the air out. It will have about 4 to 6 inches of free travel after sitting. When you dump the bucket, it will just fall when it gets about 2/3rds of its travel. One modification I've made was to weld a couple of angle iron cleates to the Backhoe stabilizer pads so they get a good bite. That helped the stability when digging a bunch. Before, the hoe would drag the tractor around. Teeth on the bucket would help also.
Thats my experiences so far. It's an awsome little tractor and a blast to operate. I'm pleased so far.

 

[jphipps]

KWentling,

It funny you mentioned the tapping noise. I was using my BX2200 FEL to move some implements around to clean out my garage, and when I was done and went to park it, it started making a taping noise on the left side of the engine. I turned it off for about 10 minutes, and restarted it, and the sound when away. I have put about 6 hours on it since, and I have not had the sound since. I thought it might be a stuck valve/lifter or something...

 

[dcollie]

KW,

Can you post a photo of the welded mod to the backhoe stabilizers? I find my BX22 gets dragged around a bit by the BH as well...would like to mod it.

I'm completely satisfied with my BX22 from a price/performance/size standpoint. I've hauled 12 tons of river rock with it, dug about 100' of ditch with the BH, and mow extensively with it.

Great unit. No problem whatsoever at 50 hours.

-Duane C.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I'm also interested in the cleats you put on the backhoe "feet"...will be taking delivery of a BX-22 next week, hopefully, as a trade up from my BX-2200.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

 

[John4652]

Just got my BX 22 late on Thursday and Friday I dug out the stump of a 3 ft wide tree. Hope to remove some more stumps today. Have been impressed with performance. My first tractor.

 

[whaler54]

Hi Everybody,

This is my first post after lurking for several months.

My new BX22 was delivered on Friday. It had 2 hours on it. Is that considered normal for new?

Everything seemed to be in order, so I accepted the tractor.

The next day, I spent a couple of hours trying to dig out a 14 inch diameter stump. Didn't get the stump out yet, but I am going to keep after it. I have a couple of questions about the tractor set up when removing stumps:

What is the FEL supposed to be doing while I dig - resting on the ground or dug in holding the front wheels off the ground?

I removed the teeth from the backhoe bucket thinking that I could gnaw at the roots better with the edge of the bucket. Is it better to leave the teeth on?

Now for the revolting development !!!

I was trying to go up a slope (about 2-3 foot rise in 10 feet) and the tractor just stopped. I increased the engine RPM, made sure nothing was dragging and pressed the pedal further down - won't go. I back up and try again - stops halfway up. The tractor was in 2 wheel drive. I had to get a running start to get up the slope. I would go up and down this same slope all day long on my Toro RLM.

I assume this is not normal, but I thought I would post before I called the dealer. Anyone had a problem like this?

Thanks for reading.
Paul

 

[ChrisNJ]

I was able to rent one, before a purchase decision was made. I live in North eastern NJ where rock and hard trees rule. The BX did nothing I expected of it well. I expected full buckets, but had a very hard time filling it and then a scarier time driving with it. The hoe did little other than move around medium size rocks. I gave up on 4"-6" stumps. I am not a tractor newbie either. Have used real backhoes, etc... I'm sure it's a great all around homeowner/estate unit, not for my little farm of woods and rocks. Ended up with a JD4310 which has impressed me more than I can write about, but at a much bigger cost than the BX. The JD has pulled HUGE (2-3') rocks out of the ground with just the tines of the Woods-GB60 box blade, in my and my friends (real farm boys) amazement. And then moved them safely with the loader. I might not even need a hoe anymore??

 

[Carl_NH]

Paul,

You should be able to climb that slope in Med or Low at 1500 RPM or so with the HST halfway depressed. Regarding the 2 hrs what I see on dealers lots most have .8 - 2 hours from test running them at the factory, after assembly, then to move them around at the dealer etc.. So that's normal I think.

Frt bucket typically is on the ground releasing some weight off the frt tires, or if you really want to setup (to deal with 3' stump) tilt the bucket so the edge digs in and front wheels up a bit.

Don't recommend removing the BH teeth tho, this will reduce the effectiveness of the unit.

Regarding the BH and tree removal, there is a method I use on the big stumps, and that's digging out side the tree about a foot or so and about 18-20" down all around cutting the roots. Then start under excavating the whole mess and eventually you will get it out.

Carl

 

[whaler54]

Hi Carl,

Thanks for your reply to my post.

Regarding the Low or Medium comment. Are you referring to the turtle/rabbit lever?

Thanks for the advice on the bucket teeth and tractor setup.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

My new BX-22 arrives tomorrow afternoon to replace the BX-2200 that I've been very pleased with. I'll be sure to post my impressions after I get a few hours on it and "lean to hoe..." I, too, have a few stumps to practice on, small and large.

J

 

[rdricks]

"Regarding the Low or Medium comment. Are you referring to the turtle/rabbit lever?"


The "Turtle/Rabbit" lever should do just the trick. These little machines continue to amaze me - any slope I have the slighest trouble with, and I mover it down to Low range (Turtle) and the beast just climbs right up like nothing was there.

 

[whaler54]

Hi,

Thanks, Ryan.

I tried the slope again today with the lever in Slow and it seemed to pull fine.

I did some digging w/o the bucket teeth and then put the teeth back on. Like Carl said seems to be more effective with the teeth on.

Thanks for the reply,

Paul

 

[Kiohio]

The tapping noise may just be some bad fuel. I've had fuel with water in it make the tractor sound like the engine was about to explode, some new some old all with good filters in them. Usually shutting it down and restarting will fix it, temporarily anyhow. After draining the fuel bowl and putting in fresh fuel all has been well with all of the tractors. Alot of times the tractor will be o.k. until it is bounced around then it will act up. For warranty sake contact your dealer so they know what is going on. Documentation is king in the warranty world.
KO

 

[NYTrainer]

Did you sell or trade in the BX 2200? I was looking to upgrade too and haven't moved on it because of the low trade in allowance. Probably about a 8.5k upgrade (16k for new BX22 and 7.5k for the trade in) Seems too much for me. I was looking into a local dealer who manufacters a small BH for the BX. I need it for light work and am considering it.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I traded my BX2200 ($7500 trade in with FEL) and received my new BX22 this afternoon. $15500 less trade from Mid-State Equipment Co Inc in Titusville, NJ. (Just below Lambertville on Rt 29) These folks gave me a grand better in trade and a grand better in price on the new machine than my "previous" dealer. I had the unit shipped via common carrier for a hundred bucks so that I could pay the sales tax at my convenience. <G>

I would probably have preferred to sell the BX-2200 privately first for more money, but....I was impatient for the BH and have some work for it real soon. The cost difference will be made up for the labor I won't have to hire. I did keep my 60" MMM as it only has three seasons on it and is in excellent condition. Why buy a new one in that case?

Also bought a Woods 1120 PHD and had some hooks welded on the buckets for lifting puposes.

You really need to be very careful considering a third-party BH for the BX. The low cost 3-point units are supposedly pretty trashy and the stress on the frame could be serious. The BX-22 has a beefed up frame (by 200 pounds) and the BH is a four point mount. My first try this afternoon taking it off and on was really smooth. I can see doing it in about five minutes once I get comfortable with it.

Attached is a picture of its arrival!

 

[gobbler]

Sawsndust,

I can see that the new BX22 will really cut into your shop time. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Nice seeing you over here, I, myself haven’t made too much saw dust lately or visited Wood Online either. (dang tractor !!!)

Jim

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Well...many "home-improvment" projects cut into shop time, so the new 'hoe won't be any different!

Good to see you here, too. This is also a great site. (And has excellent software behind it)

Nice turkey! Looks just like the ones that visit our back yard regularly, although "ours" come to be fed, rather than fed on. hee hee

J

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I seem to remember another post concerning driving upslope with HST. The consensus advice was to only depress the pedal halfway for best results.
Counterintuitive, but effective. I'm sure that someone with HST can explain it.