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