BX22 Questions

[Anonymous Poster]

I just took delivery on my BX22 (54” MMM, HST) on 4/10/2003 and have logged about 10.5 hours of use. I love this machine and don’t know what I did without it. Remove 3 stumps, mowed back yard (1.5 acres), filled in some low spots in the yard, and just messed around. I do have a few questions that I have read about on TBN but need some clarification.

1. I have read almost all of the post dealing with throttle position but have not found any answer to be conclusive. My dealer told me to run the mower at FULL throttle. Is this correct? I also have read some posts dealing with the throttle position relative to the backhoe. I have been running it at full throttle as well. Is this advised? Do you get more power at a lower RPM setting? I like to run fast because the bucket moves quicker.

2. I also have noticed that the tractor will not climb what I consider small grades unless I am in LOW (turtle) – FEL, BH, and MMM attached. Is this normal? When mowing without the FEL and BH attached…it climbs like no other.

3. When digging with the BH when do I know I have put too much strain on the unit? I dug a stump out (13” dia) and was having some trouble with some fairly large roots (4” dia). I has to use a hatchet to break through and then everything was fine. I do not expect to be able to break a root that big but I am just wondering where the limit is.

Thank you,

Chris

 

[lrunge]

I'm in your neck of the woods in Northern KY (Independence). I've had my BX22 for about a year and have over 80 hours on it. I use the BH and FEL a lot and I have never gone to full throttle using any attachment. I have dug trenches, drainage pits, dug out tree stumps and even just put in a golf green (artificial). That required a lot of digging, hauling 11 ton of gravel subbase (100yds to move each scoop), and 100 - 50 pound bags of coal slag (top dressing) which I hauled six bags at a time. Still, I have never gone past half throttle. When I mow (about 3.5 acres) I pull the throttle down about an inch.

Lary

 

[rlw]

You don't need to run at wide-open throttle to be efficient. You should at least back it off some from full. I'd highly recommend adding the tiny tach to your tractor if you'd like a little more precision in setting your throttle. Many BX owners have added this tach. I've posted pictures of my installation in another thread.
If I'm doing a lot of heavy digging, I'll run at about 3000 rpm which is probably close to full minus about 1" of throttle travel. Otherwise, I typically mow and do other loader/BH work in the 2700-2900 rpm range.

The BX22 is a great little digger - just takes a little longer to do things than it would with a bigger machine. Last summer I put in about 400 foot of drainage tile, and just last week dug the footers for a 20x36 shed I'm building.

 

[techman]

bx22owner:

I think the sugestion of full throttle when mowing is to get the highest blade speed. Higher speed can give a bit better cut, produce more "pulling" updraft and blow the cut grass out of the discharge a bit further. While that theory is nice, we have found that 3/4 throttle cutting gives results as good as full. We did notice that too low of a setting does give a little less even of a cut (I say "we" because the wife does most of the grass cutting).

With the BH and FEL I use about 1/3 to 1/2 throttle, which seems to work well.

paul

 

[Anonymous Poster]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I have read almost all of the post dealing with throttle position but have not found any answer to be conclusive. My dealer told me to run the mower at FULL throttle. Is this correct? )</font>

My dealer told me the same about my BX2200. Run it at full throttle, he said. I don't. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I also have noticed that the tractor will not climb what I consider small grades unless I am in LOW (turtle) )</font>

I noticed that high range doesn't seem to have much climbing power also. In fact, I was concerned that I was stuck after going down an incline of about 25 or 30 degrees cause it wouldn't go back up. No wheel spin, just wouldn't budge. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I was seriously bummed until I put it in low range and it climbed right out with no problem. I guess it's just the way it's geared. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

New at this hope it works. rlw said " If I'm doing a lot of heavy digging, I'll run at about 3000 rpm which is probably close to full minus about 1" of throttle travel. Otherwise, I typically mow and do other loader/BH work in the 2700-2900 rpm range." The advertised hp for bx22 is 22.5 at 3200rpm, is this good for engine life? Wouldn't it give you longer engine life at 2600rpm? I would rather they give me true numbers at 2600 rpm. Thanks for your input you guy are great.

 

[frank_f15]

i have b2400, pto speed is 2600rpm, when mowing that is where i run, for normal fel work moving dirt, plowing snow i ususlly run about 1800 to 2000 rpm. u will know when u reached its limits it won't do more than it can. remember with hydro, backing off the pedal will give u more power . iusually run in low range unless i am just going from one place to another,

 

[TresCrows]

I imagine if you read the individual manuals for the FEL and the backhoe they will tell you to run 1800 to 2200 RPM. My BX FEL manual certainly does. I mow at about 2/3 throttle give or take. Running wide open for loader work is not needed--why? J