Grading BX2200 and JD 445 front blade

[bigpete]

JMP,

You are right, you wouln't be able to get enough out of the resale to cover the cost of new. I kept my front quick hitch and 54 blade from my 445, too, but my conversion should be easier going to another JD product.

FWIW, I think the design of the JD quick hitch and front blade is outstanding. A good place to start would be to create some sort of template, or at least a semi-tecnical drawing either from the "receiving" points and pins on the hitch, or from the front end of the 445-- which of course you don't have any more. The cost of fabricating the custom hitch should be less than the differential (loss) between the resale value of the JD product and the cost of the new Kubota product, otherwise you should buy the new unit and sell the old. I can attest that your front blade and hitch is in high demand. I have several people on a string who want mine if I can't get it to work on my new tractor. There are at least 2 "Wanted" adds for the 54 blade over at the MSN JD club right now.

Sounds like a good project. I suppose it's possible you'll need longer hoses or new quick couplers. I'm not sure which side of the BX the hydraulic outlets are on, but I'll have to extend my hoses to get to the other side of the 2210. As you know the 445 SCV is on under the left floorboard, and unfortunately, the 2210 is under the right.

As far as the loader mount, it's a do-able thing too, I just don't know if there is anything to model your custom work after. I doubt your Kubota or JD dealer will be much help, other than to sell you any parts you need. There are a few aftermarket companies that make loader arm-mount front blades, so maybe you could find something already designed for the BX to model you project after. With the proper design and quality fabrication, there are good possibilites there too.

I've said this before, but, IMHO, a front hydraulic blade is the way to go for snow plowing,. Sure, there are limited additional uses beyond snow, but its is easily twice as fast as the FEL or rear blade, especially on pavement. When the snow gets above 14"-18" deep, get that loader bucket out because you'll run out of places to pile the snow and your steering control will be greatly dimished with a front blade. Other wise it's a nice "luxury" implement.

Good luck and post some picture if you get started. I'm looking at a few possible things with the same front hydraulic set up as you, so I'll let you know if I find anything interesting.

 

[KENSFM]

You can get a front blade from Kubota for the BX2200 with both power lift and power angle, but it is kind of expensive.
Ken

 

[hazmat]

JMP,

The bottom line question is do you want to plow now or play around making it work?

A buddy of mine scolded me for working on the plow project "in season". He has a valid point!

I'm fabbing a bracket now to fit a used truck plow as a front blade. see my thread in build it yourself forum <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=buildit&Number=213795&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=>front plow bracket help</A>


The power angle is available for the BX blade, just costs a couple hundred more.

Do you weld? Or are you paying someone to do it? If you are paying for someone to build the bracket, my proffesional (Mechanical Engineer) gut feeling is that you're better off selling the JD & buying the kubota blade. My blade is going to cost me 1/3 to 1/2 what the New Holland version would ($400-$600 vs. $1,200)

I think you'd find that a loader mounted front blade not very productive for grading dirt. You'd have to rigidly mount it so that you could change the angle of attack. A rear blade or box blade are pretty cheap and would do a better job grading.

 

[JMP]

Thanks for all the info.
I do my own welding, so that cost is minimal. My old neighbor has a JD 425, so a patteren is easy to come by. He was interested in the blade, but the 425 doesn't come with the angle hydro line as standard. I found him a snowblower for his JD 420, so that got him off my back. The blower cost $175.00. Pretty cheap if you ask me.
As far as doing this project during snow season, for the last 4 years I have used my JD 210 w/snowblower. The only thing I don't like about it is that it throws rocks from the gravel drive(800 ft drive). Shoes are adjusted down just a bit, but still catches rocks. Wet snow doesn't blow well at all, the blade would be very handy for this.
Longer hydr hoses would be needed. and even longer if mounted to FEL.
Just wanted to see what people suggested with mounted to tractor vs mounted to FEL.
Will post pic when I figure out what to do.
JMP

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>Just wanted to see what people suggested with mounted to tractor vs mounted to FEL.</font color=blue>

I'm going with tractor mounted. I feel that the FEL is up to the challange, but that the tractor mounted will give better performace (follow the contours of my drive better). I actually have tried it mounted in the bucket.

The main advantage of a FEL mtd plow is to push the snow way up high, but you've got your JD 210 w/ the blower which you can bring out for the big snows or for eating up piles you make with the plow.

The tracotor mtd will be simpler plumbing for the power angle (won't have to disconnect curl circuit or install diverter valve).

I had a 1978 JD316 with front plow. If the current quick mount system is similar, you should be able to drop the plow & pick up the loader (if needed) in a few minutes.

Have fun & please do post some picks!

 

[1funride]

babybober,

I have the 60 inch hydraulic blade. I would not use a manual blade after using the hydraulic unit. It is just so much faster. I find I move the angle of the blade as I plow, awesome control. Just a word of advice. Many dealers don't know much about the hydraulic front blade, some even said it wasn't available. When I purchased my blade, I swapped the 3 way loader valve for the 4 way valve (yes you do need the 4-way valve) for 50 bucks more. If you are interested in details, part numbers etc. let me know. Here in NY we had 24" last week, I plowed 3 large driveways in about 1 hour. The BX did great, but I did need to use the differential lock along with the 4wd.

 

[Green_in_MI]

"Oh dear me, I am biased--yep--so what---I am in good company. I did not buy a orange tractor cause I got lost one day and could not find the Deere dealer nor did I play spin the bottle shall it be orange, green or blue?"

I am sorry if I did not make my point better. I understand your bias. Kubotas are fabulous machines. I have often wished I had one. The blue and green machines are great too. When newbies here ask what tractor they should buy I recommend that they pick their favorite color because I think any of the major brands are worthwhile. I happen to own Deeres but I still tried to convince my brother to buy a Kubota for his application. Yes I do like Deeres but my choice of them mostly has to do with proximity to the dealer and how helpful they have been. Yes, some Deere's lesser models are of the garden variety type and were even sold at Home Depot. But to say that about the 445, the biggest Deere garden tractor built and the most popular contractor machine that is not a z-turn? Ok, so you put a smiley face on some of them. It wore thin on me, my bad.

While I am a Deere guy, the "Green" in my name is 99% for Michigan State University.

 

[JMP]

Let me share my experence with you on the JD 445 w/60"mmm vs BX2200 w/60"mmm. I to have always been a JD man. I have 4 of them, this weekend I found an engine for my JD 300 that I'm looking to rebuild. Back to the story. I have a section of a hay field that I mow with the lawn. I did this with the 445 with the results being wades of grass clumping out the deck. The Kubota dealer brought me out a BX1800 with 60"mmm to try before buying. I mowed the same patch of field with excellent results. No clumping at all as the grass exited the deck. The dealer told me to mow a stretch of the hay field(over a foot high). I can't say I had a yard cut, but it didn't plug in the deck. I do most of my mowing at night(try to spend time with wife and kids in the prime time) so most of the mowing is after the dew has set, but still no problem clumping.
What does this mean? JD are not lacking power, my option is, they are lacking in deck design. Having had both, the kubota does a much nicer job mowing. If the contract mower people try a kubota tractor, I bet there next would be orange. Again this is from a JD guy. But the truth is in the seat.
JMP

 

[TresCrows]

Well, in fairness to the JD thingy did you mow with the BX under the same conditions and times. If the grass is clumping it seems it might be wet/damp or the blades are dull or the deck might have a lot of buildup on it. Did you mow with the BX at night also? Well, anyway, my neighbor gets a nice cut with his JD but it is no better than what the BX produces if as nice. J

 

[bigpete]

I'm in love with my 60" deck on my 445. I use the mulching kit which would clump or bog way before the same deck without the baffles. I've mulched damp grass, long grass, leaves, thatch, you name it. The only thing that you can do wrong is run the RPMs too low, but all decks should be run at higher RPMs for the best cut.

On the other hand, I've never heard or read anything bad about the Kubota decks. Doesn't matter which "THINGY" /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif you own. They're both the best in the business. I just hope my new 62C performs as well as my 60