BX2200 loader impressions

[BX_Scooter]

Well I've had the BX2200 for a couple weeks and have been using the FEL for everything and anything. I'd carry the groceries in from the wife's car if she'd let me!

Seriously though I've been working on my driveway and adding dirt around my 25 yr old house that was never graded correctly. (Negative ground slope)

I'll be the first to say that I have never owned a sub compact of any kind or a FEL. That being said I am very impressed with the power of this tractor and FEL. I realize it's nothing compared to the big boys but it suits my needs.

I for some reason did not really expect it to be able to pick up a rounded over bucket of limestone, but it will. It's HEAVY for the little guy but technique seems to be everything when it comes to scooping up a load off the pile. After working with the limestone, topsoil was a breeze. Must be considerably lighter per bucket load than the gravel. So far I've spread 12 ton of gravel and 24 ton of topsoil. I have another 12 ton of topsoil coming tomorrow.

I really can't get over the power of these little diesels. The tractor has been everything it's advertised to be and has exceeded my expectations. This makes it a little easier to make the payments! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'll try and post some pictures of my little project in the next few days. Unfortunately I didn't shoot any before pictures.

Go Orange!

 

[RonR]

Agree on the power! My first task was moving about 35 Tons of dirt to fill a swimming pool hole. I had two muscle guys (son and friend) wheelbarrowed it to the hole in the backyard from the drive. I loaded the dirt for them, then took a bucket about every 20 times to the back and smooth/leveled what they'd dumped. At one time, I was pushing on flat ground probably 1000 pounds of dirt in front of the FEL. My BX didn't sputter or lose traction!

A great machine, in my opinion. Best wishes with yours,
Ron

 

[Jim_Becker]

Just be sure you have weight on the back of the tractor when you are using your FEL to pick up hefty loads! There is a much greater danger of tipping otherwise. While you can use wheel weights and even have the tires filled, a few hundred pounds out on the three point is still a good idea...

 

[upgw]

Amen to that. I nearly put mine over on the right front wheel while moving "screenings" for the barn floor. I was too lazy to put the weight on the back... scared the tar out of me. Won't do that again for sure.

- Patrick

 

[sandyc]

Even with filled tires I was still a bit tippy.(personal problem) I bit the bullet and bought the orange weight box (about $180) and filled it with chunks of cement and rocks. The 2200 sits even with full FEL of wet topsoil......
The weight box also helps for great traction in the winter with the front blade or the snow blower.

 

[rbarker]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Agree on the power! My first task was moving about 35 Tons of dirt to fill a swimming pool hole. I had two muscle guys (son and friend) wheelbarrowed it to the hole in the backyard from the drive. )</font>

I'm just curious why you made the kids haul all that dirt by hand? Why didn't you just move it with the loader? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[RonR]

"I'm just curious why you made the kids haul all that dirt by hand?"

Legite question! The pool hole was clear in the back yard and had to dump the dirt on the driveway. It was a timing issue mostly. The two studs could move the dirt faster with me using the FEL to load the wheelbarrows than me making all the trips with the loader. If I would have had one more kid on the wheelbarrow, I wouldn't have been able to keep up with loading the wheelbarrows! When they started slowing down, I'd take a bucket load back, dump it, and smooth what they'd dumped. Plus I figured I'd compact the gound more with the tractor/loader than the wheelbarrow. Plus the gate opening was only about a foot wider than the Bota--I didn't want to get tired and whack the gate or the fireplace/fence.

Take care,
Ron

 

[jpr62902]

I just used my BX22 to help a neighbor spread some pea gravel around his foundation. At first, I thought the FEL was a little under powered, since I had to back out of the pile to lift a full bucket of gravel (it wouldn't lift through the pile). Then, I looked at my front tires and noticed they were flattened out about half way due to the weight in the FEL -- realized I probably had more than the rated 460 lbs in that thing and was quite impressed. The hydro tranny made it soooo easy to move in tight spaces, too. Oh yeah, I had the BH on for ballast. If I didn't, my BX22 would have been back fill for his foundation. My only reservation might be the ground clearance (lots of deep ruts on a construction sight). On the other hand, with a CUT, I would have been more "tippy" from the higher center of gravity, so I'll take my BX22, thank you very much. Thing mows like a dickens and its soooo quiet compared to the single popper lawn tractors my neighbors have.

 

[BX_Scooter]

I was also thinking I was under powered but once I started digging out of the pile a little better I was able to get nice full buckets. Your right it doesn't want to dig up through the whole pile.

I've just been using my 60"RB for weight on the back end and understand the light in the rear comments. I'm fortunate that I'm working on basically level ground with no ruts. The dump truck was also able to get to where I'm spreading the dirt so I don't have any long hauls or the need to raise the bucket more than a couple feet off the ground.

That gravel is definately heavy! I had some 304's delivered which has the fine powder in it as well. Easy to spread and packs down real well.

 

[1funride]

Probably pick up heaping loads which weigh anywhere from 600-750 pounds, then trying to dig through the mound with out
backing up could add another 400 pounds, your trying to pick up over 1000 pounds easy. That's is proably why it is struggling. I go into a pile of gravel then back up slighty as I scoop. I get 600-700 pounds easy each scoop, and the BX just keeps working. Did 22 tons of gravel and leveled it with the loader in just 2 hours. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif