bx2200 on hills

[Anonymous Poster]

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifHi folks!
I already appreciate all the info I picked up on the boards and don't even have my 2200 yet. I agonized between the bx and a 7500 and went 2200 due to the lower center of gravity(I think). I saw a post stating that the bx seems more stable. Is this true? I am mowing 3 or so acres of hillside and couldn't find a unit that sat this low w/ 4wd. Also, how potent is the fel?
Thanks in advance for all responses.

 

[kyoders]

Dave,

I have no trouble at all completely filling the FEL with dirt of all sorts. You need to keep the rear-end ballasted, though. My rear tires are filled, but even that's not enough if you are going to be doing full buckets of anything heavier than mulch. I haven't tried to see just how full I can go with gravel, but definitely not completely full. It's just too much weight on the front end to be comfortable, although the FEL will probably lift it. Just because it can does not necessarily mean you should.

If you've not used one before, take it very slow for a while. It is very easy to get yourself into a position where the FEL could roll you over, especially on hills. I haven't done that, but I have gotten a rear wheel off the ground once or twice. Hopefully I've learned my lesson.

Kevin

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I am upgrading from a '79 Power King 1618 w/ an underpowered fel. I couldn't mow with it on the hills, and I agree things can get hairy real quick if you don't watch what you're doin'. The bx will have filled tires (alcohol based anti-freeze) so I'm going to wait and see how it does before I make up a weight box. I guess after drooling over the specs on the 302 fel on a b7500 (2-300 lb. more weight capacity) I'm worried the bx2200 fel will be a let down. I'll be doing small work with it, but up here they make the rocks big and they stick out all over. I had to get pretty agressive with the old tractor to get some things done. The hills are also an issue. They average 10-15 degrees, and the old unit was too tall and light, even with a 400 lb weight and filled tires to be good and stable.How does a bx feel on this kind of slope?

 

[manganos]

You should be able to pick up around 500lbs or more with the FEL. I have a BX22 and I fill up the FEL with heavy wet clay with ease. I don't have filled rear tires, I just leave the backhoe on which is around 600# and have never had a stability concern with it on. When I use the rear blade (5') I can't pick up much with the FEL without the back end lifting a tire or both! My neighbor has a BIG 90 HP ford and he made his own ballast box using a dirt scoop filled with bags of cement. Good luck with the BX!

 

[TresCrows]

"I saw a post stating that the bx seems more stable."

It is more stable. You will need a ballast or boxblade on the rear, same if you has a larger tractor like a 2410 or such. I tell you without knowing how steep your area is that if you get a full bucket of dirt up high you will be unstable on any hill.

What is a Powerking? I figure a BX is much more capable than a Powerking. My BX could do anything my 2410 can do and sometimes faster, neither are good at digging rocks. You might need a bulldozer for those rocks, FEL's are meant for scooping and spreading and limited digging in soft conditions. J

 

[Anonymous Poster]

First off, thanks for putting all this info out for people. I signed the papers for the bx with reservations that maybe I made the wrong choice. After reading alot of the posts on the bx, I feel a whole lot /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gifbetter.
The Power King is what we always called an economy tractor. It has a 18 hp one lunger Kohler, tandem 3 speed transes, w/ an automtive style rear and spur cut side mounted gear reduction boxes for final drive reduction.. They were the cats meow for market gardeners and small plots back in the '50s & '60s and were made by Snapper and brand labelled later on. Mine is a '79 model w/ 16 in. tires and a double action loader. Most were set up for ag use and had 25" tires (talk about tipsy!). Its a great machine on flat terrain and its like a lawn mower to service, but its light and top heavy.

After reading some posts I think I'm going to call the dealer tomorrow and make some changes. Turfs are off, ags go on.
I ordered a Woods GT40 tiller but will change to the GTO. Anybody know if the GTO is more expensive???

Now I'm gettin excited to get get the bx and fire her up! Hi Ho rollback, bring my bx home! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Dave,

I am joining this thread kind of late...especially since you already signed the papers for the BX which I am sure is a fine tractor.

We have about the same size property as you, and ended up with a larger tractor, even though the bx was the starting point.

PowerKing...that was my dream for many years...while driving my Sears lawn tractor around, by the way.

I can't and won't dispute the "BX is more stable on slopes" opinion. It may very well be the case. The low ground clearance of the bx seems to point that way.

It is very difficult to find hard facts about stability of specific tractors on slopes and what the actual roll-over angles might be. MY GUESS is that a slope steep enough to roll a bx or other b series tractor [following standard safety practices, loader down low and so on] would make us uncomfortable on any of the b series tractors.

The low ground clearance of the BX is a negative in my opinion for uses other than grass cutting, where it is a non issue. Personally, I would much rather have a little more clearance under the tractor if I were going to do anything other than cut grass. But that is just me...

Any Kubota that you buy will be a wonderful tractor for you. My only advice would be to make sure you are satisfied with your decision before you take the tractor home. If you end up finding you really want more...it may cost you a lot more to change up than it would have if you decided before you take delivery.

Congratulastions on the new Kubota. It will without a doubt make you day when you try it the first time at home.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I know what you mean about the Power King: I was tickled pink when I bought it. But the 2WD slidin' all over in the snow decided it for me. Time marches on...........

My needs are not too ambitious. Getting the snow off the driveway (250', gravel, uphill) mowing, tilling a garden, and finishing off some already cleared land. I don't think that ground clearance will be as much of an issue here(unless one of them big rocks jump up and grab the front axle /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif???). I got used to keeping an eagle eye out for them 'cause the Power King would get real hairy if I inadvertently went over more than a big pebble. Reason 2 is that my 74 year old father runs the mower some times and I thought he might get into trouble with the 7500.
I agree its not an easy truce. Under slightly different circumstances I would probably get a 7500.
Keepin' my fingers crossed..................................

 

[Anonymous Poster]

DaveL
You will be very happy with your new BX. I have almost exactly the same situation as you have. I mostly mow with my BX, three acres of hillside. I used to have a Ford 1110 with a 5ft rear mower. Everytime I had to turn around my hart would stop. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Last year I regraveled my 250ft driveway with the BX. I'm sure that took a little longer than it might have with a bigger machine. How ever I am now very comfortable mowing. I can't imagine a better tractor for mowing a hillside. I think that the BX is very capable for our size of property.

 

[TresCrows]

I know it makes the 7500 guys get angry with me but if you need bigger than a BX you probably need a 2410 not a 7500. The 2410 has sufficiently increased displacment, larger tires, Position control, larger fuel tank, increased 3-point capacity and much more capable loader while still retaining the same size foot print as the 7500. If bigger is in fact better then in this case I would go 2410 for the biggest bang in a small frame unit. The 2710, 2910 and 7800 are to big for mowing and are actually longer and wider than the 2410/7500 making them diffucult in tight areas, close to buildings and stuff like that.
Ground clearence, the effective clearance of the BX with the MMM removed, is actually rather decent, the steering rods remain, however, an item that must be protected. I wish I could say the BX feels tippy where other B series tractors feel tippy but it just is not so. I could get into my lagoon and mow with the BX, the 2410 would roll over, it has tried to and took much effort to extract it. Course the BX went pond swimming also when the bank gave way, it slid, the 2410 tried to roll. There are reasons Kubota makes different size tractors, figuring out which size is the best COMPROMISE for you is the challenge. J