BX23 Help Please

Robocop5626 · Jul 15, 2010

I bought a BX23 last year specifically to use the MMM. My two acre yard was too large and steep to safely use a regular mower. The tractor also included a FEL and BH. I figured at 22hp it should be able to climb my sloped back yard easily. However I found it had difficulty after operating it for about and hour. When I climbed the slope and reached the crown, the tractor would actually stop and chatter. Not too safe at all as I usually had to back down the hill again. I changed all of the fluids and filters using SUDT in the HST. However, after an hour or so thte tractor will not climb the slope in my back yard. My smaller mower would climb them easier but hte danger of upending was high. I removed the FEL & BH and it still has issues climbing the yard. Is this a case of needing a bigger tractor? I am not a small fellow at 300+ pounds. My wife has agreed on trading this tractor in and buying larger if it will prevent me from being rolled over! :laughing:
I would appreciate any thoughts...

John

TripleR · Jul 15, 2010

John, I had a BX2200 and now have a BX2660 and something is definitely wrong as your tractor should not stall out. Either of my BX's would climb until they lost traction and in low neither one has ever stalled out unless I was using the loader with a lot of weight going into a pile and usually they would just spin.

Sadly, I don't know enough about mechanical issues to determine the problem, but in my opinion, you don't need a different tractor when a BX23 is operating properly.

Larry

keyman1808 · Jul 15, 2010

I agree with Larry. Something is amiss with your machine. Almost sounds like its not picking up fuel. Maybe junk in the tank?? Did you change BOTH fuel filters?? Hydro Filter?? Clean the hydro screen?? No to any of these questions could be your culprit.

Good Luck
Jim

dodge man · Jul 15, 2010

Are you using low range, which has the turtle next to it on the shifter? Mine will just about climb any hill that is within reason of being safe, but it has to be in the low range. It will also work better if you back off the HST pedal a little bit when climbing a steep hill. This goes against instinct, which is to press further down on the pedal when climbing a hill, but letting off on the pedal some is like using a lower gear on a gear tractor.

If none of this helps, something is amiss and you may need to take it to the dealer.

vrman · Jul 15, 2010

Parking brake off?

j/k!
Really sounds like you should have the dealer look at it. I have a BX23, and it has never had a problem with hills or ditches.

SARG · Jul 15, 2010

Yup ... Mine (NH T1030) also has to be in low range.

Robocop5626 · Jul 15, 2010

Thanks for all the input. I always use low (turtle) gear. To date I've splintered a deck spindle, crunched an aluminum downspout with the FEL raised to clear my fence and almost pulled my mailbox down with a BH outrigger, so I ALWAYS go really slow and careful, tho' my wife would no doubt disagree.
I changed oil, air, both fuel and HST filters. I learned much about the fuel system when I inserted the new filter and turned on the key to prime it with fuel. First I learned the right hose spews the fuel and I had the filter in the left. But at least diesel fuel doesn't burn the skin much.. Lying under the tractor I used vise grips to clamp one of the hoses and pulled the filter free. The opened hose must have come directly from the tank as it was quite a gusher until I got that old filter back in and clamped the correct line. Now I did not clean the hydro screen. I have both manuals but hated to get diesel fuel all over them at that moment. I believe it is buried near the bottom behind the right rear tire. Could that screen cause such a problem? Is it accessible without removing the rear tire? I can get the MMM off, the FEL off and the BH off, but I dunno about a tire..

John

Robocop5626 · Jul 15, 2010

Also, if the tractor was running as expected should it carry me and all of hte attachments up the slope or do I still need to keep it bare minimum?

John

timswi · Jul 15, 2010

You can remove the screen without removing the tire or the MMM.

Are you sure that the brakes aren't dragging?

My BX23 will climb anything in low range with the FEL,BH and MMM attached without even a hint of rpm or speed drop. As others have said, it runs out of traction before it runs out of power. I've had mine 6 years and never even came close to stalling it.

There's definitly something going on there. Did you replace the air filter as well?

Robocop5626 · Jul 15, 2010

I will try to get out to the garage and try to remove and clean the HST screen tomorrow if possible. If it's where I think the manual shows it, that area is pretty tight fit even if you don't have big hands..lol. I did notice some inprovement when I used the SUDT after changing all hte filters, but it still stalled after running for awhile.

Thanks again,

John