BX23 Help Please

[beckmurph]

"I changed oil, air, both fuel and HST filters"
Did you change both fuel filters?

 

[Robocop5626]

I did change both fuel filters and got a lesson from each one on where the fuel enters the filter. You would figure I had a 50/50 shot at not getting squirted by diesel at least once.
I have the parts manual and the repair manual to supplement my operators book. I looked under the seat and saw the adjusting rod with the springs. The operators manual says to adjust the forward most piece to adjust the lower limit. It fails to address how to adjust the upper limit which I'm guessing is the double nut combination. I believe these manuals missed a bit in some of these translations into English. The operator book says the hydraulic control lever should return to neutral from the lower and upper limits. Other users say it is normal for the lever to remain at the lower limit and return from the upper limit related to 3ph operation. LOL, I got the books but not the skills it appears to fully utilize them. I plan on cleaning the HST screen as soon as possible. My wife had right knee replacement surgery on July 7th and I am currently serving as house boy/cook/etc. until she regains some mobility and confidence.

Thanks again for all the support and helpful info. I do find myself understanding the operator book a lttle more after actually operating the tractor for a few hours. The dealer saying start here, pull this, push that and off you go is only the beginning.

John

 

[beckmurph]

Looks like you got filters in good shape.:thumbsup:
Are you letting up on the HST peddle as you get farther up the hill. These HST's are not like an automobile accelerator. The steeper the hill an harder the pull, back off the peddle, and you will have more pulling power.
Also, at what rpm are you operating when cutting grass?

 

[leonz]

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

If the filter basket is gone you most likely have a plugged inlet screen and its probably in the tank swimming around.


I would strongly suggest you remove the diesel fuel tank as your issues are well within having a plugged strainer in the base of the tank and you will find that to be the issue most likely. If you dont have a full tank when either traversing a slope or traveling linearly you quickly start sucking air and as it is direct injection it will continue to suck air and fuel both and become much more sluggish.

You can purchase a better fuel filtration system that will eliminate the excess crud in the tank and eliminate the need for the strainer if you want to do that also and it will save you a lot of problems.

The Racor diesel fuel filter is the type I always recommend as it is a fuel powered turbine that spins the fuel to separate the dirt and water using the tractors fuel pump. The secondary fuel filters will not be plugged with debris and the water will be separated from the fuel and you will be able to drain the water off as often as you wish while tunning as the water settles to the bottom and the filter unit has a manual drain that will not loosen due to vibration.

 

[Robocop5626]

Looks like you got filters in good shape.:thumbsup:
Are you letting up on the HST peddle as you get farther up the hill. These HST's are not like an automobile accelerator. The steeper the hill an harder the pull, back off the peddle, and you will have more pulling power.
Also, at what rpm are you operating when cutting grass?

I make an effort not to press down any farther on hte HST pedal but it stands what hair I have straight up to let up when it starts stalling! LOL..

I don't know my RPMs as I don't have a tach. I guess you could say I'm midway between the turtle and the rabbit...

John

 

[Robocop5626]

"The Racor diesel fuel filter is the type I always recommend as it is a fuel powered turbine that spins the fuel to separate the dirt and water using the tractors fuel pump. The secondary fuel filters will not be plugged with debris and the water will be separated from the fuel and you will be able to drain the water off as often as you wish while tunning as the water settles to the bottom and the filter unit has a manual drain that will not loosen due to vibration."

Which model filter do you prefer, the 500, 900 or 1000?

John

 

[leonz]

"The Racor diesel fuel filter is the type I always recommend as it is a fuel powered turbine that spins the fuel to separate the dirt and water using the tractors fuel pump. The secondary fuel filters will not be plugged with debris and the water will be separated from the fuel and you will be able to drain the water off as often as you wish while tunning as the water settles to the bottom and the filter unit has a manual drain that will not loosen due to vibration."

Which model filter do you prefer, the 500, 900 or 1000?

John

I always liked the 1000 as they were numb, dumb, and stupid, and the only units we had at the time and our fuel and tanks were so bad they stopped the diesels cold with so much crap and water in the fuel plugging a 2 micron filter.

we had no issues putting them on the 4 cylinder duetz engines and they were great units

They are worth every penny it costs to buy one and you can order the fuel heater model and have no issues with wax and gelling too.

Just be careful where you install it to allow room for accessing the top to change the cartridge once in while and to avoid clipping it when removing the front end loader.

leonz

 

[roma3112]

While I cant offer any more advice than has already been posted, I have a BX24 and have gotten some bad fuel from time to time and I am really interested in the racor filters you mensioned. I did a google search and there are soo many I am lost. For those of you that have put these on a BX tractor which model and micron rating have you uses? Also do they make a compact version as to not hang down too low under the bk?
take care all

 

[RayCo]

I didn't see this mentioned elsewhere, so I'll say it. Be aware that going up a steep hill with the backhoe on is a pretty dangerous maneuver. That backhoe is very heavy, and it's, well, on the back.

 

[Robocop5626]

Just wanted to post an update on the BX23 issue with climbing the slope in my back yard. A few weeks ago I had a local mechanic run a pressure test. It was in the normal range but he agreed it had a problem. His best guess was the HST was shot. I called a local Kubota dealer who hauled it in for confirmation testing. They agreed the HST was finished. So they put in a new one. The HST was $1,500 & it took @$1,000 to install. They put in new fluid and filters as well. There was a small pickup & delivery fee. It totaled just under $3,000. I dropped the FEL & BH to cut the back grass. The new HST climbed that hill smooth as silk and grass cutting was as blissful as it can be expected to be. I put the FEL on it to work my pile of fill dirt in the back. The tractor has power to burn now. The wheels will actually spin when I am filling the loader. Now that the BX23 is working as I thought it would when I bought it, I can finally finish all these odd jobs I have going. I thought long about trading it in for something larger, but the physical size of this machine suits me fine. I've already broken a spindle on the deck step railing, doubled over a chain link fence post with the FEL, bent my new aluminum downspout with the FEL and nearly pulled my mailbox down with the BH support leg. I'd be afraid to drive a bigger machine, I might knock my house down. Oh, I installed a new HST fan after I pulled the MMM and saw it had no blades. Hopefully I am set now for a few years anyway.