BX23 vs BX24?

[LBrown59]

Northland,

I don't think anyone has ever lost money on BX23s even if they end up trading up eventually. Those things hold their value very well so I would not fret. Your tasks seem split between around the house/driveway duties and the woods. Your BX will excel at the house/driveway stuff. Obviously a bigger machine would be better for the woods but if you are careful and take your time you can certainly accomplish most everything you are trying with the BX23. Just watch that ground clearance.

I am a grapple fan for working in brush and woods so you might consider adding a grapple to your bucket to help out there. I think that would be more useful than a backhoe thumb. You are likely to use your FEL more than the BH (almost everyone does) so I'd advise accessorizing the FEL before you worry about the BH.

By the way, with a subframe, the regular CUTs are just as solid for BH work as the BX23/24 so don't worry about that if you eventually upgrade. I don't think the work you are describing is a good match for a B21 (as Henro was hinting) as that is really a construction optomized machine (and a fine one). The B series (and the long anticipated update to it) would be my choice in the Kubota line as an upgrade to the BX. Mahindra, Kioti and TYM are all excellent tractors that compete directly with Kubota and should be considered too even though they obviously don't have the Kubota market share or dealer network. Each of those machines can be turned into a nice TLB.

Good luck with your new BX.23. I am sure you'll have a lot of fun.

I would love to have a B 2410 to go with my BX23 but not to replace it.

 

[LBrown59]

Do you think the skidplates are a good idea and worth buying right away?

I don't have them on mine as I never remove the 60'' MMM Which gives some protection to the under belley of the tractor.
If I was working in the woods with the mower off I would definitely install the skid plates first.
Certainly worth buying befor you damage something under there.

 

[IslandTractor]

I woulden't trade my Bx23 for 2 Bx24s.

I sure would. Sell one and have a second that is overall a better machine. No brainer.

 

[IslandTractor]

What I understand from reading on the Tractor Boards Is you can't mow with the BH attached to the BX 24 like you can do with the BX23.
This would be a real serious drawback on the BX24 for me as I never remove the BH to mow with the BX23.

Why on earth would you want to mow with a BH tagging along for the ride? The whole beauty of the BX series is that it is a relatively light weight tractor that mows well. Taking the BH off those puppies is trivial and there is no way having the BH on board improves the mowing quality. Why not optomize the machine for whatever it is you are doing?

 

[LBrown59]

If I were the proud new owner of a BX23 I'd try to get a bucket grapple rigged up. I have a full grapple on my CK20 but my FEL lift capacity is several hundred pounds more than yours. A bucket grapple would be great on the BX23. There are several ways to do it and some of your fellow BX23 owners can probably provide more specific advice. It depends also on how handy you are with a wrench. At least one company sells a kit specifically for the BX23 which looks nice. There are grapple arms you can buy on ebay for 200-300 bucks and then you'd need a diverter valve set up. Post a question in the Kubota owning and operating section if you cannot find a good thread by searching on BX23 and grapple.

If I had a BX23 and was planning to work in the woods I would sure try to put on a skid plate. Again, your fellow BX23 owners can give better advice on how to do it.

One of our fellow members builds and sells then for the BX23 Tractors.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree that the B7610 could do the job for me

No question, it is just the LA302 loader I was arguing against. If you could get the LA352 that tractor would be fine for your intended use.

I am not sure how much use I will get out of the backhoe but I do have some drainage ditching and other chores to do with it now. I fear that unless I buy the BH now I may never get it. Then again for sure I want a grapple put on the bucket next year. Right now I want a tooth bar put on the bucket. I'd also like to get 3 hooks welded onto the bucket but I fear they may interfere with the planned grapple attachment? Whatdo you think?

I agree it is easier to justify the BH as part of the original package. You don't see that many guys buying BHs separately. I definitely use mine and have lots of little projects lined up to do. There is a reasonable debate regarding purchase vs occasional rental but for me, being on an island, daily rental was out of the question. A toothbar is essential for digging around in the woods and chain hooks are very nice. I'd just make sure you either position the chain hooks out of the way of the middle upper lip of the bucket so you can attach a grapple there, or, decide you want the ATI or Add A Grapple versions which have a bridge structure that goes over the bucket lip (and the chain hooks would not interfere).

BTW, I got a price on a new Kioti CK20 with loader and backhoe for CDN$22500. Unforunately the closest dealer is 500+ miles away. I do wish I had more choices but for now I hope to get a better deal from the Michigan based Kubota dealer and buy from him.

Well, you are not going to get an argument from me against the CK20. Great machine with stronger loader than even the LA352. And, if you are traveling to Michigan for a Kubota, why not at least investigate Kioti dealers in Michigan? The B series Kubotas are excellent but suffer from relatively weak loaders and lack some very nice features like position control, suspension seats etc. Overall the issue is simply that Kubota has not bothered to update that line significantly for at least 5-6 years and therefore they look long in the tooth compared to the newer competition from Kioti, TYM, Mahindra etc. Kubota needs to revamp the line and until they do the upstart brands have some advantages.

 

[LBrown59]

Your scaring me with all the talk of rock. The BX has a low profile to the ground vs the B series.

I would seriously look at this closer. You break the transmission casing and you won't like it. Get the B.

Did I mention getting the B series yet??

To late he alll ready got the BX23.

 

[LBrown59]

Island Tractor

My deal on the BX23 died as the dealer delivered it without the snowblower, and the unit was not in good shape maintenance wise....so, I refused delivery.

I am taking some of the advice from the tractor vets here and looking for a 7500/7610 type unit with a Woods BH6000.

What do you think of this deal?-KUBOTA B7610 2004 model. Just 49 hours use. The loader is a NEW Kubota LA 302 with 660lbs lift capacity. This is a 24hp diesel tractor with 4wd, Power Steering, Hydrostatic trans., 3pt, PTO, Industrial tires and folding rollbar. Extra Clean. Not a mark anywhere! I can buy that for CDN $15500 (US$13839) and CDN $5350 (US$4816) for a new Woods BH6000 backhoe. It'll cost me $700 for delivery.

How can a new tractor be in bad shape? That don't make sense.
Is this from the same dealer that delivered the BX23?

 

[LBrown59]

My deal on the BX23 died as the dealer delivered it without the snowblower, no manuals, no demo and the unit was not in good shape maintenance wise....so, I refused delivery.

I am taking some of the advice from the tractor vets here and looking for a 7500/7610 type unit with a Woods BH6000.

What do you think of this deal?-KUBOTA B7610 2004 model. Just 49 hours use. The loader is a NEW Kubota LA 302 with 660lbs lift capacity. This is a 24hp diesel tractor with 4wd, Power Steering, Hydrostatic trans., 3pt, PTO, Industrial tires and folding rollbar. Extra Clean. Not a mark anywhere! I can buy that for CDN $15500 (US$13839) and CDN $5350 (US$4816) for a new Woods BH6000 backhoe. It'll cost me $700 for delivery.

The problem with this is more money and no warranty.

 

[LBrown59]

I sure would. Sell one and have a second that is overall a better machine. No brainer.

I see a lot more I don't like about the BX 24 over the BX23 than I do the other way around.
Sell both and buy another BX23 would be my preference.
I just don't see a BX24 as better than the BX23 and just don't care for them.
Why would I want to trade a tractor I like for one that I don't care fore?