BX2380 tipping concerns

George the Beagle · Dec 3, 2019

Wheel spacers aren't very common on a BX; much more so for B's. I wouldn't be doing any loader work at all without rear ballast. As another poster said, the front axle pivots, the rear does not so it's important to have some weight back there. I have loaded tires on mine. Between that and me in the seat it works pretty well. Put on your ballast, keep the bucket down and you'll be fine.

Henro · Dec 4, 2019

There is very little clearance on a BX for wheel spacers if a MMM us used. I think the max is 1" and that is pushing it, from what I have read.

As others have said, add weight to keep the rear wheels on the ground. Remember the Front axle pivots in the center.

If the rear wheels come up, it is unlikely the the load will be perfectly balanced, and the tractor will tip to one side or the other, even if there may be no actual danger at that moment for a tip over to actually happen. In other words, you could reach the limit of travel of the front end, when the frame hits the stops on the axle, and stop tipping at that moment.

Add weight to the back of the tractor...:drink:

civilian · Dec 5, 2019

One other thought about tippyness is the load in the bucket balanced? Using both my BX2230 and B26TLB hauling dirt around, I can feel a sense of tippyness if the bucket gets loading unevenly when going into the dirt pile. Then if I dug a hole entering the dirt pile by spinning the tires,(yes in 4wd) then hitting one might give a tippy feeling (in a side to side direction, not end over end). This and the fact that I am on uneven ground. Both tractors have loaded tires and the BX has wheel weights and possible a back blade on, though not always. The B26TLB has loaded tires and a backhoe on. I have also rotated the backhoe uphill to help balance the loader bucket on uneven ground. The garage is on the only flat spot. The other buildings are on slopes. All this is new construction with me doing the backfill and landscaping. But I think the OP was loading firewood, which should be a balanced load. Just some other thoughts on tippy feeling. Jon

Andrew2019 · Dec 6, 2019

Hi guys
I loaded the ballast with approx 300 lbs of sand and felt much better with the loader. Although I wasn稚 on uneven ground the BX felt much steadier. I値l be loading wood tomorrow and on more uneven ground. I値l check back in then as well.

Andrew2019 · Dec 22, 2019

Just wanted to come back with some final thoughts.
I have the 300+ lbs of sand in the ballast box and keep the firewood load as low as possible.(nothing more than what you see in the original post pictures)

I still feel I could tip the tractor if I pushed hard enough but its far better now.
I drive very slow and watch for any abrupt changes in terrain.

I'm probably being too cautious (is there such a thing?) but I'm not sure of myself on some of the terrain I have in my yard.
Just wondering what degree of slope would be a tipping point? (might be a question that can't be answered as there are too many variables)
I don't think my land is too steep in any one spot.

To be clear, the problem with tipping is mostly when you have the loader on?
I never felt any issues when I didn't have the loader connected (I also almost always had the 60" mowing deck on the bottom as well, I'm guessing that did a lot to keep the centre of gravity low)

Drew

Tractor Seabee · Dec 23, 2019

Andrew2019 said:
After reading all this I'm shocked I haven't tipped it thus far! I didn't even get a casual warning I should have ballast in the back if I use the loader from the dealer when I bought it.

I didn't have the loader on much during the summer, I mainly used for mowing. I have the 60" deck and I thought it felt pretty safe. I was whipping around pretty good in fact.
Is it mainly with the loader that you definitely need the ballast?
As I said I have a bunch of sandbags but if that doesn't get me to 300lbs I have tons of bricks on the property to fill the box.

I've never heard of tire ballast. Is it a liquid you leave in year round?

Andrew

BX tires do not hold enough fluid to make it worthwhile. I have 500# of suitcase weights that work great. Made brackets to install either front or back in the increments needed. My 25 has the BH so that makes good ballast which is movable by keeping it on the uphill side down low. Until 3 years ago I had 29 AC of hilly timber. Moved some loads, including long logs, many times. Just have to be careful and maintain situational awareness.

Ron

Tractor Seabee · Dec 23, 2019

Just keep working slow, don't get over confident, and seat time. It took me about a month of pretty constant operating to get comfortable. Now reactions are pretty much automatic. Alcohol can be your worst enemy. I never drink before or during operations. It can make you cocky regardless what some may say. During that forest work I put 1500 hours on my BX in 5 years. It now shows it but runs great.

Ron

Gator6x4 · Dec 23, 2019

ruffdog said:
Andrew....load up that rear ballast box with some weight. Your front axle does nothing to keep you from tipping because it pivots at one point in the center. Your rear axle doesn't pivot so that is the one that keeps you stable but it needs weight to plant it to the ground. Are your rear tires fluid filled? If not, start with 300+ lbs in the box and work up from there.

Agree that rear ballast is needed. I would start with 400-500 pounds, since the rear tires are not loaded. People also think tractors have brakes like cars and trucks, they don’t. When using a loader on uneven terrain and one gets the rear wheels off the ground and are going down hill, you are along for the ride. Having the tractor in four wheel drive helps some when this happens, but is not a sure cure to prevent the problem.

mikester · Dec 23, 2019

Andrew2019 said:
Just wanted to come back with some final thoughts.
I have the 300+ lbs of sand in the ballast box and keep the firewood load as low as possible.(nothing more than what you see in the original post pictures)

I still feel I could tip the tractor if I pushed hard enough but its far better now.
I drive very slow and watch for any abrupt changes in terrain.

I'm probably being too cautious (is there such a thing?) but I'm not sure of myself on some of the terrain I have in my yard.
Just wondering what degree of slope would be a tipping point? (might be a question that can't be answered as there are too many variables)
I don't think my land is too steep in any one spot.

To be clear, the problem with tipping is mostly when you have the loader on?
I never felt any issues when I didn't have the loader connected (I also almost always had the 60" mowing deck on the bottom as well, I'm guessing that did a lot to keep the centre of gravity low)

Drew

Heres a good experiment for you. Stand on a chair holding 40 lbs of weight in your hands with your arms straight and perpendicular to your body. Have your wife give your shoulder a push to the side. Do you wobble?