BX24 Brakes

[ejnichol]

I just took delivery of a BX24 Friday. While using it on a slope uphill from the lake it started to get away from me.

On one occasion the fel hitting a tree stoped me. I was changing from high range to low to accomodate the low speed manuevering about to take place.

Several other instances it involved changing ranges while still in 4wd. Scarry stuff. After the Friday work, I climbed under machine and looked at Owners Manual. Seems brake has too much travel like 3.5 - 4 inches. Book says 1 - 1.4. Coolant was consideralbly below low level mark.

Dealer made mistake of telling me hes sold over 100 of these and never had brake problem. Between the brakes and the coolant they don't do much presales check on these

I gather from reading other threads that brakes aren't great and only on two wheels. These are about worthless and only of any use on flat ground.

 

[Scrounger]

I would recommend that you never change ranges on any slope unless stopped with the bucket or something else to hold you in place. The hydro is all the bake you need. My brake if for parking only and pretty useless on any slope with a load. Once under way, the hyrdostatic transmission is all that I have ever needed.

 

[AMR]

Good advice to avoid range changes on a hill all together, and if you need to, put the bucket or other implement on the ground and stomp on the brake.

Also, I never operate on any decent slope without being in 4 wheel drive, I was mowing once and forgot to put it in 4 wheel, I went for a good ride and all but flipped the machine as I fished tailed down my front yard. Lesson learned.

 

[lp333]

ejnichol, you are correct. For a first time user, operating a BX22, BX23 or BX24 on a slope might be a very dangerous experience, as you have pointed out. The brakes by themselves leave much to be desired. The best braking is provided by the HST in 4WD - when they are engaged.

However once mastered, these incredibly agile units can be surprisingly sure-footed and safe on hillsides. I have used all 3 models in 4WD mode on slopes with inclines as high as 28 degrees. The differential lock provides added traction when needed. I place the HST on "low" before I start up the hill, and I never go to "neutral" once on the slope. When I stop, I engage the brake and lower the FEL. With a properly weighted belly mower, these BX units (with FEL and BH removed) can cut across slopes with surprisingly steep inclines as well. I have found both "turf" and "R4" tires to have excellent grip.

 

[ejnichol]

I check the manual to be sure and it says "1 - 1.4 inches freeplay" I've got way too much freeplay. 3 -4. The parking brake pawl only catches the last tooth.

I keep it in 4wd on slopes. I just never thought about changing ranges with foot on brake would be a problem. Hopefully dealer adjusting brake will make some improvement.

I've used my neighbors JD Hydro 4wd, i believe its a 410. Same application same operating procedure. His let me do whatever on slope as long as i kept pressure on brake pedal. I'll see what dealers adjusting does. Wish I had demo's unit before buying.

Machine is pretty stout as a pulling drive train. Lashed with chain two young trees together and hooked to bh bucket. Pulled them to large lot clearing pile down road no real problem. Impressive to see it pull them individually out of ditch at bottom of lot. Normally I would have had to cut with saw and carry them out piece by piece.

 

[Volfandt]

The brake on the BX is mainly for parking. All brakeing whilst moving in fwd or rev is done via the HST.
Likes been said, you should never change ranges while on a slope. You should shift into low before you start up/down so you won't loose the brakeing of the HST.
Theres been several posts of folks loosing control and zooming down a hill when they've tried to change gears.

Your brake could very well need adj., bt keep in mind that even a properly adjusted brake won't stop a BX once the momentum picks up when it's free wheeling down a hill.

re. compareing the operation of a subcut to a garden tractor is apples to oranges, your BX probably weighs in around 1000lbs heavier or there abouts and that additional weight changes everything

I rarely use my foot brake for anything more than a parking brake and it's not very good on a steep incline.

Be careful

 

[ejnichol]

.

re. compareing the operation of a subcut to a garden tractor is apples to oranges, your BX probably weighs in around 1000lbs heavier or there abouts and that additional weight changes everything

Neighbors JD isn't a garden tractor. Slightly taller bigger than bx24. Has a yanmar about same displ as bx. Probably gave wrong model #. Definately better brakes. Lawsuit territory. Kubota should rename or remove reference to brake pedal and call it 'slow down assist on a good day'

 

[Volfandt]

Neighbors JD isn't a garden tractor. Slightly taller bigger than bx24.

Probably a 4100 which is comparable to the B7610.
If so those brakes are vastly different from the BX in that they are designed for independant operation and can lock either or both brakes. They are called "turning" brakes, meaning you can lock one side which will spin the tractor sharply to the locked side, practically spinning the tractor on a dime.

I agree the brake on the BX should be renamed, they should call it a parking brake at the least as that is all it is.

 

[ad4pl]

i was told by the dealer when i bough my bx24, that the brakes work through the gear, and when you change from hi-low, or low-hi,you are disengaging the gears so out of gear, theres no brakes.

 

[Singlecoil]

One thing to remember with these tractors is that the engine is used to drive the hydraulic pump, not move the tractor directly. We've had posts of people saying how the tractor "took off downhill" on them. The natural reaction would be to lower your RPM's (take your foot off the gas like in your car) but what you need to do is INCREASE your RPM's to increase your hydraulic pressure available to the HST and the brakes.

 

[ejnichol]

Probably a 4100 which is comparable to the B7610.
.

That sounds right.

The BX doesn't lose anythig on it engine wise as his jd bogged easier climbing the grade in hi range. Neither really should use hi on that grade, but the bx had a little more stuff even with the bh and fel. Brakes well that another story.

His has over 1000 hrs now. Pops out of 4wd sometimes which causes a loss in traction and slight sharpening of the attention factor.

 

[David_G]

Actually the brakes on my BX23 are quite good.
I adjusted them by following the service manual instructions.

The factory setting was ............. dangerous.....

 

[bx23barry]

I've never used the brake on my bx23.

 

[BotaBigot]

i was told by the dealer when i bough my bx24, that the brakes work through the gear, and when you change from hi-low, or low-hi,you are disengaging the gears so out of gear, theres no brakes.

The BX24 has a wet disc type brake, independently operated by the brake pedal. The hi-lo range selector uses gears to make the two different ratios for hi and lo. In neutral, the gears are disengaged and that's where we can get into trouble. So long as the HST is "in gear," we have control of ground speed via the speed control pedal and throttle. In neutral, the engine/transmission is disconnected from the drive wheels, rendering the speed control and throttle useless. All we have left in neutral is the brake. Depending on grade, implements, and load, the brake can be quickly overpowered by the sheer weight of the tractor and gravity.

I'm guessing the dealer meant that, out of gear, there's no "engine braking" so-to-speak. Either that, or he doesn't understand how his product works.

 

[ejnichol]

I'm guessing the dealer meant that, out of gear, there's no "engine braking" so-to-speak. Either that, or he doesn't understand how his product works.

+1 for lack of dealer product knowledge. Of course your results may vary.

 

[Riptide23]

i was told by the dealer when i bough my bx24, that the brakes work through the gear, and when you change from hi-low, or low-hi,you are disengaging the gears so out of gear, theres no brakes.

How true. I found this out the hard way when the previous owner delivered my BX23 on a roll-on tow truck. They asked if I wanted to back it off the sloped ramp. Since it was in gear when it was placed on the truck, the key wouldn't start it. As I'm in the seat, asking what's wrong, the owner throws the hi-lo lever in neutral, which immediately sends me rocketing down the ramp, heading for my boat. She's yelling "brake! brake!" Did I mention I hadn't read the owner's manual yet?? Anyway, I find the brake in the nick of time...

I think the tow truck driver peed his pants from laughing so hard. I think I peed mine for a different reason.

Pat

 

[RayCo]

How true. I found this out the hard way when the previous owner delivered my BX23 on a roll-on tow truck. They asked if I wanted to back it off the sloped ramp. Since it was in gear when it was placed on the truck, the key wouldn't start it. As I'm in the seat, asking what's wrong, the owner throws the hi-lo lever in neutral, which immediately sends me rocketing down the ramp, heading for my boat. She's yelling "brake! brake!" Did I mention I hadn't read the owner's manual yet?? Anyway, I find the brake in the nick of time...

I think the tow truck driver peed his pants from laughing so hard. I think I peed mine for a different reason.

Pat

Sorry Pat, but I'm "LOL'ing." Since it all turned out alright, it's okay to laugh, right?

 

[hancocks]

Boy, I must be both lucky and stupid, but...

I've freewheeled my BX-24 down our (dirt) road many times to the neighbors' house - put it in neutral and let it coast (it's quicker than high range but I don't let it get really going, probably doing 10-12MPH at best, my guess). Also quieter at idle . And my brakes? Superb. No complaints whatsoever. I had certainly battle-tested them way before I tried this, so I knew what I had, so to speak. But I've never had a brake problem, ever - at 200+ hours.

- Stuart

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

I use my brakes intentionally as a reminder that they exist after being scolded by a TBN'er that the HST, while usually effective, can't be relied on in all circumstances. (Never use them, and you won't be trained to find them while in panic mode.) Saved my bacon when I bumped the high/low range lever into neutral once. If your brakes don't work, you should fix them. I can lock up my BX2350's tires with little pressure.