BX24 MMM installation?

Mustangous · Jun 3, 2009

I have been thinking about purchasing a 60"MMM for my bx24 now before i wait longer and prices go up. I have a scotts S2554 garden tractor, which was made by deere, that i use now for cutting the lawn. Its in great condition and runs great, but eventually when i get most of the main work around the yard done i would like to use the bx for mowing and possibly sell the garden tractor with a snow blower attachment. the snow blower attachment for the scotts is far from good, the belt/pulley system design is horrible. Tough to keep a belt on it. I usually always end up on the bx24 and finishing up the snow clearing.

Has anyone bought and installed and setup the mmm on their own? The sales man at the dealer said that if i did it, it would save me a little over $200. Just wondering if its difficult to setup for the first time. He quoted me $1780 if i installed it myself.

Jeff H · Jun 3, 2009

I put my own on my BX25 yesterday. You are probably going to have to take it off and on during the time you own it anyway so might as well get used to it right up front. It comes with a manual to explain how to install it.

The crate it comes in fits in the back of my F250, the dealer forklifted it into my truck. At the house I uncrated it right in the truck bed, and had three neighbors help me lift it to the ground. It is heavy.

Installing the drive shaft coupling to the PTO takes some doing, it clicks on similar to an air hose chuck, you have to reach under and do that with one hand. I found I could best do it reaching under from the rear. Make sure it is clicked on.

The manual does not mention having to raise the tractor, but I had to lift it up a few inches with the FEL to slide the deck under.

Renob · Jun 3, 2009

When I purchased my BX24 in Feb. 2006 the MMM was not in stock. I picked it up later in a crate. The deck install went right on easy, but did take some adjusting to get a proper cut. A simple job with regular tools. Be sure to fill the blade hubs with grease. They will take a lot.

radioman · Jun 3, 2009

Welcome to TBN. Since I have a BX24 with 60" deck - here goes. It easy really , once you get a hang of it. I had mine deleivered installed and once My dealer showed me where is the pins to pull the deck out, it was super easy. Putting it back in wasnt so bad either. The hardest part I think is the MMM pto coupler. The angle to crawl between deck and pto shaft and pulling back the collar to slide in is the only hard part of installing the deck. I really don't foresee any problems installing the MMM. Just turn the wheels so its sideways to push it in under a hard surface, connect the rear pins, connect front bracket and swing up to lock. install the MMM pto shaft. raise then return wheels to forward direction. Then go mow! No belts, no lifting, nothing. I would figure about 30 mins the first time you try to install it unless someone is there to show you since it's super easy. After you get to know how to remove and put back on its only takes less then 10 mins each time. That is the beuaty of the BX's. You can take off the BH , FEL, MMM off and on 10 mins for each one once you get used to it. Just take a look at youtube. do a search on bx24 messicks and bx24 bxpanded. They have wonderful videos on implements on/off. Once you get your BX, come back and post some pics. We love pics and will help you when you get into a problem.

Jimmyp5 · Jun 3, 2009

It is easy once you get the hang of it. If you buy the lower after market skid plates for the rear, it still can be done in a few minutes. If your going to do any heavy work, I really recommend getting the rear plate., and do the search for the protector over the front CV boots, worth the time to make.

If you follow the book it works fine, on my barn floor (smooth con)I can skip the part of roating the wheels. Your going ot love this tractor!

ampsucker · Jun 3, 2009

the 60" deck weighs about 250 lbs. you'll probably need help unboxing as mentioned.

the price seems high for an unassembled unit. i think 1800 is the price installed. you should be at 1600 or less. unless prices went up a lot this past year or your price has tax included.

amp

Mustangous · Jun 3, 2009

Thanks everyone for the responses! I actually had the bx24 for a year now and absolutely love it. Originally when i bought it i was thinking of just using it for all the work that is need around the yard and possibly sell it later( yeah right!

) I have the scotts garden tractor with 54" deck so i have kept that and been using that to mow and keeping the bx just for ground work.

Eventually i would like to just have the bx for mowing too for when/if the scotts dies. So i have been contemplating getting the mower deck and turfs now, or just holding off. The prices did seem to go up a tad since i bought it and i remember that messick said in a post that they had. Just dont want to spend the money to have the deck sitting around, or maybe i should try to sell the scotts now with mower and snow blower to consolidate my machines. Its just nice to have one of different uses (waiting for LB to appear now).

So i heard removing and installing the mower deck is simple, i was just curious on the setup and leveling the deck for the first time. Maybe thats why the price is a tad bit highter too because there is now deal with the machine at the same time, but he did give me a good price (i think) on turfs, $57 for each front and $100 for each back.

So if you want some picks, here ya go!
Tractors

Tom_H · Jun 3, 2009

Jeff H said:
Installing the drive shaft coupling to the PTO takes some doing, it clicks on similar to an air hose chuck, you have to reach under and do that with one hand. I found I could best do it reaching under from the rear.

This is not my experience. I have my MMM on a dolly and can angle the deck a bit. For the first year the coupling was a little stiff, however it never takes me more than three seconds to get it on now. The secret is finesse, not force. To see longer explanations, search the archives for my posts.

dodge man · Jun 3, 2009

I had the exact same Scotts mower you do. I bought a BX2350 last year with a 60"mmm. I kept the Scotts for maybe only a couple of weeks after I got the BX when I realized I would never mow with it again. The BX is so much nicer. You wouldn't think the BX would mow a yard that much faster but it did reduce my mowing time. The only drawback is the Scotts turned sharper.

Mine came with the deck already setup, so I can't help you with that, but they do give detailed instructions on how to do it. Its just a matter of getting the thing level. I timed myself last time I installed my deck. It took 8 minutes once I pulled up to the deck to put it on, including the time to turn the antiscalp wheels back. It seems like it takes half the time just to turn all the wheels back in the direction they belong. The deck comes off quicker than it goes on. I also have never really had any trouble getting the pto shaft hooked up, but it is a akward reach. My only trouble is a ruined a belt last week. I don't know what went wrong but a new belt was $118.

CHDinCT · Jun 3, 2009

Just one word of advice if you get the Bro Tek rear skid plate and the MMM. Put the PTO shaft on before you hook the deck to the lift pins and front suspension bracket. I found out the hard way on my BX1860 with 54" deck that with the skid plate installed, there wasn't enough room to manuver the drive shaft onto the PTO. Had to unhook it, roll the deck forward a few inches, hook up the PTO, then the pins and bracket. Might be different on a BX24 with 60" but it wouldn't hurt to do it this way just in case.

Also, I didn't find it any harder to get to the PTO coupler with the skid plate on (one of my concerns before buying it) as I could reach through the side of the skid plate near the left rear tire (opposite of the hydro filter) to hook it up.

T/C · Jun 3, 2009

I bought my bx24 2 years ago and never looked back. It is truly a wonderful machine. It does take some time to level the mower and get it mounted the first time, but once that is done the hardest part is attaching the shaft to the pto, due to space. Once piece of advise I would give you is to be sure you check fluid level in the gear box. Mine was low when I brought it home from the dealer.

Stradbash · Jun 3, 2009

I have a BX25 with a 60" deck and did as others have and set it up myself (including getting it out of my truck by myself, which Is not for the impatient or faint of back).
I found it pretty easy to set up and install and am very impressed by the quality of cut. MUCH better than the Simplicity it replaced.
I highly recommend the use of something like " Larry's MOWER AXLES ". It's a great idea and makes moving and storing the deck -much- easier. It is quite heavy and awkward.

asylum575 · Jun 3, 2009

I have a BX24 with the 60" deck. I also have an old Craftsman 18HP 42" rider. My plan was to use the BX for all the landscaping projects, then decide whether to keep it or sell it for a ZTR.
Now that I have close to 1.5 acres of lawn, the BX is the preferred mower. I will unload the old rider and the BX will be the primary mower. It's an excellent cut, only drawback is the bagger price, ouch.

Mustangous · Jun 3, 2009

Thanks for all the responses... I didnt think the deck installation wouild be that hard. I had to level and setup the deck on the scotts because it came with the blower installed and set up on it. I already have the cyclone rake and use it with the scotts, if i switch over to the bx i might have to get a new 8" hose and deck adapter because it would be set back further. I guess i have to decide and see how much i will get for the scotts setup. Probably now would be the best time to sel it.

Jeff H · Jun 3, 2009

T/C said:
I bought my bx24 2 years ago and never looked back. It is truly a wonderful machine. It does take some time to level the mower and get it mounted the first time, but once that is done the hardest part is attaching the shaft to the pto, due to space. Once piece of advise I would give you is to be sure you check fluid level in the gear box. Mine was low when I brought it home from the dealer.

Yes I did one cut, and then checked the oil level and found it to be just a bit low. I was not too happy about that, for all that money it should have been filled to the proper height.

Volfandt · Jun 4, 2009

This is how I unloaded my brand new crated 60" MMM from my F150. btw it fit perfectly in the std pickup bed.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/49081-bx23-backhoe-works-pretty-good.html

I imagine that setting up the 60" MMM for the 50 & 60 series BX's is quite similar to the 00 & 30 series. This is how I did mine back in the day.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/52230-adjing-60-mmm-bx.html

Stradbash · Jun 4, 2009

Volfandt said:
This is how I unloaded my brand new crated 60" MMM from my F150. btw it fit perfectly in the std pickup bed.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/49081-bx23-backhoe-works-pretty-good.html

Very nice!
When I got my deck I did not have the luxury of having a tractor to put it on or lift it with yet and was getting it out of an enclosed small SUV.
They are heavy!

Mustangous · Jun 4, 2009

Thanks for the tips everyone! Nice work and great documenting as always Volfandt! A few years ago i bought the cyclone rake because of one of your post about it, always very detailed. Isn't the internet great! If/when i purchase, getting it out of the truck should be relatively easy with the bxpanded pallet forks

slewisma · Jun 4, 2009

A lot of people have commented on getting the deck on and off the BX24 but only a few on the setup and adjustments.

The only thing I'd add to the on/off comments is that it is a bit easier if you drive onto some 2X6 to get a little extra clearance to roll the deck under the BX24. If you have the room to store the deck flat, build a dolly - there are several good threads on that here. If you don't have the space, get the mower deck axles.

I found that getting a great cut wasn't too hard to setup but that getting the height adjustment to be accurate wasn't worth the extra time. The deck, lift arms, front brackets and BX24 frame form a sort of a trapezoid and trying to get the top and bottom perfectly parallel with each AND sitting at the height the dial indicates is a long process. Focus on about the right height and as parallel as you can get and call it good. The documentation wasn't clear enough for me but some trial and error got me there.