Bx24 or Equivalent: Strategy

[roxynoodle]

I agree. I'd buy the Kubota. And if later down the road you want to sell it, you are right that you will be able to get a good price for it. You probably won't want to sell it though because you will probably love it! Not sure what size mower you can put on it but I don't think it will take you long to mow. I can now mow my back yard in 20min with a 5 ft RFM and it used to take close to 2 hours with my rider. I have my entire 2 acre property down to about an hour and a half. I mow everything I can with the tractor and do my front yard and trimming with my rider (there are a lot of obstacles in the front yard). And if you ever need to dig anything too deep for your Kubota, rent something. I, too, wanted a backhoe but didn't have enough for it to do to justify the cost. The BX24 sounds like a good deal to me. In fact, if I ever do buy a new tractor I think I will go look at that one myself, or whatever they have like it at the time.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Ha!, as a matter of fact, I can't get you a Kubota # but I can give you a link to a friend that sells his version of the BX bolt-on thumb:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=81532

If the link doesn't work or whatever, lookup user "bird1968".

Cheers!

 

[Hotwheels]

The Bro Tec thumb looks like a sweet addition for picking up rocks. It is now on the list!
thanks

 

[_RaT_]

You "BX" tractors guys bring up a good point. If you are not in a hurry, a small tractor will get a tremendous amount of work accomplished. My first tractor, and I've sold more than a thousand since, was a Yanmar YM1500 2wd. It didn't have a loader, but I had a box scraper and a set of forks, plus a drag. I got so much work done on that little machine! My perspective has changed now, but there is a lot of truth to what is being said.

On the flip side, the smaller machines tend to be "first" tractors for most guys with more than an acre or two. They get good at working the machine and soon want to take a bigger bite with the loader, dig out a bigger rock, pull a wider box scraper, etc. The good news is that tractors do not depreciate like a car or truck. You can use them for a couple of years, or 10 years, and still get a good share of your money back. So if you buy too small, it does cost you to trade up later, but it isn't a real bad hit.

I think you are exactly right Dave. By the way, I passed by your place the other day after about a 8 month hiatus from Palo Cedro. I've seen some changes in your area. It sure is neat looking through the massive walnut orchards in your area. How was the 117 degree day yesterday (Sunday) for you guys? I was out watching the Western States 100 mile run that day. A woman from Red Bluff took the womans first place @ WWS 100. Awesome time, awesome woman. One of these trips I must stop by your place. Mark

 

[HomeBrew2]

Hotwheels, one of the things BX owners, well, certain BX owners, are know for is using their machines to their full potential ... without destroying them in the process. Many, including myself, have stumped with a BX (though my stumping has been very limited and not "worthy"). IMNSHO, member SCB wrote the book on stumping with BX. Here is a link to his pix: http://community-2.webtv.net/SCBPhotos1/stumps/index.html
You can do a search for his posts as well. They are very enlightening.

As far as other stuff "you [supposedly] CAN'T do with a BX", such as pulling a real plow and pulling a real disc, search for posts by member "milkman".

Cheers!

 

[Hotwheels]

Hotwheels, one of the things BX owners, well, certain BX owners, are know for is using their machines to their full potential ... without destroying them in the process. Many, including myself, have stumped with a BX (though my stumping has been very limited and not "worthy"). IMNSHO, member SCB wrote the book on stumping with BX. Here is a link to his pix: http://community-2.webtv.net/SCBPhotos1/stumps/index.html
You can do a search for his posts as well. They are very enlightening.

As far as other stuff "you [supposedly] CAN'T do with a BX", such as pulling a real plow and pulling a real disc, search for posts by member "milkman".

Cheers!

Homebrew2,
The images of the stumping are impressive. More to think about as far as possibilities.

After I put together the numbers of specifications and cost, I realized that either the BX24 or the MF GC2310 are the short list. If loader capacity is an issue, then the MF is the choice. When I thought that through, it seems that maybe I don't want to be lifting larger weights with a small tractor. 450 pounds seems ok and I just do loader tasks in smaller increments.

When I looked at the MF, I thought it was ok, but not as refined as the BX in ergonomics and finish. But the BX I looked at was in a showroom and all shinned up. The MF was on a dusty lot in 100+ degree heat.

Seeing the diversity of work that can be done with these small tractors makes me think that is the better choice for me right now.

Thanks

 

[HomeBrew2]

My dealer sells Kubota and MF but said the MF would cost more than the BX, so I didn't even look at it as the BX was already too much money. That seems to be true in some locals and just the opposite in others from TBN reports.
I think there's a trick with the loader capacities: I think MF's higher spec is rated at the pivot point where the arms attach to the bucket and the BX's spec is IN the bucket. Kubota's site has a comparison pdf that shows the BX capacity to be 460# and the MF to be 470#.
There are some reports on TBN from folks who have tested the BX with redimix bags or similar and I think the real capacity is somewhat over 500# lifting to full height. Yep, that's plenty to get you into trouble

 

[DavesTractor]

I think you are exactly right Dave. By the way, I passed by your place the other day after about a 8 month hiatus from Palo Cedro. I've seen some changes in your area. It sure is neat looking through the massive walnut orchards in your area. How was the 117 degree day yesterday (Sunday) for you guys? I was out watching the Western States 100 mile run that day. A woman from Red Bluff took the womans first place @ WWS 100. Awesome time, awesome woman. One of these trips I must stop by your place. Mark

Mark, yes it was 117 Sunday. A couple times a year we get into the 115-121 degree range, and the only good option is to sit in the A/C or the pool. I had just bought a Mustang Cobra convertible the day before, so I had to drive it around with the top down. Stopping at stoplights was almost unbearable. But I'm sure I looked cool...That just proves that I'm not much smarter now then when I was a kid.

The lady that won the race is amazing. She is a friend of my younger kids, who are athletes as well. She is in a class of her own.

Stop by next time you come through. Flusher stopped by the other day and we were able to kick some tires and have a good chat.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I think there's a trick with the loader capacities: I think MF's higher spec is rated at the pivot point where the arms attach to the bucket and the BX's spec is IN the bucket. Kubota's site has a comparison pdf that shows the BX capacity to be 460# and the MF to be 470#.
There are some reports on TBN from folks who have tested the BX with redimix bags or similar and I think the real capacity is somewhat over 500# lifting to full height. Yep, that's plenty to get you into trouble

The Kubota page for the BX24 FEL (the LA240) shows the lift capacity to be 518# @ 19.7" forward of the bucket pivot pin. The 3-point hitch lift capacity is 992# at the lift point. http://www.kubota.com/f/products/attachmentView.aspx?modelId=22

The MF GC2310 brochure shows the lift capacity for their FEL (the 2350) to be 470# @19.5" forward of the bucket pivot pin. The 3-point hitch lift capacity is 1190# at the lift point. http://www.masseyferguson.com/agco/MF/NA/Tractors/MFGC/MF_GCSeries_Brochure.pdf

As Homebrew says, make sure you're comparing apples to apples.

 

[Hotwheels]

The Kubota page for the BX24 FEL (the LA240) shows the lift capacity to be 518# @ 19.7" forward of the bucket pivot pin. The 3-point hitch lift capacity is 992# at the lift point. http://www.kubota.com/f/products/attachmentView.aspx?modelId=22

The MF GC2310 brochure shows the lift capacity for their FEL (the 2350) to be 470# @19.5" forward of the bucket pivot pin. The 3-point hitch lift capacity is 1190# at the lift point. http://www.masseyferguson.com/agco/MF/NA/Tractors/MFGC/MF_GCSeries_Brochure.pdf

As Homebrew says, make sure you're comparing apples to apples.

Hello Bill,

Thanks for the correction on the loader capacity. The numbers I was looking at are not the same. The specifications are closer on the loader capacity than indicated by the numbers I saw, but I guess I misinterpreted what I did see as comparable:

http://www.masseyferguson.com/agco/mf/NA/Tractors/MFGC/MF_GCSeries_ProductSpecs.pdf

If the comparable loader capacities you indicate are correct, then the decision considerations change and start to favor the BX for an all around machine for me. This clarification helps!
thanks