BX24

[thavil]

bruiserx2 - Recently, a Kubota dealer here on TBN said that the price increase should only affect newer tractors they purchase from Kubota, not for tractors already in stock. This might be why the BX24 is still a good price and the MMM is higher than what others have purchased them for. They may not have an older MMM in stock? Just as a price comparison, I purchased my BX24 in June 08 for $15,230 and the 60" MMM for $1,760 here in the DC area. If you live in the NE area of the states, I have heard they pay more than other areas.

 

[thavil]

So it sounds like a good deal I will meet with the dealer on Monday. What should I be asking/looking for?

As PUSHINDIRT mentioned, you should really check out the abrupt reverse stop on the BX24. This may be a deal breaker for you once you see first hand what many have posted about. I went ahead and purchased my BX24, even though I knew about the issue. The BX25 wasn't out yet and I really wanted the TLB configuration for my small horse farm but didn't need a larger size tractor. I would recommend driving both tractors and then make your decision. Low range is manageable coming out of reverse but high range will snap your neck if your not careful.

Other issues that the BX24 had (seat, fender cracking, etc) will already be corrected on your new BX24. The only other issue to look at is the plastic on the tractor. Myself and many others actually like the plastic versus metal. I would have dented many areas on my tractor if it had metal.

 

[CHDinCT]

Ditto what thavil said. Make sure you test drive it in reverse. Get some speed up, then let off the reverse pedal in both hi and low range. As long as that's not a deal breaker for you, sounds like a pretty good deal. Only other issue I can think of is that on the BX24, there's no hydraulic pressure to the FEL or 3PH at idle. You have to throttle up a bit before it builds pressure, not a lot, maybe 1600 RPM or so.

 

[NuBota]

Bruiser, not sure where your located, but I am close to Thavil (and very likely bought from the same dealer) - in 09/07 mine was $15750, with $1650 for 54" MMM, and they threw in WR Long flat tooth bar and Wallenstein thumb.

I was leaning heavily JD 2305, but I went orange for the same reason, about $3000 difference. Was at county fair, JD and Bota dealers side-by-side. Really liked both, but the price and the fact of the factory 'Bota hoe, instead of an add-on, tipped the scales. Bought the following week, no shopping, or haggling - serious case of tractor acquisition disorder (TAD) at that point...

After about 50 hrs, the reverse issue doesn't even factor in anymore

 

[bruiserx2]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I appreciate the feedback it really helps. I have two acres of land in Fairfield, CT. Hard pack and rocky soil. I need to level much of the back yard and pull stumps. I took down roughly 70 to 100 small tress leaving the stumps, (All under 6 inches) and then I have 5 big stumps 12-16 inches round. The idea here is to get enough tractor to do everything. I made the mistake of buying to quick and not enough the first time.

Can anyone tell me how he or she likes his or her BH? I am a homeowner and weekend warrior so I do not need the most power or speed just enough tractor that with perseverance I will get the job done.

Spending the money and the TLB not having enough power or ability to do what a TLB needs to is my concern, I do not want to end up with a cool looking toy backhoe.

 

[radioman]

I love my BX BH. its does the job nicely. I have been able to pull out a few stumps with it. I even moved a walnut tree 4 inches in diameter and rootball 3 ft . granted the tree rootball wasy pretty heavy, but I was able to tow it to desired location . Hopefully this would give you a rough ballpark idea of BX strength.

 

[Ken_CT]

Bruiser, I live about 20 miles north of you, so we have similar rock problems. I have a BX23, and am very happy with it. It is a small tractor but can do more than you would think. I found that the Bro-Tek ripper works great on popping out rocks without tearing up the lawn too much. Here are a couple of pics to give you an idea about its capabilities. Obviously a larger tractor will do more, and do it faster, but the BX23 fits my need perfectly. The rock with the shovel leaning on it was pretty flat, so the picture makes it look heavier than it actually was, but it was pretty much at the limit of the BX23.

Ken

 

[NuBota]

Lots of info here about the BX's capabilities

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/127383-what-can-bx-do-thread.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/134551-bx24-stump-killer.html

Search the site - you will be impressed.

I love the BH - I started out like you - cut the small trees then stumped with the hoe - but found I could get the smaller stuff with the FEL, root and all. The hoe is very capable - but you won't necessarily rip the stump out "clean" - have to work at it, but it will come out.

 

[LBrown59]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I appreciate the feedback it really helps. I have two acres of land in Fairfield, CT. Hard pack and rocky soil. I need to level much of the back yard and pull stumps.
1*I took down roughly 70 to 100 small tress leaving the stumps, (All under 6 inches) and then I have 5 big stumps 12-16 inches round. The idea here is to get enough tractor to do everything. I made the mistake of buying to quick and not enough the first time.
2*Can anyone tell me how he or she likes his or her BH? I am a homeowner and weekend warrior so I do not need the most power or speed just enough tractor that with perseverance I will get the job done.
Spending the money and the TLB not having enough power or ability to do what a TLB needs to is my concern, 3*I do not want to end up with a cool looking toy backhoe.

1*I probably took out that many small trees with my BX23 FEL and BH back in 2005 when I grubbed about 6/10 of an acre.
I assume when you say took down you mean you sawed them down with a chain saw.
How close you cut them off to the ground is going to make a difference on how hard it's going to be to dig the stumps out with the BH.
2*I love the BH.
3*The BX23 and BX24 is not a toy.

 

[bruiserx2]

Thanks guys those last three post were very convincing.