BX25 BORN 10/14/2011

[check 6]

I think the BH is going to be fairly quick to learn. I believe I am seeing that it does not like multi function moves. That may change after I get 50 hours on it because I am keeping the RPM's pretty low as the manual is clear, they do NOT want you tachin' the thing out before 50 hours. I think I will take there advice.

What other attachments do you have? I have a 50 gal sprayer that mounts on the three point hitch and uses a PTO driven wobble pump. I have a four foot spray bar on it ( wanted to keep it narrow for storage and I have a hand spray head on a hose for getting up in trees and I also keep it loaded with water as a fire implement during our dry summer. I would also like to get a light rake for collecting leaves. If your dealer didn't do it, weld some gooks on the front bucket combine that with a sturdy chain and pulling dead bushes and or fences posts. All around just a great vehicle to have around and the back hoe will just make it better

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Hi Artisan,

You'll enjoy that machine. Do they come with some kind of HST fan protection these days? I'm one of he sadder-but-wiser ones around here who added crunch plates _after_ the damage was done

I just bought a land-pride tiller for my '24. Haven't tried it yet. The loader, hoe, and bush-hog have been mighty handy. And fun.

Oh, was that a cigar? Thought your dog had made a mess again...

Z.

 

[Artisan]

I have been using my BX25 all day today, I grabbed a laborer and were goin' to town cleaning things I wanted cleaned for the past 10 years. I used it half a day then I remembered I had a brodie knob I purchased for it. WHAT A POSATIVE difference w/ the brodie knob! A must have! I am a bit peved at the fitment of teh KUBOTA brand knob, the steering wheel is not round but the design is forround...:confused2: go figure, but I got it on there...

 

[jwatt51]

Congratulations, your going to thoroughly enjoy the BX 25. I've had mine for over a year now and had a BX1850 befor that.They are great machines.

 

[check 6]

My BX 25 arrived today ... a very windy day in South Texas. I had chain hooks on the front bucket of my BX 2360 and had the dealer weld some on the new loader bucket. I also had a center loop welded just because. The other mod i had them do was to weld a piece of 1"square steel tubing ( 1/8" wall thickness) along and just under the lip at the top of the bucket to strengthen the top leading edge as I do use the chain hooks to pull things out .

I have also ordered the BXexpanded back hoe dolly and trailer hitch. I also plan to mount a circular hook on the front frame in one of the two holes in the frame / grill guard in case I need to pull something. gives me lots of options

Now to learn the back hoe, many people have told me if I liked the BX 2360 I will be in love with the BX 25 ... hope so

 

[check 6]

I am surprised that no one commented on this simple and logical improvement to the front bucket. I have used the chain hooks frequently to pull up neighbors old fence posts and numerous dead bushes ( remember we have had a very dry summer) and re-enforcing the top edge of the bucket minimizes the chance of bending it when using chains attached to the outboard hooks and the weight increase in minimal.

 

[CHDinCT]

I am surprised that no one commented on this simple and logical improvement to the front bucket. I have used the chain hooks frequently to pull up neighbors old fence posts and numerous dead bushes ( remember we have had a very dry summer) and re-enforcing the top edge of the bucket minimizes the chance of bending it when using chains attached to the outboard hooks and the weight increase in minimal.

I think that's because having chain hooks added to your bucket is almost standard fair for TBN guys. I had mine done after reading here and elsewhere how helpful it is to have hooks on the bucket. Mine are at the outside top corners and don't seem to need any additional reinforcement.

Here's how I use mine most often, which is to use a quarter inch chain from one hook to the other to help keep large objects in the bucket.

 

[Artisan]

I am surprised that no one commented on this simple and logical improvement to the front bucket. I have used the chain hooks frequently to pull up neighbors old fence posts and numerous dead bushes ( remember we have had a very dry summer) and re-enforcing the top edge of the bucket minimizes the chance of bending it when using chains attached to the outboard hooks and the weight increase in minimal.

___No barking from me because I have so much to say but no concrete plans yet to implement! Trust me, I took notes! I am looking at some serious design before I pull the trigger and build anything. I want a grapple, a grapple needs proper support, the curled top of the bucket is anti-everything in my book and I must renforce it prior to any grapple or hooks. The jury is out on that.

__<BARK ON>
___I see guys w/ 3- hooks. I see guys w/ 2 and guys w/ one. I need to figure out how to season mine. You gotta have at least one, if you have one it should be in the middle, but with 2 you can do more, so I would have one aligned w/ each FEL arm I would suspect for the best transfer of weight. (Be careful check 6 with those hooks at bucket end, I think you created a lever there that could tweek you FEL arms or bucket ) If you have two centered on FEL arms you can easily make a cheater chain that hangs from the two and have a hook or ring dead center of the cheater chain so a guy can have one connection point on center if he pleases. Maybe one of these;

That is another step to the process and something else to carry as well!

__Now what kind of hooks? Well, chain hooks, for 1/4, 5/16 or 3/8" chain? OR slip hooks? Or one slip in the middle, and 2 chain on either end! Or any combo! But wait, if I have a grapple I need to design it around the center hook! WAIT! The FEL is not exactly Mr. T and adding a bucket-load of hooks and grapples and chains reduces it efficiency! Perhaps D-ring tie downs are in order? Or a hook and 2 D-Rings! I just read one gent recomends 1/4" chain HIGH TEST...there may be merit here. Got to get to engineering the lifting capacities of the FEL and chain strength. If the FEL can not lift more than what 1/4" chain is rated then 1/4" chain it will be. Less weight and mass to carry. I thunk.

Weldable grab hook= Standard Fare

Weldable Grab Hook= Upgraded Fare

Saddle Grab Link = Possibility

WAIT!__Some hooks must be pre-heated prior to welding? Is the material this bucket is made from, doe sit requir pre-heating? Hmmm, were not building Mr. T's Cave here, maybe over thinking it on the pre-heat deal, but considered it must be!

__So before I start cuttin' and weldin' I thunk I must first research the grapple scene, then I will know what the grapple is dictating I need for a point of connection base on the bucket, then add hooks to fit I guess.

__I saw an electronic valve made by Rexroth that can be used with the FEL hydralics. You plumb the FEL hydraulic hoses to the Valve, then to the bucket, from the valve you run a pair of lines to the grapple. There is a wire to a switch you put on the dash board. The valve either sends fluid to the grapple, or flip the switch and to the bucket or vice versa. This may be the best way to pull this off, instead of spendy new hand controls and long hoses added etc.

Here is a LINK to member Hill-Billy and an outstanding job he did.

__Many pics herein came from HERE

__If anyone has done a grapple I would love ot see what you have done, or a link.

CLICK HERE for one decent thread on another forum for welders on the subject.
__<BARK OFF>

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

My BXpanded 5/16 clip-on hooks arrived yesterday. Haven't opened the box yet.

They aren't cheap. My Kubota dealer said they usually weld on hooks and add reinforcement and he was skeptical about the clip-ons. He hadn't seen the BXpanded hooks. After looking at their site his comment was something like "looks like they'd work well - and ability to move them is worth something."

Might be worth looking into.
Z.

 

[YotaBota]

Everything that I have bought from BXpanded has been top notch, well thought out andf useful as his home page says how he does things. FEL aned BH dollies, FEL clamp on forks, light kit all beautiful additions. Owning your first BX is a slippery slope with endless possiblilites to upgrade and customize.
I purchased a 7 x 12 dump trailer from H & H trailers. The craftsmanship is poor, I have found in the 2 years that I have owned it. I would find a different manufacturer. Having a dump trailer has been great, and the BX25 as well, although for my use they are toys, that will never get used to their full potential, but its the only toy that I really have, so I don't mind spending the money, and taking the time to customize my baby. I would also get a 14' trailer next time to have the full unit in the trailer, and the FEL not resting on the front rail. Just fabricated a plastic pattern to send to the welder for my tool box holder last night. I don't have a welding machine, but I do know how to make a pattern to follow. Once that comes back, I have an old ammo box that I intend to mount onto the bracket. There is definitly a need for storage of pins, gloves, wrenches, etc, and no place to put it all on the factory tractor.:thumbsup