BX25 project

[Chugbug]

Started a new project with my BX25, it needed a home (along with all the other toys uuuhh I mean tools) Putting up a new 30 X 40 pole barn plus adding to my exsisting driveway. Started working on the pad about 3 weeks ago, the grade was within 2 inches with the exception of one corner was about 8 inches higher, have not used the bucket to dig much so I was going to put it and myself to the test, it was slow going but learned alot. I decided to dig the pad down appx. 4 inches, I didn't think about it but I began digging and it wasn't getting good bites for the the 1st couple of passes then realized it was in high, dduuhh put it down in low and man can this thing dig, as I expected it took some time because of the bucket size limitations but all in all it took about 7 hours to dig and move the material, overall area dug was appx. 40' X 90'. Once I dug the pad I went back and and lightly scrapped the the entire pad with the backhoe (broke up about another 3" deep) and back dragged the entire pad with the FEL to get a decent level and it worked great. Then brought in 22 tons of 57's and spread / backdragged for them to have a clean site to work in. I've attached a few photos (not sure how to post so the photos show in the post). Cleary Building delivered the materials Thursday and started working Friday morning. I'll post some more photos tomorrow of the barn progress......


I can tell you I knew it was a great little machine but after this little project its the best investment I've made.

 

[Freedom dave]

Hello, I have a question for you if you don't mind. I am a landscaper and do various jobs such as soil, walkways, tree removal etc. Right now I have a boxer 320 (36" mini skid steer stand on platform) with bucket and auger. It's just not big enough sometimes and think a full size bobcat is to big and won't be used enough for my jobs. Was thinking bx25 but needed opinion of a owner of one. I see the project you just did, did you use loader bucket or backhoe? Will the front loader do digging aswell? Is it good for commercial use? Will I look stupid using it or should I get a skid steer ? I love the size and especially the price of the bx25 so just have to make sure it will do the work.

Thanks
Dave

 

[kipper79]

Dave,

I use a bx23 in my landscape and maintenance business and it works great. Something you may want to consider is the footprint. The bx won't tear up the soil near as bad as a bobcat. It also doesn't have the lift capacity of a bobcat though. I have struggled with whether to buy a bobcat for the heavier work but usually just my friends or go slow with the bx.

Kip

 

[kcender]

Nice looking job on the pad.Looks like a nice area where you live as well.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Great job there with your BX25.:thumbsup: Makes my job seem a bit small now.:laughing:

I currently have a BX25. It is an excavating giant, I'm building an additional garage on the side of my current garage but my garage is 4'under ground on the upper side where I'm building the addition. I've had to cut the hillside out to make the 16'x26' flat spot and level out the drive into the new garage space. Lots of near bolders have had to be removed with my BX. I've flattened it and laid in 16 tons of gravel which I had to haul in because the truck bringing the gravel got stuck turning around and had to dump his load on up my hill.
Called a Concrete contractor to come give me labor price to pour the garage and drive. He measured, looked around and gave me the price then we man chatted for awhile. He told me Steve Barlow was "offering" to sell him a used B21 and had been for a bit of time and that he was going to go on out to Barlows and buy it. The B21 is a bit bigger with a bit less HP than my BX25. He said that he was so impressed with what my BX25 had done that he wanted the B21 for his work. Asked Steve Barlow Saturday if John A had bought a B21 from him last week and he said he did and that John A had told him how impressed he was with what my BX25 had done. John A has been in the Concrete Contracting business for years from small jobs to Commercial Jobs (Wal Marts, Factorys, etc).
So, to answer your question about excavating with a BX, yes but much better and quicker with the BH. I have done most of mine in the past with just the FEL because that's what I had before I got the BX25 a couple of years ago.

 

[Freedom dave]

Yes I would love full size bobcat and it would come in handy for some jobs and have borrowed friends equipment in the past but I live in toronto and get a lot of jobs that can use a smaller machine and thought of getting a 4'bobcat but than would be stupid to keep 3' boxer and would still be in position with no backhoe. Also I do decks and my boxer with the auger fits everywhere to dig the holes. Again I just want to get the next level machine for lifting, digging, grading, tree planting and transporting materials. The next size kubota is probably to big and can't justify the price. Sorry so indicisive I just never see any landscapers using them so have no one to ask in my area or to even try it myself.

 

[Chugbug]

Dave, I used the FEL for all of the digging, then used the BH to break the pad up so I could backdrag and get a good level surface. Had it been later in the year, the soil would have been a bit harder to to dig so I would have used the BH to do most of the digging. All I can say is this thing is a workhorse. Thanks John and Kcender, this is my first really big project with the BX25 and its impressive, I just retired in July and never thought I'd have so much fun working again :laughing: The guys from Cleary Building started working on the polebarn on Friday, 1st thing they did was shoot the grade and the pad was within 2" all around......here's some photos of the barn progress as of today....I'll post more as the building goes up

 

[Deano]

Chugbug,

Put a toothbar on that thing and it will even do better!! Also, after using the front loader, a boxblade would have made short work of the grading/leveling.

 

[Chugbug]

Thanks Deano had to use what I had available at the time and it worked out great :thumbsup: I was amazed how well this thing dug once I took it out of high LOL.

 

[Deano]

Definetely understand!! Looks great though!!:thumbsup::thumbsup: