Tractor Sizing BX25D ... Is it the machine I need?

[archwoodholding]

Not stopping when you take your foot off the pedal kind of seems counter intuitive for a HST of any brand. Are they doing this for a reason? I rarely used my brake(s) on my L3540 unless I needed to pivot or something or just to set parking brake but I knew right where to find them. I don't think the brake being on the left is going to be what I want and I sure don't like braking with my left foot ... not what I do in my vehicles and I think if I have to try and figure that out when I need the brakes in an emergency etc... it will be too late. Seems everytime I think I made up my mind the manufacturer changes something that sends me back to the drawing board. I already have reservations about the size of the BX25D ... I don't want an expensive toy. From what I'm also hearing, it does an average job mowing but doesn't have a drive over deck and somewhat difficult to put on which is a problem I have with my JD 445 and changing blades etc... I want to be able to pop off the FEL and BH and mow but that sounds like it is a hassle for most. I am sure it would be for me too since I usually mow whenever I have time or a break in the weather. I also don't want to bath in dirt and grass clippings which my JD 445 is all too good at already. If I'm going to dole out this kind of cash the machine needs to impress me with its abilities I don't want a compromise on all these things. I have also given thought to going with a B Tractor but $30,000 plus isn't appealing to me either with FEL, BH, Pallet Forks, and Either Hydraulic Front Blade or Snowblower, and MMM. I know I need a machine to help me continue to maintain my landscaping and moving mulch, topsoil, and of course here in NE Ohio we get our share of snow. The problem I had with my L3540 was that it was heavy and hard to maneuver around obstacles. It literally tore up my yard if the soil was even slightly damp/soft and because of its height and center of gravity, along with its weight (especially on septic/leach field) and the slopes it just wasnt suited to my yard. Storage was also a problem since it wouldnt go in the shed. I guess I'm more confused the more I read instead of the other way around.

 

[russellm]

I just purchased my BX25D a few weeks ago (but wont be having it delivered for several weeks while my place gets built). I did test the rolling stop that johnthomas had mentioned a few months ago. Indeed, it does not stop immediately. The interesting thing though, is reverse does stop immediate and abruptly. i asked the sale person to try and adjust the forward momentum before having it delivered. We'll see if they can make it any better.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Not stopping when you take your foot off the pedal kind of seems counter intuitive for a HST of any brand. Are they doing this for a reason? I rarely used my brake(s) on my L3540 unless I needed to pivot or something or just to set parking brake but I knew right where to find them. I don't think the brake being on the left is going to be what I want and I sure don't like braking with my left foot ... not what I do in my vehicles and I think if I have to try and figure that out when I need the brakes in an emergency etc... it will be too late. Seems everytime I think I made up my mind the manufacturer changes something that sends me back to the drawing board. I already have reservations about the size of the BX25D ... I don't want an expensive toy. From what I'm also hearing, it does an average job mowing but doesn't have a drive over deck and somewhat difficult to put on which is a problem I have with my JD 445 and changing blades etc... I want to be able to pop off the FEL and BH and mow but that sounds like it is a hassle for most. I am sure it would be for me too since I usually mow whenever I have time or a break in the weather. I also don't want to bath in dirt and grass clippings which my JD 445 is all too good at already. If I'm going to dole out this kind of cash the machine needs to impress me with its abilities I don't want a compromise on all these things. I have also given thought to going with a B Tractor but $30,000 plus isn't appealing to me either with FEL, BH, Pallet Forks, and Either Hydraulic Front Blade or Snowblower, and MMM. I know I need a machine to help me continue to maintain my landscaping and moving mulch, topsoil, and of course here in NE Ohio we get our share of snow. The problem I had with my L3540 was that it was heavy and hard to maneuver around obstacles. It literally tore up my yard if the soil was even slightly damp/soft and because of its height and center of gravity, along with its weight (especially on septic/leach field) and the slopes it just wasnt suited to my yard. Storage was also a problem since it wouldnt go in the shed. I guess I'm more confused the more I read instead of the other way around.

The rolling stop or non stop is bad enough but then moving the brake from the right side where it has been on the 15/19/20 other Kubotas to the left (different than used to) compounds the problem. Also never used the brake on any other HST except when getting off the machine. To a person not used to where the brake has been the move probably won't matter. Since it continues to roll the brake is probably better on the left side so one can already be ready to stop it using the brake.
The rolling stop doesn't always act the same. Sometimes in reverse it stops abruptly and some times it keeps rolling even in reverse but not as bad as in forward, sometimes. Since mine was adjusted to the max at the dealer when I returned it, the rolling stop has improved, sometimes and sometimes not. I'm convinced it's a manufacturing/design flaw. :2cents::thumbdown: Wish I had my B2620 FEL BH back and Barlows or someone else had this BX25D-1. Maybe one day that will happen or I'll trade it to a skid steer with bucket and backhoe attachments.

 

[chucky79]

didn't you say in a previous thread we both commented on that you tested the other bx25d's at barlows and they acted the same or similar? Did you contact Kubota about this issue and possible recall/help with getting more aggressive action taken or the tractor replaced?

 

[Grandad4]

didn't you say in a previous thread we both commented on that you tested the other bx25d's at barlows and they acted the same or similar? Did you contact Kubota about this issue and possible recall/help with getting more aggressive action taken or the tractor replaced?

Seem they have been fiddling with the abrupt stop issue through multiple models of the BX. One of the earlier generations, I think it was the xx50 series, was fairly notorious for its abrupt stops. Haven't really heard much about it for quite a while, until this discussion.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

didn't you say in a previous thread we both commented on that you tested the other bx25d's at barlows and they acted the same or similar? Did you contact Kubota about this issue and possible recall/help with getting more aggressive action taken or the tractor replaced?

The other ones also did/do it per Steve Barlow and others on this site and No I have not contacted Kubota

Seem they have been fiddling with the abrupt stop issue through multiple models of the BX. One of the earlier generations, I think it was the xx50 series, was fairly notorious for its abrupt stops. Haven't really heard much about it for quite a while, until this discussion.

I also owned a BX2350 and traded it to a BX2660 solely because of the abrupt stop in reverse issue and Kubota gave me an extra $500 for the BX2350 because of the issue. The 60 series soon replaced the 50 series and the 60 series never had the issue. The current BX is the 70 series and not sure how many models have the current non stopping issue like the BX25D-1.

 

[Code54]

I don't feel it is a design flaw or major problem, think it maybe because so many people complained about the abrupt stop on past models. The brake on the left takes me a minute because I am often jumping between two different Kubota tractors - the BX has the left brake and my MX has a clutch pedal there. Sometimes I hit the clutch to "set" the parking brake when I am switching between them quickly.... Im sure it is funny to watch!
I just look at it as a difference in the machines and none of it really bothers me

 

[Gcorron]

Put me in the 'meh, who cares' category about not stopping instantly when you remove your foot from the pedal. Most of the time, mine does, but there are instances when it takes a foot, or two, to stop.

It is intuitive to me that if I want any machine, or vehicle, to stop, when I remove my foot from the accelerator, I'd better hit the brake. I don't treat the tractor any differently. I've operated all manner of equipment, driven vehicles up to, and including tractor trailers and assure you, when I want to make certain it is going to stop, I'm looking for the brake.

Mine is on the right, but different equipment is different, and you get used to it.

The FEL takes me a good 90 seconds to remove. The backhoe takes me a bit longer, in the neighborhood of 4-5 minutes, neither is difficult.

My MMM takes about 10 minutes to install, and I hate doing it because of my arthritis. If I didn't have to stop and cuss because of the pain, it would be a bit less. Taking it off is about a 2 minute job at best.

There are some really good YouTube videos on each of these, just search BX-25 loader/backhoe/MMM and they pop right up.

Oh, and I think it does an awesome job cutting the grass, but I do not live on a golf course!

Just had to ring in.

George

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I don't feel it is a design flaw or major problem, think it maybe because so many people complained about the abrupt stop on past models. This issue was years ago on the BX..50 series and the BX..60 series which has been the production model for years has just been replaced with the 70 series
The brake on the left takes me a minute because I am often jumping between two different Kubota tractors - the BX has the left brake and my MX has a clutch pedal there. Sometimes I hit the clutch to "set" the parking brake when I am switching between them quickly.... Im sure it is funny to watch!
I just look at it as a difference in the machines and none of it really bothers me

I had a B2320 geared tractor and hated it because it did not react like all of the other Kubotas I owned which now numbers around 20. The B2320 geared kept going when I released the foot pedal until I remembered to push in the clutch and even then it still kept going until I pushed down the brake pedal..........Oops, that's what you've been doing already for years with your geared tractor so I doubt using the brake to stop is an issue for you. If all you'd owned were Kubota HSTs that always stop when the foot pedal has been released then you'd see the issue.
I've never used the brake to stop a Kubota HST (about 15 or so different Kubota HSTs) in the past 12 years but always have used the brake to stop the over 170 cars/trucks I've owned since 1964. Course boats, go carts, bicycles, wagons, scooters, etc each have their own method of stopping and I've adapted to each of them without wanting/expecting them all to be the same. Kubota HSTs stop when the foot pedal is released.......all of them except the BX25D-1. Now, which one is wrong? One model or the other hundreds? The smarter than me hydraulic guys here say the operational function of the HST requires it to stop when the pedal reaches center plus I can't imagine any time it would ever be a good thing for an HST to keep rolling instead of stopping when the pedal is released. It usually isn't a big deal, usually. But if one does close work with a heavy load and expects consistant operation of a mechanical device and it reacts differently from time to time, most people believe there is a mechanical problem.
I obviously am a Kubota supporter and believe in their products proven with my wallet along with my mouth but the BX25D-1 that continues to keep rolling after the hydraulic floor transmission control pedal is released to return to center is wrong.
I met with 4 or 5 of Kubotas engineers from Japan a few years ago at Barlows (Have a Kubota hat only available in Japan to prove it which they gave me ) and answered their questions. Seemed to be a great bunch of guys but they flubbed this one like they did years and years ago with the BX..50 series which they corrected their problem years and years ago with the BX..60 series which has been in production for years and years until the new BX..70 series has been released.
Sorry guys but Kubota flubbed this one, the BX25D-1.:2cents::confused3::thumbdown:

 

[Code54]

I had a B2320 geared tractor and hated it because it did not react like all of the other Kubotas I owned which now numbers around 20. The B2320 geared kept going when I released the foot pedal until I remembered to push in the clutch and even then it still kept going until I pushed down the brake pedal..........Oops, that's what you've been doing already for years with your geared tractor so I doubt using the brake to stop is an issue for you. If all you'd owned were Kubota HSTs that always stop when the foot pedal has been released then you'd see the issue.
:

I have to respectfully disagree - my past and current Kubota's were/are all hydros so I understand the Kubota Hydro system. Even now when I am jumping from our BX to do something with the MX, I rarely have a senior moment where I may reach for a level that is not on the machine I am on currently, or go and hit the wrong pedal. The thing is when I do it is MY fault, not the machines. It is my lack of attention and thought that causes it and it really reminds me to not be complacent and to always pay attention to what I am doing.
Every machine is different and just because it does not conform to the past models standards I would not say it is defective or a design flaw. My MX will toss you on the steering wheel in reverse if you hit the hydro pedal too hard when in medium range with the RPMs up - is that a defect? My BX won't do that? No, it is not, it is a different machine with different characteristics. I do find it interesting that you mentioned in other posts that you got rid of a past BX because it stopped too fast and complained about that, and now you feel they don't stop fast enough? These are small machines, that are really well made (as with most all the manufactures machines for that matter) and they all have quirks and work slightly different. If you know a machine drifts, use the brake, that is what it is there for. It is obviously not a problem for most people, but if someone is concerned and it is a deciding factor in their purchase I strongly recommend they try it out with a rental or dealer test drive and see if they find it to be a real problem for them.