Mowing Changing a BX23 from TLB to mowing machine

AKKubota · Nov 22, 2005

Now that my major dirt work is done (lawn expanded, stumps dug out, pond finished) - I am contemplating downsizing from my L3830 to a BX23. I couldn't live without a TLB ever again, but need a mower with a bagger.

How long would it take to remove the FEL and BH from the BX23 and mount the MMM and bagger? And, back again. My lawn would need to be mowed with these removed and bagger attached.

I am seriously considering buying a separate mower too, but with my 3 acre place and such a short grass season it seems like it would be more efficeint to have one machine.

Volfandt · Nov 22, 2005

Changing a BX23 from TLB to mower takes me minutes to do and I do it without tools /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Once you've got it down pat, you can figure about:
1) 2 - 4 minutes to mount or dismount the FEL.
2) 5 - 10 minutes to mount or dismount the BH.
3) 15 - 30 minutes to mount or dismount the MMM.
All without useing any tools.

I don't have the OEM bagger but many here have commented that it takes awhile to get it mounted. A few others have posted that they don't have much of a problem once they devised their "system" to R&R it. All have said that it does a very good job of picking everything up.

I made a mulch plug for use on my 60" MMM and I use it mainly for my thin growing front yard. (There is a mulch kit available from Kubota). I almost always side discharge my back yard and every 2nd or 3 rd mowing I bag with a cyclone rake.
The power steering and effortless HST makes my BX23 one of the best mowers I've ever owned. I knock out 2.5 acres in about 1.5 hrs and use about 1.5 gals of fuel.

I never mow with the FEL & BH mounted but I have kept the MMM mounted when I've also mounted the FEL & BH for dirt work.

For what I needed, the BX23 was the right size for me and I use it primarily for finish mowing.

Volfandt

AKKubota · Nov 22, 2005

Thanks for the info.

I do enjoy my 3830, but really it's too large for what I need to get done around her now. The cab and large rear blade are very nice for snow removal, but the BX with front blower and rear blade would do an excellent job as well - plus I could garage it. I'm also interested in getting some other attachments that wouldn't be possible if I stuck with teh L and got a simple "grass tractor."

RayH · Nov 23, 2005

I did basically the same as you this summer. I traded my TLB L3130 in for a BX23. I was using the 3130 for grading/leveling/clearing as a part time business. I got out of the business and needed a TLB that fit my 2.5 acres better (enter, the BX23). Ive been push mowing my land because Ive only got about 3/4 acre cleared but as I use the BX, my mowable area gets bigger. Next season I will probably make the move to a rider. I found that it is cheaper to buy a BX and a seperate riding lawn mower than to purchase a MMM for the BX, especially if you can find a nice used mower for a few hundred. That way you dont have to worry about repeatedly removing/installing the bagger and deck at all.

AMR · Nov 23, 2005

I have the BX23 with MMM, bagger, spreader, blade, etc. Mows great, I love it, plus it looks cool. I have 9 acres and mow 3.

I mow with the FEL on, I know that I will hit the house someday, but I try to be careful.

I find changeout from BH mode to MMM mode or to spreading is really a snap, I did it about 10 times this year, 3 times in the last week. I would suggest the following times:

NOTE: I DO EVERYTHING MYSELF, no help at all

1. BH off or on, for me this is about 10 min total, this includes backing up to it about 2 dozen times to line it up, I find that I have to get MUCH closer than the manual states, maybe the hoses I have are extra short?
2. Bagger on or off, I find the bagger to be the easiest thing to take on or off, just slide a 2x4 under the legs, 5 min
3. MMM on or off, I find that this is also about 5 min., 4 of the 5 min. is sliding it unde the machine the rest is a snap, reading a lot of previous posts I was spooked about the MMM but I found it to be pretty simple
4. Spreader on or off, 5 min as well
5. Front blade and thingy to hold the front blade, about 10 minutes
6. Adjusting the proper blade depth, 3 hours!!!! I found that the blade does not light high enough to get the bottom shims from off of the little feet, so I had to take it off, lay it down, guess at shims, then back on, etc. I probably could have tried to drive up on something but it was cold out and I didn't want to leave the garage

anyway, good luck whatever you decide

bird1968 · Nov 23, 2005

I would recommend a RFM, if the bagger is not a must have.
It will cost far less, take less time to install.
Weight Box & Pat easy change will make it a breeze to switch over & still use your FEL without the BH.
Bird

AKKubota · Nov 23, 2005

I am currently using a bagger (with my push mower) and everyone else I know bags up here. This is due to the heavy rain and lack of temp in the summer to properly mulch. There has been some discussion about adding enzymes, etc... to get mulching to work, but I probably won't be the first to try it.

Ultimately, the bagger is probably a must. Also, because of the wet heavy grass conditions, the non-power flow bagging units have a bad rap. If I keep my L3830 - I've been thinking about the GR2100, but that's sooo expensive for a few months of mowing.

Ken_CT · Nov 23, 2005

I'm happy to hear that I'm not the only one who has to do multiple backups to get it lined up right /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. If I lift the front blade and angle it all the way it's easy to drop the shoe off from that side to adjust the shims, then angle it the other way for the other side. see attached pic.

bugstruck · Nov 24, 2005

AK,

I suggest you keep the 3830 and buy the mower, unless you know there will infrequently be a need for that size machine in the foreseeable future. Specific task mowers and baggers for smaller plot sizes are hard to beat, and affordable. The BX is sweet, but at risk of clobber, it's overpriced, and it's more of a general maintenance/ lighter task machine. Has it's place no doubt. You wouldn't likely have been doing pond or real clearing work with a BX. Frankly, the 3830 was probably taken to the limits with that work, but fortunately, you weren't leveling the State. If you don't have a need the 3830 and plenty of spare dinero, sure, get the BX. By the way, I'd like one too. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Otherwise, I'd hang tight and adjust for the grass. That is the issue, correct?

AKKubota · Nov 24, 2005

It's funny you mentioned leveling the entire state. Some visitors mentioed that my yard looked like the moon. My buddies keep popping up with "small" yard projects for the tractor that always end up the same way - all the alders ripped out, stumps dug and more lawm to mow next year.

Your advice about keeping the larger machine is probably sound. I have this dream of the one machine that does it all.