Considerting a used BX 23

[weh111]

I am considering a used Kubota BX 23 with FEL and backhoe. Very nice overall appearance with nearly 500 hours. Tires look good and unit has been garage kept. Not sure of year yet and told everything has been serviced. I consider myself a novice operator but do have about 250 hours in a Montana 5040 and an old Ford 2000. Looking for something I can easily trailer to a couple of lots we own and something the kids can operate more easily. Would appreciate any comments on how these hold up, particularly the hydrostatic drive, anything I should look for when examining and any opinions on value. Have option to take a 4 foot bush hog as well. I've started reading the prior posts and it appears these are high volume sellers and most comments are positive but any opinions would really be appreciated,
Thanks so much for the help,

 

[Volfandt]

What is going to be it's primary purpose?
I have an 06 BX23 with about 950 hrs and I use it to maintain 4 acres. It finish mows, dig's, hauls, tow's, runs a tiller, cultivator, hiller, corn planter, potato plow and I'm adding a 4' brush hog soon.
I've dug footers, dug out and leveled for several concrete slabs, dug out a small pond, numerous stumps and many more general tasks with the FEL & BH and it's done everything I've tasked it to do. It's a good little TLB that'll work all day without problems.
It's a great finish mower but it's low ground clearance limits it's usefulness in the garden. It's short wheels are great to lighten it's footprint on turf but makes for a rough ride in rough pasture.
It has a limited Cat1 3PH which means it's low stance will not lift "most" std Cat1 implements high enough to clear the ground. So one must use "XB" sized CAT1 implements which are sized for SCUT's. There aren't as many used XB sized implements in the marketplace as std Cat1 implements so one usually has to buy new and they generally run a little higher than a std Cat1 implement does.
The engine and HST are stout and if properly serviced and not continually run past their limits should last 1000's of hrs, just like it's bigger cousins.
If you plan on using a brush hog I definitely recommend getting the 4 footer you mentioned. That is if it's a good deal. The BX23 will not work a 5'.
I have the 60" MMM for finish mowing and it has no problem cutting my 4 acres in one swoop on a 90 degree day. I get alot hotter than the BX23 does LOL.
At 500 hrs it should have already had it's 50 and 300 hr HST fluid & filter change (every 300 hrs) and 6 oil & filter changes (50hr, 100hr and each 100 hr from then on). Check to see if they have records of these services.
It's a 22hp tractor that'll lift over 500lbs in the FEL and dig upto 6' deep with a 12" bucket on it's BH. It has a mid and rear PTO that'll work separately or together at the same time (like a mower & grass catcher) and one can add additional OEM hydraulic circuits for grapples etc. Work within it's design specs and it's a great little tractor
Good luck
Wanted to add this additional note, since Kubota's new BX TLB model is called the BX23S, the old BX23's are now being called a BX23D. This helps when buying parts as some will not interchange....

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

They are tuff little machines. I bought mine with just over 300 hours on it and it now has almost 900 on the clock. I've dug hundreds of feet to install water lines, under ground electric, and a few feet of sewer. Dug rocks, moved dirt and hundreds of tons of gravel. Mowed, tilled and a few hours of snow removal. Can't say what it all has done but it's my everyday little work horse. I don't mow with it much any more because the little woman felt sorry for me (taking the backhoe and loader off every time we needed to mow) and got a used bx2200 that does most of that chore along with the tilling and the bx23 sits with the loader and backhoe on it most of the time. The 2200 is the same machine as the 23 minus the hoe and loader. It's not the fastest digging and not the biggest but you sure can do a lot with it. As long as your expantations aren't that it's a 24000 pound machine and it has its limits you will be happy with what you can do with it. 500 hours isn't nothing if it's been taken care of and should give you many more hours of service. Good luck with the purchase and post some pictures if you get it.

 

[weh111]

I'm late in resurrecting this thread but with the help of Kentuckyfarmer and Volfandt I did buy the 2004 BX23TLB four years ago. Immediately found I should have done more research because I soon learned the cooling fan was toast. I did get it repaired for $200 which seemed very fair. I have put over 100 hours on it and find that I go to it more and more frequently. I purchased an EA Wicked Grapple which has been very useful and is beautifully made. I also added a 4' flail mower which has been a very useful implement and has given results near a ZTR in light material and has shredded 3.5' heavy reeds/grass along a lake edge.
I added a WRLong 3rd function valve for the grapple and I cannot praise Nelson Long and his company sufficiently. Apparently there is considerable variability in the geometry of the FEL valve mounting on the early BX's and the standard bracket would not fit. Mr Long worked with me and designed a mounting plate for the valve body which has performed beautifully. I have dealt with a lot of companies over the years but WRLong has proven to be at the pinnacle of customer service, far and above my expectations. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Kentuckyfarmer requested pictures so I'll try to attach some.

I added a WRLong 3rd function valve for the grapple and I cannot praise Nelson Long and his company sufficiently. Apparently there is considerable variability in the geometry of the FEL valve mounting on the early BX's and the standard bracket would not fit. Mr Long worked with me and designed a mounting plate for the valve body which has performed beautifully. I have dealt with a lot of companies over the years but WRLong has proven to be at the pinnacle of customer service, far and above my expectations. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Kentuckyfarmer requested pictures so I'll try to attach some.