Differential lock/4x4

[TresCrows]

The Differential lock is not an ON-OFF switch/lever---it is a pedal you step on when you wish it to engage it. When you lift your foot from the pedal it disengages--until--you once again decide you want it engaged and step down on the pedal. On the BX the differential Locking pedal is on the left hand floor board.
EXCUSE ME!--the BX is not a "riding mower"--it is in fact a small (very small) utility tractor. If you do not believe me bring your 25 horsepower Craftsman tractor styled "riding mower" over and I will show you the difference! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. J, BX high priest

 

[Anonymous Poster]

If you remove the front loader you will find that navigating the up and down slopes is considerably easier. My lawn has a bit of a slope on one side and I found that with the loader on the tractor wants to free wheel down the slope, I have HST, but when I remove the loader I can cut down the slope with more speed control.

 

[Jeff396]

I will give that a try. I have to admit I havn't taken my fel off the tractor yet and was actually hoping to avoid it. Is coupling and uncoupleing the hydraulic lines as easy as they say?

Jeff

 

[Bird]

Jeff, when you get ready to uncouple the hydraulic lines, kill the tractor engine, then move the joystick around in all directions and you will have released the pressure in the lines, then just pull the little collar on the female coupler back and unplug them; nothing to it. To put them back on, you have to pull that collar back to start them on, push them on, release the collar and continue pushing until the collar snaps forward. You can do it a lot quicker than you can tell someone about it./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

 

[MikePA]

Assuming you have them, you'll also want to put the little plastic covers on the exposed couplers.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

one minor addition. Make sure the hose/connector are color coded.

It really is amazing how easy the loader goes off and on.

 

[PaulT]

<font color=blue>it will be _extremely_ rare that you experience any single wheel slippage at all</font color=blue>

One big exception to this is on irregular terrain. I was recently filling ditches with crushed rock using my FEL around my current project site (which consisted of some ditches and the piles of dirt from digging them). Going very slowly, so as not to tip over, I crawled over bumps and gullies and maneuvered in order to dump squarely in the ditches. There were several times in 4wd low range that a single wheel began to spin, and I couldn't move until I locked the diff. If you are only on even, flat, sloped terrain (as in mowing), you are probably right about not having ONLY one tire spinning.

PaulT

 

[Jeff396]

Yeah, I've got these really nice looking colored bands around each hose. Thing that I wonder about is that they seem to be at the wrong end of the hose. The hoses then go through that fabric thing and it's hard to trace which is which. The dealer or someone did put some splops of paint at the end where it uncouples. I wonder if the hoses can be put on backwards or swapped end for end.

Jeff

 

[ronjhall]

Jeff
I got 2 hoses swapped ounce while putting FEL back on./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif Nothing on FEL would work./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif After I straitened out hoses. FEL would not work correctly until I had cycled FEL up down, rollback and dump a couple of times. There was no damage, but sure did act like it for a few minutes./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[TresCrows]

Jeff removing the FEL is a no brainer. Heck tie wrap with plastic ties some numbered tags or something. It is a little intimidating the first time but it really is very easy. Give it a try. Try to keep the end caps or covers over the disconnected couplings. Be sure to release pressure like Bird said by moving the joy stick. You will find mowing and many other chores so much easier without that FEL. Hey, saw your bio so this attachment is for you--taken outside my future XXXXXX Antique Aircraft and Lawnmower Repair center--since 1916 (when I retire). No one else look cuz it is not about tractors. J