Expecting a new arrival... BX-23

Junkman · Feb 5, 2004

If you are planning on operating in the winter to do snow removal, I think that you should consider the bar tires. It is going to get very rough on your rear end bouncing along all winter long with chains. I haven't needed chains for the Kubota yet. I have them hanging on the wall from my old Bolens, and wouldn't even think of putting them on unless there was some major ice storm and it was the only way to get the traction. You live close enough that you can come by and try my machine with the bar tires... I will even hand you a breaker bar and socket and you can put my turf tires on my machine and get the feel for what the difference is.. This is why I bought the extra set.... $300 well spent.

RobMA · Feb 6, 2004

( If you are planning on operating in the winter to do snow removal, I think that you should consider the bar tires.
<SNIP> )

I had considered bar tires and actually had them on my "want list". After talking with the dealer and some local tractor folks the recommendation was to use turf tires and chains when needed.

Part of my driveway has a long slope and does ice up when the sun hits it. My current snowplow, a '79 Blazer, needs chains to move snow on this part of the driveway. Even with light snowfall, I often need to sand this part of my driveway. The winter sun creates a nice skating rink here. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

So, if this arrangement doesn't work out, then I can pick up the bar tires locally for the same price as the dealer quoted.

Junkman, thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it if this doesn't work out. Where in CT are you located?

- Rob

Junkman · Feb 6, 2004

Woodstock on the other side of Southbridge... come to the CT TBN Meeting on Thursday at noon and get acquainted with the group....

Henro · Feb 6, 2004

I had considered bar tires and actually had them on my "want list". After talking with the dealer and some local tractor folks the recommendation was to use turf tires and chains when needed. 

Rob,

Seeing that you don't plan on using the bx for mowing, I wonder what the advantage of the turf tires would be?

I doubt that just crossing the yard with the bars would be an isssue...I got turfs on my bx, but now almost think I should have gone with bars to begin with. But $300 per set is not too bad and I guess buyinig a second set of tires will not break my bank account.

Feeling surprised here that your dealer/local folks would recommend turfs over bars when you are planning to use the new BX for landscaping rather than mowing. What were the reasons that tipped the balance in favor of the turfs? If they apply to me it could save me $300 bucks... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

For me the attraction of the bar tires is Junkman-like mountain climbing in winter, but more than that, extra traction in the dirt in summer, when I am doing something other than grass cuttin'. Even when grass cutting, in 2wd I have spun the rear turfs on occasion on the grass, and left nice wide "skid marks." Something that might not have happened with bars on the tractor.

Junkman · Feb 6, 2004

I also was wondering why the dealer would make this recommendation, and I think that I might have found a reason, albeit not a very big reason. On the price sheet for the BX-22, the machine with turfs cost $17,117 and with bar tires, $17,143. True the difference $26 isn't much, but it is a savings for the dealer.
The actual list price for the bar tires is $44 (f) $104 (r) each.

RobMA · Feb 6, 2004

(
Seeing that you don't plan on using the bx for mowing, I wonder what the advantage of the turf tires would be? )

The way my property is laid out is:
driveway -> lawn -> gardens - > cartroad - > woods.

All my soil, gravel, and sand will be dumped in the driveway. To get it to the gardens or the cartroad where I'll be clearing some of the woods, I need to cross my lawn. My septic system is under my front lawn so I can't have anything large driven over it. Therefore all my materials will be dumped in the driveway.

The majority of the landscaping will be done around the lawn edges and in various spots in the lawn. I will be creating gardens cut out of the existing lawn. This includes squaring out some small hillsides for retaining walls, edging, garden pool, etc. None of it very extensive but mainly to finish off the edges of the lawn area.

Now, most of my lawn is flat and dry. So that's why turfs were recommended. Much of my first and second year projects will occur in this area. Other than moving piles of soil around and some minor hillside scraping, it will be fairly light duty work.

I had a couple of tractor-owning guys up here to look at the way I was going to use my machine. Turfs were recommended by all of them and the dealer concurred.

So the way I figured it was that since this was my first tractor, I'd listen to the voices of experience. Then when I had some of that kind of voice, I'd listen to me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Like I said, if I find I really need bars, I'll go 20 minutes down the street to the local dealer and buy a set. The dealer knew I was going to get both types of tires so his recommendation wasn't profit driven.

Here is a picture of the area taken from the driveway last year before the lawn grew in. Front Lawn

The coop you see in the distance is full of guinea fowl for tick control! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

- Rob

Phrede · Feb 6, 2004

I too just got a BX23. I did not know that a HD alternator was an option or available.

I have found that moving snow during these short days does sometimes happens after dark. The FEL blocks most of the headlights. So I bought some cheap lights to mount on the ROPES. I bought cheap ones because I figured they would get banged around on the ROPES. I have ordered them but have not installed them yet.

I bought a couple to face forward and a couple to face the rear. This post now has me thinking. What is the rated output of the standard alternator? I may have to get "creative" or reduce the number/wattage of the lights.

BTW, It looks like we paid about the same price. BX23, 48" RB, 60"MMM, bar tires, $16,500.

RobMA · Feb 7, 2004

The original alternator has 14 A output compared to 40 A for the HD one (at full thottle). I'd rather not run the original alternator near full output with all the extra lighting I'm going to end up with. Always good to run your equipment in the "green zone". /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Got some REALLY slushy snow up here yesterday. Even my snowplow with chains was sliding around in this stuff. I am really anxious to get my new toy now!

- Rob

murphdasurf · Feb 7, 2004

Do you happen to know what the part number is on the heavy duty alternator?

rbarker · Feb 7, 2004

(

Got some REALLY slushy snow up here yesterday. Even my snowplow with chains was sliding around in this stuff. I am really anxious to get my new toy now!

- Rob )

Got the same stuff here on the coast. I've just got turfs and no chains and had no trouble moving this crud with my BX2200. You're gonna LOVE it! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif