Mowing Fed Up w/ BX Drive-Over Deck. Making a Change.

[robertm]

So I finally have had it with Kubota’s BX answer to John Deere’s drive over deck. What a POS. After dealing with the deck not staying level every year, the deck always dropping while mowing (tractor staircase adjuster), the pain trying to get it on, let alone off, and the pain in the $&@%# to clean the deck with the second lift carriage, I’m think I’m done.
Question is, do I get a new old style deck that you roll under to attach, or get a zero turn?
Mowing about 1-1/2 acres. A fair amount of trees. Takes about 1-1/2 hours with the BX. Would the Z422FW-54 be a good choice? The deck for my BX would cost $3,500+. The Z about $8,000. Will I actually get a better cut? Save time on this size yard?
Yup, I know you’ll spend my money, but I’m looking for thoughts from others living my dream.

 

[diesel85]

Why not try a RFM like a KingKutter with a rear discharge?

You can mow right up next to trees/shrubs, underneath them, etc. The cut is phenomenal too.

When I get my bigger machine, I am going that route.

While I like the compactness of the MMM, I've had odd issues with it and I've realizing as I'm getting older, it's more of a pain to work on or make simple repairs/maintenance.

 

[robertm]

I considered the RFM, but it would turn my weekly trimming into a much bigger job around trees, and probably require me to buy a push mower to fill in. I don’t think it’d be user friendly on my property.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

A ZTR will make it a 45 minute job.

 

[shooterdon]

I cut 2 acres with about 20 trees in an hour using a 54” ZT

My ZT cost $5300 last year. I am 71 and will be dead before it needs to be replaced.

 

[Ken45101]

B2710 with MMM bought in 1999 , and I bought a ZD321 zero turn a dozen years ago. ZT is a lot faster but we didn't save as much time because we doubled the size of the yard, LOL. Seriously, the ZT is faster on the straight stretches and a lot faster maneuvering on turns, etc.

Removing the MMM wasn't a big issue since I never removed it until two years ago.

Ken

 

[robertm]

I live in northern Illinois. There are no other options for me besides a tractor for snow removal, so I really need to keep the BX.
The wife is more worried about storage of the Z than what it’s used for.
I think if I get the Z, I’ll use my tractor more, because I’ll leave the loader on it and it’ll always be ready for bucket or fork work. That had me thinking about just going with an 80-Series BX with the standard deck. I’d get an easy on/off loader. My BX is not as friendly to take on and off as the 80-Series.

 

[shooterdon]

I live in northern Illinois. There are no other options for me besides a tractor for snow removal, so I really need to keep the BX.
The wife is more worried about storage of the Z than what it’s used for.
I think if I get the Z, I’ll use my tractor more, because I’ll leave the loader on it and it’ll always be ready for bucket or fork work. That had me thinking about just going with an 80-Series BX with the standard deck. I’d get an easy on/off loader. My BX is not as friendly to take on and off as the 80-Series.

I would never chose one over the other. I need a tractor to do things only a tractor can do. Adding the ZT was splurging in my case, as my $2000 rider was doing the job just fine but I do not like cutting grass. As to storing machines, there is not much more room needed to store a ZT or rider if you have to store the MMM when if comes off. If you are really cramped for room, a garden shed will store a ZT or rider.

 

[dieselbob69]

When I was shopping last year I mentioned to the JD salesperson that I heard the drive over decks are problems once they get some use- said no, they've been good . When I was looking at the 2380, dealer pretty much confirmed my suspicions and said they aren't worth it, especially once attaching points start getting some wear and slop...

 

[Rdrcr]

A ZTR will get you a better cut and save you time.

Mike

 

[Have tractor did travel]

My L2550 had a MMM, but I continue to use my Toro Timecutter. Consumer's Reports rated the Gravely best, and Toro 2nd best, of all zero turns rated. I paid $3K for the Toro vs about $5.5K for the Gravely, a year ago, so your option doesn't have to cost $8K. Unless you've got some steep hills on your property, ZT is the route to take.
You may also be able to recapture some of what the MMM cost you, on some unsuspecting tractor owner who is not a careful buyer.

 

[Monster5601]

When I bought my tractor, one of the must-haves was the ability to attach a belly mower. I was very lucky to find a dealer that was in it for customer satisfaction. He took the time to explain to me why and why not on all the dreams I had for a tractor. I actually followed his advice and made good decisions based on his experiences.

I never did get the belly mower but did pick up a Kubota diesel ZT which has been running for 10 years without issues. I have to mow around 4.5 acres of the typical rural field grass we also call our lawn.

 

[SF82]

Not sure what else you need a tractor for besides snow blowing, but if I were gonna upgrade it would be to a B2601. Be easier to get the deck on/off and well just better for everything over the bx. I understand the only having space enough for one. I can't really use a ZT anyway, barely have any flat yard. If you do decide to go ZT make sure it has suspension or you won't really be saving much time, getting banged around goin too fast on rough areas is just as bad

 

[Tony H]

So I finally have had it with Kubota’s BX answer to John Deere’s drive over deck. What a POS. After dealing with the deck not staying level every year, the deck always dropping while mowing (tractor staircase adjuster), the pain trying to get it on, let alone off, and the pain in the $&@%# to clean the deck with the second lift carriage, I’m think I’m done.
Question is, do I get a new old style deck that you roll under to attach, or get a zero turn?
Mowing about 1-1/2 acres. A fair amount of trees. Takes about 1-1/2 hours with the BX. Would the Z422FW-54 be a good choice? The deck for my BX would cost $3,500+. The Z about $8,000. Will I actually get a better cut? Save time on this size yard?
Yup, I know you’ll spend my money, but I’m looking for thoughts from others living my dream.

If you have the $$, get a ZT even a 48" walk behind. It will cut you mowing time way down. Not because of faster cutting but because of ease of getting close to the trees. No reversing a thousand times.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

You may want to factor projected fuel costs into your purchasing plans.

I mow about 4 acres and have a B2301 with a 60 inch deck--drive on/off--and find it pretty handy, though a bit tough to get under the trees. After having a larger Cub Cadet with a mower that was a pain to mount and dismount, I find the Kubota B-series pretty slick.

Last year, I came into an older Husqvarna lawn tractor by way of family--cost me next to nothing. I found it does a better job on the obstructed portion of the lawn, and leave less markings on some tight turns than the Kubota, so I use it there. I still use the Kubota for the bigger open areas.

As a bonus, which may be a bigger concern in the next couple years, the Husqvarna uses less than 2 gallons of gas/per use if I do the whole lawn; the Kubota about the same--that's about $18 in savings so far this year, and it's only May. The cost of diesel is projected to rice by about 50% by summer's end.

 

[thelanterns]

I considered the same thing you are. We had a BX2350 with pull under mmm, FEL and front snowblower bought new around 2008. I thought about getting a ZT instead of a new tractor and just leaving the snowblower on the BX all year unless I needed to mount the FEL which was rare. But I also have a space problem. All of this equipment is in a 10.5' wide shed. Pulling the mmm down off the wall, I would stand it up on one end for the winter, and then having to pull it under the tractor with about 2-3 feet of space on either side was a nightmare. Would have to park the tractor on a 45 degree as much as possible and pull the mmm under and then have to try to straighten the tractor back up so I had just enough space to crawl under to hook it up and hook up the driveshaft with one hand. All this with the mower rolling around underneath while I shimmy the tractor back and forth. I am not a young man anymore, almost 70. But, we ended up just getting a new BX2380. There are so many improvements that covered almost all of my previous problems. We also got the roll over mmm. We got frowns from the dealer and heard so/so remarks elsewhere as well. But it should be 5 times easier for me to mount and dismount which was my main concern with our limited space. It was delivered with the mower already mounted so I haven't had to change it yet, until fall. So far, it cuts just as well as our old mower, maybe even better once we got or heights set etc. It is a hard decision with lots of money involved although it would have been cheaper to go the ZT route. Good Luck.

 

[Mart5130]

So I finally have had it with Kubota’s BX answer to John Deere’s drive over deck. What a POS. After dealing with the deck not staying level every year, the deck always dropping while mowing (tractor staircase adjuster), the pain trying to get it on, let alone off, and the pain in the $&@%# to clean the deck with the second lift carriage, I’m think I’m done.
Question is, do I get a new old style deck that you roll under to attach, or get a zero turn?
Mowing about 1-1/2 acres. A fair amount of trees. Takes about 1-1/2 hours with the BX. Would the Z422FW-54 be a good choice? The deck for my BX would cost $3,500+. The Z about $8,000. Will I actually get a better cut? Save time on this size yard?
Yup, I know you’ll spend my money, but I’m looking for thoughts from others living my dream.

Get a z. You won’t regret it

 

[robertm]

I’ve looked at so many options. I think I may buy the ZT first, then consider selling the BX with all the implements I have and buying a B2601 with the loader. I primarily mow 98% of the time, and remove snow in the winter. That’s now. It’s a pain to put the loader on the BX to use the bucket or forks for a few minutes, and then take it off to mow. Id rather have the loader mounted ALL the time and use it when I should instead of manhandling things at my age.

 

[Shenandoah MF1760]

Belly mowers are at the top of the list of tractor regrets (according to Messicks, I believe).

Having said that, they sell for a reason - storage space concens being one of them.

Your choices are:

New belly mower - probably not going to be satisfied with modest if any improvement
Zero Turn - need more space, possibly more costly but way more maneuverable.
Flail mower - doesn't hang out as far as a bushhog, doesn't cost as much as a ZTM, assumes you have a rear PTO, unless self powered. Takes up a bit more space.

 

[dodge man]

Before I bought my JD I had aBX2350 for 10 years. Mine had the old style roll out deck. Was it easy to take off and on, not really. I always used the word awkward, mainly getting the pto off and on. It’s one of those things that probably took me 10 minutes to do but felt like it took 40 minutes. I’m one of those people that like mid mount mowers. The JD I have now is pretty slick with the auto connect

I thought they offered a drive over deck but not Kubotas version of the auto connect for the BX? That way you don’t have to mess with turning the gauge wheels sideways and dragging the deck out.