Finally!!!! Got to try out the MMM today.....

Volfandt · Mar 12, 2005

Weathermen been calling for snow and rain we get low 60's and plenty of sunshine. Course it could still hit later but today belonged to me /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Since buying the BX23 in Dec I haven't had the chance to use it for it's primary purpose of mowing and other than what I've read, I really didn't know how this machine would perform until today. I only had to knock the tops off the many thick patches of fescue growth and the green onions thats been sprouting up on about a 100x100 area I've seeded heavily over the past couple of yrs and I am highly impressed w/my little orange grass slayer /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The MMM was smooth and not very loud at all. I've had louder decks on riding mowers. Ran the engine at alittle over 1/2 throttle and it didn't lug any. Course the grass is no where near as thick as it will be in a couple weeks but it still did well enough to "crank" my tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I also mowed w/ the homemade mulch plug and I didn't get any blowout but had a slight line of clippings on the plug side when I got into the thick stuff. So the jury's still out until it gets thicker. A little overlap mowing should take care of that.

For my friend's still dueling w/the white stuff, well, all I gotta say is............... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Volfandt

frank_f15 · Mar 12, 2005

( Ran the engine at alittle over 1/2 throttle and it didn't lug any. )

I have never owned a MMM but on my RFM i run the engine to maintain 540 rpm AT REAR pto which gives best use of the mower.
should you not run your engine to maintain proper rpm for your MMM

JimMorrissey · Mar 12, 2005

You will like the BX mowing capabilites. It'll beat the pants off any Sears or standard domestic lawn mowers, absolutely no comparison. The tip speed or your blades is probably twice that of a regular mower. You can hear it when you bump the throttle. It sounds like it's about to take off. But, it costs a lot more, so you get what you pay for. The BX is a mowing machine. No finer IMO.

Volfandt · Mar 12, 2005

I imagine I'll have to run higher rpm once the grass thickens up but the MMM seemed to do fine at the lower rpm today. Course the thick grass being spotty probably had a lot to do with it. I would have cranked it up some more but it didn't seem to need it.
When I used to run a 5' bush hog on w/my old TE20, I had to run WOT or there abouts to keep it from stalling out in the thick stuff. I got used to judgeing needed engine rpm by engine sound as the TE20 didn't have a tach either. I've had to raise the bushhog at times when WOT would still lug down.

Also, I'm trying to follow the written breakin proceedure for the BX under 50 hrs. I'm at 25 hrs now.

It also just dawned on me that the mid pto spins much faster than the rear pto. At rated pto speed, the mid is spinning at around 2500 rpm whilst the rear is at 540.

Well anyways, I was primarily trying to keep it well under WOT and it seemed to do very well at the slower rpm (whatever it was) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Two more points,
I'll be removing the FEL for future mow'n and man oh man where has that power steering been all my mow'n life /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DmansPadge · Mar 12, 2005

I feel you! I finally got to use my brushhog a little today. We have had so much rain my BRAND NEW brushhog has just been sitting in the garage. But I broke it in today and I'm glad to say that it did quite well.

I'm happy to hear about your results with your MMM. I have tossed the idea around about getting one for my B7300.

LBrown59 · Mar 14, 2005

Mowed my yard several times after i got the BX23.
Done a fine job even with the loader on ,so I have no plans to remove it for mowing.

BX23Seattle · Mar 14, 2005

Glad you finally had a chance to break in that MMM, I have 18 hrs on my new BX and closing in you you fast. I mowed some real thick stuff this weekend...piece of cake while the neighbors Craftsman was really struggling nextdoor.

The dealer that sold me my BX23 said the Kubota manual is out of date with today's hydrostatic tranny's and that it is actually better to run the RPM's at a highter level as it moves the fluids better and thus better lubrication. He said he has spoken to Kubota about this and they agree. I would be interested in what others feel about this /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rbarker · Mar 14, 2005

( Mowed my yard several times after i got the BX23.
Done a fine job even with the loader on ,so I have no plans to remove it for mowing. )

Yeah, it's quite handy when the brush at the edges of the lawn starts to grow over! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif