In the Hunt for a BX
- Thread starter RET
- Start date
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OP
RET
Silver Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2001
- Messages
- 231
- Location
- Louisiana (near Baton Rouge)
- Tractor
- Kubota BX2200, JD LX277, Cub Lo-Boy
Gentlemen,
Thanks for all the info, insights, opinions, and pics.
I'm gonna broaden my horizons a bit and take a look at bigger rigs, maybe a few different paint colors, etc.
Then, I'll sort through it all again and see if the answer comes up BX, B or some other color (unfortunately, the other colors, except for green, do not have nearly the depth of discussion I find here!)
I'll be back with more questions soon!
R
Thanks for all the info, insights, opinions, and pics.
I'm gonna broaden my horizons a bit and take a look at bigger rigs, maybe a few different paint colors, etc.
Then, I'll sort through it all again and see if the answer comes up BX, B or some other color (unfortunately, the other colors, except for green, do not have nearly the depth of discussion I find here!)
I'll be back with more questions soon!
R
EdDekker
Silver Member
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2000
- Messages
- 192
- Location
- New Ipswich, New Hampshire
- Tractor
- Kubota B2400, Bobcat 331 Mini-Excavator
<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>
... with any of the BX or B series they simply lack the power to pull that box with tines down through heavy soil especially if it is filled with roots from that brush. You need an L series to do that.
<hr></blockquote>
TresCrows,
I can comment on a B series ripping capability. I have a B2400 and this fall helped a neighbor put in a lawn in extremely poor, extremely rocky soil (extremely rocky by New Hampshire standards is a strong statement). I ripped the lawn area with a Landpride Landscape rake with guide wheels and have never had problems with traction/power. (I have added the fold down blade option for the rake but don't have enough experience using it to comment.) The landscape rake may be easier to pull
I expect that the BX would have a bit traction since it does have less mass, however with Ag tires I would expect it to be able to pull a scarifier. The landscape rake would be no problem for the BX with turf tires.
RET,
You may want to read the tire choice threads. You should consider the choice between Ag and turf tires. The Ag tires will be far better for the heavy work. The turf tires are better for lawn mowing. Messages in the tire threads have reported that a set of wheels and tires for the BX run $300, if true it is far cheaper to have both for the BX than the B series.
As the others have said the BX can do what you have described, just slower than a larger tractor. The BX is a good machine and if you really will use the tractor nearly exclusively for lawn mowing in a few years, it is a good choice for you.
One warning as Bird said earlier this month "Lots of folks trade UP in size, very few trade DOWN. Get the biggest thing you have room to maneuver and can afford."
Projects have a way of appearing after you have the tractor. The projects will be easier (and more fun) with a larger tractor.
... with any of the BX or B series they simply lack the power to pull that box with tines down through heavy soil especially if it is filled with roots from that brush. You need an L series to do that.
<hr></blockquote>
TresCrows,
I can comment on a B series ripping capability. I have a B2400 and this fall helped a neighbor put in a lawn in extremely poor, extremely rocky soil (extremely rocky by New Hampshire standards is a strong statement). I ripped the lawn area with a Landpride Landscape rake with guide wheels and have never had problems with traction/power. (I have added the fold down blade option for the rake but don't have enough experience using it to comment.) The landscape rake may be easier to pull
I expect that the BX would have a bit traction since it does have less mass, however with Ag tires I would expect it to be able to pull a scarifier. The landscape rake would be no problem for the BX with turf tires.
RET,
You may want to read the tire choice threads. You should consider the choice between Ag and turf tires. The Ag tires will be far better for the heavy work. The turf tires are better for lawn mowing. Messages in the tire threads have reported that a set of wheels and tires for the BX run $300, if true it is far cheaper to have both for the BX than the B series.
As the others have said the BX can do what you have described, just slower than a larger tractor. The BX is a good machine and if you really will use the tractor nearly exclusively for lawn mowing in a few years, it is a good choice for you.
One warning as Bird said earlier this month "Lots of folks trade UP in size, very few trade DOWN. Get the biggest thing you have room to maneuver and can afford."
Projects have a way of appearing after you have the tractor. The projects will be easier (and more fun) with a larger tractor.
TresCrows
Elite Member
Thanks Ed for the encouraging report of your 2400. I have not had mine long enough to fully appreciate it's capabilities as I am still becoming aquainted with it and having fun running back to back tests against my BX. At what RPM do you pull your boxblade, for example, in the work you mentioned? I generally run both tractors about 1/2 to 3/4 throttle.
J
J
OP
RET
Silver Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2001
- Messages
- 231
- Location
- Louisiana (near Baton Rouge)
- Tractor
- Kubota BX2200, JD LX277, Cub Lo-Boy
Ed,
Thanks for the testimonial. I'm impressed!
It comes down to whether or not, for my uses, the extra ~$2500 for the 7500 vs the BX2200 is justifiable (FEL + Tractor price difference comes up in this ballpark). The idea about the spare set of tires is good too. But, I have talked to several folks in my area who say that their R4's do not make a mess of the yard - so more than likely I'll go with R4's initially - then purchase turfs if necessary later.
Question: If you could only purchase 2 Implements (other than the FEL) for yard prep and mild land clearing, what would you purchase (scarifier, rake, Box blade, tiller, etc...)?
R
Thanks for the testimonial. I'm impressed!
It comes down to whether or not, for my uses, the extra ~$2500 for the 7500 vs the BX2200 is justifiable (FEL + Tractor price difference comes up in this ballpark). The idea about the spare set of tires is good too. But, I have talked to several folks in my area who say that their R4's do not make a mess of the yard - so more than likely I'll go with R4's initially - then purchase turfs if necessary later.
Question: If you could only purchase 2 Implements (other than the FEL) for yard prep and mild land clearing, what would you purchase (scarifier, rake, Box blade, tiller, etc...)?
R
Bird
Rest in Peace
TresCrows, I normally run my tractor in 4WD at approximately 2200 rpm using the box blade and/or front end loader. Most of the time I can pull all 5 scarifiers through this clay that way with no problem. However, when it's hard and dry and I do that in ground with good vegetation coverage and good roots, I'll have to raise the rpm, occasionally have to use the differential lock and occasionally even have to raise the scarifiers to not go full depth. It just depends on the existing conditions.
EdDekker
Silver Member
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2000
- Messages
- 192
- Location
- New Ipswich, New Hampshire
- Tractor
- Kubota B2400, Bobcat 331 Mini-Excavator
<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>
... At what RPM do you pull your boxblade, for example, in the work you mentioned? I generally run both tractors about 1/2 to 3/4 throttle. ...
<hr></blockquote>
I usually open up to full throttle and back off a little bit.
I don't have a boxblade. I have most of the boxblade functionality with the Scarifier and the landscape rake with fold down blade.
... At what RPM do you pull your boxblade, for example, in the work you mentioned? I generally run both tractors about 1/2 to 3/4 throttle. ...
<hr></blockquote>
I usually open up to full throttle and back off a little bit.
I don't have a boxblade. I have most of the boxblade functionality with the Scarifier and the landscape rake with fold down blade.
Bird
Rest in Peace
<font color=blue>If you could only purchase 2 Implements</font color=blue>
Box blade and tiller. No doubt about it, 'cause that's what I did (and still use the most)./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Of course, I'm sure some other folks have some other ideas and will disagree./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Box blade and tiller. No doubt about it, 'cause that's what I did (and still use the most)./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Of course, I'm sure some other folks have some other ideas and will disagree./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
TresCrows
Elite Member
Thanks for the imput Bird and Ed.
RET, one thing you may not know yet, for the BX there is not an R4 tire choice--only the bar and the turf at this time. The bar tires are a fatter or should I say wider foot print that typical ag type bar tires. They work best with the loader but because they are fairly wide they do not impact your lawn unreasonably as long as you can stay off of it when it is wet and soft. I imagine once that St Augustine/Bermuda Mix gets up to speed they will be fine.
If you decide to go with the 7500 then R4 type tires are available. I was thinking that the larger wheel diameter of the 2410 equipped with R4 tires would provide a softer ride than the BX--at this point I would have to say that the BX ride is approximately equal to the 2410, I suspect this is because the R4 tires are very stiff sidewalls.
More to learn all the time!
J
RET, one thing you may not know yet, for the BX there is not an R4 tire choice--only the bar and the turf at this time. The bar tires are a fatter or should I say wider foot print that typical ag type bar tires. They work best with the loader but because they are fairly wide they do not impact your lawn unreasonably as long as you can stay off of it when it is wet and soft. I imagine once that St Augustine/Bermuda Mix gets up to speed they will be fine.
If you decide to go with the 7500 then R4 type tires are available. I was thinking that the larger wheel diameter of the 2410 equipped with R4 tires would provide a softer ride than the BX--at this point I would have to say that the BX ride is approximately equal to the 2410, I suspect this is because the R4 tires are very stiff sidewalls.
More to learn all the time!
J
EdDekker
Silver Member
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2000
- Messages
- 192
- Location
- New Ipswich, New Hampshire
- Tractor
- Kubota B2400, Bobcat 331 Mini-Excavator
RET,
A good thread on tire selection was glenmac's Ag Elimination Rule <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=40080&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=40080&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1</A>
I started with the turf tires. When I wanted a more durable, higher traction tire I decided to get the Ag (R1) tires. I was afraid that R4 tires would not give me enough traction. I didn't want to end up with three sets of tires.
Implement choice depends on the details of your first projects.
For me the first implements would be the finish mower (3 point), rototiller, and snowblower. (I doubt the snowblower would be useful to you.)
I started with the 54 inch mid mount mower. I think it is sufficient to say the designer must be a midget contortionist ********* sadist. Installing or removing the mid mount mower was literally a painful experience. I sold the mid mount mower and bought a three point finish mower. The 3 point mower is much easier to change. (A Freedom Hitch makes changing three point implements trivial.) (I understand that the 60 and 72 inch mid-mount mowers are better but I have not tried them.)
The rototiller was purchased to allow me to have a good sized garden. It is also useful for preparing a lawn area for seeding, but in this part of the country the big and medium sized rocks must be extracted first.
If I was not planting a garden the boxblade with internal scarifier blades or the combination of a scarifier and separate landscape rake would be more important. I chose the landscape rake and scarifier to cover the functions of a boxblade and also help windrow the small (softball sized and smaller) rocks from my garden and lawn. and help prepare the lawn for seeding. The rake (with guide wheels) is (arguably) better than a box blade for final contouring a lawn.
The clamp on forks are another incredibly useful accessary. With the forks I can move pallets around the garage and house. I can unload pallets from a trailer or pickup. I can pick up and move brush piles. I have even used the forks to carry boxes from the garage around the house to the walk-in basement.
A good thread on tire selection was glenmac's Ag Elimination Rule <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=40080&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=40080&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1</A>
I started with the turf tires. When I wanted a more durable, higher traction tire I decided to get the Ag (R1) tires. I was afraid that R4 tires would not give me enough traction. I didn't want to end up with three sets of tires.
Implement choice depends on the details of your first projects.
For me the first implements would be the finish mower (3 point), rototiller, and snowblower. (I doubt the snowblower would be useful to you.)
I started with the 54 inch mid mount mower. I think it is sufficient to say the designer must be a midget contortionist ********* sadist. Installing or removing the mid mount mower was literally a painful experience. I sold the mid mount mower and bought a three point finish mower. The 3 point mower is much easier to change. (A Freedom Hitch makes changing three point implements trivial.) (I understand that the 60 and 72 inch mid-mount mowers are better but I have not tried them.)
The rototiller was purchased to allow me to have a good sized garden. It is also useful for preparing a lawn area for seeding, but in this part of the country the big and medium sized rocks must be extracted first.
If I was not planting a garden the boxblade with internal scarifier blades or the combination of a scarifier and separate landscape rake would be more important. I chose the landscape rake and scarifier to cover the functions of a boxblade and also help windrow the small (softball sized and smaller) rocks from my garden and lawn. and help prepare the lawn for seeding. The rake (with guide wheels) is (arguably) better than a box blade for final contouring a lawn.
The clamp on forks are another incredibly useful accessary. With the forks I can move pallets around the garage and house. I can unload pallets from a trailer or pickup. I can pick up and move brush piles. I have even used the forks to carry boxes from the garage around the house to the walk-in basement.
