Looking at buying BX25D - questions on the BX's in general

[Code54]

Thanks for the Rip and Dig info! That is pretty neat. A lot of our property is very hilly and tight with trees. Some of my ditch lines are on the edge of the road and next to a 4' bank so sort of tight quarters. I do have a Stump bucket for the 5100 and been thinking it will work well with a small hoe. Sort of use the hoe to do the finesse work and bring the 5100 with the stump bucket in for some extra grunt maybe?

A little more info on the property may also help. We have about 8 acres, 3 or so are cleared and basically grass. I say basically because it is not a great yard, lots of little bare spots, some tree roots, hilly and somewhat rough. I am haven the soil tested right now so I am slowly trying to improve it but I have a feeling it is going to take a long time. The "woods" near the house is pretty cleaned out - I brush hog between most of the trees and have burned all the old dead fall off. I don't see us doing any major excavation (hope not at least) but a lot of planting bushes, planting some more trees, drainage ditching (about 16" wide, maybe 6" deep and a grand total of 500 feet at the most), may also dig some small trees out to replant (6' tall at the max, inch or 2 round type), have a 12' wide gravel driveway I need to put a few cross drains in, etc...

I also looked at the hoe for the 5100 and really really liked it but think it maybe a bit more than I need. I already have taken about 40 stumps out of the yard and got the shop excavated and put in so I hope all the big work is done. I was looking at several areas where I want to work and some are narrow -too narrow to get the 5100 in and not damage anything. Around us I can rent a Bobcat track hoe for $300 (total) for the day so if I had to do something major that is always an option.
I am thinking the BX will allow me to do stuff in the yard without a lot of damage and allow my wife to do some of her landscaping while I do other things. A few years ago I got an ATV Wagon 4 wheel dump cart and was thinking the BX should be able to pull it around no problem and that would allow me to load it with the 5100 when and if we move some dirt around.

4SHORTS - That is a pretty nice sized rock you had by your hoe - was the BX able to move it around? I figured it can't lift it but if it drug it from the hole that is impressive!!

Johnthomas - I noticed you really liked the BX, why did you prefer it over the B's. I had a walk behind zero turn with sulky and just sold it. It is an excellent machine but no one else in the house could run it. My Son is 13 and mows with the tractor and does a great job, wife likes mowing on the tractor but both of them were nothing short of terrified of the zero turn. No idea why but it does take a different ability to hang on and ride the sulky.

Thanks again to everyone for all the info and please keep it coming!

 

[robertm]

I have owned two B's and now a BX2660. I am considering moving to a BX25D. I have many little projects the hoe would be great for, but I don't have time for picking up and returning a rented hoe. Plus, there will always be a use for it here or at my dads. I totally disagree with Scooby's " Master of None " post. Ludicrous! The BX wasn't designed to be a B, an L, or an M. It truly beats the snot out of all of it's designed qualifications. It's tough, compact, well designed, powerful, and almost perfect. If it's not a master, then your needs are a larger tractor. It does a great job mowing, and within its limits, the FEL, and I am sure the hoe, will exceed your expectations. So far, I've only seen few take issue with the BX25 because it simply was too small. Then again, who'd go to sea in a canoe?

 

[Mowbizz]

In answer to your question on the prowess of the BX25D...I just took delivery of one last week and have previously owned a BX24 and I will just say you owe it to yourself to have one of these little gems of a tractor.
Mine also has the 60"mmm and I mow 5 acres. I can't wait for the 2+ feet of snow to melt so I can start mowing...in the meantime, I have moved "tons" of snow from the perimeter of my house in preparation for the "meltdown" which is sure to come! The things I did with my BX24 amazed and pleased me (used it in my one man landscaping business). Now I'm retired and have plans to do all the things you mentioned and more with my new 25D. Buy one...now!

 

[Code54]

Are you all using the 60" decks? I THINK with the 60" I can add the 3" spacers, am I correct on that?

 

[check]

Yup, a great little tractor. Had my BX25 since '09, and I love it. Very good in tight spaces, runs a very powerful blower on the 3 pt hitch, grades my driveway nicely with the rear box scraper, and carries A LOT in the FEL with the bxpanded.com bucket expander. Get the FEL toothbar from bxpanded.com and the front quick attach and pallet forks from Kubota and then a thumb from any of a number of places, and you will be all set. Also, I love the way the BH detaches so quickly in the Fall so I can put the snowblower on for the winter. I don't use it for mowing, however - too much expense and hassle to use the Kubota mmm. I just borrow a friend's cheap riding mower. (I am also jealous that the Kubota FEL QA was only made for the BX25D and not the earlier BX25 models, although I am told there is in fact backward compatibility that Kubota won't admit to.)

Good luck with your choice!

 

[Scooby074]

I have owned two B's and now a BX2660. I am considering moving to a BX25D. I have many little projects the hoe would be great for, but I don't have time for picking up and returning a rented hoe. Plus, there will always be a use for it here or at my dads. I totally disagree with Scooby's " Master of None " post. Ludicrous! The BX wasn't designed to be a B, an L, or an M. It truly beats the snot out of all of it's designed qualifications. It's tough, compact, well designed, powerful, and almost perfect. If it's not a master, then your needs are a larger tractor. It does a great job mowing, and within its limits, the FEL, and I am sure the hoe, will exceed your expectations. So far, I've only seen few take issue with the BX25 because it simply was too small. Then again, who'd go to sea in a canoe?

Its the definition of Master of None.

Yes it does alright in different jobs but it doesnt excel in any.

Have you ever trenched with a BX? Its too small to drive over the trench when your finished so unless you can drive straight out, your a bit stuck. Its hoe doesnt have enough swing to swing the rear over end over the trench to get out. It also has limited reach, so that means frequent moves, which wouldnt be so bad if it had a creep function you could use from the BH operators station, but it doesnt. Thats just how it is.

Ditching from the side, its "ok" but it suffers from limited reach, which means frequent moves and wasted time. On top of that it has relatively weak hydraulics and its light weight doesnt allow you to maximise what hydraulics are there. Try digging some hard packed red clay like I have around here. Its so light you'll drag your *** all over the place so you need to rely on small bites using the curl. Slow process. And the hydraulics themselves are slow.

Mowing wise, its never been a good mower to me, even with the fine cut deck. My ZD completely blows it out of the water as far as cut quality. Its heavy and all the weight is over the front wheels on the BX which means it compacts the grass and that grass leaves streaks. The ZD is just as heavy, but its weight is in the rear so the grass is cut before being squashed.

Lift capacity on the loader is too low to be overly effective. It can only lift what, 800lbs? It could barely lift my new woodstove out of the truck (and I have my hydraulics "turned up"). It certainly cant move a full pallet of firewood,not even a half pallet.

Right now, im dealing with the lack of 3pt hich lift height and ground clearance. I need a rear blade that will offset and angle to repair my washed out driveway. The BX's lack of lift prevents me from being able to do that with an off the shelf blade so Im going to have to design and build one to work with the BX's limitations. Frustrating.

I know you guys dont like hearing your babies arent perfect. I got one and call it like it really is, warts and all. Im not saying it isnt a tough well built machine, but people need to hear about the flaws too. As a retired homeowner machine, one where you have all day to do something. Or you want to put in some flower beds.. Or you dont want to damage the lawn.. then fine, but you should know that going in.

 

[Cherokee140]

I have had my machine for little over a week, and so far I am so pleased with it. I would say it is perfect for what I need. The perfect machine.

I have pulled out many stumps, with mine. The first one was by far the largest and I would guess it took about 10 loader trips to put all the dirt back in the huge hole. I have also had it back in the woods and have been pretty impressed with how sharp it will turn.

As for power I have not found it lacking in any area. I am still keeping the RPM's at under 2500 as the book says no full throttle for the first 50 hours, so I am keeping all the digging at around 2000 RPM's. I find the loader and backhoe move at a good speed at that RPM.

No one can tell you if a specific machine will be right for you...only you and people that you actually know you and know your land can offer real advice. When mine came home it spent a lot of time just running while I was jawing with the neighbors....it already has jobs for them....one wants to replace a covert, the other wants to put in some buried drains gravel, and pipe. Oddly enough both of these people own larger machines....one with a backhoe but he just can't get it to where he needs it.

I am not using this machine to make money, I am using it around the house...speed is not any part of the equation.

I also have the 60" MMM but can't comment on that as I have not used it. Everyone around me suggests the Zero turn....buy behind me just bought a used Gravely and it goes 18mph. On my property going that fast and you will not be on the mower any longer....just too rough. For my yard nice and slow with a good seat is what is required in all areas.

 

[robertm]

Scooby, you are funny. For you the glass is half empty. I don't get it. I guess my F350 doesn't excel either because it won't pull a 50 foot reefer like a KW or Peterbuilt. That's fine. Again, it's not designed for commercial excavation, mowing, and lifting. I agree the BX is heavy and mats down grass. I live that, too. I don't have a hoe. I can't comment there. I have lifted 600 pounds plus with no issues. I doubt anyone looking to lift massive weight, or digging many long trenches, would choose a BX. A homeowner looking to have versatility? YES. is that what it's designed for? Yes. I understand you Scoob, but from what you say, a B is a waste, too. It is a master of none, too. Are we all to buy TLB's or large loaders, or three individual pieces of equipment?

 

[Cherokee140]

I wanted to pimp myself a little....check out my day in the life thread if you have not already. It shows most of what I have done with my machine so far. If there is anyway I can help you just let me know....I am real new to this little tractor business but I am so impressed with this machine.

As to size, Robert I get you....I started a pretty heated thread where I am under the impression that I am an idiot and don't know anything. But I did come away from that experience thinking that some people really have a need to justify equipment that they have. So many are so sure that I made the wrong choice in machines....and really without knowing ME and MY land no one can make that suggestion. First word out of my neighbors mouth was you will never need anything more then that...it is perfect for YOU. And he is the one with the huge Mahendra that is so big it cant get to his covert.

I am getting wordy, but sit down and really look at what YOU want to do. Also see how your abilities are...can you take care of that large machine, do you have space to store it. It is just as easy to get a machine too big as it is too small...more easy IMHO. Buy that Peterbuilt and use it to pull your popup camping trailer.

 

[Cherokee140]

This is one video that swung my decision to the BX.