looking for advice

[check 6]

The dealer came by and looked at my BX 2360 while I was building fence gates for my neighbor. Have not made a decision but did get to use the tractor again today, as I pulled the rest of the neighbors old fence posts with my tractor, a chain and the chain hooks on the front loader. Actually almost got the rear of the tractor off the ground pulling posts out of our very dry Texas soil. These little Kubota tractors are great implements and I'm still researching how to make it even better. So keep the comments coming. By the way I am a 69 year old vet missing four discs from too many "G's" over a career of flying fighters and I don't slow down even in this heat. .... life is way too short.

 

[Tom_H]

A Woods BH6000 is suitable for your tractor. I have one on my BX2200. It is 2% more powerful than the bh on a BX25 (there is no BX2500), which is negligible, but is slightly more difficult to get on and off. It is a 4 point hitch sub-frame bh. Though there are 3ph backhoes, you DO NOT want one; it will destroy your tractor. With the Woods bh, you will receive a new split 3ph which is removed when attaching the bh. You will also receive a base that allows the seat to swivel and lift higher. The ROPS has not been an issue for me; in fact, the only people I have ever heard cite it as an issue are people who do not have a 4 digit BX with the BH6000.

A couple of years ago, a thread ran entitled "What is your least used implement that you wish you had not bought?" The most oft stated answer was the PHD. I have a PHD for my BX. I have Duripan, which is much harder than regular hardpan. To dig in it, one must have a Pengo auger with carbide tip and either a down pressure kit or ballast for the top of the PHD frame.

Adding a Woods BH6000 is cheaper than trading for a BX25, however for those who do not already have a BX, it is less expensive to buy a BX25 than to get a 4 digit BX plus the BH6000. If you simply want rear ballast and a useful 3ph attachment, the BH is an awfully expensive way to get it. It would be more advisable to buy a carry all and fashion some sort of ballast box or custom (removable) sub-frame on which to stack barbell weights. The carry all can be had for $100 to $200 and is extremely versatile.

There are scores of threads on all the things I have mentioned in the archives. The search function will lead you to any of them. If there is anything in particular about which you desire more info. and you cannot locate it, let us know and we can look up some links to old threads for you to peruse.

 

[check 6]

Tom:

Thanks for the detailed reply and yes I know its a BX 25, don't know why I want to add the two "0's" No decisions yet but I only gave the PHD a brief thought and then back to reality of Texas soil or this year clay cement .Keep those suggestions coming and please explain a carry all Jack

 

[TripleR]

Several people offer a carry all, here is just one.

CountyLine Carry All - 2128210 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[CHDinCT]

check 6, just went through the same debate late last year on adding the Woods BH6000 to my then BX1860 or trading up to a BX25. Here's a couple threads on the whole affair. Hope some of the info exchanged in these threads is of help in making your decision.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/191487-woods-bh6000-bx-question.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/192244-bx1860-bx25-feel-like-john.html

 

[Grandad4]

Tom:

Thanks for the detailed reply and yes I know its a BX 25, don't know why I want to add the two "0's" No decisions yet but I only gave the PHD a brief thought and then back to reality of Texas soil or this year clay cement .Keep those suggestions coming and please explain a carry all Jack

Your original comment about getting a backhoe to use as ballast seemed a bit tongue in cheek, but taking nothing for granted, a carry-all is a lifting device you can attach to the 3 point hitch. It's sort of like a fork-lift... you can raise pallets or make a platform or make a box and fill it with heavy stuff to use as counter-weight. Costs $100.

They are actually quite handy. I made a couple of different devices out of pallets that slide on and off the carry-all as needed. One is a homebrew spray rig with 15 and 25 gal tanks and different nozzles. Another is a flat platform for furniture, etc.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Several people offer a carry all, here is just one.

CountyLine Carry All - 2128210 | Tractor Supply Company

Here is mine...It's built on the above...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/192987-my-carryall-project.html

 

[check 6]

I have not made a decision yet, but talking to the owner that I deal with at the local Kubota dealership, he indicated that he would make an upgrade to the BX25 from my almost new BX 2360 painless.. we shall see. I did purchase a sun hood for both the tractor and the ZD1800 mower yesterday that attaches to the ROPS and will keep me out of direct sun when working. If you had not noticed, South Texas is suffering through its worse drought in history combined with temps running well above normal. The forecast for the next 5 days is 102 plus heat index. We normally get around 10 days a year at 100 or better, normally in July and this year we have been in the 100 range since late May. Not good on Humans, livestock and the ground. May find out tomorrow as to the upgrade and if not favorable I will drop back to plan "B". Always need a plan "B"

 

[check 6]

Another unusually hot day so I did my outdoor chores early and have been inside since late morning, not my thing. But, it allowed me to do more research and thinking, sometimes a bad thing because logic and reason emerges. So, if I keep my BX 2360, great little tractor and does almost all I want, what about building a semi platform welded to the box blade and mounting a spray tank. I could use it to, water trees so I did not have to drag hoses, liquid fertilize the lawn and also with a small pump and spray bar apply weed killer etc. Has anyone done this? Also I have seen several posts on chaining on a spade to the FEL, what luck in digging with an attachment like that have people had. As you can see looking for useful additions to my tractor short of trading up to a BX 25. Can do a lot for the grandkids with the difference. Still looking for wise suggestions and or just straight out telling me what a fool I am, both are acceptable on a hot day.

 

[TripleR]

Have you considered a pull cart for hauling stuff, watering trees is going to take a LOT of water.

Your post has got me to thinking also and I just discussed buying a carry all to mount one of our spray rigs. We usually use our Rhino on which I recently added power steering and it is great for long fence lines and such, but the rear axle is live and tears the grass up pretty bad as I have Bighorn tires on it.

I really like the BX25, but find it much cheaper to rent a backhoe or mini excavator on the rare occasions I need a BH. No doubt a BH is really handy, but like you, I can find a lot of other places for the money.

I am sure you can mount something on your box blade, but I don't know of anyone who has.

 

[k0ua]

Another unusually hot day so I did my outdoor chores early and have been inside since late morning, not my thing. But, it allowed me to do more research and thinking, sometimes a bad thing because logic and reason emerges. So, if I keep my BX 2360, great little tractor and does almost all I want, what about building a semi platform welded to the box blade and mounting a spray tank. I could use it to, water trees so I did not have to drag hoses, liquid fertilize the lawn and also with a small pump and spray bar apply weed killer etc. Has anyone done this? Also I have seen several posts on chaining on a spade to the FEL, what luck in digging with an attachment like that have people had. As you can see looking for useful additions to my tractor short of trading up to a BX 25. Can do a lot for the grandkids with the difference. Still looking for wise suggestions and or just straight out telling me what a fool I am, both are acceptable on a hot day.

Here is some Grist for your thought mill: little 15 gallon spray rig mounted on a 2 inch receiver on my ballast barrel. I used the existing work light wiring for the power for the rig.. I use it quite a bit. may not be what your are looking for but might give you some ideas. and as for the spade, I made one, works pretty good. be sure and make it heavy duty, and supported.. Not like I did at first read the whole link, as it goes thru the trial and error. here are the links.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/199329-look-what-i-built-today.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/189604-shovel-ready-project-2.html


Happy Fab'ing

James K0UA

 

[wrooster]

So, if I keep my BX 2360, great little tractor and does almost all I want, what about building a semi platform welded to the box blade and mounting a spray tank.

What you want here is called a carry-all. Buy a carry-all frame at TSC or similar, mount some planks to it, and then put whatever stuff you need to carry on it. Hence the name, "carry-all". As for the sprayer itself -- put it on a wooden skid, and then you can take it on/off the carry-all as needed. See pictures below.

I could use it to, water trees so I did not have to drag hoses

Won't work. You are not going to be effectively watering any amount of trees with a sprayer tank mounted on a carry-all or TPH! A sprayer is neither designed for nor suited for irrigation -- simply not enough water capacity nor the means to delivery it effectively.
Read this entire thread,
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/209601-i-need-help-purchasing-sprayer.html

liquid fertilize the lawn and also with a small pump and spray bar apply weed killer etc. Has anyone done this?

These are the tasks that a BX-sized sprayer is suited for -- namely pressure application of herbicides or pesticides using a hand-held wand or machine mounted boom. The sprayer setup shown below uses a 12Vdc pump powered by the BX's accessory socket (which is located below the seat and above the MMM height adjustment knob), but larger sprayer setups use a PTO-powered roller pump.

Wrooster

 

[check 6]

Well guys after considering all the comments and doing some research I made a decision. I decided to keep my BX 2360 and I have traded in the box blade on a 55gal spray rig that mounts to the three point and uses the PTO as a pump power source. The dealer is also re-forcing the spray assembly and installing a trailer hitch to the rear. Living where I do it will not only be a useful addition for applying herbicides and liquid fertilizer but also a ready 55gal source of high pressure water in case of a brush fire ... and we have those . So my little tractor just got better with a more useful rear attachment that not only provides ballast for the front loader but services other frequent needs. The money saved will rent lots of back hoes should I need them. I will post a picture of the spray rig installed in a week or so. Again thanks for all the help.

 

[hawkeye08]

Make sure to always have the PTO pump for the sprayer "flooded" so it is never run dry. They go bad quickly if run dry. Keep the tank higher than the pump and do not loop hose up, it needs to flow pretty straight to pump. My brother has worked with sprayers for years and he said folks that don't pay attention to that replace the pump every year or two, those that do pay attention get many years of reliable service... makes sense to me.

 

[check 6]

Make sure to always have the PTO pump for the sprayer "flooded" so it is never run dry. They go bad quickly if run dry. Keep the tank higher than the pump and do not loop hose up, it needs to flow pretty straight to pump. My brother has worked with sprayers for years and he said folks that don't pay attention to that replace the pump every year or two, those that do pay attention get many years of reliable service... makes sense to me.

good point I will pay attention