Major differences between BX and B series?

JOHNTHOMAS · Feb 26, 2011

spqr476 said:
I'm torn right now between the BX2360 and the B2320. My dealer had a BX2660 and a B3030? to check out, so I know size on the 2360, but the 2320 is hard to get a read on without seeing one, as the 3030? is a skosh bigger.

The problem is that BOTH the solid ROPS on the 2360 and the B series folded seem to be about the same height, and both are about 10" too high to cut under the larger trees I need to cut under and really get in around the orchard. I've only got 2 hilly acres, but there's a 40x40 garden and I'd like to put portions of the 1 acre pasture under tillage. Lots of snow to take care of, too.

With the minimal price difference, I'd hate to get the BX and then regret the lack of ground clearance and 3 point work when I'm trying to deal with tilling pasture or running a middle buster.

On the other hand, I'd hate to go too big and then not be able to mow efficiently around my trees and have issues with the higher center of gravity on my hills.

The dealer is recommending the Bx2360, and he's offered to bring one out to my place for a little test drive, so I'm going to do that. I don't believe he has a B2320 anywhere, though.

To keep from going on endlessly...does anyone regret going BX instead of B, or B instead of BX?

Any thoughts on which side is better to err on?

I've had several BX's, couple of B's and one L. I also have hillside property. My first tractor was a BX2200 FEL MMM which I kept for one year. I also have gullies,, trees and rocks. I built my home and was doing the ongoing landscaping. The ground clearance was a problem with the BX. Traded it for a B7800 FEL and RFM( for larger area mowing) plus bought a BX1500 MMM (for hillside mowing). Kept the B7800 for 3 years till paid off and traded it to a L3240HST FEL and traded the BX1500 to a BX2350 MMM. The L was to big and sat to high for hillside property so I traded it to a B3200 FEL real quick and traded the BX2350 (abrupt stop in reverse issue) to a BX2660. Finally traded the B3200 to a F3080 and the BX2660 to the BX25.
I've worked on my property for 7 years and my needs have changed plus I have another property to maintain.
The BX will feel more stable on hillsides. Determine for sure if you really need the ground clearance, if you do for sure then the B is better but will not feel as secure as the BX on the hillside.
LOWER FEELS MORE SECURE, HIGHER FEELS MORE SCARY. I'm not saying they are more secure, I'm saying they FEEL more secure lower to the ground.
As far as pulling power a big BX will pull as well as a small B if you can get the traction.
Lots of people garden with a BX with no clearance issues.

bp fick · Feb 26, 2011

I had a BX and loved it. It was great in snow plowing, because I had the front, hydraulic blade. But I had to change to a B2320 because I found myself taking on market gardening in a much larger scale than I had ever anticipated when we moved onto our property 2 years ago.

The BX simply does not have the ground clearance needed for middlebusting, in my experience. YMMV. I grounded out over and over. With one set of wheels in the furrow, the ground clearance was zilch. The cultivator I use was also too much for the BX. Finally, one can only cultivate very tiny plants under the low BX ground clearance.

I find the folding ROPS helpful when mowing through and around trees. For safety, and I know it sounds weird, I keep them folded down. I do not mow on hilly ground.

Remember also a $300 rear wheel spacer kit, to widen the B, is available from Kubota. Worth it if your terrain is hilly. Frankly, the over all size of the B2320 is not extraordinarily different in feel and nimbleness from the BX. It just isn't, it is just has larger wheels/tires and more ground clearance. It is still a small tractor.

I wrote a full review here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/.../185147-bx1860-vx-b2320-contrast-compare.html
Worth reading.

You'd love either tractor. You'll just have to decide which is best for you.

One final note. The B2320 has no little plastic transmission fan to worry about.

JJZ 109 · Feb 26, 2011

MGH PA said:
Thanks for all of the information, guys.

I saw in the linked review thread about the tires tearing up the yard (or not tearing up the yard as the OP stated). I've always appreciated the traction of Ag tires when doing loading, excavating, plowing, etc. However, if I do go with a tractor, I will certainly be mowing my yard. Are the turf or R4 tires truly needed for keeping the lawn from being torn up?

Boy, you sure know how to open up the cans of worms around here. B vs. BX. R4 vs. any other tire. There are miles of threads debating both subjects.
Keep up the good work! :laughing:

TripleR · Feb 26, 2011

Can only agree with bp fick, I am on my second BX and it works great for us.

bp fick · Feb 26, 2011

JJZ 109 said:
Boy, you sure know how to open up the cans of worms around here. B vs. BX. R4 vs. any other tire. There are miles of threads debating both subjects.
Keep up the good work! :laughing:

I realize good nature humor and fun in your statement. However, I say, this is no "debate". The two series BX__60 or the B__20 are simply different, but not even THAT different. Arguing about the differences is silly, imho.

It merely comes down to one's chores. In the real world, there so little difference between a BX2660 and B2320 that you'd likely pay less than 15 bucks difference in your payment. So, choose freely and appropriately.

Take the wheels off both of them and set them side by side on jack stands. Not much to see. The B__20 series is NOT a huge tractor. It is marginally larger than a BX, but the height is far different. The transmission is different too; no fan and 3 speeds. Neither have position control. The B has a better dash and higher GPM pump to run things. The BX has nice features too, like more secure fenders and the power outlet. In the end, it's all about the ground clearance.

If a guy needs the ground clearance, he needs it. You simply cannot make the BX taller. Kubota makes them both for a reason. Different strokes for different folks. :laughing:

spqr476 · Feb 26, 2011

bp fick said:
I wrote a full review here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/.../185147-bx1860-vx-b2320-contrast-compare.html
Worth reading.

You'd love either tractor. You'll just have to decide which is best for you.

One final note. The B2320 has no little plastic transmission fan to worry about.

That was a great write-up, and was what started pushing me towards the possibility of a B working for me.

The way I look at it, the cost is pretty close to exactly the same once I buy aftermarket skid plates for the BX to protect the HST fan.

I think I really need to arrange to test both tractors.

On the B, HST is really the only way to go, correct? I like the durability factor of a gear drive, but the HST seems to be $1K of money well spent from all accounts I've read here.

Thanks for all the advice, guys.

JOHNTHOMAS · Feb 26, 2011

Absolutely sit on them before you buy.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/148830-b3200-bx2660-side-side-not.html

bp fick · Feb 26, 2011

spqr476 said:
That was a great write-up, and was what started pushing me towards the possibility of a B working for me.

The way I look at it, the cost is pretty close to exactly the same once I buy aftermarket skid plates for the BX to protect the HST fan.

I think I really need to arrange to test both tractors.

On the B, HST is really the only way to go, correct? I like the durability factor of a gear drive, but the HST seems to be $1K of money well spent from all accounts I've read here.

Thanks for all the advice, guys.

Gear. AFAIK, It's only available on the B2320. Of all the BXs and B__20 series, it alone offers the option. I toyed with the idea of saving a grand, but thought better of it. I love my 5 speed pickup, driving down the road, but do not like to launch my boat with it and I don't enjoy backing up to any trailer to hitch up. Multiply that feeling by 10 times and I decided that gear tractor was not going to truly match up well with the chores I do. If I was operating in a wide open field, like tractoring of old? Maybe.

But realistically, we use our home owner tractors in a far different way. More like me driving my 5 speed in heavy, stop and go, city traffic. No thanks. BTW, how cheap is it to replace the clutch on a tractor because you nervously rode it all the time? Not cheap either.

TripleR · Feb 26, 2011

bp fick said:
Gear. AFAIK, It's only available on the B2320. Of all the BXs and B__20 series, it alone offers the option. I toyed with the idea of saving a grand, but thought better of it. I love my 5 speed pickup, driving down the road, but do not like to launch my boat with it and I don't enjoy backing up to any trailer to hitch up. Multiply that feeling by 10 times and I decided that gear tractor was not going to truly match up well with the chores I do. If I was operating in a wide open field, like tractoring of old? Maybe.

But realistically, we use our home owner tractors in a far different way. More like me driving my 5 speed in heavy, stop and go, city traffic. No thanks. BTW, how cheap is it to replace the clutch on a tractor because you nervously rode it all the time? Not cheap either.

I drove my VW Beetle through college and loved it until I graduated and moved to Kansas City, MO. My office was downtown and so was most of my work. Running that thing in city traffic and then the crowded I-35 back home and it wasn't long before it got to be too much for me.