Middle Buster/Subsoiler for BX2200

[Mahlon]

Howdy.

First, just to bring everyone up to date, my BX2200 now has almost 150 hours on the clock and has cut grass, hauled/loaded tree trunk sections & leveled dirt since I bought it without a hiccup EXCEPT for the slug of water I got in a can of fuel once (which will result in changing one of the two filters; more on that subject in another forum later).

But I digress...

Have determined that the next implement is a subsoiler and / or middlebuster to use in digging irrigation trenches, burying antenna ground wire/cable, hooking out small tree stumps, and anything else I can think of. Trouble is, the (low) lift height capability of the BX series means that not all of the market's offerings will fit. Just so you know, the lift height on the BX2200 is approx. 22" (that's from the centerline of the hitch pins to the ground, in line with the top link pin, and is NOT the vertical distance from the top link pins to the ground). I think the "King Kutter" ones sold by TSC will work, but barely (the middle buster appears to have circa 2" clearance, I didn't measure the subsoiler) and the Howse MBT15 combo is right at 22". So, has anyone sorted out a manufacturer of these implements that would work? I'd like to use the Howse if I can because it's less money and looks like it's better made than the King Kutter.

regards,

Mahlon

 

[UncleAl]

Mahlon, I asked a similar question a while back. Here's the PM I received from a helpful BX2200 owner:

<font color="blue">The middle buster works reasonably well. The only problem I have with it is trying to dig a trench. After the first pass, the soil is pulled up to the sides of the trench. On subsequent passes, the tires end up riding on the soil pulled from the first pass, so the tractor is lifted up enough that you don't get much on the second and subsequent passes. For just breaking up soil, the middle buster works great.

The TSC subsoiler is too tall for the BX. With the 3pt hitch all the way up, the subsoiler still needs about 4 or so inches to clear the ground. What I did with it was drop the subsoiler into the trench (I was digging a lot of drainage trenches), then back the tractor up to it. I could then hook it up to the 3ph and use it. When done, I had to drop it off the hitch before I could pull away from the trench. I was able to pull the subsoiler without any problem, and it actually penetrated to the point where the cross beam on it was on the ground. So once you get it on and in the ground, it works as well as the implement is capable of.

I've looked around some trying to find a subsoiler with a shorter shank, but haven't found one yet. I may try finding a welding shop and see if I can get it modified to work better on the BX. </font>

Hope this helps...

 

[JWE]

King Kutter makes the XB line of implements that are designed (so they say) to specifically work on the sub-compact tractors. I bought the KK XB middle buster/subsoiler several months ago. The product quality on the one I received was terrible but after a few minor modifications I got it to work on my BX2200. I used it to lay some underground electric fence wire and it worked great. Next year I plan to lay a couple hundred feet of water lines using the subsoiler.

The KK XB product is the right size for the BX tractor. If you can get by the quality issues that are present in some KK products it will do the job for you.

Picture attached.

John

 

[RiverV]

I also have the XB series middle buster from King Kutter. Problem with mine was I had to spread the upper flange apart somewhat to get my top link to fit. Once I got everything to fit it works great.

Dave...

 

[JWE]

I had had to spread the clevis to get the toplink to fit also. With mine the paint was poor (bad runs and rust), sloppy welds, wrong hardware to mount the subsoiler blade. Even the KK logos were installed upside down. I talked to KK about the problems but they didn't seem to think that any of the issues mattered as long as I was able to make it work. They were pleasent to talk with but I could tell that they wern't interested in hearing about any quality issues.

John

 

[RonR]

I bought a KK box blade. The one they started to load on the truck had the decals on upside down.

That's even below no quality controll not to have your name on the right way! Rest of unit seems ok.

Ron

 

[Junkman]

the labels wouldn't bother me, because the first thing that I would do would be to remove the paper/plastic labels. When they get old, half of them is missing anyway and it looks worse. I use a old hair dryer and warm them firts, then peal away. Very easy to do when they are new.

 

[RonR]

Hey I like that idea about just removing the decals. While I'm at it, a couple cans of Kryon might make it prettier than the puke yellow anyway. Would match my orange one better!

Thanks.
Ron

 

[Junkman]

My trick for painting is to use a Brillo pad and scrub down the factory paint. Then rinse with cold water and allow to dry.... then wipe it down with enamel reducer to clean off any soap or other residue such as grease and spray with your favorite <font color="orange">color </font>. The small spray cans do a nice job and eliminate a lot of clean up problems. A couple of light applications and make sure you cover everything, including the driveway...
Forgot to mention in the previous post, that you can clean up any left over glue residue with "Goo Be Gone" or lacquer thinner.

 

[Mahlon]

John,

Thanks for the KK XB information. But I can't seem to find any sources. Where'd you get yours?

btw: Just received an e-mail from Howse. While the middle buster at 22" is just barely makin' it, the subsoiler distance is circa 34", which makes it essentially unusable on any compact tractor, as near as I can tell.

 

[JWE]

Mahlon

I bought mine from a local tractor dealer. Originally I tried to buy it from Tractor Supply Company (http://www.mytscstore.com/) but they kept messing up the order. They called me a couple of times and said that it was in but when I went to pick it up it was the wrong type. They reordered it twice and each time they got the regular CAT1 subsoiler rather than the XB model. I finally gave up and ordered from a local dealer. It took the local dealer two weeks to get one in.

Anyone that sells KingKutter products can get them. I think I paid $89.

John

 

[DannyD]

Got my interest up. Could you not just remove the spade on the Middle Buster and manufacture a blade for doing this? From the frame that holds the spade there is about 5 inches of spade to the tip, giving you room to play with.

Or the second option, get another spade and cut it down to what you need.

I have a KK middle buster and it does well, although yes the tractor does ride up on the previous pass of dirt. This still beats a shovel hands down

 

[scrinch]

How deep and wide a trench can you dig with these implements? I'm looking to dig a trench about 16" deep and 4" wide for some drain pipe.

 

[DaveInColorado]

Yeehaw! Finally - something about which I am an expert! I have a BX1500 - nearly identical size to the BX2200. I bought a subsoiler - couldn't raise the thing high enough to keep it from dragging. I lacked about 4" in height. So I exchanged it for a middle buster (King Cutter - something like that) and took off the plow blade and fastened a little 3" wide plow point where the blade was. Conclusions:

1 - I can really drag a trench in a hurry. A couple of times back and forth and I have it about 8 inches deep - maybe a little deeper. I wanted something deeper so I welded on another little blade. I'm about at the maximum length on the middle buster without constantly dragging. Even so, I still hit and scratch all the grass off someplace when I go over a bump. I've messed with every aspect. I Do Not Believe that you could drag a trench any deeper than 10" with a stock BX and a stock middle buster. I live in Colorado and 8" isn't nearly deep enough. I'll be renting a real trencher when I put in the sprinkler system.

2 - The middle buster is a fairly useful item. I think I paid about $100 for it. With the narrow point I can really break up the garden deeply and quickly. I've also used it to try to pry up a dead bush. I'll use it later in the summer when I pry up a cracked sidewalk. The wide buster blade is useful for the garden but that's about it.

3 - Just tonight I was using it to pull out an almost dead bush and I broke off the 3" wide plow point! They are easy to weld and I'll be back in business in no time. I've hit large rocks with it while test-trenching and never broke it, but an old bush snapped it right off.

4 - Case-hardened plow points are nearly impossible to drill through! I dulled a couple of bits and finally said "good enough". I wanted a hole in a different location. I did not get it.

5 - A middle buster is one heavy thing to drag around to the tractor and it won't stay up by itself while you align it! Wear your steel-toed boots because you'll probably drop it on your toes a couple of times and bang it into your knee.

To summarize, I regret buying the thing because it won't do what I wanted it to do (dig 18" trenches), but it isn't a big regret because I've found other uses for it. I have a modification to this design bouncing around in my head that would solve the problem but no time nor drive to make it happen.

 

[scrinch]

Dave, thanks for the details on subsoiling and middle-busting. Looks like I'm going to have to rent a trencher to get my 16".