More BX23 Questions Cruise and Tire fill

[Phrede]

Thank you board for all your help so far.

My BX23 gets delivered in the morning. The dealer called today with some info. that I want to make sure is correct.

The BX23 does not have cruise control. The BX2230 I almost bought does, a new feature this year. Does this sound right and does anybody know if it can be retrofitted to the BX23. Is this a big deal when mowing? I am used to a hand control for speed and don't really know if my "tired foot" or "unable to maintain constant speed" concerns are valid.

We filled the rear tires because of the BH. Is it necessary or recommended to fill the tires? When I asked the salesman what they used for anti-freeze he didn't know. What should be used? Should I be concerned about corrosion of the rims? Does this present any more wear to the trans-axle?

The deck/3-point will not go all the way down with the BH attached. I don't see this as a big deal. I don't plan on having both attached at the same time.

What should I look for when accepting delivery?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Rimmer]

Once again, welcome to the family!

Yes, the BX23 has no cruise control. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif As to whether it can be retrofitted, don't know. The slot where the CC lever is located on the '2230 is used as the pass-through for the female end of the seat belt on the '23. This placement of the seat belt is necessary to allow the seat to rotate for BH operation. Not saying that would be a "show stopper" with regard to retrofitting, just a bit of BX trivia to pass along.

Can't answer any of the mowing questions, as I don't have a MMM on mine, and my rotary cutter hasn't arrived yet, and the grass isn't growing. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif In practice I find the hydro pedal to be so effort free that it quickly becomes one of those things you do without even thinking about it. Very easy to modulate speed. With 22 HP you can probably mow flat-out, anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You will see a discussion of rear tire ballast in your Operator's Manual. The manual says to "remove the ballast" when using the BH, which doesn't sound practicable to me. Not sure what you mean by "We filled the rear tires because of the BH." The BH adds 600 pounds of "ballast" to the rear of the tractor all by itself. I'm sure others will be able to make a more helpful comment on this issue.

On delivery, make sure the dealer goes over the tractor with you and explains how to operate everything, particularly the safely rules. I think it's a good idea to check tire pressures (there have been reports of the dealer forgetting to let air out after unloading them from the transporter) and check all fluid levels (my HST was about a half-quart low on delivery).

Other issues to pay attention to:

Keep the ROPS up.
Wear your seat belt.
Read the Manual.
Read the Manual again.
Have Fun!
Read the Manual.

Finally, let us all know how much you like it. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Junkman]

Cruise control can not be retrofitted to the BX-23.... I have never found any reason that they say to remove the ballast in the rear tires when using the BH, but I haven't considered the weighted tires as a detriment when operating my BX-22 BH. Read the manual and practice using both loader and backhoe on level ground. You will improve the front bucket performance if you add a tooth bar to it... enjoy and post some pictures...... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jpr62902]

Mowing is a breeze without the cruise control. I, too, was used to the hand controlled hydro and now I prefer the foot operated hydro. In fact, I think cruise can be problem with a pedal hydro -- I borrowed a neighbor's JD lawn tractor with it and just about drove thru a tree trying to hit the brake and accidentally hit the forward pedal. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

When its delivered, MAKE SURE YA GET A HAT! Also check for ALL the manuals (BH, FEL, tractor, MMM, etc.).

Oh yeah, watch out for the line of neighbors that will most certainly form in your driveway. They're gonna have all kinds of projects for you to help them with. But that's half the fun.

Good luck trying to get to sleep tonight.

 

[art]

I wonder about the need to have the tires filled. I think every thing has been covered so on to the next step. Congratulations! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Maxwell]

Here is a delivery check list

1. Make sure the tractor has the features you ordered and they all work.

2. Check all fluid levels.
Coolant, _____OK, Fuel _____OK, Engine oil ___ OK, Transmission oil ____ OK
Front axle oil _____OK , Hydraulic oil _____OK.

3.Check wheel lugs, loader brackets, ROPS and various other obvious bolts for tightness

4.Engage PTOs and watch for movement at idle. _______ OK

5.Check all the lights. ______OK

6.Take it for a spin and verify brakes and throttle, transmission ranges and HST.

7.Have them completely remove the loader & BH and put it back on. ______OK

8.Show how to remove screen for radiator.

9.Run clean rag along all hydraulic hoses to check for leaks. Check tightness of lines.

10.Have the delivery person show you the does and don'ts. Especially for first 50 hours.




Congratulations! The waiting is the hardest part!

 

[Rimmer]

"3.Check wheel lugs, loader brackets, ROPS and various other obvious bolts for tightness"

Good point, I had forgotten about that. I went over my BX23 with a torque wrench when it was a few days old, and got a bit of movement on several wheel bolts and one of the FEL bracket bolts.

You might want to do a tool inventory -- I was in pretty good shape, but ended up needing a couple of new things /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif including, IIRC, a 19m open-end wrench, a 10mm hex wrench (half-inch drive) for the brush guard, a 13/16 inch open-end wrench for a couple of bolts on the FEL bracket that lacked clearence for a socket, and a one and 1/16 inch open-end wrench for the 3pt top link. (No Crescent Hammers allowed on MY tractor!)

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

"Play 'em high 'n sleep in the streets."

 

[Phrede]

Thanks again all,

Got it today, /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif and plan on going through all the bolts, fluids etc. tomorrow. Tires are 3/4 full of 50/50 mix ethylene glycol.

Dealer went through about everything and I will remove and install all attachments tomorrow to get more familiar.

Rimmer, you mentioned some tools........ What is an IIRC? I would expect this tractor to be 100% metric but you mention some inch sizes. Is it really 1-1/16 or is it 25mm? I have both so no big deal either way and probably doesn't matter at that large of a size.

Now If I can just find a place to get rid of my old Cub 1641. I need the room.

 

[Rimmer]

Oops, sorry, IIRC = "If I Recall Correctly." /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Well, starting with both a set of metric and a set of English* tools and trying everything for best fit, I concluded that I had fasteners sized to both standards. I may be mistaken, especially on some of the larger stuff, but I wasn't too surprised since I have found the same thing on my two GMC trucks (1992 and 1994). I seem to remember changing an alternator a while back, for example, that used the standard 9/16" wrench for one bolt, but another one on the same alternator was metric.

You make a good point, though -- that one and 1/16 could have been 27mm in reality.

Well now, wait -- as I type this I am recalling something else. You can also tell by the grade markings. English* and metric use different designations for fastener grade. It's too dark and cold to walk out to the barn right now, but I'm pretty sure the FEL bracket bolts have English* grade markings, and they checked out as 13/16 nut and 15/16 bolt head (or was it the other way around???). Other fasteners (but not all) were definitely metric.

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

* This should be "SAE" -- many thanks to Junkman for providing the correct nomenclature /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif (see next message).

 

[Junkman]

Rimmer..... what you call "English" are what is known as the SAE standard.... English are what is / was used in England known as Wentworth.... an entirely different standard commonly found on older British machinery... I am not certain if the other countries of the Brittish Commonwealth had adopted the standard. I have never found any reason for the mixing of the two standards, Metric & SAE, on automobiles. I would think that it would be one or the other, but this isn't always the case. There are some cross over sizes in Metric/SAE wrenches, but I am not familiar with them. I usually try one or the other to get the best fit when in doubt. Many of my tools are in 1/16" & 1/32" increments because of special applications. At one time you could buy sockets in 1/32" increments, but for the most part, they are no longer available. Back in the 1950's when measurements weren't that accurate in production vehicles, it seemed more prevalent to find these tools...