My First Experience

[woodenhorse]

Well folks, I finally got my BX2200 yesterday afternoon! It was a pretty sight on the back of that trailer. The driver (who is also the dealer mechanic) unloaded it and showed me a few pointers - even filled it full with diesel. I, of course, had to go to my clay/gravel pile and try (play) with the fel. It took me a few minutes to get the feel of the joystick before I "attacked" the pile. I don't know if that wet clay/gravel weighs alot, but when I filled my bucket 3/4full to full, the fel would not even begin to lift. I had to fill it only half full and then the lift was slow.....everything else on the fel worked fine. It made a wining sound when trying to lift - but didn't make that sound with nothing in the bucket.....is that typical? Also, it would not lift at all if I pulled the joystick all the way back - I had to find one little sweet spot in the stick to make it lift......is that normal?

Of course I didn't read any manuals, just took it around behind my barn and began to attempt to disconnect the fel - /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif - I made all kinds of little mistakes like disconnecting the hoses too soon - boy those couplers were hot! Anyway, I got it on the stands, tried to pull the upper pins, after I'd disconnected the hoses, and had to reconnect the hoses to move the machine to fee up the upper pins...then disconnected the hoses and tried to back up - ended up pulling the fel as I backed.....finally figured out that the lower portion of the upper brackets were rounded and sat on the brackets attached to the machine - so had to reconnect hoses again (hotter than you know what) tapped the joystick this way and that and finally worked the fel loose, then disconnected the hoses once more - then I disconnected the bush hog (done that before so no problem). And I was off to try the MMM (got the 5 footer) - man that thing can cut! I headed over to mow beneath a huge cedar tree, ducked my head so the end of the limb wouldn't hit me and, yep - you guessed it, forgot about a ROPS being on the machine! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif It caught that ROPS and I pulled a major wheelie - panic city - stomped on the hydro and went higher and spun toward the tree trunck - felt like a total idiot, took my foot off and then remembered how to back up! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I did a number on the limb - checked my lights to see if they were still there - looked around to see if anyone saw my idiocy, then got the heck out from under that tree - will have to do some limb trimming! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I then got in a good groove mowing and the wife came home - hopped up on the machine and stayed on it for 2 hours!!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I felt like a lost puppy sitting there watching her use that sweet toy/ err machine. She had her shades on and a smile on her face that wouldn't quit!!!!! Machine almost made me jealous!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Anyway, we/she used a quarter of a tank, mowed a heck of alot and I watched her back it into the barn for the night. My father snapped some pictures but will have to get the film developed and then scan some.

 

[surfran]

I dont' know whether to congratulate you on the new unit or scold you for not preparing yourself by reading the manuals!!!

Glad to hear you didn't get hurt. And I'm sure if my unit had have been delivered at the same time the manuals arrived I would have probably opted to try it out too. Luckily for me, I had the fortune of waiting for my unit and the dealer sent me the manuals so I could read them ahead of time. Even doing this, I still needed to refer to them again once the unit arrived so I could program my mind by looking at what they were discussing.

I would highly recommend reading them for both your wife and yourself, as there is some very good information on using attachments like the FEL/MMM as well as installing/removing.

Good luck, enjoy the new unit and stay safe.......

 

[jrlichina]

Wet clay and gravel can be very heavy. The BX loader is rather under powered so you have to adjust how full you can make the bucket depending on the material you're working with.

 

[woodenhorse]

jrlichina,

I started a new thread on the FEL, maybe you can provide a little more insight on your experiences using one......I'd certainly like to hear it.

Thanks,

 

[woodenhorse]

Surfran,

Thanks, understood! I just didn't want to waste good daylight reading.......but I have to admit, it probably would have made it much easier to detach the FEL....... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I started a new thread on FEL's, I'd be interested to get your perspective on what you have learned since getting yours, if you don't mind.

Thanks,

 

[Rick Jay]

woodenhorse,

Congratulations on the new tractor, but please do me a favor...


Dude... SLOW DOWN!

Tractors can be very dangerous, possibly even kill. Please try not to rush through any procedures. I'd hate to have to read about you on the "Safety" board, or worse yet, the obituaries.

We all know the excitement caused by owning a new tractor, but it's very important that we implement and follow proper safety procedures so others in the family will follow them as well.

Please read your manuals thoroughly, and I might add...especially the pages of pertaining to proper safety procedures.

Good Luck,

~Rick

 

[FamilyFarm]

Boy, your post made me go through a whole bunch of emotions - and a few memories! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
First, it was "oh no" regarding the loader - heck, I read the manual, followed the manual, and still took forever to do it the first few times! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Then, even though I was hoping the next sentence wouldn't be that you flipped the tractor, I couldn't stop laughing about your ROPS/limb induced wheelie! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I have hit so many tree limbs (and a few have hit me back! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif ), but my wheelie happened trying to put the machine in the carport without folding the ROPS first! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
As well stated by others, READ, better yet, STUDY the manuals and be careful!

Terry

 

[woodenhorse]

Rick,

Thanks, sound advice, no doubt! I've since read the manuals, but haven't absorbed everything. I plan on attempting to rehitch my FEL this evening and moving it inside my Barn. I will use it to level out what clay/gravel I have there so it will have a dry, level resting place and get some 2X6 treated lumber for the stands to rest on......sure hope I can hitch it back up.....I want to play with the joystick to see if it works as some say it should....also want to test the heck out of the hydraulics to see if they still get hot. Hard for me to slow down though! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I do appreciate your advice,

 

[woodenhorse]

Terry,

Glad you got a kick out of the post....I wanted to genuinely put down my experiences, if for nothing else than chalking up experience for someone else who hasn't gotten one yet.... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

So your induced wheelie was with your ROPS as well!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Mine doesn't fold down, but my barn opening is 10' so that isn't a problem.....we do have some things around that it would snag on though, so I'll continue to eyeball them and be sure my wife is aware of them as well. I got on that puppy last evening after work and did some serious mowing out in the field (gotta get it clear for my golf game)....the grass out there is a foot high and it went through it on the 2" setting like a scalding knife through melted butter! I know the manual says to cut high then recut, but the heck with that......no obstacles in the field and I'm not worried about it staying green - down here in Mississippi, it will! Nice to know that I am not alone in my "learning curve." /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thanks,

 

[Bird]

Bob, there have been a considerable number of discussions in the past about the temperature of the hydraulic oil. I believe the concensus of opinion is that 100 degrees Farenheit above the ambient temperature is quite normal. So if the outside temperature is only 50 degrees, that 150 degree hydraulic oil and, therefore, the hydraulic fittings are going to be warmer than you would like to hold onto. I doubt that you have a problem, but if in doubt, measure the temperature and ask your dealer.