New BX2230 owner q's?

[RonR]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

I have a 5' BB on my 2200. I agree it's too big, but it's what I had. I also have turfs. While I can't compete with bigger units, it does serve my purposes. I use 4WD and many times pick up a partial bucket of dirt to get some more weight on the front. I do like the extra width and contend with partial box fulls.

Just my 2 cents.

ron

 

[SeymourBota]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

Mine is a 5 ft. I agree that a 42" or 48" would probably be sized well, especially considering you wouldn't be dragging it around every day. It's just tough to pay more $$ for a smaller blade!!!

 

[DannyD]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

but man I can dig a lot of holes with a shovel for $5000! >>>>>

I just dug a 3.5 foot deep hole for a pole with mine, I could not and would not have wanted to do that without the hoe. I also just put in a french drain around the barn, again not without the hoe. I have dug up some stumps that were in the way of cutting grass..........again with the hoe. In fact it is on the tractor now, waiting for tomorrow when I will be again digging out a tree the neighbor wants gone, starting my gutter drains and the french drain for my patio............

If I could trade it in, I would get a 3 pt finish mower, 5' or bigger and keep the MMM off the tractor.

I also have a tiller, rock rake, carry all, potatoe plow, I have found very useful for things that would NOT have been done or I would have paid for someone with a hoe to do.

Oh, I traded the 2003 version of the 2230 in for the 2004 23, not a regret yet.......except for the MMM, that would change

 

[DannyD]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

and of course I have to remember to get a hat, anyone know if they have them in Orange>>>>>>

I have bought 2 tractors from my dealer, still dont have a hat. I am calling his place in the A.M.................... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

OK /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Again. But I am calling him!

 

[Junkman]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

I have often wondered how many BX owners have traded up for the BX22/23 models after realizing how handy the tractor is and how much better it would be with the hoe. Once you have one, you wouldn't even consider being without one. I wouldn't be without a hoe in my life. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Tom_H]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( my dealer says I can get one (backhoe) for the 2230. It will cost me about $900 extra dollars at some future date to add the backhoe to the 2230, as oppsed to getting it upfront with the 23. )</font>

If you get a bh for the 2230, it will be a Woods. The frame on the 2230 isn't designed for a backhoe as the 23 is. Kubota does NOT make a bh for the 2230. If you think you want a backhoe in the future, get the 23 now. I'll probably get a woods for my 2200 as trade in on a 4 y.o. tractor isn't great. If I were buying all new I'd go for a BX23TLB for sure.

I LOVE my mulch kit, but you can't use the blower/bagger if the kit is on the MMM. The baffles divide the MMM into 3 distinct & separate, unconnected cavities, one for each blade. The blower cannot suck material from 1 cavity to another with the baffles in place. It takes way too long to take the baffles on & off. You'd need to have 2 MMMs. I think the mulch kit is superior to the bagger/blower with grass and wish I could sell my b/b. With your need to suck up leaves, however, you may need to decide to go either b/b or mulch; to do both, you'd need 2 MMMs. BTY, the blower is very difficult to get on & off as the middle arm DOES NOT PIVOT. It is welded rigid to the blower and is a very serious pain to get on & off.

For the driveway, I'd choose a blade (rear OR front) over the FEL or a box.

My bar tires meet all my needs; they're never a problem in grass unless the lawn's totally flooded for some unusual reason. It's easier to start with the bars & buy turfs later if needed than it is to buy both & try to sell the turfs later. My turf tires have been sitting under my house for 3 years: not the best way I could have invested that $300.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

Jeff,

I will spend your $$ too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Block Heater IF the BX will be stored in an unheated area. Starting a cold engine = more wear on the engine, cheap insurance.

Larger alternator IF you plan to add lights, which you will because the headlights with the FEL do not help much.

I have both turf and bar tires, will change to bar for winter snow blowing.

Also buy a set of MMM deck axles wheels from Larry
http://www.moweraxle.com/pages/1/index.htm

very helpful for storing and working on the MMM deck.

Maintenance manuals, 50 hour service filters and fluid.

 

[KStach]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

Jeff,

Do you really need a blower. I've been pushing snow and even a little dirt in Illinois and formerly in the snowbelt in Northeast Ohio for many years with a front blade on a garden tractor much smaller than the BX2230. Unless you live where there's a lot of snow or you don't have room to push it off to the side, a blade is probably a better alternative. You'll move snow a lot quicker with a blade, and I suspect that you might save enough money to buy that bagger. I paid $1800 for a front blade with a quick mount for my BX23.

I agree with the other folks who've recommended that you consider a BX23. I bought my BX23 a couple of months ago, and I have no regrets. I haven't used the backhoe for any real work yet, but it's really neat to dig a six foot deep hole in my garden just for kicks without breaking a sweat. I have 13 acres, and I have no doubt that I'll find a lot of use for the backhoe.

Karl

 

[GntlmnFarmer]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

Wow all, I just got back in for the night and I had a lot of helpfull information to read!

I definetly see that the 23 with the BH (as my dealer suggested) would be the way to go. Unfortunatly the extra $80 a month isn't gonna cut it for a year or two, so be warned now you will all be reading posts from me a year or two from now about how I am selling my 2230 to upgrade! Wish I could do it now, but don't think I'll be able to tell the Boss that one of the kids is going to have to skip college for a semester or two!

KStach, yeah I think I need the blower. I've done a LOT of professional snow plowing in my life, and I live close to Lake Michigan, so we can get good lake effect dumps here. I've plowed driveways this long before for cash, and I can tell you that my (former) Dodge 2500 HD would have a problem with this driveway if it got a good 10"-12" overnight which is a rather common occurance around here.

I have also decided to get the Box Blade. I have no idea how to maintain 400' of gravel drive, but I will trust you guys that do it everyday. I also think I'll skip on the turf tires for now and just go with the bars. If they tear the lawn I can choke up the $300 without financing for some tires. Besides, I think those nice paddle looking tires make it look like a tractor instead of a lawn mower!

Tom, any idea what the block heater will cost? I am a certified mechanic, so fixing and maintaining engines is second nature to me, but what I know about desels could be stuck in a thimble and still have room left for my thumb! (They still have cylinders, right?) Also I see that I have to have the bagger for the leaves, no way around that, so the question now is, how benificial is the mulched grass for the lawn? If I am mulching my grass can I skip fertilizing in the spring and fall? If I suck all my clipings up will my lawn get less full instead of more compact? If I don't mulch or suck is the Boss going to think the lawn looks like crap?

Thanks again for all your help! And DannyD, if you strike out on that hat, send me your address, I'll make sure to get two from my dealer! (As well as having him fill my tires for free!) Although if he gives me an Orange one and a crappy Grey one just note, the Orange one isn't coming your way!

Jeff

 

[Junkman]

Re: New BX2230 owner q\'s?

The block heater is about $30 and the dealers usually install it at no charge on a new machine. Don't let him talk you out of it. The mulching blades and kit I believe run about $300 and they do a fine job if you cut often and don't cut too short all at once. The grass MUST be dry for the blades to work properly. If you don't mulch the grass, it will leave clippings on the surface and they might be objectionable to some, but not to me. You will need to fertilize no matter what, even if you use mulching blades, but not as often. Fertilizing is dependent on the quality of the soil and the PH of the soil. Before fertilizing, a soil test should be done to see exactly what is needed, but most home owners, including myself, don't do this. Lime is more important to a good lawn that fertilizer in my opinion. From all the reports here about the BX Bagger system, I would be doing more investigation before buying one. Many owners seem to be dissatisfied with them, but we might just be hearing from the disgruntled owner, not the satisfied ones.
Yes the BX diesel does have cylinders.... 3 of them... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif