New BX23

[BryanMA]

This is my first post, but I have been lurking for a while. Last Friday I got myself a new BX23, 54" MMM, filled bar tires, hooks on the bucket...

My wife mentioned to a friend that we got the tractor and they assumed we got it for my wife who recently got her PhD. Apparently it is a tradition for the women in their family to get a tractor they graduate... now my wife thinks it is hers /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Just thought I should pass that along in case anyone else wants to get their wife a tractor as a present.

Anyway, I have about 8 hours on it from the weekend. I have about 6 acres with a couple of acres of grass, much of that is pretty steep hills. I also removed and replaced granite posts and moved a 9x16' shed to a new location. All in all an enjoyable weekend.

First impressions: The power is about what I expected, and as much as should be expected. I would love to be able to pick up more with the FEL when moving around pallets of firewood etc, but I'll learn what the limitations are.

The biggest drawback I have so far is that the MMM scalps my uneven hills. I was cutting at the 3 1/3" setting, and I put the wheels down where I thought they should be. Then after scalping, I lowered the wheels one position lower than I thought they should be and that helps some. I guess I will learn to raise the deck, or level my ground. I have been cutting the grass with a 20" push mower, but at 6-8 hrs each cut I think I will find a way to make the BX work for me.

Thanks for letting me listen in.

-bryan

 

[OrangeGuy]

Byran,

Congrats on your new BX23 purchase. I am confident you will get many years of pleasant experiences with it. Talking about wives and tractors, back when I use to farm my farm, my wife was my best tractor driver. As I drove the planter tractor, she worked the fields ahead of me with the big rig. Later she became my best lawn tractor operator until... about 15 years ago I was near the end of a week long business trip to Tokyo. I called home to coordinate pickup at the airport when she matter-of-factly informed me that she had broken her arm. How, I asked! Steering knob on the lawn tractor. Needless to say, that was the last time my bride drove a tractor on our farm. Even if she earned a PhD, I doubt that she would want a tractor as a present.

Good luck with the new tractor!

OrangeGuy

P.S. I lived in MA/Boston back in 1969. Great experience!

 

[mathteacher]

congratulations on the tractor and the PhD for the wife. I am sure that they are both well deserved.

Donald B.

 

[NIXON]

Bryan .
Welcome to TBN . And , congratulations on that new BX!!!
John

 

[Inspector507]

Bryan,
Welcome to TBN.....the place for all the info on tractors /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Congrats to you, for the tractor, and to the wife on the PhD. With a BX23 you should be able to level those high spots real quick /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jerry

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue">My wife mentioned to a friend that we got the tractor and they assumed we got it for my wife who recently got her PhD. </font>

Makes sense to me....What size auger did she get with that PHD (post hole digger, isn't it?) anyway??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Junkman]

Congratulations to your wife for the PhD...... anyone with a few dollars can get a tractor, but getting a PhD takes a lot more effort and work, not to mention the cost. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I am not certain about the 54" deck, but I have read here that the 60" deck is a full floating deck. I have never had a problem with my 60" deck scalping anything. Talk to your dealer and see if you could exchange the 54" for the 60" deck. You might have to buy new blades for the trade to be agreeable to him, but I am certain that you will appreciate the extra 6" of mowing area and it probably help with the scalping problem. Clean the deck so it looks new and then make the suggestion to him.. It shouldn't cost very much to upgrade...

 

[bellweather]

both the 54" deck and the 60" deck float. the scalping is probably a function of settings and/or your lawn's topography.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> both the 54" deck and the 60" deck float.
</font>

Yes, they both float, but the 60" has a center pivot point in the back, that allows it to tilt side-to-side a bit, and this may help.

I forget what they call this feature, but I don't believe it is incorporated on the 54" deck...

 

[bellweather]

I recall reading about this feature and if I recall correctly, it has to do with stabilizing the wider/heavier deck, and nothing to do with mower performance. It is my understanding that the only difference in performance between the 60 and the 54 is the width of the cut...check out the specs on the Kubota website.