New BX24 - questions for other BX owners

[Tractor Nut]

Just brought my new BX24 home on Friday night. Thanks to all of you on TBN for all the information and tips.

Pictures to follow when I figure out how to attach them.

After reading over the manual with breakfast I headed out to the garage where my car used sit, now the BX24 is there. I ended up putting four hours on the clock - boy did that time go fast!
The engine purrs like a kitten and the backhoe is one handy tool.
I even took the the backhoe and loader off and managed to cut some grass.
This is where I have a question or two for other BX owners would like to know if your machines sound/operate like this as well.

1) When I engage the mid PTO and the lawnmower (60" mmm) starts it is quite loud and rough sounding, more that just the hum of the mower blades and as I increase the RPM when cutting there is a bit of a whine as well (some, but not all of the other noise settles down a bit). I checked the gearbox on the mower and it has the correct level of gear oil and the deck has been greased, blades appear to be tight as well. I have an older 48" belt driven deck and it does not make the same level of sound. I also ran the PTO with out deck connected and it was quieter.

2)With the mower deck on I then tried all 3 PTO combinations. Mid, Mid & Rear, Rear only. (nothing connected to the rear). Mid and Mid & Rear sound the same as before with the deck on. When I engage the rear only there is a heavy ticking type sound that occurs at lower RPMs especially when you are reducing the RPM. The question on the rear PTO is will this settle down once I put a load on it or is it a matter of time to break in. What have some of you experienced.

Thanks
TN

 

[ewoz]

Regarding noise from the mower deck, my BX2230 started being noisy after 20 or 30 hours of use. It turned out to be a bad bearing. It would be surprising for a new deck to have a bad bearing, but the way to check is to grab each blade and push up on one end and down on the other and check for movement . If you have one bad bearing one of the blades will have a lot more movement than the others.

Ed

 

[Tractor Nut]

Ewoz,
Thanks, I will take a look at that. Took it out this morning and tested/played a little more, feel more comfortable with it.
TN

 

[ccsial]

When I engage the rear only there is a heavy ticking type sound that occurs at lower RPMs especially when you are reducing the RPM.

That sounds like an over riding clutch. Not sure if the BX24 uses one but my L3400HST does. It makes the noise you described.

The BX24 is one neat machine. Enjoy.

 

[rpoage]

1) When I engage the mid PTO and the lawnmower (60" mmm) starts it is quite loud and rough sounding, more that just the hum of the mower blades and as I increase the RPM when cutting there is a bit of a whine as well (some, but not all of the other noise settles down a bit). I checked the gearbox on the mower and it has the correct level of gear oil and the deck has been greased, blades appear to be tight as well. I have an older 48" belt driven deck and it does not make the same level of sound. I also ran the PTO with out deck connected and it was quieter.

Congrats on your new addition. I have a fresh BX2350 with the 60mmm and I get the same dry bearing sound on initial engagement. I greased all the MMM fittings and the noise was reduced but it is still noticeable and more noticeable on the first engagement than it is after I have been mowing for a while. I have considered spraying a little belt dressing on the belt but I will have to drop the mower and pull the poly cover to get a good shot at the belt. I'm thinking this will be one for the 50 hr check up.
I don't have the clicking sound you mention on the PTO?

 

[KeithInSpace]

I happened to attempt to mow my grass at 7:00 AM one Saturday morning...my birthday, actually, back in May 2006. Though I live on 2 acres, my next door neighbor came out and chewed me out for running my machine so early. Actually, he called me a very unpleasent variant of a "freaking idiot". I don't talk to that neighbor much any more.

I learned two things:

1) Though somebody else around you has kids (he has 5 grown kids), don't expect them to understand if 7:00 AM is the ONLY time you have available to mow your 5" tall grass...not that I even wanted to be awake that early.

2) My BX2230 is VERY loud with the engine at full tilt and the deck running. I use full over-the-ear protection now. I also don't run at quite WOT. That makes things a bit quieter.

The deck is a little noisy, that's for sure. I like to think it is all that performance and air moving around more than anything. I know it spins really fast.

As far as the PTO, I've never heard a click. It is almost freaky in just how quite the PTO is for all the power it can provide. Dunno what's going on there. If you're worried about it, I'd borrow/rent a tiller or PHD or something to load it up before you get too far down the road just to be sure it works OK. Maybe during your 50 hour service, see if they have something you can hook up to it.

 

[RayCo]

I happened to attempt to mow my grass at 7:00 AM one Saturday morning...my birthday, actually, back in May 2006. Though I live on 2 acres, my next door neighbor came out and chewed me out for running my machine so early. Actually, he called me a very unpleasent variant of a "freaking idiot". I don't talk to that neighbor much any more.

That kind of thing irritates me. My neighbors kids wake up early and play loudly outside on the weekends. But, the way I figure it is that if I don't want to be woken up by my neighbor's kids, then it's up to me not to have neighbors. They're on their property playing, and they have every right to do so. If they wake me up, that's just too bad for me.

Your neighbor needs to go buy 1000 acres and live in the middle of it. Until he can afford to do that, he needs to accept that he has neighbors.

 

[NJDiverDan]

It is interesting to me that some of you find your tractors noise. I went from a Murray 17.5hp 46" deck POS to my BX24 and I feel that the noise is significantly reduced. Yes the deck adds some to the overall loudness, but it is a smooth sound of the belts etc. In fact it is hard to hear the tractor running outside when you are in the house where with the old POS, you could easily hear it from almost any corner of the yard.

-dan

 

[dschad]

My BX24 mower deck is very loud also. With ear protection I can hear a whump-whump-whump like a helicopter. First time I heard that I actually was looking in the sky before I realized where the sound was coming from...

Regarding the clicking, at one point I also had a loud clicking sound from the back of my tractor, which caused me some concern for a moment (even more concerning then those black helicopters coming to take me away...). Upon further investigation I discovered that one of the hydraulic quick-connects was tapping on the BH platform. I shifted the hoses and magically the problem went away!

Doesn't sound like you had your BH on, but with all the noise of the engine it is sometimes hard to distinguish the serious sounds from the simple ones. Perhaps it's something simple. And of course at low RPM the thing rattles like crazy all over.

don

 

[rdsaustintx]

Do a search here for spindle grease issues on the BX decks.

Seems a LOT have come from the dealer with inadequate lube. And I do mean inadequate - a couple of tubes to fill the spindles.

Russell in Texas