Buying Advice Please advise, what to buy?

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Another consideration I have not touched on yet. Maintenance. Is the BX an easy machine to maintain. Oil changes etc. What do you owners do on your own and what do you take it to the implement for?
gdh

I've never taken a BX to the dealer for anything other than to leave it for another one and they usually pick it up in those cases. If you get FEL the maintenance is pretty easy. Lift the front end up with bucket and secure it and get down. Filters are filters and they can all be reached OK. Drain plugs are on the bottom for draining all fluids and there is a screen that comes off from the bottom that needs to be cleaned rarely. On one I bought a specific sized socket that fit a screen that a gorilla had put on but finally got enough energy to break it loose. The biggest issue is getting the MMM off, if you have one, but it's not that big of a deal. It's just heavy to push out of the way and back under machine but it has wheels. Maybe do it on a slanted drive to where it will roll down hill itself then move tractor below it and push it back under the tractor. I think it's one of the best ways to become "one" with your machine. It really isn't bad or to technical for the average 8 fingered two thumbs some common sense guy. Can probably do it even with less fingers and thumbs but if your, like, 4 or 5 thumbs you may want to get a friend or family member (wife?) to help you,

 

[TripleR]

I agree with JOHNTHOMAS, thr BX is very easy to maintain. I can no longer do my own maintenance, but use to on my BX2200. I took my BX2660 in for the 50 initial, but bought filters and such the other day and will have one of my sons come up and do it the next time. I may even put my logger's protective helmet on and try to talk my wife through an oil change; oil change is very easy.

 

[prentp]

I am located in southeast SD and just finished a great deal of shopping for an upgrade to my tractor. I went back to the dealer that I bought 2 previous tractors from and he ended up to be $1500 higher than another dealer that was a little farther away for the same tractor. Needless to say by business went to someone else.

I purchased a B3200 with FEL and a 60" loader bucket and also a 72" RFM (Rear Finish Mower). If you are keeping the ZTR for your mowing a RFM may not be a bad option since they tend to be a little cheaper and a lot easier to take on and off. THe biggest downfall to an RFM is mowing around obsticles.

 

[KU Gator]

GDH

There is a thread on the operating Kubota forum you might be interested in. It is titled Snowblower on a BX24 and a number of BX owners are attesting to the ability of the front blower on the BX including a good shot from a northern neighbor of yours in Minot. It looks like he is blowing his now into Canada eh? Anyway a pretty convincing testimony.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/164626-snowblower-my-bx24.html

 

[gdh]

Thank you everybody. Time to get some quotes.

 

[gdh]

This thread has been quiet while I was lurking/reading/researching. I have been getting some quotes on a BX2660. Barlows is the lowest even with shipping. Questions?
1) Does anybody see any specific pitfalls to bring in a new tractor to an implement for service/potential warranty work that was bought elsewhere. I would hate to get a tractor from Barlows with rust like Dunlapjc and have to go through his experience having bought from far away.
2)Tires. Industrial vs turf. How hard is industrial on turf? If the purpose of the machine is mostly snow removal, does the industrial really afford you more traction? What do industrial tires look like, are they most like R4's?
As always, Thank you in advance.
3) Do chains on the tires damage cement driveways. I would guess yes, but hope no.
gdh

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

This thread has been quiet while I was lurking/reading/researching. I have been getting some quotes on a BX2660. Barlows is the lowest even with shipping. Questions?
1) Does anybody see any specific pitfalls to bring in a new tractor to an implement for service/potential warranty work that was bought elsewhere. I would hate to get a tractor from Barlows with rust like Dunlapjc and have to go through his experience having bought from far away.
2)Tires. Industrial vs turf. How hard is industrial on turf? If the purpose of the machine is mostly snow removal, does the industrial really afford you more traction? What do industrial tires look like, are they most like R4's?
As always, Thank you in advance.
3) Do chains on the tires damage cement driveways. I would guess yes, but hope no.
gdh

1. Inspect for rust when it comes. If it's rusty, don't accept it. I've bought ten from them and never got a rusty one. The pivot balls on the 3 ph will get rusty when the balls turn and peel off the paint but they all do that. I believe Warranty service will be provided by any dealer that will provide it whether bought from them or from some other dealer. I would expect locally bought tractors to get service first but I believe it will be provided. Some dealers apparently don't want to do it even if they sold the tractor. That's a shame. Service work is a big part of dealers staying in business. Service work pays the weekly bills so any local dealer should want you to bring your tractor to them for service. If they don't they are being dumb. There are other tractor dealers competing for that service dollar. They all work on other brand tractors which you can see if they have used tractors for sell on their lot.
2. I4 and R4 are the same tire. I have turfs on BX2660 and R/I4's on BX25 and on former B's. The turfs seem to have better traction but the I/R's are a heavier sidewall and tread so to me are better for FEL and BH work. Tuefs for mowing and snow.
3. Know nothing about chains and hope to never know anything about them.

 

[TripleR]

When I went to buy my BX2660, I said I would like to have bar tires like the ones on my old BX2200. The salesman said they ordered all of their BX2660's with industrials. He asked if I would try the industrials for a while and if I didn't like them, he would get a set of my choice. That has been about a year and I have mowed, pushed snow and done general FEL and other chores with it. Overall, I have been very happy with them. The bar will work a little better for FEL and turf a little better for flat mowing, but without having two sets of tires, the industrial tires work very well.

 

[KU Gator]

You will probably find the tire topic to generate some passionate responses. I have the industrial (R4's) on my B. If I mow with it when the ground is pretty wet, I have to be careful about turning and definitely do not want it in 4wd on the grass when making a tight turn. Since I have a garden tractor with turf tires, I use it most of the time anyway to mow. You previously stated you plan to keep your mower, so it shouldn't be a big issue. But I believe the turf tires offer more flotation, spreading the weight a little better, so even if your just out there doing a project such as carrying much, they would be a little better on the yard.

If your driveway is pretty flat, I would tend to bet it won't make that much difference as to which tire you go with. Especially if you are going to use a blower to do most of the work. It is not you would need a lot of traction to push a blade. With the R4's and no chains, using a FEL and rear blade to clear the drive, I never have any problem unless I get my front tires off the edge of the drive into the grass. I then sometimes have to use the FEL to get myself out.

As far as ordering from Barlows vs buying local, if it was me, I would try to get the local dealer to get close, especially if I otherwise felt pretty good about the local dealer. I have not heard a bad word about Barlows, so it has nothing to do with them, but personally, I like to deal locally if I can. But that would only go so far.

 

[prentp]

I just received my B3200 on Friday and this will be my first tractor with the R4 tires instead of turf tires. I can say on ice that I believe the turf tires I had before did better but in snow the R4's are better.

I was seriously thinking about working with Barlow's but I reallt wanted a B3200 and with the vibration issue it is know to have I wanted to be able to test drive the tractor I was getting. I was also a little nervous about what would happen if I needed it serviced locally.

Where your two local quotes similiar to my expierence with Sioux Falls and Yankton.