Signed on the dotted line today and orange ......

Volfandt · Dec 18, 2004

continues to be my favorite color!

Went to the Kubota dealer today fully intending to go for either the marked down BX2230 w/60" MMM & FEL or the B7510 w/60" MMM, FEL & R4's but ended up pluck'n the $$$'s down on a BX23 w/54" MMM!

Every time I visited this dealer or the other Kubota dealer which was at least 10 or so times in the last month, checking out the BX2230 and B7510 models, that ole BX23 would always catch my last glance when leaving. Naw, I'd say to myself, don't need no BH!

So before we went in to talk about the BX2230 w/60" MMM & FEL for $12,000., I decided to finally get on one of those little TLB BX23's and put it through some paces. Well, the rest is history as they say.

I had already decided that for what I plan to do with a new tractor that the sub-CUT would do. Finish mowing around 2.5 acres with lots of obstructions is job #1 as it will be displacing a JD L130 lawn mower (selling to get a trailer) and moving dirt with occaisonal plowing, disk'ing and cultivating comeing in 2nd'ary. Don't have any woods anymore so ground clearance wasn't much of an issue but I do have some large digging and dirt moving projects lingering out there (removing a large above ground pool and large associated deck and filling in the hole(s) to put it back to lawn and several trees and stumps will be needing cutdown, new ones replanted and of course more dirt moving too.

So after spinning that seat around and working the BH, it thusly became a much needed & neccesary tool !

I guess I shouldn't have test drove it /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I expect delivery Monday evening w/ a full tank of fuel, washed & waxed up and also with the 54" MMM which will fit much better around and between my obstacle ladened territory.
Also decided to stay w/the bars unless they prove to be too hard on the front lawn in which case I'll go get some turfs.

So anyways, don't mean to be so long winded but I know how the rest of you boys feel now except all I have to play with is the manuals and a key.
Gonna have to make a place to stow the BH now /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Volfandt

Henro · Dec 18, 2004

but ended up pluck'n the $$$'s down on a BX23 w/54" MMM!


It's always a happy day when the stork brings a new tractor!

I would caution you to consider mower size though. Unless you absolutely have narrow spaces to go between, and an extra six inches is impossible to deal with.

Extra mower width will make it easier to cut close to things and also give a smaller uncut circle when turning. I would not want a 54" mower on my BX, but I don't have narrow things to mow between either.

I only mention this because once you take delivery, and use it a while, it is yours and to change gets expensive.

Nothing wrong with the 54" mower...but in the past I made a mistake by getting a mower that was not as wide as it could have been and I therefore learned the hard way, for my needs anyway.

Volfandt · Dec 19, 2004

Good points & caution noted Henro.
When I started tameing this former farm/pasture land, all I had was a 22" pusher. Then I got a rider w/a 36" deck (still have it). Moved on up to a 44"er then this past summer I went up to a 48"er. 54" just seems to be in line with my natural progression /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If'n my cipher'n is correct, the BX23 has a width of about 45" which should put about 4.5" of a 54" MMM out past the wheels which should be alright for manuvering and squezz'n around the little used and blasted above ground pool and associated deck & landscaping I hopefully won't be copeing with for very much longer.
The 54" will fit in quite well, I hope.....

That very tall ROPS is whats concerning me moreso now as the many low lying limbs about the property as well as just getting in and out of the shop means I'm gonna be dropping & raising it alot.
Just sitting out here in the shop camped out in front of the wood burning stove reading through the manual has almost got me deciding to check into cutting it down to around 80" or so..... I'll be checking & measureing that out once it gets "home".
Plus I'm coming up with all kinds of projects for the BH & FEL. The Mrs just may get some more landscaping outta me. Course I gotta redo her kitchen 1st, danged ole deals we gotta make just to collect our much needed tools!

Thanks for the suggestion tho.

Question, do 22 & 23 owners dismount the BH & FELS frequently to mow?

Volfandt

thcri · Dec 19, 2004

I was wondering about the mower also. I don't have a Kubota but I was on the understanding based on other threads here that the Kubota 54" didn't mow the best and others have said the 60" is a different style and will give you a better cut? Again I am only going by what I read some time ago and, well my memory is pretty good but it is short? You might want to do a search and see if you can find something on it. Oh and by the way, congrates on the new rig. You gonna love it.

murph

sherpa · Dec 19, 2004

Volfandt
You will love that Backhoe? There will not be a hill no where on your property when you get through. I live in the mountains of western NC and love my TLB. My neighbor has a BX TLB. Just be careful and keep that loader low to the ground when moving around with a load in it over there in Tenn. Enjoy!
Sherpa

rbarker · Dec 19, 2004

( Question, do 22 & 23 owners dismount the BH & FELS frequently to mow? )

Don't have a back hoe but I most definately remove the loader when mowing. Makes a huge difference in manuverability around tight spots and less weight equals less wear and tear on the lawn.

FWIW, I'm another fan of the 60" deck, although I never tried the 54". I just know that when doing tight trimming I'm really glad to have the extra width when making left turns. Any narrower would cause me to have to put the left front wheel into the garden area to get it to mow to the edge.

Have fun with the new rig, but make sure to take it slow and safe until you get used to it! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

aardvark · Dec 19, 2004

( Question, do 22 & 23 owners dismount the BH & FELS frequently to mow? )

I've actually been leaving my loader on, but removing the backhoe. However, my yard was not previously a yard, it was a jungle. As I've been clearing all the junk out of the yard, natural weeds and stuff have been growing. I haven't had a chance to put down grass yet. I've been mowing the weeds, and when I do, it's handy to have the loader on front just as a bucket to carry things around in. I pick up junk and twigs and rocks and stuff I find around the yard. It's also handy to take out roots and stuff sticking up from the ground as I find them while mowing. Once the lawn is done, mowing would be faster with the loader off, but for now, it's fine. I have lots of obstacles, and lots of getting on and off, and can do about an acre in roughly an hour.

Tom_H · Dec 19, 2004

( decided to stay w/the bars unless they prove to be too hard on the front lawn in which case I'll go get some turfs.)

I bought both bar and turf tires for my BX2200. The bars are no problem on the lawn unless it's totally saturated with water. The turf tires have been sitting under the house for 3 years. I don't believe I've read of anyone who started with bars and found he needed to replace them with turfs.

frank_f15 · Dec 19, 2004

SOUNDS LIKE CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY FOR YOU.. THINK YOU WILL BE HAPPY WITH YOUR COICE.

Volfandt · Dec 20, 2004

No maas, no maas!
After doing some remeasureing around the humble abode, in the driving snow storm last night, a driving snow storm that don't happen around my way that often btw, and after talking with the Kubota dealer about the diff between the 54" & 60" MMM's, I'm biteing the bullet for $175 more and ordering the bigger, heavier and spring balanced 60" MMM!

I'll still take delivery of the tractor tonight and hopefully get the MMM before the end of the week, if not next week and I'll be assembling & adj'n the beast myself.
It's not like I need a mower at this particular time anywho /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So I defer to the BTDT's and am going for a mo-better mower /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Volfandt