the gal has gone orange!

koyote · Jul 18, 2005

Hi guys, just wanted to let you know I got my 2230(bar tires-awesome) with mower, brush hog and snowblower. I made the dealer use it on our problem area, a major hill. He had said it would be no problem. The machine did walk up it and back down, but the dealer was sweating it. Hill is a lot steeper than it looks. He has recommended putting weights on the front because the front end does bounce. We are using the mmm on the hill for dealer said brush hog would only get me in trouble.

Did have a lot of guys looking at me mow. Okay, so just maybe they were looking at the orange machine.

Looking forward to snowblowing. Only have a 1600' drive!

Have allowed hubby to sit on it and use it for 20 min. He gets to make the payments so I had to give him some time on it.

To those of you who took the time to respond to my questions, I want to say, Thank You. Didn't know how you would respond to a female. You are a great bunch and who knows, I may have more questions.

Dawn-gotta go mow

ByronBob · Jul 18, 2005

Did you get the block heater?

Where are the pictures?

Good for you. You go girl...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tom_H · Jul 18, 2005

Dawn,

Very happy for you. Dealers don't always have experience with every implement in every situation. I use my 40" Gearmore brush hog on the BX2200 on 30 degree inclines all the time. It's all in the technique. Gotta run. Can post more later if you wish.

BTW To most guys, the idea of a pretty female sittin' on a pretty tractor is, well..., exciting.

Tom

Bob_Young · Jul 18, 2005

Exciting? Yeah, for awhile maybe....until you follow it to its logical conclusion and picture yourself inside mixing baby formula and changing diapers while all this is going on.

That's the part that isn't so pretty.

If I paid for it, I run it.
Bob

Tom_H · Jul 18, 2005

Been there, done that. The one who was in diapers is now a 10 y.o. daughter who, on Saturday, cut a half acre of lawn all by herself on the BX. I'm training her now that she is capable of doing anything (including taking care of her mother and me in our old age). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

koyote · Jul 19, 2005

No block heater. Dealer said didn't need one. First time it doesn't start, he will hear about it.

Have been very suprised to see what the monster can do in wet areas. Ford would rut up the ground. This machine seems to stay on top.

If I have done this correctly-there may be a pic???

koyote · Jul 19, 2005

Tom, keep up the good work with the daughter. I started mowing at 6 or 7 and have more hours on a mower than driving a car and I'm not too young.

Husband plays with big toys everyday. Once in awhile he brings home a piece of equipment and tells me to go to work with it. It's not unusal to have an excavator or backhoe home and my only instruction is get in it and figure it out. Love open minded men.

Tom_H · Jul 19, 2005

It typically doesn't get below 30 here and my BX2200 is slow to start so I just had a block heater put in. In NY, your BX may start, but it will take a while. In a few years, when the piston rings aren't quite as tight and the compression not quite as perfect, you may well find that you need one. Personally, I like having the block already hot so that the engine begins purring on the first revolution. If I lived where you do, I'd have just told the dealer to put it in.

As far as a brush hog, as long as one keeps the tractor pointed mostly uphill or downhill, you can take on steep grades. It's traversing that's harder, particularly being in a traverse and then turning uphill. When driving uphill or downhill on a fairly steep slope, a BX can be turned a good 30 degrees or so to weave in and out between trees. The low center of gravity on a BX gives it better stability on a hill than many other tractors. Still, there were 2 reports recently by TBN members who had managed to roll their BXs. TBN member handymam once inquired about using her BX2200 with MMM on steep hills and using the MMM as "training wheels". This isn't a good idea as the torque (from the tractor leaning over while the MMM keeps it from tipping) can twist the suspension arms that hold the MMM. I'd encourage you to keep a 40" to 42" brush hog in mind if the MMM doesn't please you.

ByronBob · Jul 19, 2005

Dawn it's not that it won't start it's just that it starts harder. But like you I was told that it wasn't necessary by my dealer.
But the first time you try to crank it over in 10 below weather and it sounds like the crank is going to snap it scares you a bit. 1 winter without it was enough for me to add it. I only offer it up to you now because nobody told me any better.
Like you I'm on this site to soak up knowledge and give it when I can. I olny talk from my personal experience and you are welcome to take it or leave it. But for $100 installed could it hurt?

paparammer · Jul 22, 2005

I have a BX1800 and my dealer also was adamant that I didn't need a block heater and wouldn't put one in. After the first 5 degree day and multiple times of listening to it crank after glowing 15 seconds or so, I ordered a block heater through Tractorsmart; I just can't believe that that was good for the engine. With the block heater it starts happily and you also have a shorter warmup.

I'd recommend you get one now; why wait 'til winter to find out.