The real scop on BX23

[TroyR57]

I am a long time reader of this forum, and really appreicate its candor. I am finally about to buy a BX23, and have found a really good deal with the local dealer, in Winnfield LA, and with 36m 0%, don't think I can really go wrong. What I would like to know is how strong the BH600 really is? I have viewed it working on Steve Brittain's Web page pulling that trophy stump, but read, that it took a few days. I will not be needing to get any thing that big, if I do. I can rent a small track hoe for that. Just want to play in the yard. My yard is in the city, its 8 city lots, with four lots in grass, with buildings on them, and the two that I have been working on for the last two years with rental equipment, and two swamp, that I would like to clean up enough to make a small pond, and/ or walking trails.

Right now the two lots, I've been working on, have 12 large sweet gum trees,"12 to 20 inch trunks" that I yanked out of the ground with a large track hoe, last year, just laying around, very muddy, and with the BX23, would have to cut up into smaller pieces to handle.

If I can get the logs, and stumps, to the street the City will pick them up, and haul away.

I also would like to have a small vegetable garden, and plant a few Peach trees.

The other options, are keep renting, at $125. a day for a 6000# track hoe, or buying a NH TC24-29-33, with TLB, but that is a lot of Money.

Thanks in advance for all the help, I know this forum will provide.

Troy in Louisiana, currently working in Erie, PA.

 

[Jinma354]

The backhoe on the BX23 is amazingly strong for its size. It should do all you want on 8 lots. I use mine on 20 acres and its done all i've needed. It will dig in places bigger hoes won't.

 

[Volfandt]

So far the BH600 has worked out very well for me. I bought my BX23 back in Dec and have dug out alot of small stumps (4" & smaller) so I can now mow up close along the fence rows. Cleaned out around the small pond. Transplanted a few sapplings without having to leave the seat (except to spin the seat around for transport), dug out around my shops foundation to improve drainage and even used it as a makeshift boompole. And although it spends most of the time dismounted on a roll around dolly, I can remove the 3PH and remount the BH within a couple minutes without using any tools! I like's the idea of it being there ready when needed and my back likes it too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My bucket is the 10" version and if'n I had known that there was a 12" bucket option at the time, I would have went with the 12" to get a bigger bite. The 10" bucket works OK tho, with the only negative being that it just takes longer to dig larger holes but then again, longer = more seat time which is good so it all depends on how you look at it.

I'm lineing up all kinds of chores for it come summer with one being to clearout some large bushes and small sapplings thats starting to overrun a rental property's back yard. Between the FEL & BH combination, one can lay waste to overgrown area's whilst sitting on ones laurals /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
A small grapple would complete the machine.

I doubt I can cost justify the BH per se but not getting down in my back after a weekend of digging and clearing is just about priceless /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Even tho you asked about he BH, the rest of the tractor is very handy also. Since I put three chainhooks on the FEL, I've been useing it for all kinds of lifting chores and I haven't used my old wheelbarrow since the BX23 arrived. I also found out just yesterday just how outstanding a finish mower the BX23 ww/a 60" MMM is.

I was also looking at the B7510/B7610 but now after working the BH & doing my 1st major mow of the spring, I'm glad I went w/the BX23.

Good luck
Volfandt

 

[Jimbrown]

I have had my BX22 for almost two years. It has 290 hours on it. I do not think you will have any problems digging in LA. I do have trouble somtimes just because the ground out here is very hard. Actually the back hoe is stronger than the tractor and if the ground is too hard to dig it will drag the tractor rather than dig. I do not think you will have that problem once you learn how big a bite you can take with the bucket. The loader will only lift around 600 lbs. I think it is limited by the factory to keep people from lifting so much the tractor comes off of the ground. It might not lift your big tree stumps /logs but it will push or drag them. I have dug about 1000 ft of trench with mine. It is slow but beats going and renting and returning a larger machine plus I can dig when I want to for as long or short a time as I want. If you are going to dig much with the loader i suggest that you try to get a tooth bar with the deal.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Another happy owner here /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[TroyR57]

Hey Thanks for all the info. Now if the company I work for, will let me go home now, I can get busy. I have told them since November, that I wanted to take the Month of April off, now, they want me to work until May. That would make it hard to get a spring garden in, as it's time to start planting in Louisiana now.

The tooth bar, and chain hooks, are on my list of additions, and even thinking of a hook on the BH bucket. I will take the groups advised and get the 12 inch bucket.

Besides my Land, I have a neighbor that is in a wheel chair, and I will be mowing his back lots also, and additional four. I currently use a 48 inch, 17hp lawn tractor, with hst, which I will still use around the front, I also will use it to pull a lawn dump trailer I have.

What I have done in the past with the large stumps etc, is drag them behine my truck, so the little tracotr does not have to do it all.

Thanks again for all the help this forum has been.