Buying Advice Thinking of buying a used BX2230, need advice

Dagmandt · Apr 1, 2012

Hi guys,

I'm a total tractor newbie. I have zero experience. I'm looking to purchase a subcompact tractor for my single acre lot. It is mostly landscaped so a subcompact with turf tires is is big as I can go. I found a BX2230 with loader, mower deck, balast box, and rear blade for $8,500 locally. I will be calling to get more details like year etc...

My main concern is the rear hitch. It is a 3 point and claimed to be a Class 1 but I've read that it is possibly a Class 1 limited. How concerned should I be about this? Does anyone have definitive data on this? I can't find much info on it.

Any other advice? I'm looking to buy now, was going to buy this one until I read about the hitch so need to take a step back and decide if it is important or not.

Thanks.

Darren

mccash40 · Apr 1, 2012

That's a decent price. I paid $500 just for a rear blade for my BX2360. I know my dealer told me that the hitch is limited, but so far I have found a blower and a 3PH mower for it, as well as a towing hitch. There are many SCUT attachments available. Good luck if you decide to buy it.

tractchores · Apr 1, 2012

The hitch should be regularly Cat 1 unless they changed something, the 'limited' part with those is just the height and stance of the tractor. Some implements may be hard to hook up or not usable (notably really tall stuff like a post hole digger). Most regular implements will probably be fine, and even for things like a PH digger you can get a shorter one that will fit. If you're not planning on a ton of rear implements then it probably doesn't matter.

Dagmandt · Apr 1, 2012

Ok, just got back from looking at the BX2230. I have a few questions for you guys.

It is very well kept. It has 540 hours on it. The paint is a bit faded but very few scratches, it has been garaged most of the time and the bucket is still in great shape as well. It was a cold start and it started right up and ran like a top. Hydraulics were very clean, a little grime here and there as expected which tells me they didn't clean it up to show me. It comes with a loader, rear blade, 54" mowing deck, and a ballast box. A backhoe option would have been nice but I don't want anything bigger than this so I can rent a mini-excavator when the need arises I guess.

Ok, the questions/concerns:

1. There was a black puff of smoke at start. It was momentary and ran clean from that point on. Each start had a little puff. I assume that is normal for a diesel. Please tell me if I'm wrong.

2. The PTO selector (mid, back, mid and back) worked great in mid or back but I couldn't get the selector to operate "mid and back". When I selected that position it sounded like a typical clutch grind. Any thoughts? mid or back worked perfectly.

3. There was a wiring problem with the turn signals/hazards or they had the wrong bulbs. Headlights worked perfectly. I am thinking they may have selected the wrong bulbs and didn't install the dual filiment or something. Not sure. Not a show stopper but a point of negotiation.

Anyway, I'm considering offering $7,500 but am a little nervous about the PTO selector and whether it is a clutch linkage adjustment or if there is something more costly wrong with it. $8,500 is the top of my budget, I'm not sure I'll find one quite this clean elsewhere.

TripleR · Apr 2, 2012

1. Smoke on start up is normal.

2. I can't help on the PTO, mine works in all three positions. Are you trying to make the changes while running and PTO engaged?

3. My BX2200 main switch on the dash went out and did what you describe. It is not uncommon on those models from what I have read on here.

The price seems about right and that is not a lot of hours, our 08 2660 has that many.

tractchores · Apr 2, 2012

Black puff is normal and expected, they do that brand new on start even when warm. Is it just hard to shift the pto, or does it not engage? Its normal for it to be tough to engage at times, but a tap of the hst pedal or just rocking by moving your body weight will synchronize the gears and it will go in smoothly. Make sure you used the clutch too. The gears aren't synchronized so the slight rock will line them up, if you force it you can get a grinding sound, or if you don't use the clutch. This behavior happens new and on any type of shift if the gears don't happen to be aligned. You can encounter it changing hst ranges or 2wd or 4wd as well.

Dagmandt · Apr 2, 2012

The person demonstrating the tractor is the daughter of the owner who is now out of town.

What we did to engage the PTO was to disengage the PTO drive. Move the selector to the different positions, engage the PTO drive and see if it worked. That was it.

One thing that is going to sound stupid but we couldn't find anything in the manual on the function of the pedals on the left. One is a small steel bar that has a "P" by it which I would think is parking brake but don't see how that could be because it does nothing from what I could tell. The other is a longer throw pedal with a circular pad on it. Couldn't figure out what that did either.

tractchores · Apr 2, 2012

Dagmandt said:
The person demonstrating the tractor is the daughter of the owner who is now out of town.

What we did to engage the PTO was to disengage the PTO drive. Move the selector to the different positions, engage the PTO drive and see if it worked. That was it.

One thing that is going to sound stupid but we couldn't find anything in the manual is the function of the pedals on the left. One is a small steel bar that has a "P" by it which I would think is parking brake but don't see how that could be because it does nothing from what I could tell. The other is a longer throw pedal with a circular pad on it. Couldn't figure out what that did either.

Someone with more knowledge can correct me, but with the current models I've looked at the left pedals are the clutch (forward) and a metal bar you step on with your heel (back) to lock the differential. Changing the PTO without clutch would account for the grinding. If the shafts moved after it ground back into gear its a good indication that it's working.

TripleR · Apr 2, 2012

Dagmandt said:
The person demonstrating the tractor is the daughter of the owner who is now out of town.

What we did to engage the PTO was to disengage the PTO drive. Move the selector to the different positions, engage the PTO drive and see if it worked. That was it.

One thing that is going to sound stupid but we couldn't find anything in the manual on the function of the pedals on the left. One is a small steel bar that has a "P" by it which I would think is parking brake but don't see how that could be because it does nothing from what I could tell. The other is a longer throw pedal with a circular pad on it. Couldn't figure out what that did either.

You push the brake down then lock it in place by depressing the metal bar. The "parking brake" is not very strong on these tractors.

The round pad is the differential lock.

Dagmandt · Apr 2, 2012

TripleR said:
You push the brake down then lock it in place by depressing the metal bar. The "parking brake" is not very strong on these tractors.

The round pad is the differential lock.

Ok, so there is no "clutch" to depress when engaging or changing the position of the PTO. Just ensure the PTO is in the off position then move the selector then engage the PTO. Hm, must be a linkage adjustment needed then to engage both mid and back. Not that I'll ever use it that way.