Buying Advice Thinking of buying a used BX2230, need advice

[Dagmandt]

Darren,
If you want a backhoe, look at the bx25. Looks like a good price on the bx, I saw it on Craigslist too.
Nate

Most of the BX25's are in the 12-14k range. Well outside my budget. I'm thinking this is the limit here. I just need to understand if the PTO issue is a linkage adjustment issue or a tranmission problem.

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

Dagmandt, what was the movement of the PTO mid-both-rear shift lever like ?
I was just out checking my BX24, the lever moves quite smoothly, with a definite click stop at each of the 3 positions.
Is it possible that on "your" BX2230 the lever was not quite at the right position ? Looking at the linkage as it "goes" into the gear case, there's not a lot of motion there. I can't imagine adjustment being an issue.
Just sounds like some gears are not engaging properly inside.

Pete

 

[Dagmandt]

Dagmandt, what was the movement of the PTO mid-both-rear shift lever like ?
I was just out checking my BX24, the lever moves quite smoothly, with a definite click stop at each of the 3 positions.
Is it possible that on "your" BX2230 the lever was not quite at the right position ? Looking at the linkage as it "goes" into the gear case, there's not a lot of motion there. I can't imagine adjustment being an issue.
Just sounds like some gears are not engaging properly inside.

Pete

There were 3 obvious positions felt when moving the lever. When in rear or mid it worked perfectly. When left in rear + mid it would grind when I engaged the PTO. I tried jiggling the selector a bit but no dice.

 

[TripleR]

It is really hard to diagnose remotely. I am pretty sure gwdixon has a BX2200 which is the immediate predecessor to the one you are looking at, you might try to PM him.

 

[GolfAddict]

Most of the BX25's are in the 12-14k range. Well outside my budget. I'm thinking this is the limit here. I just need to understand if the PTO issue is a linkage adjustment issue or a tranmission problem.

This PTO problem sounds so strange that I just had to call my local dealer and talk to one of their mechanics. I'll try to relate what he said, best as I understood it...

He said it sounded like there is some sort of linkage problem rather than a PTO operation problem, do to the fact that both the mid and rear PTO work fine independently. He said there are some "collars"? inside that slide back and forth to engage either the mid, rear, or both. Moving the PTO position lever moves these collars back and forth, and sounds like when the lever is all the way forward or all the way back it moves the appropriate collars to engage either the mid or rear PTO. But, it sounds like for some reason when the lever is in the middle it hasn't fully engaged one of the collars for either the front or the back. Unfortunately, fixing that linkage adjustment is internal, not some external linkage. I didn't get into how involved it would be to tear into it to fix, so can't help there.

The one thing he mentioned you could check was it was possible the external PTO selector lever itself had somehow gotten bent or twisted a bit so that it isn't really in the middle when it's shows it is centered in the slot. I think that's not very likely, as on mine you notice when the lever is in which position by the way it sort of "clicks" into position, if that's the right word. That is, it sort of clicks into either mid, rear, or both positions so even if the lever was a bit out of whack you'd still feel when it clicks into center position, even if the lever didn't show that it was centered in the slot.

Not sure if any of this helps in your decision, but just to let you know that it sounds like a linkage problem, but unfortunately not likely a real simple adjustment to make.

 

[GolfAddict]

There were 3 obvious positions felt when moving the lever. When in rear or mid it worked perfectly. When left in rear + mid it would grind when I engaged the PTO. I tried jiggling the selector a bit but no dice.

I was typing my post when you added this. I think you can rule out the possibility of it being a bent lever...

 

[Dagmandt]

Very informative, thanks for relaying that information to me. Internal is scary as it sounds like I'd have to bring it in and pay for service to get it fixed. I'm sure that wouldn't be cheap. Maybe I should pass on this one

 

[GolfAddict]

Very informative, thanks for relaying that information to me. Internal is scary as it sounds like I'd have to bring it in and pay for service to get it fixed. I'm sure that wouldn't be cheap. Maybe I should pass on this one

If you have a dealer close, I'd give them a call to see what kind of repair bill you might be looking at if you had it fixed. From what you've told about the tractor, loader and attachments, it seems like a pretty darn good deal if it wasn't for this problem. You were thinking of offering $7500 - was that prior to discovering the PTO problem?

If you had a rough idea of what sort of $ you'd be looking at to have it fixed, you could factor that right into your offer price. If they go for your offer, the fix is essentially free...

 

[Dagmandt]

Just got off the phone with my local Kubota repair shop. They estimate the likely cost of repairing the linkage at $1,200 assuming only the mid+rear has any damage to the linkage. $700 - $800 in labor and about $400 in parts assuming only the mid+rear gear is affected.

If I can get the tractor for $7,000 or less I can afford to have the repair done. Not sure they'll take that.

 

[GolfAddict]

Just got off the phone with my local Kubota repair shop. They estimate the likely cost of repairing the linkage at $1,200 assuming only the mid+rear has any damage to the linkage. $700 - $800 in labor and about $400 in parts assuming only the mid+rear gear is affected.

If I can get the tractor for $7,000 or less I can afford to have the repair done. Not sure they'll take that.

Well, if they're asking $8500, and you let them know you are looking at a $1200 repair bill first thing, they may well move a least that amount.

Wish I was in your area...