To Cab or Not To Cab: BX25D

[gwdemos]

I'm considering a trade into a new BX25D from my '07 BX24 with 750 hours.
The Deal is reasonable to me and hoping my wife agrees (another Pinot Grigio please bartender)
This year I picked up a B2789 with Manual Chute Rotation...bought it used, and I've never used it.
Hooked up the snowblower after cutting the PTO Shaft a bit.... all seems good to go.

So here's the question: I like the idea of a Cab and have looked at Curtis Cab and read through many posts here.
From what i've researched the "Soft Side" has soft doors and a soft rear curtain.
The "Hard Side" has hard doors and windows, and i believe a hard rear window???

Can any Hard Side Curtis Cab owners comment on the rear window: is a rear window wiper an option, can you operate the manual snowblower chute crank?...that is does the window pop open??
Exactly how does the rear window open because "duh" i imagine operating the backhoe with a rear window cab is impossible on the BX25???

Am I perhaps limited to a Soft Side Cab with the BX25D and hence the soft rear curtain?

Do you cab owners find yourselves removing the cab seasonaly? How much of an ordeal is it?

Appreciate your replies. Thanks,
-Greg

 

[4shorts]

Well Greg you'll want to check this thread out. I think you'll get most of your answers there.
Good luck.
Paul

BX25D-Curtis Cab Install (All Steel) - OrangeTractorTalks - Everything Kubota

 

[murphy1244]

Well Greg you'll want to check this thread out. I think you'll get most of your answers there.
Good luck.
Paul

BX25D-Curtis Cab Install (All Steel) - OrangeTractorTalks - Everything Kubota

Nice link, Thanks Paul.

 

[rbarker]

Do you cab owners find yourselves removing the cab seasonaly? How much of an ordeal is it? Appreciate your replies. Thanks, -Greg

I have the soft sided Curtis but after checking out that thread from Paul I find myself a little envious... At any rate, I never remove the cab, just the rear curtain and the doors for ventilation in the summer. I don't live in the Deep South though so scorching heat isn't usually an issue. The rear curtain is certainly the weak link to the soft sided cab, everything else seals up pretty good. Maybe some day I'll get around to fabricating a better rear curtain system for it. For now it works adequately.

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[Paystar]

What have you all been seeing for Curtis cab prices? I'm in Canada and have been quoted $4800 for a soft side and $5400 for a hard cab for my B Series.

 

[4shorts]

Nice link, Thanks Paul.

Your kindly welcome

 

[gwdemos]

4shorts, thanks for the link. I would lean toward the hard cab. still leaves me with a couple potential issues.

1) Operating Rear PTO Snowblower with manual chute rotation: the rear cab would need to be removed and this defeats the purpose.
I have read some briefings on guys fabricating window motors, etc. for the chute rotation. Honestly, I'm not that handy and not that I'm made of money but would assume just buy a bolt on hydraulic or electric rotation device....provided of course it could be wired into the cab.

2) Heat Loss: I saw in the thread that jetsetter dedicated a good amount of effort to 'insulating' areas from the foot pedals to the operating shifters, etc... is this really necessary? how much heat loss are we talking about? I plan on getting a heater with the Curtis cab and would imagine that a little heat loss from these areas is no big deal?

3) Noise: This is a big one. I operate my mower all the time (4 acres of grass cutting on a BX is a 2+ hour chore). I also run a Cyclone Rake and that puppy puts out some noise. Snowblower, etc so I'm a noise maker. Can I get some more detail on noise levels and sound deadening that folks do in the Curtis cab? I saw one photo in 4shorts' link that showed that someone turned their BX cab into a Bentley interior... nicely done...but again I'm not one to tackle a custom interior.... any snap on easy solutions here, is it really necessary? I always wear ear protection anyway

really appreciate the insight guys. PS: my wife is almost in my corner on this one!

 

[rbarker]

What have you all been seeing for Curtis cab prices? I'm in Canada and have been quoted $4800 for a soft side and $5400 for a hard cab for my B Series.

I paid $3800 installed last year for a soft sided. I live only about 50 miles from the plant though.

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[rbarker]

4shorts, thanks for the link. I would lean toward the hard cab. still leaves me with a couple potential issues. 1) Operating Rear PTO Snowblower with manual chute rotation: the rear cab would need to be removed and this defeats the purpose. I have read some briefings on guys fabricating window motors, etc. for the chute rotation. Honestly, I'm not that handy and not that I'm made of money but would assume just buy a bolt on hydraulic or electric rotation device....provided of course it could be wired into the cab. 2) Heat Loss: I saw in the thread that jetsetter dedicated a good amount of effort to 'insulating' areas from the foot pedals to the operating shifters, etc... is this really necessary? how much heat loss are we talking about? I plan on getting a heater with the Curtis cab and would imagine that a little heat loss from these areas is no big deal? 3) Noise: This is a big one. I operate my mower all the time (4 acres of grass cutting on a BX is a 2+ hour chore). I also run a Cyclone Rake and that puppy puts out some noise. Snowblower, etc so I'm a noise maker. Can I get some more detail on noise levels and sound deadening that folks do in the Curtis cab? I saw one photo in 4shorts' link that showed that someone turned their BX cab into a Bentley interior... nicely done...but again I'm not one to tackle a custom interior.... any snap on easy solutions here, is it really necessary? I always wear ear protection anyway really appreciate the insight guys. PS: my wife is almost in my corner on this one!

I haven't done any insulating or sound proofing. I always wear ear protection when running the mower or blower. The heater keeps up with the air leakage okay for my average storms. If I lived where below zero was a frequent occurrence it might be more of an issue. Definitely need remote chute rotation though!

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[gwdemos]

Can anyone point me to a detailed step by step on installing a wiper motor to convert a manual chute rotating crank to a powered chute rotation. This is for my b2789 rear pto blower. Thanks!

I haven't done any insulating or sound proofing. I always wear ear protection when running the mower or blower. The heater keeps up with the air leakage okay for my average storms. If I lived where below zero was a frequent occurrence it might be more of an issue. Definitely need remote chute rotation though!

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