Buying Advice Too may hours?

[agh19]

Hi. Noob here with a noob question. I've been looking for Kubota B series tractor for my 5 acre lot. Found a BX2230 with a MMM and a seemingly-reasonable price of $4500. Hours are 1855, which seems on the high side. Is this worth a 2-hour drive to see in person? What questions should I ask the seller before I go?

 

[jeff9366]

VIDEO: How To Evaluate A Used Tractor - YouTube

Kubota BX223 vs BX238 a comparison - YouTube

I would consider 1,855 hours on a WELL MAINTAINED Kubota BX moderate hours.

With a bare tractor weight of 1,290 pounds and ground clearance of <7" your expectations for the tractor work this little guy can accomplish should be modest.


Does tractor have a Loader?

Ask how many owners tractor has had.

Ask if current owner has original bill-of-sale or other proof of bona fide ownership. If yes, tractor is likely not stolen.

Ask if current owner has maintenance records.

Ask condition of fifteen year old tires.




Kubota BX2230

2004 - 2006 BX30 Series
Sub-Compact Utility tractor
Previous model: Kubota BX2200
Next model: Kubota BX2350
Series back: Kubota BX1830

Manufacturer: Kubota

Kubota BX2230 Engine:
Kubota 0.9L 3-cyl diesel
Engine Detail:
Kubota D902-E-BX
diesel
3-cylinder
liquid-cooled
54.8 ci [0.9 L]

Bore/Stroke: 2.83x2.90 inches [72 x 74 mm]
Power (gross): 22 hp [16.4 kW] (Perhaps 20 hp in October 2019.)
Rated RPM: 3200

Capacity:
Fuel: 5.5 gal [20.8 L]

3-Point Hitch:
Rear Type: I
Rear lift: 680 lbs [308 kg]

Power Take-off (PTO):
Rear PTO: independent
Clutch: hydraulic
Rear RPM: 540 (1.375)
Engine RPM: 540@3068
Mid PTO: independent
Mid RPM: 2500
Engine RPM: 2500@3125
Kubota BX2230 Power:
Engine (gross): 22 hp [16.4 kW]
PTO (claimed): 16.7 hp [12.5 kW]

Dimensions & Tires:
Wheelbase: 55.1 inches [139 cm]
Weight: 1290 lbs [585 kg]
Front tire: 18x8.50-8
Rear tire: 26x12.00-12
Weight: 1290 lbs [585 kg]
Wheelbase: 55.1 inches [139 cm]
Length: 77.8 inches [197 cm]
Width: 45.1 inches [114 cm]
Height (ROPS): 70.9 inches [180 cm]
Ground clearance: 6.7 inches [17 cm]


Kubota BX2230 attachments:

54" Mower deck:
Type: mid-mount Kubota RCK54-22BX
3-blade
Cutting width: 54 inches [137 cm]
Weight: 227 lbs [102 kg]
Overall width: 66.5 inches [168 cm]
56.5 inches [143 cm] (chute up)
Cut height: 1 to 4 inch [2 to 10 cm]

60" Mower deck:
Type: mid-mount Kubota RCK60B22BX
3-blade
Cutting width: 60 inches [152 cm]
Weight: 265 lbs [120 kg]
Overall width: 72.6 inches [184 cm]
63 inches [160 cm] (chute up)
Cut height: 1 to 4 inch [2 to 10 cm]

Loader:
Loader type: Kubota LA211
Height (to pin): 70.8 inches [179 cm]
Clearance, dumped bucket: 51.2 inches [130 cm]
Dump reach: 29.9 inches [75 cm]
Dump angle: 45
Rollback angle: 25
Breakout force (lift): 950 lbs [430 kg]
Lift to full height (at pin): 460 lbs [208 kg]
Bucket width: 48 inches [121 cm]
Raise time to height: 2.9 s
Lowering time: 2.9 s

Mechanical:
Chassis: 4x4 MFWD 4WD
Steering: power
Brakes: wet disc
Cab: Two-post ROPS. Optional BX6730 hard-side weather cab with heater.

Hydraulics:
Pump flow: 5.5 gpm [20.8 lpm]

Electrical:
Ground: negative
Charging system: alternator

Battery:
Number: 1
Volts: 12
Group: 26R

Page information:
Last update: July 7, 2016
Copyright: Copyright 2016 TractorData LLC
Contact: Peter@TractorData.com

 

[Roadworthy]

1855 is not an unreasonable number of hours for a farm tractor. It may be high for a B series, though. How old is it? Normally fifty hours of use per year is about what a homeowner puts on one. Find out what he uses it for. Does he rent it out? Rental units get a LOT of hours.

 

[jeff9366]

BX series tractor are best regarded as wonderful lawn mowers with the ability to do light landscaping tasks. Kubota sells bazillions of BX tractors yearly and many owners are completely happy with them.

With <7" ground clearance with mower removed, it will be difficult to take a BX2230 into woodlands. Because of low ground clearance, HST cooling fan under the tractor is vulnerable to ground damage. Those who take BX tractors into woodlands often armor underneath. Several venders sell armor kits.

Removing/replacing a Mid Mount Mower, with its front PTO shaft, is a tedious, sweaty task.

FEL bucket lift capacity is around 450 pounds. Not much by tractor standards BUT SURE BEATS TRUNDLING A WHEELBARROW OF 80 POUNDS CAPACITY. Tractor is 1,290 pounds bare tractor. With a full bucket, the tractor can be a bit unstable.....but so are other tractors. Front axle is thin. Plan to keep 350 to 400 pounds counterbalance mounted on the Three Point Hitch when doing Loader work. Weight behind the robust rear axle unloads weight from the relatively weak front axle.

Five reasons owner/operators trade up from a BX:
More tractor weight.
More FEL lift capacity.
Greater ground clearance
Three-range (3) HST rather than two-range (2) HST on BX. (Lower LOW, Higher, HIGH)
Larger wheels and tires yield more tractive power pulling ground contact implements and logs, pushing a loader bucket into dirt and pushing snow. Larger wheels and tires permit heavier tractors to bridge holes, ruts and tree debris with less operator perturbation.

The BX tractors are solid for what they are. Excellent first tractors for an acre or two. Easy to service yourself.

If mowing is your primary task you may be happy for years.


VIDEO: Is the Kubota BX188 enough tractor for you? - YouTube

 

[Diggin It]

I wouldn't spend 2 hours driving for anything unless it was very special, nor would I be inclined to buy a high hour machine for mowing duty.
It would help to know your location and what you plan to do with any unit that you buy and implements you might want.

I'll agree with the post except for the bolded part.

1855 is not an unreasonable number of hours for a farm tractor. It may be high for a B series, though. How old is it? Normally fifty hours of use per year is about what a homeowner puts on one. Find out what he uses it for. Does he rent it out? Rental units get a LOT of hours.

That's probably the most important question, but 50 hours of usage per year may be low. I just turned 150 hours on my one year old machine and there have been many, many days it hasn't been used at all..

 

[jeff9366]

It would help to know your location.

I find it difficult, sometimes impossible, to post solid information without knowing where the OP will operate the tractor.

WEATHER - ESPECIALLY SNOW - Blowing snow and mowing are the two tasks that require considerable engine power. If we know an OP is in Buffalo, NY rather than Key West, FL snow needs are apparent.

WEATHER - Large swathes of the country have a continental climate, four seasons, with great temperature variations between winters and summers.
Areas near the coast have varying maritime climates.

PRICING - Tractor and implement pricing and dealer service pricing varies a great deal. Lowest prices are usually in the south. Prices along the west coast and in the northeast are usually highest.

Some states exempt agriculture and forestry equipment from state sales taxes. Florida is one example of liberal ag sales tax exemptions.

IMPLEMENTS - Availability of implements brands are regional, not national. ie: CountyLine, Rural King, etc.

SOIL AND GROWING SEASON - Whether game food plots or market crops, soil and length of growing season(s) in important. Soil type influences tire selection.

USED TRACTORS - When the OP posts a location, OP is often referred to good used tractors nearby or provided local tractor listings from Craig's List, eBay, TractorHouse, Machinery Peter or other sites.

ALTIITUDE - Tractors lose 3% of engine power output for every 1,000' altitude increase, over 1,500' Sometimes twenty posts will be made advising on tractor horsepower, then we find OP is a 6,500 feet altitude and is considering a low power, naturally aspirated tractor.

Everyone on T-B-N has a screen name, as anonymous as they like. Any other profile information is contributed voluntarily, such as age and tractor brand/model.

Relative to the massive data heists reported so often, with names, address, Social Security and credit card numbers stolen, this site is nearly anonymous.

 

[Jchonline]

Hi. Noob here with a noob question. I've been looking for Kubota B series tractor for my 5 acre lot. Found a BX2230 with a MMM and a seemingly-reasonable price of $4500. Hours are 1855, which seems on the high side. Is this worth a 2-hour drive to see in person? What questions should I ask the seller before I go?

Do you have pictures?

 

[super55]

That might be high hours on a big box store garden tractor but definitely not on a bx. Kubota builds a great tractor and great diesel engine as well. I would consider that amount of hours to just be well broke in. If these machines are maintained with regular oil, hydraulic and greasing they can last thousands of hours without issue. I would definitely go look at it being only two hours away especially if that price fits in your budget. If you buy it give your tractor a full service on oil, hydro filter change and learn where every grease point is on it.

I own two tractors that many would consider high hour. My JD 4400 has 3200 hours and my JD 4x4 1420 mower has almost 4k on it. I got a huge savings on these from dealerships because everyone was hesitant on them due to hours. They both run great once I worked a few small quirks out of them. I estimate the savings for me at over 10k compared to if I went and bought a new tractor with the attachments of a cab, front snowblower, and mower.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I find it difficult, sometimes impossible, to post solid information without knowing where the OP will operate the tractor.

...then...stuff...

This again?

I thought you had finally got past all this.

If you find it "difficult" or "impossible", to post, then just DON'T.

Try it. Just don't. The internet will live on despite it.

Most of your ramble is pure hogwash. You have no idea what the poster's soil type is. Even if they list their "location" as you frequently demand. Soil types change in just a few miles or less. If I tell you my location, do you really think you have any idea what my soil type is? You're deluding yourself. My buddy's place is not quite a mile from mine. His soil type is nothing like mine at all. But we would both have the same "profile location" if we listed it.

Are you really going to look up elevation, soil type, weather, and altitude for EVERY person that posts ANYTHING on TBN? Right. I doubt it very much.

Why?

You're just going to end up cutting and pasting the same post that you've put on the forum for the last 8 years. Including the same lame "MY OH MY" statement about tractor weight. You don't need to know any poster's location for that. Same with cutting and pasting the tractor stats from "tractordata.com". You don't need to know the poster's location to do that either.

If a person wants to put their location down, fine. Really, it's fine. Mine is, and it doesn't bother me to have it there. Some folks don't want to. That is ALSO fine. It's not up to you. It's also NOT up to you to be "the one" that posts the life saving information that only you know how to cut and paste into the thread.

Just. Let. It. Go.

If someone asks about snow removal, chances are they have snow. If they ask about mowing, chances are they have grass. They may or may not tell you how much of each, but if they say they live in "Umpah Loompahville, Anywhere, USA", you're still not going to KNOW how much snow or grass they get. You'll still have to ask them for that specific info, and they'll still have to tell you.

If they want info, they'll post info needed to get it.

Why is this so hard for you?

 

[Diggin It]

Why is this so hard for you?

It's a thing.