Trescrows, Defender of the BX, Request

[MossRoad]

FYI.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kohler.com/hub/powersystem.html>Check out this link to the water faucet company</A>

I had no idea that they did these types of things as well.

 

[MossRoad]

Good Point. And, considering that a 25HP Kohler replacement engine costs a little over $1000.00, you wonder just how much it really costs them to make the rest of that $2000.00 Sears tractor, don't you /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[TresCrows]

Hi, lift height for the BX is 71.3 inches and max weight excluding bucket is 480 lbs. Some tractor brochures quote weights with bucket included which then sound higher by the considerable weight of the bucket.
Aquality gas engine I beleive is equal to a diesel, the Kohler is not such an engine I doubt. Diesels have forged or nodular iron cranks and similar heavy duty components, most of the inexpensive "lawnmower" engines use cast or cast and then forged. This is a complicated area with much "urban" legend surrounding it. Suffice it to say Kubota diesel engines are built to a higher standard than something like the "water faucet" engine.
Oh, for whatever reason the BX LA211 loader seems more than happy to lift closer to 600 lbs. I am darn sure I have lifted at least 550 lbs with it and it did not hit the unloader valve.
Wow, what a storm outside. J

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks.

Your storm looks like part of the samee stuff we are just about to get in N Indiana tonight. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.intellicast.com/LocalWeather/World/UnitedStates/Radar/> Here's a link to Intellicast US weather radar</A>

 

[marrt]

I seem to recall someone saying he had put 720lbs of cement bags in the BX loader and it handled it fine. That would not surprise me. Kubota is likely conservative on the loder specification due to the lift height. Once you get several hundred pounds six feet off the ground, there is a lot of leverage to turn over the tractor. And this is the land of litigation after all.

There was one thing I noticed about the PT mower that bugged me. If you take a close look at the mower (see the attachment), you will see that the PT basically pushes the mower along the ground. There are two arms that rise vertically from the left and right of the mower deck. These arms are attached to a horizontal bar which eventually is attached to the tractor. Just looking at the design, it seems that it wouldn’t take much to “rack” those arms to one side or the other it the mower deck got in a sufficient bind. When testing the mower, one of the front wheels would occasionally drop into a small hole (where someone had tested the PT PHD) or depression and the mower deck would twist slightly to one side as the tractor tryed to push it forward. Eventually, like in half a second, sufficient torque would build to “spring” the mower deck free. I would’nt want to think what would happen if I ran into the side of a tree or some other immovable object (hey, so, I’m a bad driver) with the mower. I suspect I would do serious damage to those vertical arms at the least. That said, these things are designed for commercial use, so my fears may be totally unwarranted.

 

[marrt]

No decision yet…still cyferin’ on it. One day I decide PT, next day I change my mind and decide BX. All this back and forth is making me schizophrenic.

I think the PT will suit my needs the best, is capable of the most work in the smallest amount of time, and is clearly less expense. I think the BX is a “safer” choice (from a resale and dealer support perspective), is likely a better mower overall, which is what I will use it for most of the time (because of its power…the front mounted PT would cut trim times considerably though), and can do everything I need.

It may come down to the toss of a coin…. Either way, I’m making a decision this week. I may have to call Chris at PT to see about those new models. Just to make sure I don’t miss out on a new model “just around the corner.” Today, I’m leaning toward the BX though (tomorrow, who knows).

 

[MossRoad]

Look at the location where the two vertical arms that you describe are attached to the mower deck. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/19-133763-PT425mower01.jpg>Click here to see an earlier photo </A> They are very far ahead of the center line of the mower. Most of the weight of the mower is behind this point as well. As far as the mower and weight distribution is concerned, forces are actually pulling it forward, not pushing it. Also note, that in this picture, I have the quick attach tilted all the way back, which is not the proper position for mowing. It should be in the vertical position.

 

[bubenberg]

Re: Trescrows, Defender of the BX, Request and not comparison with articulated tractors

Charlie already hit most of the technical aspects, i would like to hit the more emotional side of the coin:

but only because you so aptly stated:

"Price, because the BX is a diesel and made by a company with a long history and name recognition and excellent resale--advantage BX".

is the price so optimal because THEY and THEIR country of origin were involved in making war material? were THEY during their

"long history"

as a manufacturer involved in making profits from producing war material, which helped to attack my country of choice so cowardly at pearl harbor?

please understand i am not saying kubota has not it's place in my yard, we own several of their products and when one has time to swap implements (taking a rather long time to take off and install) we use them. we normally use these machines with one appliance attached for the duration of the job.

where i have to say something is, when one tries to compare a garden tractor on steroids (diesel) [and i love diesel] to an articulated tractor.

as stated before an articulated tractor with all wheel drive, quick attach device and 40+ proven attachments (before they were ever made smaller for the pt 400 series, they were produced and used at regular strength in american mines, not in "toys are us" for 20 years. well, i know kubota has almost 20 years of war experience) can't be compared with a home owner type of garden tractor. we would flunk the basic garden, landscape and agricultural machine recognition subject.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

How old are you tress? Do you drive for a living? Your boat must be parked at the river crossings so you can jump out of your truck and jump into the boat to keep moving.

 

[upgw]

A while back I was replaced an 8HP Tecumseh on a Snapper rider. It was blowing so much blue smoke it looked like an old DDT fogger. As usual, the cooling fins were plugged solid and the rings were cooked. I replaced it with a 10HP 'salvaged' Tecemseh for a Craftsman tractor. The Craftsman had broken right in half down the middle. Thin punched sheet steel was all it was made of. So, clearly, there isn't much money left over to build the tractor with after they buy the engine. Because HP sells tractors like Mhz sells computers, they jam big HP engines into flimsy frames...

- Patrick W.