BX Dually??

[pacesetter42]

Loving my BX23S that I've had for a couple years now. Just spent ~$40k on it with all the attachments, etc. There's really only been two negatives:

1. The front loader lifting capacity is a bit weak for certain items I like to move around.
2. It's very tipsy on sloped terrain.

The problem I'm looking to solve is, I really need to be able to mow/rotary cut very hilly areas and steep slopes on my property. So I'm thinking about solutions for #2, being tipsy.

- One solution is to go with wheel spacers. I've seen that to be fairly successful. It's not really a solution for more extreme slopes and stability though.
- Another solution is to go buy a Ventrac with the dually front and rear wheels. I'd rather not spend $40k on another machine.

With the smaller wheels of the BX series, I feel like it would be a perfect candidate to do a dually wheel setup, similar to the Ventrac. Has anyone ever seen anything like this done with a BX tractor or seen companies that offer adapters for this?

I haven't really looked into any complications I might find with the front wheel wheels/turning spacing. Maybe it could just work for the rear wheels.

Just spit balling here. Curious to anyone's thoughts... this can't be a novel idea for the BX.

 

[skeets]

OK first off,, you say it is tipsy on slopes, why are you running along a slope up and down my man up and down!
Also take off the FEL and BH if you have it on. Everything you have hanging off it changes the geometry of the machine and it makes thing tipsy on hills even little hills, if you can;t or wont take everything off but what you need keep things as low as you can. On the flat no worries!
Dual wheels, I have never seen on a BX there is no reason it is one of the most stable platforms out there, if you think things through ,stop and think them through again.
I say this because I am south of Da Burgh and I know hills and my BX.

 

[BX25D Rookie]

I have seen BX dually photos/video here on this Forum.
Depending on your usage for your machine, it could work.

If i recall correctly from memory, the general consensus here was it could result in broken rear axle shafts
due to the greatly increased leverage. Dually on the front end of a BX will result in no gains on stability as the front axle housing pivots.

Also, wheel spacers (or duals) on the front of a BX is also likely a bad idea.
The front axle driveline parts are barely robust enough for the stock setup.
The below video here at the link has duals front and rear.

Dual rear wheels on a BX

A BX with 8 tires... now i`ve seen it all! :D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHEmvPhwu8Y

www.orangetractortalks.com

if your wallet is thick enough, and you can "wrench" on your BX yourself at home, GO FOR IT.
Please report back with photos/video and let us know how it turned out.

If you add the BX turbo kit, now you will have enough power for all eight wheels!

29 pto hp from a BX

quik look, the 'turbo list', nothing obvious about larger implements out back.

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[BX25D Rookie]

^^^
BTW skeets, you posted it that thread I linked above, it's only been about five years!

 

[hodge]

Ventracs and Steiners are expensive, but steep terrain is where they shine. I've been mowing with my tractor for years, on steep, mountainous terrain. It's ok, and I know how to do it safely. I bought a Steiner last year for the fun of it (a much older one; I bought it because I've wanted one since I was a kid). There is no comparison. It easily mows areas that were sketchy on my tractor, and that's with singles all the way around.
I've got $6000 in my Steiner. It's worth every penny.

 

[pacesetter42]

Thanks Skeets-
I have slopes all over my property in WV but I'm not using it for mowing rows, I need to work in and around trees where you can't maintain a perfect 90 degrees all the time...while still using the FEL. I do have to contend that the BX is highly capable, but "stable" is probably the last thing I would call it, personally. You are right though, gotta know your machine!

BX25D Rookie-
Awesome - this is exactly the info I was looking for. Great examples. I don't think I'll mess with a turbo, but interesting that it can be done. I thought the same thing about the front end driveline parts... so tiny. I had another thought about just fabricating some wheels that would attach to the backhoe outriggers and keep them ~lowered while working. This could provide some rollover protection.

Overall I'm not looking to get crazy, I just want to stay safe while working. I know y'all have had that pit of your stomach feeling that you're pushing a limit. I'll look more into some of these links.

 

[pacesetter42]

Ventracs and Steiners are expensive, but steep terrain is where they shine. I've been mowing with my tractor for years, on steep, mountainous terrain. It's ok, and I know how to do it safely. I bought a Steiner last year for the fun of it (a much older one; I bought it because I've wanted one since I was a kid). There is no comparison. It easily mows areas that were sketchy on my tractor, and that's with singles all the way around.
I've got $6000 in my Steiner. It's worth every penny.

Exactly - their stability is unmatched, for good reason. I probably wouldn't every day drive it with 8 wheels, but if I'll be working in the woods for several days, I'd like the insurance and take the time to bolt them on.

 

[Mountainman]

Duals on a bx is a terrible idea. You'd be asking to break something

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Duals on the rear should NOT be a problem. I had an old garden tractor with them, for the forklift option.

 

[pacesetter42]

Glad we are consistent with the consensus.

IMO the driveline, especially the rear, is built stout enough for dually with general use. Anything pushed to it's limit will break of course. I think you all have good arguments. With any changes, even with spacers, there is a risk. I couldn't find any particular kits for duallies and I don't have time to fabricate them at the moment so I may resolve to some 2" spacers and see how that feels in comparison. And also maybe keep an eye out for a used Ventrac or Steiner.

Have a great weekend fellas.

 

[BX25D Rookie]

Post # 40 in my above linked thread has a rear dually kit available from Miller Tire/Good Works Tractor Parts.
It's listed for a JD 1025 R, but if you go to the Good Works Tractor Parts website, they list the same kit for BX Kubota tractors also. Both the JD 1025 R and BX Kubota share the same rear wheel/tire size.

The holes in the wheels for bolting on rear wheel weights attach the outboard dually wheels/tires.
Using a polymer spacer ring and very long bolts. (14 inch length?)
Purchasing the outboard wheels/tires is usually cheaper at Amazon.
And I think the Good Works Tractor Parts website has direct wheel/tire Amazon links as well.
Or a "Whole Goods" item from a Kubota Dealer SALES Dept, NOT the PARTS Dept.

26x 12.00-12 Dual Wheel Kit with 14" Bolts

Dual Wheel Spacer Kit for 26x12.00-12" Garden Tractor Tires for sale online.B12350-14

www.millertire.com

Miller TireDual Wheel Spacer Adapter Kit For John Deere 1025R

Buy Miller TireDual Wheel Spacer Adapter Kit For John Deere 1025R from Good Works Tractors online at the best price!

www.goodworkstractors.com

 

[BX25D Rookie]

The dually kits will not work if you have a mid mount mower attached.
You would need to cut the rear gauge wheel brackets off of the deck and eliminate or relocate them.

 

[BX25D Rookie]

BX rear wheel spacers will also cause mid mount mower deck rear gauge wheel/rear gauge wheel bracket interference issues. More common with the 54" deck than the 60" deck.
You will have to see what BX owners with rear wheel spacers tell you for fitment what will actually fit.
I don't run wheel spacers on my BX machines so I have no relevant personal experience.
I recall reading on this Forum that in most cases, the 1.5" spacers will work on most BX machines, but don't hold me to that actual measurement.

 

[pacesetter42]

Thank you! I didn't realize he had a part number for the BX (Good Works Tractors). I did see his video on the JD dually but didn't see anything related to BX. This is very interesting. I have seen the need to relocate the mower wheels, due to the stickout and Good Works did a video installing them on a BX and found 2" was the max before needing to relocate those mower wheels. Saw another video last week that showed 1.5" spacers and, again, there was bout 1-1.25" space left, it looked like. Again, thank you! I'm going to check out the Good Works parts and Miller parts too. Night!

 

[Henro]

If a person did want to put duals on his BX for stability on side slopes, I wonder if it would be a workable solution to either use a slightly smaller diameter tire on the outside, or maybe run lower tire pressure on the outside tire, so that during normal use the inside tire would carry the load, and the outside tire would only come into play when the opposite side rear tire lifted off the ground.

Sorry for the long sentence...LOL

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

I have two sets of 2" spacers, so can widen the BX stance by 4" or 8". The BX is comparatively "tiny" to other tractors, so 2" makes a difference.

I use diff-lock going up a steep hill, and it doesn't release "immediately." With 2" spacers "turning" at the top of the hill is more of "not really wanting to turn" and with 4" spacers is "going straight with an attitude."

I imagine turning with diff-lock and dual wheels would be futile.