First Post - BX25D - Your Thoughts on Implements

[JPinCincy]

I lurked on this site for about two months before I pulled the trigger on a BX25D in June. We have a little more than 5 acres, we mow about 3 and the rest is wooded. I am well pleased with the BX25. (I have run into a few times where I wish the bh and FEL had more lifting power.)

Right now, the tractor sleeps in the garage, and my car is outside. The hope is to build a pole barn in the spring.

My questions, if I could get your thoughts:
1. We garden a little more than 1/3rd acre. I have been disappointed that 48-54" tillers are so rare on craigslist. I can't seem to find anything under $750 that my SCUT can handle. Is there a good place to get deals on PTO equipment rated at less than 18HP on the post?

2. Trailer - I am all over the place when thinking about a trailer. I have considered getting an 18' enclosed trailer, and simply storing the bx25 there, rather than building a barn. I have considered getting a small utility trailer to use with the bx. I have looked at 16-18' dump trailers, which could haul my bx, but I don't think the bx would be able to pull them around if loaded.....so, do y'all have one trailer to put your tractor on, AND a trailer to put behind your tractor? (Moving compost from one end of the property to the other using that little FEL take quite a long time...)

3. Pallet forks - Given the limited lifting capacity, does a 32-36" set of clamp-on forks make sense? We heat with wood pellets, but as best I can figure, the BX could really only move a half pallet at a time. Other than to move limbs/brush piles, does anyone use pallet forks?

This forum is awesome, btw. Between here and youtube, I have been able to find answers to almost all of my questions. (Paul Short's videos on the 50 hour service was great.)

Thanks
JP

 

[WFM]

It really all comes down to $$. How much dough can you spend. I don't have a back hoe. I don't have a PTO snowblower. But, I have a tall deck off one end of my house that I can drive my tractor under. After getting my tractor I dug it out more. Added some crushed stone. Got steel roofing and mounted that on a slight slope under the 'roof' 'floor' of the deck to run the water off. Enclosed the side to keep the weather out with the clear roofing panels from Home Depot. I park under there and it works great. I finally had a equipment shed built this year, 24 x 12. Front is open no doors. I back in, drop my chipper , bush hog, riding lawn mower, atv....ect...With me it takes time. Little by little. I get things done and buy equipment. I just can't afford it all at once. I think I have 14 more payments...so I've had mine 4 years this coming spring. 229 hours on it.

 

[JPinCincy]

It really all comes down to $$. How much dough can you spend. I don't have a back hoe. I don't have a PTO snowblower. But, I have a tall deck off one end of my house that I can drive my tractor under. After getting my tractor I dug it out more. Added some crushed stone. Got steel roofing and mounted that on a slight slope under the 'roof' 'floor' of the deck to run the water off. Enclosed the side to keep the weather out with the clear roofing panels from Home Depot. I park under there and it works great. I finally had a equipment shed built this year, 24 x 12. Front is open no doors. I back in, drop my chipper , bush hog, riding lawn mower, atv....ect...With me it takes time. Little by little. I get things done and buy equipment. I just can't afford it all at once. I think I have 14 more payments...so I've had mine 4 years this coming spring. 229 hours on it.

This is my basic approach to it. I got the bh with the tractor, mainly because I knew I would never do it later. I didn't want to finance any implements, though; I prefer to pay cash, used when possible. For the tractor, though, the used ones were not that much cheaper than new, especially with a bh.

I have a 16x24 building, but it is on posts, with the back half hanging over a creek bed. I can get the tractor through the door, but I don't trust that OSB flooring to hold all the weight....

A chipper sounds awesome, btw. There again, though, there are not many used chippers that will fit on my bx.

 

[bearskinner]

With the BX you have the two most used tools. A loader and a back hoe. I would recommend a skid plate first, wheel spacers for the rear help a lot. I love the piranha blade for your loader. A Grapple is an awesome tool, if you have trees, brush, trash to move or drag out of the woods. If you have roads to maintain a land plane and /or a landscape rake. Post hole digger, if you plan on doing fence post. A box blade with rippers, or back blade, there all great accessories if you have a use for them. Snow equipment, the quick mount for an adjustable snow blade is used for the front mount snow blower, add a driveshaft

 

[Wildfire]

I lurked on this site for about two months before I pulled the trigger on a BX25D in June

This forum is awesome, btw. Between here and youtube, I have been able to find answers to almost all of my questions. (Paul Short's videos on the 50 hour service was great.)

Thanks
JP

Congratulations on your new tractor & I'm happy to hear you've enjoyed our videos.

 

[JPinCincy]

With the BX you have the two most used tools. A loader and a back hoe. I would recommend a skid plate first, wheel spacers for the rear help a lot. I love the piranha blade for your loader. A Grapple is an awesome tool, if you have trees, brush, trash to move or drag out of the woods. If you have roads to maintain a land plane and /or a landscape rake. Post hole digger, if you plan on doing fence post. A box blade with rippers, or back blade, there all great accessories if you have a use for them. Snow equipment, the quick mount for an adjustable snow blade is used for the front mount snow blower, add a driveshaft

I think you just listed my entire list of "wants."

I keep seeing the skid plate mentioned. Do that many folks hit the belly of their tractor?

Grapple is a definite want....but I am already having storage space issues. I built a dolly for the bh, stabilizers up. I am currently storing the 60 mower deck vertically, against the garage wall; is that ok? Any other space saving tips on implements going in the garage?

 

[JPinCincy]

Congratulations on your new tractor & I'm happy to hear you've enjoyed our videos.

I don't have time for half the projects, let alone to video things to help other folks out. Thanks for the videos....My 7 year old son now knows what I should be doing before I do.

 

[bearskinner]

I think you just listed my entire list of "wants."

I keep seeing the skid plate mentioned. Do that many folks hit the belly of their tractor?

Grapple is a definite want....but I am already having storage space issues. I built a dolly for the bh, stabilizers up. I am currently storing the 60 mower deck vertically, against the garage wall; is that ok? Any other space saving tips on implements going in the garage?

I live in a heavy wooded area in the North, and always seem to be dragging branches. If nothing else, I have a good feeling of security knowing that there is a skid plate in place. I especially notice that I go in deeper weeds and woods with the grapple scooping up down fall etc. I also learned to keep the Brush guard on to keep the plastic grill intact.
It used to take days with a chainsaw and ropes to get downed trees, branches, brush etc out of the woods. Once you get a Grapple, you will save days of work.
I also had a Semi truck load of firewood logs delivered. I can pick up individual logs, and hold them over a trailer or pickup bed and chainsaw them and save my back from all the picking up rounds from the ground and stacking them.

 

[Bmbbm]

Congratulations on your new tractor & I'm happy to hear you've enjoyed our videos.

Hi Everyone. I bought a new BX2370 in April and Love it. I have a FEL /60in mmm and a 48in Land Pride box blade. I own a mini storage business and mow about a acre and maintain about a acre of gravel. The lawn area has a lot of uneven bumps/ dips etc. I've used lill orange to spread 3 dump truck loads of dirt with the fel and box blade. Borrowed a 54in pto tiller and worked it all up. It's still a work in progress but gives me a reason to get in some fun playing with the tractor. I built a dolly for the box blade today with 2 harbor freight moving dollys and some lumber I already had with ideas I got from this site. My next purchase will be some brotek rear spacers since I have some pretty steep areas I am mowing where it feels tippy. Think I will put them on my letter to Santa. Lol I having been watching Craiglist and auction ads for subcompact implements and there aren't many to be had around here. From what I've seen $750.00 for a rear mount tiller in good condition is a decent buy. Anyway I want to say how much I enjoy this site.How much I admire the abilities of the members. Special Thank you to Paul Short for your videos.

 

[JPinCincy]

Hi Everyone. I bought a new BX2370 in April and Love it. I have a FEL /60in mmm and a 48in Land Pride box blade.

I have been looking at a box blade, also. I thought I could smooth things a good bit with the FEL, but so far, I am just making a mess...

Congrads on the new toy...err, tool.

 

[JPinCincy]

It used to take days with a chainsaw and ropes to get downed trees, branches, brush etc out of the woods. Once you get a Grapple, you will save days of work.
.

Well, the grapple is going "up" on my list. Our wooded area is along the creek, so right now, I am carefully carving a couple of trails along and around the feeder streams and run-offs.

The lil bx is proving to be a great tool. From June to now, I have about 95 hours on it, all just working on my property on the weekends. (Excepting, of course, the obligatory water line install for the father-in-law.)

 

[Northern Orange]

Just picked up a BX25D-1 on Friday and the list of needs has started. I opted for the b/h thumb instead of the grapple. Have a few questions for the long-term owners since there knowledge of these units is important. Just wondering about the value of the workshop manuals as well as the parts list. Also working these in the winter, any suggestions on the seat and how it holds up to the winter elements (located in the far north). Any suggestions on type or manufacturer of tiller, posthole auger as well as bush-hog?
Hope this machine works out since I spent the better part of 3 months researching the various manufacturers before settling in on Kubota..

Thanks

 

[Wildfire]

Hi Everyone. I bought a new BX2370 in April and Love it. Anyway I want to say how much I enjoy this site.How much I admire the abilities of the members. Special Thank you to Paul Short for your videos.

Congratulations on your new machine. Your going to wonder how you got by without it for so long. Kathy and I are happy to hear you enjoyed our videos and thank YOU for watching. Happy tractoring.

 

[bearskinner]

Just picked up a BX25D-1 on Friday and the list of needs has started. I opted for the b/h thumb instead of the grapple. Have a few questions for the long-term owners since there knowledge of these units is important. Just wondering about the value of the workshop manuals as well as the parts list. Also working these in the winter, any suggestions on the seat and how it holds up to the winter elements (located in the far north). Any suggestions on type or manufacturer of tiller, posthole auger as well as bush-hog?
Hope this machine works out since I spent the better part of 3 months researching the various manufacturers before settling in on Kubota..

Thanks

I did order my BX with the backhoe thumb, and your right it is very handy, especially for moving large rocks and stumps. With the Grapple, I can scoop big piles of branches, brush, pine needles etc, and haul it to the slash pile.
One or two things you may want right off is a set of rear wheel spacers, and a skid plate. You need the spacers to use chains, so they don't rub, plus it's amazing how 2" on each side add an incredible amount of stability to your BX.
The skid plate is just in case! I keep my BX under a roof, so no issues with the seat, but you may want an engine block heater for those really cold days. I did the freeze plug one, a simple install.
I have the snow plow unit, which does a great job on 1/4 mile flat gravel driveway, but I do wish I had the front mounted snow blower also. One day!
You can look up anything, parts, service, you tube parts install, everything on line as needed. I have had a couple years of trouble free use with mine, ( except the seat bolt) and I work it hard. Check your spin around seat bolt! If it's not a nylock or double butted, fix it before it falls off on you!

 

[Grouse Feathers]

Just wondering about the value of the workshop manuals as well as the parts list.

Thanks

You can download the manual from Kubota books at: http://kubotabooks.com/AutoIndex/in...df&AutoIndex=f0ea3144ac32e5a3c928ec2e679e5729

 

[skeets]

Yes Sir get them,,, and just a point they are useless just sitting there when everything is working,,,,,,, break something and they are priceless