BX/B advise

[Catmanran]

New here could use some help.
I upgraded last year from a green 35hp loader backhoe to a Orange 4701. Now I'm wanting something smaller in addition to the 4701. I'd like to have a small as tractor as I can but still be able to use my implements. My implements were bought for the 35hp machine. 58" tiller, 7' rake, 6' box, etc.

The specs on the B2301 show a width of 45" with ag tires. Can anyone confirm the width of the b2301 with turf tires? I can't find one local to look at. I saw the 2601 today with turf tires, it measured 51" wide

I think the bx25 or bx2670 would be a handy machine to have around. Would my implements be to large for the bx series? Looking on YouTube I couldn't find anyone doing what I'm talking about.

 

[Steve67]

With the size of your implements I think you would be pushing the limits on a bx. Just mho. I did own a bx 2660, it did fine with a 5' finish mower and 5'blade

 

[bearskinner]

I have no problem using a 7' rake on my BX. It's mainly for taking the Forest floor and making piles of pine needles and branches to Grapple up and keep the "fuel" off the ground.
It also works great to rake gravel back onto the road to use the land plane to re-grade the gravel roads

 

[lordulrich]

In my limited experence, the BX is a lot tougher machine than it looks. I seldom run out of power, HOWEVER I do often run out of traction, although because it is my lawn mower I've got turf tires on it which does not help. My thought is your implements (a bit oversize based on the literature) would probably work but you probably will need to take smaller bites than with a larger machine.

If looking used It is my understanding that some of the older BX models did not quite have a full CAT 1 3 point hitch.

 

[Catmanran]

I know I'm wanting to push limits. I know the bx is a tough little tractor, I ran one occasionally, seems like back in the early 90's. only with backhoe no 3 point.

Bearskinner how high can you pickup that 7 foot rake when set level?

 

[jmf78]

I rented a box blade for my bx2670 last year. Was supposed to get a 5 footer but they accidentally sent me home with an 80" box blade. I , not knowing, what size was appropriate, fixed my 400' driveway with it. It was work but it did it.
When I returned the box blade and rototiller, the guy come out of his office to tell me it was the wrong size. He was shocked when I told him my little tractor handled it. I was impressed.

 

[bearskinner]

I know I'm wanting to push limits. I know the bx is a tough little tractor, I ran one occasionally, seems like back in the early 90's. only with backhoe no 3 point.

Bearskinner how high can you pickup that 7 foot rake when set level?

I use a cat 1 quick hitch for everything ( yeah a $79. HF Special) it gets about 8" ground clearance is all I have not tried a smaller rake to see if it would lift higher. I was able to clear a dog run area about 200'x80' around the trees, taking up all the pine needles and branches.

 

[Catmanran]

I remembered a man in town I talk to at the coffee shop has a 2360 so I went to visit. The 3 point picks up very high it should work. He told me he's run a 72" tiller without trouble. But I think the B series is what I'll need. I routinely move dug trees around that weigh 5-600 pounds. I couldn't justify the bx if I can't sneak a tree into a tight area with it if needed. I still can't find a b2301 with turf tires to measure the width.

 

[Catmanran]

Just to follow up I gave up on the 2301 since I could not confirm it was narrower with turf tires than the 26.. One of the dealers had a 2601 in stock with the turf tires, already setup with loader and he had the backhoe in stock also. I put 2 hours worth of loader work on it last week and it gets around on a wet lawn with a full bucket of mulch without leaving a mark. I've ran my tiller some this week and it's way faster than the gear JD 4400 I had. No changing gears and small enough to make the turn and head back in the other direction. I used to change 3 shifters and back down the row. I didn't want the stock 16" bucket on the hoe so the backhoe will get installed when the 12" bucket arrives.

 

[MadMax31]

2301 and 2601 are same tractor, with possibly the same engine, one tuned up a bit for the 25.5hp (2601).