I’ve had my BX1850 since 2009 (I think) when bought it new. Has served me well the entire time. When I bought it, I had a acre of grass to mow and a 50’ driveway to plow when it snowed. It was absolutely the piece of equipment to have and remember how giddy I was when it was delivered. Bought a bigger house and more property in 2015 and after two years (2017) of now mowing 3 - 4 acres, the 54” deck wasn’t wasn’t enough and with a 1/4 mile long driveway to plow, started shopping for an upgrade. I opted to keep my BX and bought a ZD1211. It’s a monster mower and cut my mowing time by more than half. This has been the case ever since. I do my own fluid changes so it’s a good part of a day for each machine. as I’m getting older, I’m thinking of consolidating by trading both the BX and ZD in on a new B2601 with FEL and rear 60” grooming mower. Removing a belly mower is not a job I want to do on a regular basis to do loader work or pulling logs. Anyway, sometimes it helps to dump your thoughts to help in the decision making process so what is the general consensus?
Long time BX1850 owner
- Thread starter ShootinBlanks
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armylifer
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
First of all, welcome to the forum.
I am wondering if there is a reason that you need to remove the MMM to do loader work or to pull logs. Is it because of the terrain or some other reason? If you get a rear mount mower you still have to remove it to pull logs and maybe even to do some tight loader work. I have a 54" mower deck on mine and I only remove it for maintenance tasks once a year. My terrain is rocky and a lot of pot holes but if I raise my mower deck to the top I can do most work without the scalper wheels hitting the ground.
I am wondering if there is a reason that you need to remove the MMM to do loader work or to pull logs. Is it because of the terrain or some other reason? If you get a rear mount mower you still have to remove it to pull logs and maybe even to do some tight loader work. I have a 54" mower deck on mine and I only remove it for maintenance tasks once a year. My terrain is rocky and a lot of pot holes but if I raise my mower deck to the top I can do most work without the scalper wheels hitting the ground.
armylifer
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
From the pictures you posted it looks like you would probably never have to remove a MMM except for maintenance. Unless there is something different than what is shown you should not have any problems working with the mower deck on.
Ground clearance and stability mostly. The driveway and yard (in that order) are the smoothest. The woods is a totally different story.
I have a B2601 with MMM. I take it off and on every week or so. I previously had a BX. The B2601 is massively easier to get the deck off and on. I've learned a lot about how to do it, and I can now do it in about a minute (I posted a video on that somewhere), and without having to horse the deck around at all (it's about doing things in the right order).
I find it slower to attach a 3ph attachment than my mower.
Having said that, nothing wrong with a RFM, and having rear discharge would be nice. You can also run it under things.
I'd be tempted to go one size larger tractor in the LX series, and run a 72 inch RFM. You can run quite a bit slower and still get a lot of mowing done - my limiting factor is the smallish tires on the B2601, and the bumpy ground I mow. A bigger deck going slower is working about as hard - 26hp should be enough to drive a 72 inch deck if you're going a bit slower than full speed. Easier on your back.
I find it slower to attach a 3ph attachment than my mower.
Having said that, nothing wrong with a RFM, and having rear discharge would be nice. You can also run it under things.
I'd be tempted to go one size larger tractor in the LX series, and run a 72 inch RFM. You can run quite a bit slower and still get a lot of mowing done - my limiting factor is the smallish tires on the B2601, and the bumpy ground I mow. A bigger deck going slower is working about as hard - 26hp should be enough to drive a 72 inch deck if you're going a bit slower than full speed. Easier on your back.
The video is a bit dodgy, I should really reshoot and actually point the camera at what I'm doing. But the description explains the key elements.
a few days after this post I decided to do it. Pretty smoking deal was negotiated, got the wife’s approval that evening and went to the dealer the following Saturday and did the credit app. My normal sales guy was helping another customer so another sales guy got me through it. I made a slight change to the configuration telling the guy I wanted R14 tires. That was almost 3 weeks ago and the dealer still doesn’t have the tires. I’m told the order was made but “doesn’t show up in the system” and is doing a “case search” to try and track them down. I’m pretty disappointed honestly. I’ve bought two pieces of equipment from this dealer and have always been treated very well but feel like I’m being jerked around. I’m thinking give them until Saturday (which will be 3 full weeks since credit app day) and if no word, pull the plug on the deal and walk away.
It finally happened, the new B2601 arrived. The delay was complicated by the dealer could not get R14 tires. I confirmed with several other dealers that Kubota does not have them and doesn’t expect to get them until February or March 2024. The run around from the dealer was over the mower deck. For 3 weeks they were getting from another store, then a dealer in WV, and then a dealer in VT. I cannot say which one was true but, they did ultimately get it. The only reason I hung in there was the deal. I confess I grew weary and went to the local JD dealer and was close to pulling the trigger on a 2026 but discovered it wouldn’t fit in my shop with an 8’ door. Very happy with the deal from Kubota and even happier with the 2601. The deal included ballast box, landscape rake, belly mower, QA bucket, grapple, and WR Long 3rd function.
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armylifer
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
Did you trade your BX1850 and XD1211? It looks like they are loaded on a flatbed truck in your picture.
Traded them in. Was surprised at the value of the 16 year old BX and disappointed at the value of the ZD but it evened out.