BX23 Issues

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,843
5,066
113
Eastham, Ma
Perhaps an issue with the seat safety switch if you have one on your tractor? Just a WAG since I don't have seat safety switches on my tractors...
Tisk...tisk.....no seat switches on your tractors?
What plan do you have for that day when the first seat safety switch inspector shows up?
Beware.....you may not recognize him as such.
It is rumored that he will be doing double duty.
Looking for both illegal gas stoves,..... and seat switches.;)
 
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dirtydeed

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B2650 BH77, U27-4R2, BX23TLBM, box blade, rear blade, flail mower, Stump Grinder
Dec 8, 2017
3,023
3,681
113
Wind Gap, PA
I finally got this thing running. Seems like it was just a combination of a little water, dirty filters and of course a fuel pump that was not pumping. Now I have a problem with keeping it running. It starts, revs up good but as soon as I hit the forward or reverse pedal it wants to die. I can move it very slowly but it's crawl. I know it's probably a safety switch but trying to find which one is going to be a pain.
Seat switch. If I remember correctly, its pretty easy to spot the culprit.


BX23D seat switch.JPG
 
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DustyRusty

Well-known member

Equipment
2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
6,237
4,816
113
North East CT
No seat safety switches on the BX23. Only switches are on the PTO, so I guess that the brake is on or stuck in the on position. Either that or the hydro has given up the golst and you are looking at an expensive repair I would jack up the rear wheels and try to spin the tires with the engine off. Then while it is still jacked up, start and put it into rabbit range, and with your hand push the pedal forward. The tires should start to spin. If it isn't a brake issue then it is a hydro issue. That tractor has very little in the way of safety issues. Also, check the hydro fluid, and see if the loader will go up and down. My guess is that it is something simple. Just figuring out what that simple item is going to be is the difficult part. Also, check to make sure that the rims are not spinning inside of the tires. I had that happen once when the tire pressure was low and the beet juice lubricated the tire rims and allowed them to spin, but the tires remained planted on the ground. The easy solution was to put some pressure in the tires. I eventually took the tires off and laid them down and using an old-fashioned tire bead breaker I broke the bead and sanded the powder coat on the inside edge of the rim. Inflated the tire and no more problems. I never had to do the inside of the inside of the rim.
 
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dirtydeed

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
B2650 BH77, U27-4R2, BX23TLBM, box blade, rear blade, flail mower, Stump Grinder
Dec 8, 2017
3,023
3,681
113
Wind Gap, PA
No seat safety switches on the BX23. Only switches are on the PTO, so I guess that the brake is on or stuck in the on position. Either that or the hydro has given up the golst and you are looking at an expensive repair I would jack up the rear wheels and try to spin the tires with the engine off. Then while it is still jacked up, start and put it into rabbit range, and with your hand push the pedal forward. The tires should start to spin. If it isn't a brake issue then it is a hydro issue. That tractor has very little in the way of safety issues. Also, check the hydro fluid, and see if the loader will go up and down. My guess is that it is something simple. Just figuring out what that simple item is going to be is the difficult part. Also, check to make sure that the rims are not spinning inside of the tires. I had that happen once when the tire pressure was low and the beet juice lubricated the tire rims and allowed them to spin, but the tires remained planted on the ground. The easy solution was to put some pressure in the tires. I eventually took the tires off and laid them down and using an old-fashioned tire bead breaker I broke the bead and sanded the powder coat on the inside edge of the rim. Inflated the tire and no more problems. I never had to do the inside of the inside of the rim.
OP has a BX23D. not S.

I recall being able to move the BX23D when seat was raised in backhoe position (with a stick or by leaning over the seat) but you could only do it slowly. If you tried to mash the pedal, it would stall and kill the engine.

agree with your post Dusty, that symptoms sound like locked park brake too or I once had a rock jammed between the front hub and wheel that did the same thing.

Just put it in neutral and see if the machine will roll.
 
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dirtydeed

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Equipment
B2650 BH77, U27-4R2, BX23TLBM, box blade, rear blade, flail mower, Stump Grinder
Dec 8, 2017
3,023
3,681
113
Wind Gap, PA
It just has a jumper wire between two terminals. What's that white lever for? Mine doesn't have that. Mine is a 23D.
different tractor.
clamp the switch down on yours fully (maybe ziptie it) and see if it works then
 
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jaxs

Well-known member

Equipment
B1750HST
Jun 22, 2023
735
525
93
Texas
Comeing up on two months since your question on where to get a wsm was answered.
Do you have wsm in hand?
Do you understand wiring digrams in the manual?
Assuming yes,yes and yes here's what I recommend. One possability according to symptom is safty switch shutting fuel off. Disable/dis-connect electric control at fuel shut off and use manual control knob if so equipped to eliminate fuel control being problem or control fuel until electrical bugs have been found and corrected. Put tape on wire end if needed to prevent it shorting to ground while disconnected. IF THE VALVE HAS NO provision for MANUAL CONTROL, Temporarily install a toggle switch to control the valve or simply use your fingers to move lever when starting and stopping engine. Now you can use your tractor while tracking electrical gremlins down at your leisure. If you don't understand don't hesitate to say so, none of us understood when starting out and we don't know what you do or do not understand. Several here can walk you through manually controlling fuel and/or using multimeter. In case you haven't realized it there's also a few that will tell you to drain the fuel if headlamps go out. 🤪
 
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DustyRusty

Well-known member

Equipment
2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
6,237
4,816
113
North East CT
OP has a BX23D. not S.

I recall being able to move the BX23D when seat was raised in backhoe position (with a stick or by leaning over the seat) but you could only do it slowly. If you tried to mash the pedal, it would stall and kill the engine.

agree with your post Dusty, that symptoms sound like locked park brake too or I once had a rock jammed between the front hub and wheel that did the same thing.

Just put it in neutral and see if the machine will roll.
I know that there is a world of difference between a BX23S and a BX23 or as some people care to call it, a BX23D. On the hood of the tractor it was clearly labeled BX23, and there was no "D" anywhere to be found except possibly on the tractor identification label along with the VIN, or what is also known as Vehicle Identification Number. It was only after the BX23S model came out that people started referring to the older tractor as a BX23D. I hope that this clarifies some of the misconceptions between the BX23(D) and the BX23S, which is clearly identified on the hood of the tractor as being a BX23S
 

kinghd

New member

Equipment
BX23
Oct 7, 2023
15
0
1
Pennsylvania
Comeing up on two months since your question on where to get a wsm was answered.
Do you have wsm in hand?
Do you understand wiring digrams in the manual?
Assuming yes,yes and yes here's what I recommend. One possability according to symptom is safty switch shutting fuel off. Disable/dis-connect electric control at fuel shut off and use manual control knob if so equipped to eliminate fuel control being problem or control fuel until electrical bugs have been found and corrected. Put tape on wire end if needed to prevent it shorting to ground while disconnected. IF THE VALVE HAS NO provision for MANUAL CONTROL, Temporarily install a toggle switch to control the valve or simply use your fingers to move lever when starting and stopping engine. Now you can use your tractor while tracking electrical gremlins down at your leisure. If you don't understand don't hesitate to say so, none of us understood when starting out and we don't know what you do or do not understand. Several here can walk you through manually controlling fuel and/or using multimeter. In case you haven't realized it there's also a few that will tell you to drain the fuel if headlamps go out. 🤪
I did get a WSM service manual but for a BX22MLB which I thought was the same and found there are differences. One being some electrical parts and the wiring diagram in the manual isn't very good, in my opinion. I will read through all your suggestions and try them till i fix this thing. I've worked on vehicles most of my life, I'm 73, but never a backhoe so at my age I'm learning something new. Plus, with my geriatric brain I have to think a little harder, lol. Thanks for the info and by the way, my headlights are still working!!! LOL
 

kinghd

New member

Equipment
BX23
Oct 7, 2023
15
0
1
Pennsylvania
I know that there is a world of difference between a BX23S and a BX23 or as some people care to call it, a BX23D. On the hood of the tractor it was clearly labeled BX23, and there was no "D" anywhere to be found except possibly on the tractor identification label along with the VIN, or what is also known as Vehicle Identification Number. It was only after the BX23S model came out that people started referring to the older tractor as a BX23D. I hope that this clarifies some of the misconceptions between the BX23(D) and the BX23S, which is clearly identified on the hood of the tractor as being a BX23S
All the decals are worn off the hood, this thing sat outside most of it's life, but the VIN tag has BX23MLB on it. I couldn't find a service manual for that online so I went with a BX22MLB manual but there are differences in the two.
 

Grandad4

Active member

Equipment
1949 Farmall M, previously owned: L 4610, BX 2230
Apr 5, 2016
326
80
28
Greensboro, NC
All the decals are worn off the hood, this thing sat outside most of it's life, but the VIN tag has BX23MLB on it. I couldn't find a service manual for that online so I went with a BX22MLB manual but there are differences in the two.
I think the BX22 shop manual should be pretty good for what you are doing. I bought a BX2230 in 2005 - it was the non-backhoe version of the BX23. Totally trouble-free for 12 years until I sold it.

There were very few differences from the previous BX22/BX2200 models. The loader control location and the seat safety switch were the only differences I can recall.

Good luck getting your BX back in working condition. Those were great little tractors.
 
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whitetiger

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Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
Nov 20, 2011
2,923
1,385
113
Kansas City, KS
I couldn't find a service manual for that online so I went with a BX22MLB manual but there are differences in the two.
There are quite a few differences between the BX22 and the BX23 units. Check your Private Messages.
 
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Nlockwood1993

New member

Equipment
2003 BX23 MLB
Dec 1, 2023
1
3
3
Indiana
I did get a WSM service manual but for a BX22MLB which I thought was the same and found there are differences. One being some electrical parts and the wiring diagram in the manual isn't very good, in my opinion. I will read through all your suggestions and try them till i fix this thing. I've worked on vehicles most of my life, I'm 73, but never a backhoe so at my age I'm learning something new. Plus, with my geriatric brain I have to think a little harder, lol. Thanks for the info and by the way, my headlights are still working!!! LOL
Do you need an actual digital copy of the BX23 WSM with the BT-600 and LA-210-1 Loader. I have scanned mine in and I recently sent it to Kubotabooks.com so hopefully it will be published for free download there soon. Let me know!
 
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jaxs

Well-known member

Equipment
B1750HST
Jun 22, 2023
735
525
93
Texas
Do you need an actual digital copy of the BX23 WSM with the BT-600 and LA-210-1 Loader. I have scanned mine in and I recently sent it to Kubotabooks.com so hopefully it will be published for free download there soon. Let me know!
Atta boy Woody. That manual will likely help op big time,not to mention others down the line.
 

kinghd

New member

Equipment
BX23
Oct 7, 2023
15
0
1
Pennsylvania
Do you need an actual digital copy of the BX23 WSM with the BT-600 and LA-210-1 Loader. I have scanned mine in and I recently sent it to Kubotabooks.com so hopefully it will be published for free download there soon. Let me know!
I would really appreciate a copy. I thought whitetiger was going to send one to me but I haven't received it yet. I'm slowly figuring things out but it's always good to get more help.
 

kinghd

New member

Equipment
BX23
Oct 7, 2023
15
0
1
Pennsylvania
Do you need an actual digital copy of the BX23 WSM with the BT-600 and LA-210-1 Loader. I have scanned mine in and I recently sent it to Kubotabooks.com so hopefully it will be published for free download there soon. Let me know!
I just downloaded it from kubotabooks. Thanks