Anyone have a BXPanded FEL Dolly?

[js312]

I have a BX1880 with the FEL and 48" MMM. I've been using the FEL quite a bit since I got it, but I'm wrapping up some projects and we're getting up on mowing season so I don't think I'll need the FEL for a while. I removed and reinstalled it once just to try it and I think with practice that'll become pretty quick and easy. I could, theoretically, remove it every time I mow and put it back on to park it.

I saw the BXPanded FEL Dolly and thought that might be convenient because I could roll the FEL so it's sideways in the back of the garage and it'll be out of the way when it isn't used. The price isn't bad either.

Anyone have one and have any feedback? I notice the reviews say it makes it easier to remove and reinstall. But, I saw one video of a guy with one and it looked like he struggled a lot more than I did removing mine without a dolly. Can anyone explain why it should make it easier if they have one and think it does?

I'm loving my little BX1880 so far - it's saved me a lot of time already with only about 7 hours on it.

 

[WhatnxtBX]

I made my own dolly however, for me it makes it easier to line everything up before reinstalling. Otherwise, you need to move the tractor. With a dolly, you just move it. Great for storage in the garage.

 

[GreX]

I have one and love it! Highly recommend, it stopped me from tearing up the driveway, or continuing to struggle taking it off weekly for mowing duties, and it not being just right on level ground, and causing all sorts of damage to the ground/tractor/loader...

If you have a piece of level (actually level) ground that you don't mind the stands tearing into, then I'd say skip the dolly, but I have a well maintained paved driveway that I tore up several times with the stands, and have since had repaved.

 

[js312]

I have one and love it! Highly recommend, it stopped me from tearing up the driveway, or continuing to struggle taking it off weekly for mowing duties, and it not being just right on level ground, and causing all sorts of damage to the ground/tractor/loader...

If you have a piece of level (actually level) ground that you don't mind the stands tearing into, then I'd say skip the dolly, but I have a well maintained paved driveway that I tore up several times with the stands, and have since had repaved.

I took mine off in the garage once just to prove I could do it and it didn't seem to cause any damage to the concrete. The driveway's concrete too, so I suppose I have either option.

Do you run into any issues taking it off on the stand as opposed to a lower normal flat surface?

My hope with the dolly is it'll let me roll the FEL around the garage to a spot in the corner where it's out of the way. I couldn't take it off in that spot normally because it's tucked between things where the tractor won't fit. But that way, I could just leave it out of the way unless I actually need it.

 

[Mrlunchbox]

I bought one last year and finally got around to assembling it and using it. Freaking awesome. Highly recommended. And thankfully it's pretty short money.

 

[GreX]

I took mine off in the garage once just to prove I could do it and it didn't seem to cause any damage to the concrete. The driveway's concrete too, so I suppose I have either option.

Do you run into any issues taking it off on the stand as opposed to a lower normal flat surface?

My hope with the dolly is it'll let me roll the FEL around the garage to a spot in the corner where it's out of the way. I couldn't take it off in that spot normally because it's tucked between things where the tractor won't fit. But that way, I could just leave it out of the way unless I actually need it.

I'd say it's actually easier to take off with the stand than it was on flat ground, unless you don't align the dolly correctly, then it's a bit of a crap show.

As for being able to move the FEL around, I can easily wheel it around into the garage, back out, etc, with ease, and I'm a cyclist, so I have no upper body strength (if that's added piece of mind).

 

[js312]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback everyone! Seeing that I'm not hearing anything negative and it'll do what I want it for, I think I'll order one soon!

 

[js312]

I ordered one of these today. Website says 4-6 week lead time, but I'm excited to get it. I'll update with my thoughts when it arrives.

 

[js312]

I'll be honest - I'm not sure what I think of this yet.

It's well built for sure. I was able to get the loader off of the machine and onto the dolly pretty quickly. It fits it well and does make it easy to maneuver.

However - I had an absolutely awful time getting the loader back on. Without the dolly, I have it down to about 2 minutes. With the dolly, it's like I'm learning all over again.

My machine can be challenging to get the left side of the loader to hook in (from what I read from others, this is pretty typical, but is usually the right side), but I've figured out I can just apply a tiny bit of prying pressure in the right direction and it'll drop in properly so it isn't an obstacle at this point. This was not working with the dolly - every move was putting me into a worse position. I ended up jacking the bucket up and pulling the dolly out in order to get the loader back onto the machine. As soon as I did that, I had the loader on in 10 seconds.

I'm trying to follow the directions, because the suggestions are a little different from without the dolly - but they're baffling. They seem to use curl and uncurl in opposite ways in different steps, making them very confusing - for example "fully curl the bucket", "lower the stand", "don't uncurl the bucket".

Anyone want to take a video of their process on a BX80? I feel like I'm missing something obvious. I've only found two - the BXpanded video, which is difficult to see and is for a different loader, and some guy on YouTube where I was cringing because he struggled even more than I did.

 

[GreX]

I'll be honest - I'm not sure what I think of this yet.

It's well built for sure. I was able to get the loader off of the machine and onto the dolly pretty quickly. It fits it well and does make it easy to maneuver.

However - I had an absolutely awful time getting the loader back on. Without the dolly, I have it down to about 2 minutes. With the dolly, it's like I'm learning all over again.

My machine can be challenging to get the left side of the loader to hook in (from what I read from others, this is pretty typical, but is usually the right side), but I've figured out I can just apply a tiny bit of prying pressure in the right direction and it'll drop in properly so it isn't an obstacle at this point. This was not working with the dolly - every move was putting me into a worse position. I ended up jacking the bucket up and pulling the dolly out in order to get the loader back onto the machine. As soon as I did that, I had the loader on in 10 seconds.

I'm trying to follow the directions, because the suggestions are a little different from without the dolly - but they're baffling. They seem to use curl and uncurl in opposite ways in different steps, making them very confusing - for example "fully curl the bucket", "lower the stand", "don't uncurl the bucket".

Anyone want to take a video of their process on a BX80? I feel like I'm missing something obvious. I've only found two - the BXpanded video, which is difficult to see and is for a different loader, and some guy on YouTube where I was cringing because he struggled even more than I did.

Bummer.. If I end up putting the loader back on anytime soon, I'll try to snap a video - I don't own any actual camera equipment and I've yet to teach my pup how to hold my phone for video taking, so even if I get a video, it may not be what you're looking for. That said I'm hoping I don't need the bucket/loader again until winter comes, so it may be a while, or maybe I'll get bored one of these weekends. Hopefully someone can get you what you need before I do.

Cheers,
Greg

 

[addisonjerry79]

I have a BX1880 with the FEL and 48" MMM. I've been using the FEL quite a bit since I got it, but I'm wrapping up some projects and we're getting up on mowing season so I don't think I'll need the FEL for a while. I removed and reinstalled it once just to try it and I think with practice that'll become pretty quick and easy. I could, theoretically, remove it every time I mow and put it back on to park it.

I saw the BXPanded FEL Dolly and thought that might be convenient because I could roll the FEL so it's sideways in the back of the garage and it'll be out of the way when it isn't used. The price isn't bad either.

Anyone have one and have any feedback? I notice the reviews say it makes it easier to remove and reinstall. But, I saw one video of a guy with one and it looked like he struggled a lot more than I did removing mine without a dolly. Can anyone explain why it should make it easier if they have one and think it does reiki training ?

I'm loving my little BX1880 so far - it's saved me a lot of time already with only about 7 hours on it.

Yes i see this

 

[Bearcatrp]

This looks interesting. I have yet to remove my FEL since buying my 1880 3 years ago. You folks who do remove your FEL have any issues of leaking fluid? Have read past posts about leaking after putting it back on.

 

[Tractor Gal]

For use with my 2004 BX23D, I have both dollies from Bxpanded...backhoe and FEL. I've yet to "master" the art required for either of them. I had taken the FEL off once without the dolly but I didn't move the tractor much. I just wanted to see how it worked. Getting it back on, therefore, at that time was not a problem.

The backhoe dolly would be a must for me and I am able to remove the BH and re-attach without too much fuss but it is a job, let's say. The FEL was another story. I was able to get it off with no problem and I would've left it off for the summer but I needed to use the tiller so the FEL was required for ballast. Getting that sucker back on was a regular fiasco. The arms wouldn't fit evenly despite the up and back to get them aligned. Because only two of the wheels revolve along with the hoses being attached, there's not enough room to give it a real turn. Then, somehow, I managed to "nudge" the FEL the wrong way and it was nearly off the dolly! Still can't fully figure that one. Anyway, I had to get a floor jack to lift one side of the FEL that was teetering off back up and that action allowed the arms to fit so that I could "uncurl" and it aligned enough to get the pins back in. As I sat there, I'm sure I said, I don't think I'll be doing this again anytime soon.

Overall, I think both of the dollies are great. It's my long learning curve that makes it harder. These implements are heavy and apparently I am a ditz, so that's a bad combo. Frequent practice will make it easier but, like piano lessons as a kid, I would rather be doing other things!

Tractor Gal

 

[Bee-Positive]

This looks interesting. I have yet to remove my FEL since buying my 1880 3 years ago. You folks who do remove your FEL have any issues of leaking fluid? Have read past posts about leaking after putting it back on.

My BX is about the same age as yours. I've read there were issues initially with leaking connections but I haven't seen that lately. Maybe Kubota figured it out after too many warranty claims.

I've removed and installed my FEL repeatedly, sometimes a couple times per day, never had any leakage. I do always make sure the connections are dirt and grass free before hooking up the quick connect and always use the caps to cover them when the FEL is not on.

I do not use a dolly so I can't comment there. I have gravel driveway, fairly level where I keep the FEL, and have little to no issues mounting and dismounting the FEL. If done correctly the stand does not dig in.

Worse time I ever had was when one of the back tires was low on air. I didn't notice until I had tried for about 15 minutes to do what should taken less than 2 and walked away in frustration, walking back I noticed the tire. Filled the tire and bam, the FEL hooked right up.