BX 1880 VS Gr2120
- Thread starter William1
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Shawn, how comfortable is the treadle operation on your L? I'm just thinking ankle pivoting Vs stepping on. I can see mowing for three hours, it getting tiresome holding bent foot.I'm still confused ...
This is what I call a "treadle PEDAL" ... From my manual.
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I only use the toe of my foot to operate it, top -down for forward, underside - up to back up ... I don't back up much!
I just went out to the barn to take this picture of my L5030, is your BX like this? (Brake pedals at the top)
View attachment 166579
This is my Massey Ferguson, the rubber pads kept slipping off, so I screwed them on, give better traction when muddy too!
View attachment 166580
I prefer the side by side style better, but may be just that's what I started on, and have 735 hours on it, (and what I have the loader/forks on!) and only 20 hours on the Kubota, and most of that time is with the cruise control on!
To be honest, I really don't like it! But honestly I don't really like change either! As a long distance truck driver I'm use to using the ball of my foot to operate the pedals, using the heal is so unusual for me, I think I probably could get use to the setup that @Sawdust&Shavings shows, than mine ...
But since I mow for 4+ hours, and it's mostly all wide open, I just use the cruise control!
Mine is similar to the GR, but not as much of an angle ... Looking at floor level. ..
But since I mow for 4+ hours, and it's mostly all wide open, I just use the cruise control!
Mine is similar to the GR, but not as much of an angle ... Looking at floor level. ..
Yeah, yours is more 'two pedal like' (front and back) where the GR is a bit more vertical. I'm sure if I got the GR and did not like the angle, I could change it but, I'd prefer to have it right from day one.
Cruise control would get me driving into my pond!
A side question to anyone with facts and figure ( like @ North Idaho Wolfman ) Does anyone know what the turning radius or circumference or !!! of my BX25D is and what a BX1880 is? Need to get a maneuverability question answered. The GR does turn awesomely but a BX1880 is more functional. Trade-offs.
Already prepared to have to install wider gates on my back yard (60" now, might need 84" to minimize driver error). At least wider gates will let me 'drive' my lawn aerator through without having to take the four, 100 pound blocks off, pick up the tool (72" wide) and re-assemble on the other side. Getting to old for this sh......t
Snowing now here.....
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If you go fast enough, the gate widens automatically.
Ok, seriously, it is too narrow, you have to widen it irrespectively of your purchasing decision.
Yup, 'fortunately' a post at two of the three gates are already due for replacement.If you go fast enough, the gate widens automatically.
Ok, seriously, it is too narrow, you have to widen it irrespectively of your purchasing decision.
If I work more hours, I can buy a better suit and get paid more money for a better job where I can work more hours to buy the company so I can work more hours....
Well, I was thinking about the 72" wide part that, I assume, you had to take off a few times already.
All the time accumulated probably adds up to more than it would have taken to widen the gate the first place.
Been there, done that myself, too often
All the time accumulated probably adds up to more than it would have taken to widen the gate the first place.
Been there, done that myself, too often
Dealer gave me width measurements of the GR with the Blower and the BX1880 with the side chute/hose... Almost 20" hanging off of one side. Is this accurate?
BTW, both have stamped and not built up decks.
Widths
BTW, both have stamped and not built up decks.
Widths
- BX1880 w/ powered grass catcher on a 48” deck – 60”
- GR2120 w/ powered grass catcher on a 48” deck – 69.5”
I would say thats accurate, the BX has the blower mounted to the bag assembly on the rear and is driven off the rear PTO, the GR is driven off of the mower deck and hanging off the side.
If you mow without the bagger, I think you have to relevel the deck when swapping from the bagger to conventional mower and back.
I use a BX2350 and an agrifab lawn sweeper, it works well but I would really like the Kubota bagger, they pop up on marketplace now and again and I will probably end up with one eventually.
I use my BX for snow removal as well, if I was only mowing, I think I would be leaning more toward the GR, its steering radius probably the smallest of any conventional garden tractor that is not 4 wheel steer. I see some people saying lack of difflock is a knock against the GR, but the GR has a rather unique transmission. It does not have an open differential, it is locked all the time, and the steering linkage has control arms that pull a clutch which disengages the inner wheel on a turn. It kind of makes the front axle pull the tractor around tight turns. When driving straight, the rear diff is "locked". When I test drove one, I felt like the GR was more nimble than the BX.
Very helpful.
See, I have a BX already, but I'd 'like' a 90% dedicated mower that 10% of the time, has use else where.
I suppose... I could force my lame brain to be careful of the blower and instead, make great use of its' nimbleness.
Your explanation of how the GR trans works is sort of what I thought. The dealer was unable to clearly explain it. I thought it braked instead of operated a clutch system. I will say, it was seamless.
There are two trees (well one anyways) that will need to come down as the gap is small but, I can do that easy enough.
Oh jeez!
I've accepted the reality of, any new machine, the gates are going to be widened. OK, well the wife wants the fence expanded and two of the gates, the hinged post is rotting and the current gates are sagging, so financially, it is moot.
To be fair, I went to the local John Deere Dealer - Hate me now.
They have a very wide selection of garden tractors, even a rear discharge. Think I want a X754. Diesel (Yanmar) 24 hp, 2WD (with locking diff) four wheel power steering, hydraulic mower deck lift, power beyond, All drive shaft (engine to trans, trans to mower) and 3 pt. 6" turning radius. Even the fuel cap is not encumbered by the bagger hose. Might get the suspended seat.
I've accepted the reality of, any new machine, the gates are going to be widened. OK, well the wife wants the fence expanded and two of the gates, the hinged post is rotting and the current gates are sagging, so financially, it is moot.
To be fair, I went to the local John Deere Dealer - Hate me now.
They have a very wide selection of garden tractors, even a rear discharge. Think I want a X754. Diesel (Yanmar) 24 hp, 2WD (with locking diff) four wheel power steering, hydraulic mower deck lift, power beyond, All drive shaft (engine to trans, trans to mower) and 3 pt. 6" turning radius. Even the fuel cap is not encumbered by the bagger hose. Might get the suspended seat.
The deere x-series doesn't really compare to anything Kubota makes, it has all of the best features from the BX and the GR. It really fills a spot directly between the 2. I have owned alot of Deere product in my life and the X-series has been the Cadillac of garden tractors for a long time. It would be cool if Kubota made a comparable machine.
My father in law owned a deere 425 all wheel steer, I really didn't care for it. I would suggest test driving that and the X750 and if you don't feel you need the maneuverability of the all wheel steer I would pass. I found staying in a straight line with all wheel steer to be annoyingly difficult.
Keep in mind you pay extra for the 3 point hitch and rear PTO on those machines.
My father in law owned a deere 425 all wheel steer, I really didn't care for it. I would suggest test driving that and the X750 and if you don't feel you need the maneuverability of the all wheel steer I would pass. I found staying in a straight line with all wheel steer to be annoyingly difficult.
Keep in mind you pay extra for the 3 point hitch and rear PTO on those machines.
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
you will regret not getting 4 wheel drive. I looked at cub cadet that has the locking rear end when my older cadet was dying. Trust me, 4 wheel drive is where it’s at. My 1880 has the locking rear end option. Tried it once. Nope. Put it in 4 wheel drive and moved without slipping like it did with just the rear end locked. Your money, your choice. Good luck and let us know how that JD works out for you.
I'd focus on features then colour. If the X has the features you want, then buy it. You already have a BX, it still seems weird to me to have two near identical machines, at least with an X you have a machine that does something different from what you already own.
It's the wrong colour, but nothing a can of spray paint couldn't fix. The Yanmar diesels are great, I've heard fewer good things about the build quality of the machine itself. I think JD outsource the build of most of their smaller machines. It's basically brand engineering - slapping a JD sticker on a machine made by someone else, and charging a premium. But I gather they do stand behind them, and the parts are reasonably available. It's not like Massey where they seem to chop and change who's making them over time - JD seem to have long term supplier arrangements.
It's the wrong colour, but nothing a can of spray paint couldn't fix. The Yanmar diesels are great, I've heard fewer good things about the build quality of the machine itself. I think JD outsource the build of most of their smaller machines. It's basically brand engineering - slapping a JD sticker on a machine made by someone else, and charging a premium. But I gather they do stand behind them, and the parts are reasonably available. It's not like Massey where they seem to chop and change who's making them over time - JD seem to have long term supplier arrangements.
That rumor was started when John deere bought a Murray plant to build their smaller riding mowers. People sort of assumed they were just rebadged murrays. John deere builds their bigger garden tractors in Horicon Wisconsin at the same plant where they built their very first 110 garden tractor in 1963. All deere lawn and garden tractors are built by deere in plants they own, even the 100 series they sell at the big box stores.
Old garden tractor was an open diff. Got stuck once a year where i'd stick a plank under a wheel freed me, when I got stuck, I knew I was risking it. A locking diff will make all the difference.
Four wheel steering is a major plus. Both Kubota and JD covering this. Honestly, everything on the Kubota, design wise, came across as an after thought (except the seat-it is exceptonal). The JD has the four wheel steering, rear and center pto, 3pt, Hydraulic ports and a much better operator station. Even the fuel filter, it has a shut off and easy to access and replace element. Kubota fuel filling cap is under the bagger hose on the right, the JD on the opposite side.
JD Yanmar engine is 24 hp, even more than the BX. My old Craftsman was 23 hp and never was over loaded.
JD machine is made at the main US plant .
I saw the two Kubota machines, test drove, wanted to stay with Kubota but I was not thrilled by what I saw. The JD, I was ready to order.
Nothing like what you see at Lowes/HD. JD dealer does not sell those JD machines.
I admit, I already have a JD item, a hand cart, green with yellow hub foam filled tires.....
I am sure the all wheel steering 'wandering' is largely due to fine setup of the wheel alignment. Even my Craftsman had a terrible wandering issue (1/4 turn of the steering wheel either direction did nothing. ....wooblewooble) that I resolved by replacing all the crappy plastic bushing in the steering selector with ball bearings.
Four wheel steering is a major plus. Both Kubota and JD covering this. Honestly, everything on the Kubota, design wise, came across as an after thought (except the seat-it is exceptonal). The JD has the four wheel steering, rear and center pto, 3pt, Hydraulic ports and a much better operator station. Even the fuel filter, it has a shut off and easy to access and replace element. Kubota fuel filling cap is under the bagger hose on the right, the JD on the opposite side.
JD Yanmar engine is 24 hp, even more than the BX. My old Craftsman was 23 hp and never was over loaded.
JD machine is made at the main US plant .
I saw the two Kubota machines, test drove, wanted to stay with Kubota but I was not thrilled by what I saw. The JD, I was ready to order.
Nothing like what you see at Lowes/HD. JD dealer does not sell those JD machines.
I admit, I already have a JD item, a hand cart, green with yellow hub foam filled tires.....
I am sure the all wheel steering 'wandering' is largely due to fine setup of the wheel alignment. Even my Craftsman had a terrible wandering issue (1/4 turn of the steering wheel either direction did nothing. ....wooblewooble) that I resolved by replacing all the crappy plastic bushing in the steering selector with ball bearings.
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2011 BX 25LB-R (dirt work, snow, and brush hogging) & 2013 BX 2370 (mowing lawn)
William1, go take another look at post #27 in this thread.
You need to buy what works for you, with your situation at your property.
Prior to acquiring my second Kubota BX machine, I ran several John Deere X 700 series machines.
I picked up a used X 700 first. This unit had a carburetor, gasoline fueled.
It was really purchased for testing the concept of one machine for my two properties.
It was a great machine for mowing lawn, other than fuel consumption.
Then I traded the X 700 for a X 720 with electronic fuel injection, gasoline fueled.
The X 720 was significantly better with gasoline consumption compared to the X 700.
The John Deere X 700 series machines are really nice tractors. I had zero major problems with mine.
If I could have found a nice used/low hours JD X 740 or X 750, (both are two wheel drive, diesel)
I likely never would have replaced the JD X720 with the second Kubota BX.
After using my second BX for the 2025 mowing season, (96 hours in total for my two properties)
I find that at my recreational property, the BX is a better machine for that piece of property,
and at my home, the BX is a bit large/bulky and the X 720 was a better fit for the lawn at home.
In the end, the BX diesel and it's fuel efficiency compared to the JD X 720, was the deciding factor.
You need to buy what works for you, with your situation at your property.
Prior to acquiring my second Kubota BX machine, I ran several John Deere X 700 series machines.
I picked up a used X 700 first. This unit had a carburetor, gasoline fueled.
It was really purchased for testing the concept of one machine for my two properties.
It was a great machine for mowing lawn, other than fuel consumption.
Then I traded the X 700 for a X 720 with electronic fuel injection, gasoline fueled.
The X 720 was significantly better with gasoline consumption compared to the X 700.
The John Deere X 700 series machines are really nice tractors. I had zero major problems with mine.
If I could have found a nice used/low hours JD X 740 or X 750, (both are two wheel drive, diesel)
I likely never would have replaced the JD X720 with the second Kubota BX.
After using my second BX for the 2025 mowing season, (96 hours in total for my two properties)
I find that at my recreational property, the BX is a better machine for that piece of property,
and at my home, the BX is a bit large/bulky and the X 720 was a better fit for the lawn at home.
In the end, the BX diesel and it's fuel efficiency compared to the JD X 720, was the deciding factor.
Thanks!
Your experience is sort of what I figured. I appreciate the real world experience. It helps me bite the bullet some.
I doubt a BX1880 is any more maneuverable than my BX25D, probably the same. New mower kind of has to be smaller than a BX, diesel and probably 4 wheel steering to make it get me in the tight spots. The GR does this but....
99.9% sure I'll be getting a JD X754 with a 3pt and rear pto. Very pricey but will be the last garden tractor I buy. The hydraulics, 3 pt and rear pto means it could if needed do more than just mow. Plus, method of operation is more comfortable/natural and the JD is a more 'finished' machine over the Kubota GR.
The JD 'Power Bagger' is like that of the GR but, it appears the expensive part is out of the way. I'd prefer the BX rear pto one but... only the BX has that. All of the BX, GR and JD will be wide. I'll have to widen fence gates. Two of the three gates need repair anyway.