BX decks--external width?

[JackJ]

I'm on the fence between purchasing the BX1870 and BX2370. One of the factors is price, but another is deck width. I'm thinking the 48" deck, which is only offered on the 1870/ will work best for me since I have tight spaces, both in my garage and between sections of my property. I've been happy with a 42" deck on my lawn tractor in the past.

But the added horsepower of the 2370 is tempting if I can live with the 54" deck. (Asked my dealer if the 48" deck could go on the 2370--they called Kubota and heard back: Nope. Could probably be made to work, but not without some modification.)

Can anyone tell me the outside width of the 48" and 54" decks, ideally with the deflectors up and down? Also, if mowing with a mulch plug in place, is there any reason (safety or otherwise) that the deflector cannot or should not be removed? Searches turned up nothing on the smaller deck, and a guess of about 67", deflector down, on the larger.

Thanks! Just sold my lawn mower today, so I'm committed to an upgrade!

 

[RonBoyBX25D]

If you can work the 54" I would say go for it, the extra width makes it easier to trim around trees/obstacles in the yard. I bungee the deflector up in a couple areas, when down you get a little more controlled exit from the mower & still finding rocks in the yard so keeps me down a bit.

Good luck & I love my BX25, same as the 2370 but have the factory backhoe.

 

[Dr Honda]

A few thoughts.....

1) With diesel engines... HP isn't the entire story. Heck... it's not even the REAL story. Diesels are torque engines... and I have no idea why they even talk HP. (other than the general population thinks it's something that can actually be measures, and it's been a Bain on society since James Watt invented it as propaganda to famers in the 1800's. LOL) Unless you plan on turning a lot of PTO tools... then spending the $$$ on the next bigger tractor will be wasted $$$. If you are doing large fields, and you know you will be using a tiller, or flail/rough mower... then ok. (maybe)

2) as above... Guys say the bigger decks mow around bushes better... but I disagree. The 48" deck gets right to the edge of my trees and bushes. AND... like you... I needed my deck to be small so I could get into tight spots, park it more comfortably in my garage, and to fit on a trailer I already owned.


To me... once I decided on a BX... there wasn't even a question on what one to buy. For me... that was the BX1870. The extra +$2000 for the next step up was silly. The tractor was slightly bigger... it was heavier... and I didn't need the extra features. (cruise control, arm rests, and so on) The only reason I would have looked at the bigger BX, is if I needed the backhoe. Then I would have skipped the ones in the middle, and gone to the BX25D.


If your primary goal is to mow... then get the BX1870, and save the $$$. Heck... I got my BX1870 with a 48" standard deck, and a FEL for less than the base BX2370. (with nothing on it)


That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[JackJ]

If your primary goal is to mow... then get the BX1870, and save the $$$. Heck... I got my BX1870 with a 48" standard deck, and a FEL for less than the base BX2370. (with nothing on it)

Thanks Dr. H.--appreciate your input here, and it does help me feel better about the dreaded potential "buyer's remorse" of wishing I'd gone up a model. I'm not seeing that big a price difference, though. Barlow's had them just $1140 apart with FELs and decks. And the size/weight difference is pretty close, the major issue there being the smaller rear tires on the 18.

I agree that the added hp probably matters most at the PTO, but it's a 30% increase. I won't use it that often, but do want to occasionally run a bush hog, post hole digger, and maybe a chipper/shredder. The first two I can borrow from a friend, fortunately. I don't need the extra hp for how I see using it initially, but can envision it being an issue later on, maybe.

The seat upgrade seems pretty nice, though I doubt whether I'd miss having it. Same with cruise. Still on the fence here, since the value of the upgrades seems in line with the cost, from my perspective.

Would you be able to take measurements on your 48" deck for me, deflector up and down? Also, do you run a mulch plug, and if yes, do you feel it's safe to remove the deflector?

 

[stutrac]

A few thoughts.....

1) With diesel engines... HP isn't the entire story. Heck... it's not even the REAL story. Diesels are torque engines... and I have no idea why they even talk HP. (other than the general population thinks it's something that can actually be measures, and it's been a Bain on society since James Watt invented it as propaganda to famers in the 1800's. LOL) Unless you plan on turning a lot of PTO tools... then spending the $$$ on the next bigger tractor will be wasted $$$. If you are doing large fields, and you know you will be using a tiller, or flail/rough mower... then ok. (maybe)

2) as above... Guys say the bigger decks mow around bushes better... but I disagree. The 48" deck gets right to the edge of my trees and bushes. AND... like you... I needed my deck to be small so I could get into tight spots, park it more comfortably in my garage, and to fit on a trailer I already owned.


To me... once I decided on a BX... there wasn't even a question on what one to buy. For me... that was the BX1870. The extra +$2000 for the next step up was silly. The tractor was slightly bigger... it was heavier... and I didn't need the extra features. (cruise control, arm rests, and so on) The only reason I would have looked at the bigger BX, is if I needed the backhoe. Then I would have skipped the ones in the middle, and gone to the BX25D.


If your primary goal is to mow... then get the BX1870, and save the $$$. Heck... I got my BX1870 with a 48" standard deck, and a FEL for less than the base BX2370. (with nothing on it)


That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I totally agree above that is why i bought a BX1870 i have the same setup

 

[trapperdrew]

I was going to be buying the 1870.. then I went and tried them out a few times... I decided that the 2370 is what I would take to make me feel better about the "just in case" for the power. And I liked the seat. The price difference was not really that big. I had to get the 54 inch deck as my workshop door is only 58 inches wide. Lol I've no regrets with it.