My BX is too fragile

[lugbolt]

I see this kinda stuff fairly often. Honestly it's easy to do, I am guilty too-but I don't blame the tractor when bad stuff happens. Not usually anyway.

The BX is engineered pretty well for what it was designed for. It was designed to be a big lawn mower, not a dozer. It's not a "real tractor" by any means. It has a frame, like a car. Everything is stuck between those frame rails. Because it was designed to be basically a lawn mower, it doesn't have skid plates. It's loader doesn't pick up round bales. The belly mower won't bush hog 3' tall grass. The B series is similar in it's basic design, so to get a real tractor, you'd have to step into an L series. Just look at how the tractor's built. If it has frame rails, like a truck does, then it's just a big mower that just happens to have a loader and a 3 point hitch.

Similar to needing to loosen a 1" nut. Your tool box has a 1" wrench, but it's in a bottom drawer, and right there in plain sight is a 12" crescent and it'll fit. But it's still not the right tool for the job, and honestly, using the wrong tool leads to headaches or worse.

When I said I have experience in this area, I bought a MF 1140 tractor. Neighbor guy wanted to clear some of his back lot off so we cut the trees and I tried to skid the trees out with my little 30hp tractor. A clutch later ($1500) and 1 rear tire, 1 front tire, getting stuck often, then pulled out, I told him I'm done. At first I blamed the tractor for being a poor design, and it kinda is in a way, for what I was using it for, but I was asking it to be a log skidder and that is not what it is. He called in a logging guy with a skidder and feller-buncher and had it done in a couple hours, and they paid him for the timber. All I had to do was bush hog.

 

[dandeman]

Trade offs that's what is involved.. No two objects (or should I say functionality) can occupy the same limited space..

Post an example of a tractor that is the size of the Kubota tractor in question (mid center height off the ground), mid PTO equipped in addition to rear PTO, 4 wheel drive, and some how manages to have extensive skid plating and still has room left for mid mount mower/implements... a lot of stuff to fit in the under belly area.

Speaking from having used my larger (and much higher off the ground mid belly) Ford tractor, with add-on full height radiator protective steel and add-on steel plating to protect the oil pan, and heavy duty bushhog... there came the time to get the hired bulldozer in to clear heavily forested land for our 500' driveway, house and yard area....

Amazing how much a day's worth of heavy rough clearing a bulldozer can do.. THEN the smaller tractor can go to work...

 

[countrynerd]

Bxpanded under body solved that problem for me.


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[Boo]

Little BX - I used one for 13 years on jobs that it was too small to do. I took smaller bites and more time. There were times when that didn't even work for me. As I got older and found that I needed to admit that I am not the strong enduring guy I used to be, I upgraded to a more capable tractor.

I can't blame the tractor of the manufacturer. It's not like I didn't get to look over the item before I bought it. If there is a failure while using the machine, I chalk it up to my not yet being wise enough while using it.

I could have gone cheap - again - and still had less tractor than I need.

 

[mdhughes]

I operated a John Deere 548D log skidder for two and a half years and it even can be stopped by a "stick". You would think something that weights in at 20,000 pounds and is made to be used in the woods wouldn't succumb by a stick, but it will. There is always a place that something can get to a hose or tube that will make the machine come to a stop. And it is always when you are a mile away from your truck and spare parts.

I think we all use our tractors for things that they really aren't designed to be used for, you just have to understand that you might have to pay for doing so.

 

[L.C. Gray]

Too many tractor owners don't understand that a tractor plus a loader does not equal a bulldozer. An Ag Tractor plus a loader doesn't even equal a construction tractor. Ag and Construction machines are built completely different in that with the construction machine the loader is an integral part of the machine's chassis where with the Ag machine the loader is an add on. The Ag tractor with a loader is really intended for utility work, not moving mountains. This difference in the construction of the machines is also reflected in the price tag.

 

[OldeEnglish]

Sounds like you need a bush hog, it would make your life a hell of a lot easier. Brush cut in reverse taking a width that the tractor can handle will solve your stick/skid plate problem.

 

[RCW]

You guys all did a great job responding to the OP's issue, and I certainly can't disagree with the lack of undercarriage protection either. But with that said, there are ways around it.

Like several of you guys said, a BX is a lawnmower on steroids.

I really love mine, and can't do EVERYTHING with it. Can I do most, yes. Will a bigger tractor fix that, no, because the most important tasks (e.g., lawn mowing) are then compromised.

For what it is, I think it's pretty darn good!

 

[Valley Viking]

I think most of the responses miss the OP's point. He didn't say he wanted his BX to clear land like a D8. He pointed out that the HST fan and various wires are extremely vulnerable and should have been better protected in Kubota's design. What wrong with that? I agree with him. Yes, a bxpanded guard cured this problem on mine as I dont have the drive over mower setup. But as he noted his Buick came stock with better protective shielding. I would like to think kubota could have included the extra $20 of material to shield this area and potentially save me $500+ in repairs due to a stray stick poking up.

 

[tcrote5516]

I think most of the responses miss the OP's point. He didn't say he wanted his BX to clear land like a D8. He pointed out that the HST fan and various wires are extremely vulnerable and should have been better protected in Kubota's design. What wrong with that? I agree with him. Yes, a bxpanded guard cured this problem on mine as I dont have the drive over mower setup. But as he noted his Buick came stock with better protective shielding. I would like to think kubota could have included the extra $20 of material to shield this area and potentially save me $500+ in repairs due to a stray stick poking up.

Actually, I think your missing the point that all the other response to this 3+ page thread is pointing to. In order to keep it economical you need to draw a line somewhere. No matter where that is someone like yourself or the OP will take issue where it's drawn. Bottom line, if Kubota put the money into solving these issues for the few you would then have a new complaint, PRICE.

$20 here, $20 there and it all adds up to a more expensive machine. What they have built is a solid platform. If you take issue with one particular shortcoming for your intended use there's a nice aftermarket solution for you. I don't have a need for it so I'm glad Kubota didn't make a shield and force me to pay for it.

 

[Tooljunkie]

A swiss army knife does a lot of things, some of them not not very well.

Planning the work around the vulnerability will limit the work that can be done.
Tooth bars work wonders, tearing up brush and such, but the moment you back up, all vulnerable parts become obvious. Yamaha atv-same machine in 2 weeks punctured a coolant hose. A little tin guard would have prevented it. I built one and will never happen again.

 

[kghenson]

I think most of the responses miss the OP's point. He didn't say he wanted his BX to clear land like a D8. He pointed out that the HST fan and various wires are extremely vulnerable and should have been better protected in Kubota's design. What wrong with that? I agree with him. Yes, a bxpanded guard cured this problem on mine as I dont have the drive over mower setup. But as he noted his Buick came stock with better protective shielding. I would like to think kubota could have included the extra $20 of material to shield this area and potentially save me $500+ in repairs due to a stray stick poking up.

Well said. So a few posters understood my point and suggested possible ways to make the BX less vulnerable. I will look into them. I also noticed some poster who just use the forum to preach. Sorry no thanks. Some posters seemed to think I was clearing forest land, I am not just brush. I noticed some who seemed to take offense of any criticism of Orange...lol

But those did not confuse me as much as the posters who somehow confused the BX with a lawnmower... I went to the Kubota web page to check and sure enough Kubota sells lawn tractors and zero turn mowers. They BX isn't listed among them, but if you go to to the tractor section there you will find the BX.
See it really is a tractor. And I love mine, it is a very capable machine and does everything I had hoped it would. Having been in consruction since 1968 I was familiar with how to pick the right machine for the job and the BX with the FEL and RTR is doing an awesome job.

But it is an obvious design deficiency that several vital components have no protection.

Have a nice day.

 

[cerlawson]

kghenson: On page 2 lugbolt hit it right. It IS IN THE LAWNMOWER CLASS. Using it for much more is wishful thinking.

 

[bearskinner]

When I built my A Frame cabin and shop in Alaska, I hired a local with a very large excavator. It cost $4k for removing 45 LARGE trees, truckloads of brush, and making a 3' tall raised area for building on. My point being I could have never done that amount of work with my BX, but once the hard work is done, the BX is great for keeping it up.
Every vehicle and tool has a part that is the weak link. Find it, upgrade it, and enjoy using it. I agree, they need skidplates, get one and use it

 

[tcrote5516]

Well said. So a few posters understood my point and suggested possible ways to make the BX less vulnerable. I will look into them. I also noticed some poster who just use the forum to preach. Sorry no thanks. Some posters seemed to think I was clearing forest land, I am not just brush. I noticed some who seemed to take offense of any criticism of Orange...lol

But those did not confuse me as much as the posters who somehow confused the BX with a lawnmower... I went to the Kubota web page to check and sure enough Kubota sells lawn tractors and zero turn mowers. They BX isn't listed among them, but if you go to to the tractor section there you will find the BX.
See it really is a tractor. And I love mine, it is a very capable machine and does everything I had hoped it would. Having been in consruction since 1968 I was familiar with how to pick the right machine for the job and the BX with the FEL and RTR is doing an awesome job.

But it is an obvious design deficiency that several vital components have no protection.

Have a nice day.

They also sell excavators but you won't see a 10hp K008-3 in many in surface mining operations.

I'm glad you found ONE person to agree with you but I'm afraid your both missing the broader point. I won't bother reiterating since it's been made multiple times by multiple people.

Head JD has a good deal on financing trying to catch up to Kubota's #1 subcompact tractor sales....and their forums are supposedly more accommodating to people that vent then ignore the advise given.

 

[kghenson]

Preaching about totally unrelated subjects ins't advise. Was using the BX as it was intended. Lots of video on you tube showing other folks doing exactly what I used it for. And it did an awesome job.

Just lacks adequate protection for some vital components.

Didn't use it as a dozer, didn't try to clear trees, just used it to clear some brush. And it had no issues, just had a hydraulic leak because the lines are exposed.

If in your humble opinion the BX isn't a tractor or a SCUT terrific, talk to Kubota, they claim it is a tractor.

 

[tcrote5516]

Good lord you are not getting this. You call it preaching, I'll call it an attempt at educating.

I believe the BX is a tractor. A SUB COMPACT tractor just as its marketed to be. A sub compact tractor cannot be compared to a full size or even a compact tractor for what should be seemingly obvious reasons which you are clearly not understanding.

You won't see videos BY Kubota of it doing anything other than mowing or loading fill and woodchips. If you are using individual owners youtube uploads as a measure of a machines capability than that's further validation of why you need a "preaching".

Doesn't matter what you tried to do or didn't. You were subjecting a sub compact tractor with 8" of clearance to rough terrain and popped a hydro line. Now you expect everyone else with common sense to throw a blanket over your shoulders and tell you it's Kubotas fault. Not going to happen. That's your fault but there is a aftermarket solution if you think you need it. Don't bad mouth the design, the forum your complaining on and some of the best contributors to that forum and expect a sympathetic ear.

I'll let you have the last word on this one, I've done my best.

 

[Valley Viking]

As the OP stated his concern was that with little to no protection a small stick could likely damage the machine. He wasn't talking about logging with his BX. He also indicated that the machine had done a very good job for the task he was using it for. In response he was told he did not understand what he was buying and really needed a;
988
Dozer
Bently
Grand L
L series
1" wrench
Brush Hog
need to rent a large excavator

He also received the sage advice of "if you beat on something long enough you can break it". "The BX was not meant for land clearing...but i have cleared land with mine"."They won't pickup round bales or.....brush hog grass 3' tall". Also that you can't use a mini excavator to dig a surface mine.

Talk about making a strip mine out of a molehill! I dont think it was the OP who didn't understand.

 

[tcrote5516]

As the OP stated his concern was that with little to no protection a small stick could likely damage the machine. He wasn't talking about logging with his BX. He also indicated that the machine had done a very good job for the task he was using it for. In response he was told he did not understand what he was buying and really needed a;
988
Dozer
Bently
Grand L
L series
1" wrench
Brush Hog
need to rent a large excavator

He also received the sage advice of "if you beat on something long enough you can break it". "The BX was not meant for land clearing...but i have cleared land with mine"."They won't pickup round bales or.....brush hog grass 3' tall". Also that you can't use a mini excavator to dig a surface mine.

Talk about making a strip mine out of a molehill! I dont think it was the OP who didn't understand.

Glad you took the time to make your 5th contribution to this forum a cut and paste.

 

[Valley Viking]

Glad you liked it! It was a lot better than any of your 342 advice columns.