Need Advice on Tasks and Tractor to Accomplish Them

[mtnsorH2O]

New Member ... Cruised this forum and a couple others thoroughly before posting ... Senior but reasonably fit ... Owned tractors and operated other equipment over the years ... Reasonably adept at mechanics and repair.
TASKS ... Purchased a home needing work and TLC. Lot a bit over 1 acre and on a lagoon. Lot very overgrown and neglected ... Already had 19 trees removed and stumps ground. TASKS REMAINING - Dig out large overgrown shrubs and replant. Dig drain lines away from house. Rip out raised planting beds and dispose of all. Dispose of stump residue and excess dirt. Re-contour yard and plant new grass.
EQUIPMENT ... I have access to a pickup and dump trailer. I am thinking ... Tractor, Loader, Backhoe, Box Blade, and Powered Tiller... But soliciting your thoughts, observations, and suggestions on that list
NEW OPTION ... Purchase BX23S, Box Blade, & Powered Tiller.
ALTERNATIVE ... I have located a mid 90s B2150 with 450 hours. HST, 4WD, Turf Tires, Belly Mower, Woods LS84 loader, and Woods BH70-X on a subframe. private owner & stored inside. Entire rig is CHERRY. Only thing showing any wear is the mowing deck. Tractor was a mower for most of its use, and the loader and hoe show very little use.
??THOUGHTS AND ADVICE??- (1)-Price range for this rig (really CHERRY and well maintained)? (2)-How much would I really lose in fit and maneuverability between B & BX? (3)-Not clear exactly how the Woods subframe works for hoe removal and reattach. Do not see the usual attachment interface at the rear of the tractor. Would have to use the 3 point pretty often for blade and tiller. I am too old to roll around on the ground and endure a major hassle to change things out. Will probably build a cart on casters for major implements. I will REALLY appreciate any insights and advice from the wealth of experience here!!!

 

[PoTreeBoy]

New Member ... Cruised this forum and a couple others thoroughly before posting ... Senior but reasonably fit ... Owned tractors and operated other equipment over the years ... Reasonably adept at mechanics and repair.
TASKS ... Purchased a home needing work and TLC. Lot a bit over 1 acre and on a lagoon. Lot very overgrown and neglected ... Already had 19 trees removed and stumps ground. TASKS REMAINING - Dig out large overgrown shrubs and replant. Dig drain lines away from house. Rip out raised planting beds and dispose of all. Dispose of stump residue and excess dirt. Re-contour yard and plant new grass.
EQUIPMENT ... I have access to a pickup and dump trailer. I am thinking ... Tractor, Loader, Backhoe, Box Blade, and Powered Tiller... But soliciting your thoughts, observations, and suggestions on that list
NEW OPTION ... Purchase BX23S, Box Blade, & Powered Tiller.
ALTERNATIVE ... I have located a mid 90s B2150 with 450 hours. HST, 4WD, Turf Tires, Belly Mower, Woods LS84 loader, and Woods BH70-X on a subframe. private owner & stored inside. Entire rig is CHERRY. Only thing showing any wear is the mowing deck. Tractor was a mower for most of its use, and the loader and hoe show very little use.
??THOUGHTS AND ADVICE??- (1)-Price range for this rig (really CHERRY and well maintained)? (2)-How much would I really lose in fit and maneuverability between B & BX? (3)-Not clear exactly how the Woods subframe works for hoe removal and reattach. Do not see the usual attachment interface at the rear of the tractor. Would have to use the 3 point pretty often for blade and tiller. I am too old to roll around on the ground and endure a major hassle to change things out. Will probably build a cart on casters for major implements. I will REALLY appreciate any insights and advice from the wealth of experience here!!!

The one thing on a BX that would drive me bonkers is the 1/4" inching valve on the 3ph. I don't know if they all have it. I don't think the difference in maneuvering will be that great. My L35 - the tractor will turn short but the loader and hoe double the length and it all has to turn. Your concern with removing the hoe is legit. If you're serious can you get the owner to demonstrate it? Better act, if it's a deal somebody will snatch it.
EDIT: 2 or 4 WD? Gear or HST trans? Power steering?

 

[UpNorthMI]

You have lots of tractor work but not a lot of back hoe work, invest your money in reasonable tractor and rent mini excavator for hoe work. Implements on wooden carts on castors works great. HST for ease, 4wd for ground work.

 

[greg86z28]

Also look at a 1025R from John Deere. It's a little bigger than a BX but smaller than a B. They are very nice machines.

Backhoes are cool, but expensive. I have one, and love it. Sure I could rent something, but part of this (for me) is a hobby and collecting/messing around with stuff.

If you have the money buy new. Either a BX or 1025R.

 

[Roadworthy]

Once situated you'll probably have little use for a back hoe. I'd rent one or hire it done, that will save figuring out how to install or remove it as well as the work involved. You would be amazed how much shrub or even small tree you can remove with just the tractor.

 

[greg86z28]

They also make stump buckets which are pretty handy:

Could try something like that for awhile - and decide later if you want to 1. buy a backhoe or 2. hire out a few of the jobs or 3. rent a mini excavator and do it yourself.

 

[Freeheeler]

A backhoe is something that if you have one, you will find all kinds of uses for it. If you don't have one, you'll find other ways to do those things. I use mine a whole lot more than I thought I would. Does anyone ever need a tractor? No, folks did fine long before tractors were invented. Do you need a backhoe, also no. Do you want a tractor with a backhoe? Of course you do ; )

 

[greg86z28]

A backhoe is something that if you have one, you will find all kinds of uses for it. If you don't have one, you'll find other ways to do those things. I use mine a whole lot more than I thought I would. Does anyone ever need a tractor? No, folks did fine long before tractors were invented. Do you need a backhoe, also no. Do you want a tractor with a backhoe? Of course you do ; )

Yep. Last weekend I dug a little hole maybe 3' deep by 3' in diameter. Could have done it with a shovel. But it was a lot more fun with the BH.

 

[i7win7]

BX has 1 brake pedal, will turn shorter than B if brakes are not used. B has 2 brake pedals and can turn shorter than BX if locking a rear wheel. Can mower deck be replaced? If not, in the future you will need 3pt finish mower or trade-in tractor

I am too old to roll around on the ground and endure a major hassle to change things out.

Sounds like a quick hitch should be on you wish list. Hopefully current owner still has 3pt hitch parts.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I bought my BX23s 2 years ago (350+ hrs) and it'll never mow a blade of grass. I bought it FOR the SSQA loader and the BH. I've got a 'dedicated' rider for cutting the grass, and another 'dedicated' riding snowblower. It's EASY to mount a machine and go...NO crawling on the ground looking for pins that went 'walkabout'. It sounds like maybe you've got 1/2 acre to mow? That's really,really hard to justify a deck for a BX23s ! Up here they're $2500+, I can buy 5 or 6 riders for that. Even though I got the 3 point hitch kit tossed into the deal, it's still in the box as I keep finding 'excuses' to dig holes, move dirt, etc. I use the pallet forks a lot, actually more than I thought and have made a selfpowered SSQA snowblower. My big tractor(D-14) has a 'pin on' bucket an that IS a PITA, SSQA was a smart decision. With 2 hernias and 2 missing discs it's nice to not fight trying to get implements on or off. No matter how old we get, we don't get any younger ! neighbour just bought a B2601 after using my BX23s. He needed something just a tad bigger.