Great video, pretty spot on. Picked up a pretty well used BX2230 with @ 700 hours on it 8 years ago. used it problem free to mow 3-4 acres around the house including some pretty steep stuff that no garden tractor or zero turn would touch. Also maintained about 1/3 mile of gravel drive with it and pulled the deck off and on all the time. Once you get proficient with it it's really pretty easy, just occasionally remind yourself that you own a Swiss army knife of a tractor, and you have to close the blade to use the screwdriver! They are really great and tough little tractors! Never had all of the 23s attachments, but they would definitely make a good little tractors great! I'm blessed to be in a spot to buy a new one, stepped up to the B2601 TLB with a 60" belly and also putting a 60" flail behind it to mow the other 7 acres of pasture I've been mowing for 17 years with a pull behind bush hog and my Honda Foreman. Dealer is putting it together next week, can't wait to get it home, really feel like I put together the best package not only for me, but my property which is really what it's all about! Cost no object, we'd all have a track skidsteer, excavator, cab tractor and a big commercial zero turn!
Kubota made a fantastic line of diesel lawn mowers that are really great. I have one that is a G1800 four wheel steering and it is truly a pleasure to use. Doesnt have a differential lock or high low range like larger models but for casual yard mowing it cant be beat.
This has been out a while, but still helpful. I have the BX and 54” regular deck. I don’t pull mine a lot, because I have a relatively flat lot. If I do, I put on the skid plate for protection. The big thing I’ve found is using the bucket to raise the front and slide the deck out to the front using the wheels. I’m pretty sure you did a more recent video on that. Thanks
Good info, Lucas. I can't get into the tight places with my B2601 so I decided against mowing with my "big" tractor. I got a nice little Cub Cadet for that. Thanks for sharing, man :)
For sure! Something I didn’t think to mention, because I don’t have any trees in the area I mow, but the ROPS makes mowing around trees a real pain. Sounds like you’ve got the right solution for your piece of land! 👍
Great video and some excellent pointers and advice Lucas 👍 I bought a 60"belly mower for my B2301 used it a year then went and bought a Husqvarna rider with a fabricated deck. I have a little over a 3/8 of an acre of lawn so it took longer to get the tractor set up then actually mowing. Depending on what attachments I had on at the time. Plus it was starting to compact my lawn. Live and learn as they say . Keep up the great work. Take care and all the best 👋
That is a good point about compacting your lawn. Even the BX has to outweigh a typical mower. What does your B series weigh? Sounds like you’ve found the right setup for your needs! 👍
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead I think the dry weight of the B is around 1675. What I didn't think about when I bought it was the additional 300 pound backhoe frame, 250 pound mower deck, fuel, and loaded rear tires and what ever else. It starts to get pretty darn heavy. Take care Lucas. ✌
Good breakdown Lucas. I come down on the ZTR side for the very advantages you speak of. Plus, I already had it so that was $3300 (60") or $4000 (72") I didn't need to spend! Sounds like you, like me, got the right solution! 👍😎👍
I appreciate you watching! I think it is an interesting conversation and it is hard to know the right answer until you make a choice sometimes. Hopefully this will give some folks a little insight. 👍
I also have the B2601 belly mower. It’s 54” and it’s not bad, but you still are man handling it to line it up. Plus laying on the ground to hook up the PTO. Still like you that set up works the best for me. And I have had a half dozen garden tractors in my life the B2601 is a joy to mow my yard with. Great cut, power steering, cruise control, tilt steering. Good info for people.
Tractor. or Zero Turn Mower. Yes, both please!! I was wondering if Kubota had a drive over deck like John Deere and you answered that question. Good informative video for tractor buyers!
Great video brother! You bought your BX23s for the same reasons we bought our 2017 BX23s. The BX does so much for us with one tractor to take care of. When we bought our BX23s, our dealer gave us the 60" mower for free with the deal. It was some promotion Kubota had at the time when we got ours. So basically, ZERO percent intrest, a free 60" deck, out the door for $18K back in 2017. Since owning ours (170hrs later), it has been more than a blessing for my wife an i. We`ve had ZERO issues with it! Ok, here`s the kicker.... our BX23s 60" deck is still brand new sitting in the garage. We`ve never used it. We took the new deck just for the simple reason that one day, we knew our John Deere 420 gasser may bite the dust. ( i rebuilt the engine 2yrs ago, not much else wrong with it today) But to this day, our ole JD420 is still cutting our 2 acre lawn perfectly fine. I did have to buy another deck for the JD due to the old one rotting out. But the tractor still runs great, and i found a barely used 60" JD deck for it way down in NJ. Paid $550 for the JD deck and brought it home. But we know, one day, we`ll have to give up on the JD420, as its getting harder to get parts for it now. So, there`s where the new Kubota 60" deck will come into play. We won`t have go try to buy a new lawn mower. As for the ZERO TURN mowers, nope, no thanks, its not for us. The ZERO TURN`s are a one trick pony. We need the BX23s. It fits OUR needs, perfectly. Now, that`s not saying i would not ever own a ZERO TURN, because there may come a day where changing out the mower all the time on the Kubota, will be a chore i`m not willing to deal with. I am in my 60`s, and permanently disabled, so there`s that, too. Anyhow, always enjoy your videos Lucas. Be safe out there!!!
Sounds like you’re in a great spot. That Old JD has earned its keep and you sure can’t beat the price of free for a MMM! 👍 I am like you, I love the versatility of my BX23S. Good to hear from you as always!
Nice score on the free deck...I just paid $2600 for mine. I don't plan on using it to mow my yard, I have a couple of yards that I'll be taking care of that are larger than my 3/4 acre yard and figured it would be a time saver having the 60" mower.
That’s some good info Lucas. I have a zero turn but find myself wanting a small tractor to mow the pastures because all the divots from the horses hooves beat you to death on a zero turn.
Thanks, Paul! Something like that is where this tractor would shine! It is tough to find one machine that just does everything well. I guess that is why there are so many opinions out there. Lol. Thanks for stopping by, Paul!
In the same position. Used A Cub Cadet zt1 zero turn - great machine - but after a very wet winter, the horses have chrrned the paddocks up too much for the rideon. Buying a Kutota BX2370 but withouth the mid mount.
Great video! I agree you have to do whats right for you. When I started off i use buy the craftsman 48 inch riding mower. But I not mowing just grass i mow brush, weeds, sticks, rocks, gopher and squirrel mounds. With that being said i did not want to spend a lot on something I was going to destroy. I have been on my ranch 30 years started with the 48" craftsman then went to the 54" craftsman riding mower. During that time I ended up buying a Kubota L3130 with the intention of buying the mower deck for it. I have plenty experience with mower decks and heavy equipment sense I use to maintain over 150 miles of fire breaks and oil pipeline right of ways. So when my last mower was on it last leg I had to reevaluate my needs and my terrain. I had never bought a Zero turn because of pricing and was always told they were they way to go. At this time I had never even operated one and had no idea if they were worth it. So I was still looking at the Mower decks for the Kubota and a newer riding mower. Then I saw cub cadet had a 54" zero turn for the same prices as the standard riding mowers like I had always purchased in the past. I already knew the kubota mower for my L3130 was $3K more and knew my tractor could not mow 20% of what I was currently mowing because of its size and the terrain. So I would have to weed wack or still buy another mower for those spots. My wife and I decided on our wedding anniversary a couple years ago to go buy the zero turn. Now I know why they are so popular. What use to take me 4 hours to mow with the standard 54" craftsman ridding mower now only took me 1 hour with the 54" zero turn. I had no idea the turn radius took up so much time plus the wear and labor on the body. Crazy I couldn't believe it and kick my self for not doing it sooner. I will say this riding mowers are more stable on hill sides then the zero turns but once you get use to it its not an issue. After the first 2 mowing's with the zero turn i did change out the rear tires to a deeper lug and made a huge difference on traction and stability. My land is rough, hilly and lots of debris so its not meant for regular lawn mowers. I even had a professional company that sells mowers tell me I was crazy. Well they were use to regular grass lawns like around a normal house or park setting nothing like living out in the country. Hahaha its not the first time a ran in a company that did know how to deal with rural homesteads and ranch issues. Now most of my land is clear now but I still might buy a flail mower for my Kubota L3130 and hire out to clear fire breaks around houses. maybe in the future.
Man, that is a huge improvement on your mowing time! I appreciate you sharing your experience. Sounds like one of these days I may need to try out a good quality zero turn. How does it handle mud and soggy ground? Pretty capable? Thanks for the comment, Shane!
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead So with the stock tires they suck with any type of moister. Yeah I would have just a little bit of fog in the morning and that was enough for me to slide into my fencing with no control. I had big issues with that. I had use bigger lug tires before on other mowers so I said why not on the zero turn. The bigger lug tires solved all the issues I had with it. Now with surface mud and some water it is ok and get through it now. But for soggy ground I think if it had a good thick grass foundation and flat you would be ok. Any ditches or low spots not so much. With a zero turn it is easier to spin the wheels and get stuck because of that left side right side driving the direction. I have been stuck several times with both types of machines mostly driver error and pushing the limits beyond the machine like I always do. But I have never been stuck in the same place twice. Driver learned! lol
I just bought a 2018 Kubota BX23S (March 2022) with a 60 inch mower deck. It has 196 hours. Previously owner wanted to do a lot of digging with it but truthfully used the 2 buckets twice. Definitely original paint. He had a zero turn that broke and that's why he bought the machine to cut 3 of his 5 acres. We're here in Orlando where you cut 10 months a year. The 3 years he had it that's all the time he put on it. He never took the deck off since new. Didn't know how to. Obviously, I do. Thanks to everyone's videos. The mower works fine for my 3/4 acre. I already helped neighbor dig out a tree stump with backhoe, love the versatility. Zero turn couldn't have done that. As far as the deck itself. It's really well built. I keep it indoors so rust probably won't happen for years. I need to fabricate out of car dollys a gizmo to quickly attach to each side of the deck to help slide it in and out more efficiently. Obviously this would be for cement garage floors, but someone else could take apart a Gorilla cart and use its tires to fabricate something that would work on grass. I have car dollies and will try this weekend to come up with something to do this task. Wish me luck !!!
Plus the one up our Kubota BX has over zero turn machines is power. I've heard zero turn's can cut 12 inch grass, but honestly most operators will tell you they wouldn't do it again. Our BX's will go through 20 inch grass, with the RPMs up of course, and do it all day. Unless you get a $12,000 zero turn, there's no way they could compete.
That sounds like a great idea! Keep me posted on how that works. As often as I swap mine, I could use something like that! Congratulations on your new to you machine. Sounds like you got a nice one and you’ll get a lot of good out of it!
Thanks for the video. I do have a drive over deck, but the first time I removed it I bent one of the brackets while it was off and couldn’t get it back on again. The dealer had to replace the bracket and they put it back on for me. Thankfully it was covered by the Kubota insurance I had. I have seen a lot of other owners complain about getting them on and off and dread doing it again.
@@winstonpoplin Thank you, since this post I did take mine off for the winter, sharpened the blades, greased it and managed to get it back on. A necessary evil I guess.
I was going to trade my Kubota zero turn in and get the MMM but a good friend said since you have the ZT just keep it I mow just over two acres and it’s mostly flat. Over all I’m glad he talked me out of it. But as you stated one thing is not good for others. Every situation different. PS love the videos keep them coming
Ive been binge watching your videos for like 6 months now. Peeks peak is like Netflix to me. I love it. Just curious how many acres do you mow with your mid mount mower and how long does it take you to mow? Looking to buy an Lx series here soon! God bless ya man!
I actually only mow a couple acres weekly. The rest gets bush hogged occasionally. I’m glad you are enjoying the videos. Best of luck with the LX! They are great machines. 👊
One factor is maintaining the tractor ver ztr cost. Also look at attachment cost for 3 point. And add a 3 point quick attachment make quicker for taking off and on. Check and see what attachments you really need. I wish I would have bought a flair mower instead of a brushhog. And on tractor a counter weight.
I have a drive over 60 for my b2601, i cut my 6 acres and all around my pond in just over an hour. I might have been able to get a little closer with a zero turn and thus have less trim work but overall im very happy with my purchase. The drive over deck is nice in comparison to decks like yours but they are not without their problems either
I picked up the 60" non-drive over mower for my BX2680 last week. More so because it was supposed to come with my tractor when I bought it 9 months ago, so since I paid for it initially I want the dang thing. I don't plan on really using it on my property, but on a couple lawns I take care of I'll definitely use it there. I have to take the deck off after I get done with it as my tractor won't fit through the door of my shop with the deck on right now...hoping in the near future I can get the door/opening rebuilt so its wider and won't have to take the deck off too often. The deck install and removal doesn't take too long, its the fiddling around with everything else to get the deck from out back, remove whatever implement is on the 3 point, then install the mower deck, etc. I haven't taken the loader off yet, just did a bit of a test mow out in my pasture part of my property...does a great job mowing on my uneven ground. I have a Cub Cadet XT1 42" lawn tractor that I use mostly for mowing on my property and that won't change...its just nice having the 60" mid mount mower for other jobs, as well as a backup for my own yard. I could mow most of my property with the Kubota and mid mount mower, but I'd have to use my push mower around all the trees and such in the front yard. My 60" mid mount mower was $2600 (including tax) last week as I got a refund check from my salesman as I got tired of waiting and bought from another dealer. My salesman looked and said they're still showing mid to end of July before my deck would have showed up, well that's a bit of a long wait which would put it at a year of waiting for the mower at that point. So I went with a different dealer to get the deck. Not upset that I got the mower, just upset about the lack of planning on my salesman's part for not ordering stuff like he should be. The mower cuts great, isn't too hard to install or remove once its setup...I can tell you right off the factory shipping crate its a pain in the a** getting things setup so you can even mount it on the tractor. You have to manhandle the deck to get the wheels lowered enough to be able to roll it around, and so that it sits at the right height to hookup the the rear lift arms on the tractor, as well as get the front harness adjusted properly. So a lot of reading in the manual and measuring to get it setup. Once that's done though it ain't bad at all installing/removing the deck. In my case its the I have to take the loader bucket off, go get the pallet forks, then go back around and get the mower...bring that around to the carport, then drop the pallet forks off, and whatever implement/attachment I have on the 3 point...then back onto the carport to install the deck. its usually a 10-15 minute process for me to install or remove the mower. I don't mind, I have it when I need it. I just need to get stuff done in my shop so I can get the mower into the shop before winter.
Man, different times we are living in. I can’t believe you had to wait so long. Two years ago when I bought mine, it was just walk right in and take it home. Lol. Glad you finally got yours. Good luck getting the shop door opened up!
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead I had to order my BX2680, wait a month for it, then never got the mower as promised. Got tired of waiting and made my salesman refund my money and went to the dealer in the next town over and got the mower the same day, he had 2 in stock and 4 more on the way the first of July. Not sure what's going on at the other dealership, but the one I got my mower from is doing it right and ordering way ahead of time. 42 hours on my BX, and loving it...such a time saver, and seems like I'm using it for something at least 3-4 times a week.
Nice video. I was contemplating a mid-mount for my tractor, but I am leaning more toward another rider or a 3-point finish mower. I don't think our rider is much longer for the world.
In most cases, I would say a separate mower is the best option. I’ve never used a 3point finish mower. I’m sure that would be handy for some things. I do like my mid mount, it is just a little cumbersome…
What i do with my machine. i have the mower on the floor where i can drive tractor to it put loader down, with the bucket rolled there is enough room, pick the front end up, roll deck under hook pto up lower tractor down hook the arms up. Then take the loader off. Beats fighting it sliding under from the side.
I'm in the situaiton you were in, minus that much acreage. The zero turn I have is on it's last leg, I have about 2 acres of lawn and I have a few projects that will cost the price of the tractor and figured a piece of equipment and doing it myself may be well worth the investment. It would be my first time owning and using a tractor, so there will be a learning curve. Thought he machine will most likely be used mostly for lawn care the projects couldn't be done with it. Thanks Again!
Did you check your invoice for the actual cost of the deck? When I bought mine in 2019 the tractor and all the attachments were priced way higher on the Kubota website than what I actually paid. I do have the 60" drive over deck for mine. I really like the cut when I use it but I still have my older zero turn. If that ever dies I will use the Bx23s as my main mower. I also ordered it with the R4 tires loaded and an extra set of turf tires on rims that are not loaded. All 4 turf tires on rims were only $300 extra. They are pretty ease to swap with the back hoe on to lift the tractor.
Honestly, I don’t think I did. That could be the case on mine as well. That’s a good deal on turf tires. I have heard good things about the new R14s. I may switch to those when I need new tires…
I got a much larger 4060 and a 6 foot land pride finish mower. I like the PTO powered mower more because I can back it under stuff to cut where a belly mount, which I can't use anyways, would not let me go. But a belly mower is more controllable when close to trees and stuff so each thing has its pros and cons.
I realize your video is a year old but I just now watched it. First I have to say if you've ever used a zero turn mower, everything else is disappointing. I had a cheap zero turn when I bought mt BX25D in 2016. Like you said, the cheaper mower decks suck. I was having to weld on it 2 or 3 time a season. So when I bought the BX I also got the 60" deck. I mow almost 3 acres with lots of obstacles so I still used the zero turn for certain areas. Finally between wrestling the Kubota deck on and off and repairing the zero turn deck I bit the bullet and bought a commercial grade 60" zero turn. At the time it was almost $8K, but worth every penny. Got it from the same Kubota dealer with zero percent financing. Eventually I sold the BX deck. As far as storage, yea, the zero turn takes a little more room, but it's a hundred times easier to store it. I think the bottom line is, there is nothing wrong with the BX deck considering the points you made, but if your trying to choose, a cheap zero turn is not worth the money in my opinion. As far as the drive on deck, I heard more bad than good about.
I’ve got the 48” on my BX 1880 it’s a little lighter than your 60”. I’m not complaining lol The 23s is overkill for my needs the 1880 with loader & 48” belly mower is perfect.
The Kubota Zero Turn is Fabricated Deck and more durable but other than that you hit the nail on the head The drive over mower decks are a pain in the ass i work on these/set them up at the ag dealer before getting a dedicated set up guy Currently Deciding on the ZD1211 or the BX2680 as id like something to easily maintain food plot garden, limbs logs etc and spreader for the yard as i hate weeds but also need something to mow 7acres without taking 4hours +
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead i havent seen one of them bend yet key word YET The Stamped deck is still very solid only a couple Bent but everything gives at full speed
Why remove the bucket? I have a BX with a mid mount 60" but I've never used the mower deck. I have been considering buying a zero turn but then remembered I had this old 60" mower deck sitting around. It will need some refurbishing but will be loads cheaper than buying a new machine. But why remove the bucket? Is it just for the space? I'll be mowing mainly an open field where the extra length won't matter, and will keep my riding mower for smaller areas.
Damn man. I didn’t consider the weight and the compacting of soil being an issue. I like my lawn to look like a golf course. Maybe a ztr is right for me and renting a skid steer for when I have to play in the dirt.
Yeah, if you are keeping a fancy yard, I’d say the BX is not how you want to mow it. I wouldn’t mind playing in the dirt on a skid steer. It’s been a while since I’ve been on one.
I have drive over deck for my B2601 , but I don't and won't drive over it I push in under from the side. Only on concrete , tried before on grass what a PITA sliding it under in dirt :( Forks are handy for moving to winter storage shed.
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead On the B the drive over part is pulley guards , they look weak to me. Internet I've seem people do it , deck seems to slide around.
I'm switching to a bx from a hustler raptor. I want a steering wheel and something to fill holes. I don't want speed as far as cutting the lawn. I want comfort. Besides.... Tractors are year round equipment. Lawnmower sits most of it's life...
Have a bx23s backhoe and front loader ..works fine...but its a pain to disconnect backhoe and loader..every time need to only mow...as get older really a pain....looking a decated mower...because of age....in and out done..! ..
Mowing ? Purchase a dedicated mower. With that said I will admit I’ve had better mowing outcomes with a lawn or garden tractor and even the compact tractor with a mmm delivered better cutting results, but if you just want it mowed buy a ZT and live with a few imperfections and move onto something else in your life. Just purchase both
Great video, pretty spot on. Picked up a pretty well used BX2230 with @ 700 hours on it 8 years ago. used it problem free to mow 3-4 acres around the house including some pretty steep stuff that no garden tractor or zero turn would touch. Also maintained about 1/3 mile of gravel drive with it and pulled the deck off and on all the time. Once you get proficient with it it's really pretty easy, just occasionally remind yourself that you own a Swiss army knife of a tractor, and you have to close the blade to use the screwdriver! They are really great and tough little tractors! Never had all of the 23s attachments, but they would definitely make a good little tractors great! I'm blessed to be in a spot to buy a new one, stepped up to the B2601 TLB with a 60" belly and also putting a 60" flail behind it to mow the other 7 acres of pasture I've been mowing for 17 years with a pull behind bush hog and my Honda Foreman. Dealer is putting it together next week, can't wait to get it home, really feel like I put together the best package not only for me, but my property which is really what it's all about! Cost no object, we'd all have a track skidsteer, excavator, cab tractor and a big commercial zero turn!
That $3000 would be better utilized as a down payment on ANY Massey Ferguson tractor lol. Great points and a good video, Lucas!
Lol. Only thing I have against Massey is that they aren’t Kubota. 😂🤣
Kubota made a fantastic line of diesel lawn mowers that are really great. I have one that is a G1800 four wheel steering and it is truly a pleasure to use. Doesnt have a differential lock or high low range like larger models but for casual yard mowing it cant be beat.
This has been out a while, but still helpful. I have the BX and 54” regular deck. I don’t pull mine a lot, because I have a relatively flat lot. If I do, I put on the skid plate for protection. The big thing I’ve found is using the bucket to raise the front and slide the deck out to the front using the wheels. I’m pretty sure you did a more recent video on that. Thanks
Good info, Lucas. I can't get into the tight places with my B2601 so I decided against mowing with my "big" tractor. I got a nice little Cub Cadet for that. Thanks for sharing, man :)
For sure! Something I didn’t think to mention, because I don’t have any trees in the area I mow, but the ROPS makes mowing around trees a real pain. Sounds like you’ve got the right solution for your piece of land! 👍
Great video and some excellent pointers and advice Lucas 👍 I bought a 60"belly mower for my B2301 used it a year then went and bought a Husqvarna rider with a fabricated deck. I have a little over a 3/8 of an acre of lawn so it took longer to get the tractor set up then actually mowing. Depending on what attachments I had on at the time. Plus it was starting to compact my lawn. Live and learn as they say . Keep up the great work. Take care and all the best 👋
That is a good point about compacting your lawn. Even the BX has to outweigh a typical mower. What does your B series weigh? Sounds like you’ve found the right setup for your needs! 👍
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead I think the dry weight of the B is around 1675. What I didn't think about when I bought it was the additional 300 pound backhoe frame, 250 pound mower deck, fuel, and loaded rear tires and what ever else. It starts to get pretty darn heavy. Take care Lucas. ✌
Good breakdown Lucas. I come down on the ZTR side for the very advantages you speak of. Plus, I already had it so that was $3300 (60") or $4000 (72") I didn't need to spend! Sounds like you, like me, got the right solution! 👍😎👍
I appreciate you watching! I think it is an interesting conversation and it is hard to know the right answer until you make a choice sometimes. Hopefully this will give some folks a little insight. 👍
I also have the B2601 belly mower. It’s 54” and it’s not bad, but you still are man handling it to line it up. Plus laying on the ground to hook up the PTO. Still like you that set up works the best for me. And I have had a half dozen garden tractors in my life the B2601 is a joy to mow my yard with. Great cut, power steering, cruise control, tilt steering.
Good info for people.
That’s right! I remember the first time mowing with the power steering I was amazed!
Great info - much appreciated as in the same process. Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Good video keep doing them
Tractor. or Zero Turn Mower. Yes, both please!! I was wondering if Kubota had a drive over deck like John Deere and you answered that question. Good informative video for tractor buyers!
Thanks, Man! They do have a drive over, but my dealer didn’t have it when I bought mine…
Great video brother!
You bought your BX23s for the same reasons we bought our 2017 BX23s. The BX does so much for us with one tractor to take care of. When we bought our BX23s, our dealer gave us the 60" mower for free with the deal. It was some promotion Kubota had at the time when we got ours. So basically, ZERO percent intrest, a free 60" deck, out the door for $18K back in 2017. Since owning ours (170hrs later), it has been more than a blessing for my wife an i. We`ve had ZERO issues with it! Ok, here`s the kicker.... our BX23s 60" deck is still brand new sitting in the garage. We`ve never used it. We took the new deck just for the simple reason that one day, we knew our John Deere 420 gasser may bite the dust. ( i rebuilt the engine 2yrs ago, not much else wrong with it today) But to this day, our ole JD420 is still cutting our 2 acre lawn perfectly fine. I did have to buy another deck for the JD due to the old one rotting out. But the tractor still runs great, and i found a barely used 60" JD deck for it way down in NJ. Paid $550 for the JD deck and brought it home. But we know, one day, we`ll have to give up on the JD420, as its getting harder to get parts for it now. So, there`s where the new Kubota 60" deck will come into play. We won`t have go try to buy a new lawn mower. As for the ZERO TURN mowers, nope, no thanks, its not for us. The ZERO TURN`s are a one trick pony. We need the BX23s. It fits OUR needs, perfectly. Now, that`s not saying i would not ever own a ZERO TURN, because there may come a day where changing out the mower all the time on the Kubota, will be a chore i`m not willing to deal with. I am in my 60`s, and permanently disabled, so there`s that, too. Anyhow, always enjoy your videos Lucas. Be safe out there!!!
Sounds like you’re in a great spot. That Old JD has earned its keep and you sure can’t beat the price of free for a MMM! 👍 I am like you, I love the versatility of my BX23S. Good to hear from you as always!
Nice score on the free deck...I just paid $2600 for mine. I don't plan on using it to mow my yard, I have a couple of yards that I'll be taking care of that are larger than my 3/4 acre yard and figured it would be a time saver having the 60" mower.
That’s some good info Lucas. I have a zero turn but find myself wanting a small tractor to mow the pastures because all the divots from the horses hooves beat you to death on a zero turn.
Thanks, Paul! Something like that is where this tractor would shine! It is tough to find one machine that just does everything well. I guess that is why there are so many opinions out there. Lol. Thanks for stopping by, Paul!
In the same position. Used A Cub Cadet zt1 zero turn - great machine - but after a very wet winter, the horses have chrrned the paddocks up too much for the rideon. Buying a Kutota BX2370 but withouth the mid mount.
Great video! I agree you have to do whats right for you. When I started off i use buy the craftsman 48 inch riding mower. But I not mowing just grass i mow brush, weeds, sticks, rocks, gopher and squirrel mounds. With that being said i did not want to spend a lot on something I was going to destroy. I have been on my ranch 30 years started with the 48" craftsman then went to the 54" craftsman riding mower. During that time I ended up buying a Kubota L3130 with the intention of buying the mower deck for it. I have plenty experience with mower decks and heavy equipment sense I use to maintain over 150 miles of fire breaks and oil pipeline right of ways. So when my last mower was on it last leg I had to reevaluate my needs and my terrain. I had never bought a Zero turn because of pricing and was always told they were they way to go. At this time I had never even operated one and had no idea if they were worth it. So I was still looking at the Mower decks for the Kubota and a newer riding mower. Then I saw cub cadet had a 54" zero turn for the same prices as the standard riding mowers like I had always purchased in the past. I already knew the kubota mower for my L3130 was $3K more and knew my tractor could not mow 20% of what I was currently mowing because of its size and the terrain. So I would have to weed wack or still buy another mower for those spots. My wife and I decided on our wedding anniversary a couple years ago to go buy the zero turn. Now I know why they are so popular. What use to take me 4 hours to mow with the standard 54" craftsman ridding mower now only took me 1 hour with the 54" zero turn. I had no idea the turn radius took up so much time plus the wear and labor on the body. Crazy I couldn't believe it and kick my self for not doing it sooner. I will say this riding mowers are more stable on hill sides then the zero turns but once you get use to it its not an issue. After the first 2 mowing's with the zero turn i did change out the rear tires to a deeper lug and made a huge difference on traction and stability. My land is rough, hilly and lots of debris so its not meant for regular lawn mowers. I even had a professional company that sells mowers tell me I was crazy. Well they were use to regular grass lawns like around a normal house or park setting nothing like living out in the country. Hahaha its not the first time a ran in a company that did know how to deal with rural homesteads and ranch issues. Now most of my land is clear now but I still might buy a flail mower for my Kubota L3130 and hire out to clear fire breaks around houses. maybe in the future.
Man, that is a huge improvement on your mowing time! I appreciate you sharing your experience. Sounds like one of these days I may need to try out a good quality zero turn. How does it handle mud and soggy ground? Pretty capable? Thanks for the comment, Shane!
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead So with the stock tires they suck with any type of moister. Yeah I would have just a little bit of fog in the morning and that was enough for me to slide into my fencing with no control. I had big issues with that. I had use bigger lug tires before on other mowers so I said why not on the zero turn. The bigger lug tires solved all the issues I had with it. Now with surface mud and some water it is ok and get through it now. But for soggy ground I think if it had a good thick grass foundation and flat you would be ok. Any ditches or low spots not so much. With a zero turn it is easier to spin the wheels and get stuck because of that left side right side driving the direction. I have been stuck several times with both types of machines mostly driver error and pushing the limits beyond the machine like I always do. But I have never been stuck in the same place twice. Driver learned! lol
I’m going to need to pick up some mowers for Florida, trying to decide what I want right now 👍👍
Exciting times, Buddy! Keep us posted on what you decide to go with!
Thank You for your insight
You’re welcome!
I just bought a 2018 Kubota BX23S (March 2022) with a 60 inch mower deck. It has 196 hours. Previously owner wanted to do a lot of digging with it but truthfully used the 2 buckets twice. Definitely original paint. He had a zero turn that broke and that's why he bought the machine to cut 3 of his 5 acres. We're here in Orlando where you cut 10 months a year. The 3 years he had it that's all the time he put on it. He never took the deck off since new. Didn't know how to. Obviously, I do. Thanks to everyone's videos. The mower works fine for my 3/4 acre. I already helped neighbor dig out a tree stump with backhoe, love the versatility. Zero turn couldn't have done that.
As far as the deck itself. It's really well built. I keep it indoors so rust probably won't happen for years. I need to fabricate out of car dollys a gizmo to quickly attach to each side of the deck to help slide it in and out more efficiently. Obviously this would be for cement garage floors, but someone else could take apart a Gorilla cart and use its tires to fabricate something that would work on grass. I have car dollies and will try this weekend to come up with something to do this task.
Wish me luck !!!
Plus the one up our Kubota BX has over zero turn machines is power. I've heard zero turn's can cut 12 inch grass, but honestly most operators will tell you they wouldn't do it again. Our BX's will go through 20 inch grass, with the RPMs up of course, and do it all day.
Unless you get a $12,000 zero turn, there's no way they could compete.
That sounds like a great idea! Keep me posted on how that works. As often as I swap mine, I could use something like that! Congratulations on your new to you machine. Sounds like you got a nice one and you’ll get a lot of good out of it!
And yes, the BX mower is stout. You can mow just about anything.m!
Thanks for the video. I do have a drive over deck, but the first time I removed it I bent one of the brackets while it was off and couldn’t get it back on again. The dealer had to replace the bracket and they put it back on for me. Thankfully it was covered by the Kubota insurance I had. I have seen a lot of other owners complain about getting them on and off and dread doing it again.
Thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I take mine on and off almost weekly, but I don’t enjoy it. 😂
You really need to take the deck fully off and deep clean and service it atleast once a year.
@@winstonpoplin Thank you, since this post I did take mine off for the winter, sharpened the blades, greased it and managed to get it back on. A necessary evil I guess.
I was going to trade my Kubota zero turn in and get the MMM but a good friend said since you have the ZT just keep it I mow just over two acres and it’s mostly flat. Over all I’m glad he talked me out of it. But as you stated one thing is not good for others. Every situation different. PS love the videos keep them coming
Thanks for the kind words! Sounds like you’ve got the best of both worlds there. 👍 I appreciate you watching!
Ive been binge watching your videos for like 6 months now. Peeks peak is like Netflix to me. I love it. Just curious how many acres do you mow with your mid mount mower and how long does it take you to mow? Looking to buy an Lx series here soon! God bless ya man!
I actually only mow a couple acres weekly. The rest gets bush hogged occasionally. I’m glad you are enjoying the videos. Best of luck with the LX! They are great machines. 👊
One factor is maintaining the tractor ver ztr cost. Also look at attachment cost for 3 point. And add a 3 point quick attachment make quicker for taking off and on. Check and see what attachments you really need. I wish I would have bought a flair mower instead of a brushhog. And on tractor a counter weight.
I have a drive over 60 for my b2601, i cut my 6 acres and all around my pond in just over an hour. I might have been able to get a little closer with a zero turn and thus have less trim work but overall im very happy with my purchase. The drive over deck is nice in comparison to decks like yours but they are not without their problems either
Thanks for the comment!
I picked up the 60" non-drive over mower for my BX2680 last week. More so because it was supposed to come with my tractor when I bought it 9 months ago, so since I paid for it initially I want the dang thing. I don't plan on really using it on my property, but on a couple lawns I take care of I'll definitely use it there. I have to take the deck off after I get done with it as my tractor won't fit through the door of my shop with the deck on right now...hoping in the near future I can get the door/opening rebuilt so its wider and won't have to take the deck off too often. The deck install and removal doesn't take too long, its the fiddling around with everything else to get the deck from out back, remove whatever implement is on the 3 point, then install the mower deck, etc. I haven't taken the loader off yet, just did a bit of a test mow out in my pasture part of my property...does a great job mowing on my uneven ground. I have a Cub Cadet XT1 42" lawn tractor that I use mostly for mowing on my property and that won't change...its just nice having the 60" mid mount mower for other jobs, as well as a backup for my own yard. I could mow most of my property with the Kubota and mid mount mower, but I'd have to use my push mower around all the trees and such in the front yard. My 60" mid mount mower was $2600 (including tax) last week as I got a refund check from my salesman as I got tired of waiting and bought from another dealer. My salesman looked and said they're still showing mid to end of July before my deck would have showed up, well that's a bit of a long wait which would put it at a year of waiting for the mower at that point. So I went with a different dealer to get the deck. Not upset that I got the mower, just upset about the lack of planning on my salesman's part for not ordering stuff like he should be.
The mower cuts great, isn't too hard to install or remove once its setup...I can tell you right off the factory shipping crate its a pain in the a** getting things setup so you can even mount it on the tractor. You have to manhandle the deck to get the wheels lowered enough to be able to roll it around, and so that it sits at the right height to hookup the the rear lift arms on the tractor, as well as get the front harness adjusted properly. So a lot of reading in the manual and measuring to get it setup. Once that's done though it ain't bad at all installing/removing the deck. In my case its the I have to take the loader bucket off, go get the pallet forks, then go back around and get the mower...bring that around to the carport, then drop the pallet forks off, and whatever implement/attachment I have on the 3 point...then back onto the carport to install the deck. its usually a 10-15 minute process for me to install or remove the mower. I don't mind, I have it when I need it. I just need to get stuff done in my shop so I can get the mower into the shop before winter.
Man, different times we are living in. I can’t believe you had to wait so long. Two years ago when I bought mine, it was just walk right in and take it home. Lol. Glad you finally got yours. Good luck getting the shop door opened up!
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead I had to order my BX2680, wait a month for it, then never got the mower as promised. Got tired of waiting and made my salesman refund my money and went to the dealer in the next town over and got the mower the same day, he had 2 in stock and 4 more on the way the first of July. Not sure what's going on at the other dealership, but the one I got my mower from is doing it right and ordering way ahead of time. 42 hours on my BX, and loving it...such a time saver, and seems like I'm using it for something at least 3-4 times a week.
Nice video. I was contemplating a mid-mount for my tractor, but I am leaning more toward another rider or a 3-point finish mower. I don't think our rider is much longer for the world.
In most cases, I would say a separate mower is the best option. I’ve never used a 3point finish mower. I’m sure that would be handy for some things. I do like my mid mount, it is just a little cumbersome…
What i do with my machine. i have the mower on the floor where i can drive tractor to it put loader down, with the bucket rolled there is enough room, pick the front end up, roll deck under hook pto up lower tractor down hook the arms up. Then take the loader off. Beats fighting it sliding under from the side.
Nice video. Have you seen my video series about pro and cons of the BX vs my G1800?
I haven’t! I’ll go check that out, Buddy! I appreciate you watching!
I'm in the situaiton you were in, minus that much acreage. The zero turn I have is on it's last leg, I have about 2 acres of lawn and I have a few projects that will cost the price of the tractor and figured a piece of equipment and doing it myself may be well worth the investment. It would be my first time owning and using a tractor, so there will be a learning curve. Thought he machine will most likely be used mostly for lawn care the projects couldn't be done with it.
Thanks Again!
You’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!
Did you check your invoice for the actual cost of the deck? When I bought mine in 2019 the tractor and all the attachments were priced way higher on the Kubota website than what I actually paid.
I do have the 60" drive over deck for mine. I really like the cut when I use it but I still have my older zero turn. If that ever dies I will use the Bx23s as my main mower. I also ordered it with the R4 tires loaded and an extra set of turf tires on rims that are not loaded. All 4 turf tires on rims were only $300 extra. They are pretty ease to swap with the back hoe on to lift the tractor.
Honestly, I don’t think I did. That could be the case on mine as well. That’s a good deal on turf tires. I have heard good things about the new R14s. I may switch to those when I need new tires…
How can u buy 38 acres? What do u do for a job?
I got a much larger 4060 and a 6 foot land pride finish mower. I like the PTO powered mower more because I can back it under stuff to cut where a belly mount, which I can't use anyways, would not let me go. But a belly mower is more controllable when close to trees and stuff so each thing has its pros and cons.
Yeah, I was impressed by the 3 point finish mower. They all have their place.
I realize your video is a year old but I just now watched it. First I have to say if you've ever used a zero turn mower, everything else is disappointing. I had a cheap zero turn when I bought mt BX25D in 2016. Like you said, the cheaper mower decks suck. I was having to weld on it 2 or 3 time a season. So when I bought the BX I also got the 60" deck. I mow almost 3 acres with lots of obstacles so I still used the zero turn for certain areas. Finally between wrestling the Kubota deck on and off and repairing the zero turn deck I bit the bullet and bought a commercial grade 60" zero turn. At the time it was almost $8K, but worth every penny. Got it from the same Kubota dealer with zero percent financing. Eventually I sold the BX deck. As far as storage, yea, the zero turn takes a little more room, but it's a hundred times easier to store it. I think the bottom line is, there is nothing wrong with the BX deck considering the points you made, but if your trying to choose, a cheap zero turn is not worth the money in my opinion. As far as the drive on deck, I heard more bad than good about.
I’ve got the 48” on my BX 1880 it’s a little lighter than your 60”. I’m not complaining lol The 23s is overkill for my needs the 1880 with loader & 48” belly mower is perfect.
Nice! Handy little machines for sure!
The Kubota Zero Turn is Fabricated Deck and more durable but other than that you hit the nail on the head
The drive over mower decks are a pain in the ass i work on these/set them up at the ag dealer before getting a dedicated set up guy
Currently Deciding on the ZD1211 or the BX2680 as id like something to easily maintain food plot garden, limbs logs etc and spreader for the yard as i hate weeds but also need something to mow 7acres without taking 4hours +
I was checking out the deck on a buddy’s ZT the other day. That is a stout build for sure!
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead i havent seen one of them bend yet key word YET
The Stamped deck is still very solid only a couple Bent but everything gives at full speed
Why remove the bucket? I have a BX with a mid mount 60" but I've never used the mower deck. I have been considering buying a zero turn but then remembered I had this old 60" mower deck sitting around. It will need some refurbishing but will be loads cheaper than buying a new machine. But why remove the bucket? Is it just for the space? I'll be mowing mainly an open field where the extra length won't matter, and will keep my riding mower for smaller areas.
I use mine to mow in tight spaces.
Damn man. I didn’t consider the weight and the compacting of soil being an issue. I like my lawn to look like a golf course. Maybe a ztr is right for me and renting a skid steer for when I have to play in the dirt.
Yeah, if you are keeping a fancy yard, I’d say the BX is not how you want to mow it. I wouldn’t mind playing in the dirt on a skid steer. It’s been a while since I’ve been on one.
I have drive over deck for my B2601 , but I don't and won't drive over it I push in under from the side. Only on concrete , tried before on grass what a PITA sliding it under in dirt :( Forks are handy for moving to winter storage shed.
So does it just not seem sturdy enough to drive over? I was thinking that might be the answer to making this thing easier! Lol
@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead On the B the drive over part is pulley guards , they look weak to me. Internet I've seem people do it , deck seems to slide around.
I’d have a separate machine or tractor for mowing. No way I want to spend time constantly removing or adding attachments the older I get.
I'm switching to a bx from a hustler raptor. I want a steering wheel and something to fill holes. I don't want speed as far as cutting the lawn. I want comfort. Besides.... Tractors are year round equipment. Lawnmower sits most of it's life...
Yeah, no regrets here. I love my BX!
Have a bx23s backhoe and front loader ..works fine...but its a pain to disconnect backhoe and loader..every time need to only mow...as get older really a pain....looking a decated mower...because of age....in and out done..!
..
You gotta do what works for you!
You can drive the bx with one hand.!A beverage of your choice in the other!
Never thought of that point!
Mowing ? Purchase a dedicated mower. With that said I will admit I’ve had better mowing outcomes with a lawn or garden tractor and even the compact tractor with a mmm delivered better cutting results, but if you just want it mowed buy a ZT and live with a few imperfections and move onto something else in your life.
Just purchase both
But a zero turn would be another toy to tinker with 😉
That may be the best argument I’ve heard so far! 😂