BX 2350 loader float

[diulin]

Newbie here looking for advice in purchasing his first tractor.

I'm looking at what is advertised as a B2350 (must be BX2350, or is there such a thing as B2350?) on Craigslist. Looks like a good deal at $8k with loader, back blade, and augur. But I liked what a Massey Ferguson dealer described as the float feature on their small tractor loader, because it seems like it would be good for moving snow. So my questions are:
1. Am I right that the float would be helpful for moving snow on a rough gravel driveway?
2. Does the BX2350 have that feature?
3. Does this seem like a good deal for this setup?
4. What should I inspect on this little beast before handing over my money?

Thanks a lot,

Don

 

[85Hokie]

I'm looking at what is advertised as a B2350 (must be BX2350,

Model more than likely - IS a 2006-07-08 BX2350

or is there such a thing as B2350?) on Craigslist. Looks like a good deal at $8k with loader, back blade, and augur. But I liked what a Massey Ferguson dealer described as the float feature on their small tractor loader, because it seems like it would be good for moving snow. So my questions are:


1. Am I right that the float would be helpful for moving snow on a rough gravel driveway? Gravel and snow get along like Rep and Dem in the same room!

YES - the float would work well of that !

2. Does the BX2350 have that feature?

Without knowing for sure - I would expect so, all the models after have it, but I could be wrong.


3. Does this seem like a good deal for this setup?

On the outside - seems like a good deal - how many hours?


4. What should I inspect on this little beast before handing over my money?

This is a HST model - get under, look at fan - if like it's cousins the xx60, xx70 series, that is an achilles heel.

Check all hoses. Check all fluid levels, check what color the filters are - engine, and HST. Run it - cold start, high and low range. Check for smoke at cold start up, might be some, but should go away quickly. Look at tires, see if tread wear is similar, check the bottom of the blade/bucket. It will tell you a lot of the FEL usage.
More thoughts will be forthcoming

 

[diulin]

Thanks for those helpful tips. It has 1800 hours. And where would I look to see if it has the float feature? I searched a .pdf copy of the manual for the word "float," but I didn't come up with any hits.

 

[85Hokie]

Thanks for those helpful tips. It has 1800 hours. And where would I look to see if it has the float feature? I searched a .pdf copy of the manual for the word "float," but I didn't come up with any hits.

If it has "float" - it will be on the joystick that controls the FEL, and typically pushing it forward all the way until it "clicks" - it will hit a detent, a place on the control that locks it forward allowing all the fluid to bypass the bucket, thus floating.

Pulling it back from the detent requires a little pull and it come back to the neutral place. Raise the bucket about a foot off the ground and shove it forward , the bucket should fall, or place bucket on ground and do same and back up, bucket will ride the contours of the ground.

 

[Stmar]

I had really not thought about this option and have no experience with it, had float on my 3pt 8N but never used it. On my B2650 it is an option. What would be the advantage of using it with my snow blade? I have the blade "feet" set up to skim the ground so would the float enhance? Just curious, so many options so little time.

P.S. Cold front coming down from Canada so we are going from 100 on Monday to 50's Friday and winter storm warnings for the mountains. Don't know if the snow will come down this low, 5000', but have a feeling I will use the plow shortly.

 

[Stmar]

How many people use this feature and under what circumstances? Wondering if I am missing out on a good feature.

 

[Vacula]

In all honesty, the float feature is not much of a feature. It is pretty standard on most all loaders and has been for decades. My 1975 ARK Industries FEL on a Wheelhorse tractor I own has it. It does what it sounds like. It floats the loader bucket OR plow on a front end loader by removing the hydraulic system pressure from the equation. Move the joystick or lever into the float position and the bucket or plow's weight and gravity is the only force applied to the attachment. (The attachment's weight will drop the loader attachment gently to the ground). No down pressure. No rise. Just a "float" of the bucket or plow on the surface you are using it on. Pop the lever or joystick out of the float position and you can then apply down pressure or rise to the plow or bucket. It's that simple.

 

[JustJeff]

Yes, the BX 2350 does have float. I've got one. And I disagree with the above poster. It is a helpful feature when moving snow. Just like it is on a snowplow. I remove snow commercially, and every plow that I own is in the float function when plowing snow. I don't know how well this will work on gravel though. 8K sounds high to me for that many hours. I bought mine with 500'ish hours with a FEL and a 60" mid mount mower for 8,250. If you can get the price down I would buy it.

 

[PaulL]

I have a bx2350, it has float. And is useful for lots of things where you want to scrape the surface but not dig down - scraping gravel off the ground, or any other pile of stuff.

Looking at used tractors - Messicks have a good video on used tractors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN-yyw8C51w

 

[skeets]

I use the float when ever the blade is on and I need to push something. The only problem I have found with the push blade is the little tiny round feet, they dont float much. I made up a set of ski like shoes 2 inches wide and about 6 inches long with a turned up tip. The float better over loose gravel and drit

 

[D2Cat]

Yes, the BX 2350 does have float. I've got one. And I disagree with the above poster. It is a helpful feature when moving snow. Just like it is on a snowplow. I remove snow commercially, and every plow that I own is in the float function when plowing snow. I don't know how well this will work on gravel though. 8K sounds high to me for that many hours. I bought mine with 500'ish hours with a FEL and a 60" mid mount mower for 8,250. If you can get the price down I would buy it.

Jeff, as I read Vacula's post I have to agree with what he said, "In all honesty, the float feature is not much of a feature."

It's standard equipment, is what I read it to mean. Like saying a transmission, or tires, or steering wheel is a "feature"....no it's just part of the machine.

He didn't say it was useless, but explained how it functions.

 

[JustJeff]

Jeff, as I read Vacula's post I have to agree with what he said, "In all honesty, the float feature is not much of a feature."

It's standard equipment, is what I read it to mean. Like saying a transmission, or tires, or steering wheel is a "feature"....no it's just part of the machine.

He didn't say it was useless, but explained how it functions.

You may be right. I don't know. And I wasn't trying to be "difficult", just saying that the feature of float is very beneficial to me.