BX23S Capabilities

RTG

New member
Apr 13, 2026
6
2
3
Adel, GA
New to the forum. I'm considering buying a BX23S. I need a small tractor for dirt moving but also have a lot of pine stumps up to about 10 inches in diameter I need to dig up. Will the BX23S backhoe handle that? Thx for any help.
 

PaulL

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601, MX5200.
Jul 17, 2017
2,740
1,747
113
NZ
How many is "a lot"? Is it plausible to rent a machine to do them all in a couple days, then buy a BX without a backhoe? Do you have other tasks for the backhoe?

I haven't had a BX backhoe, but I have had a small mini-ex, which most people will say is more capable than the BX. It can dig stumps, but it's very slow going. I'd do it for a couple, but I'd get pretty tired of it if there were a lot. A bigger machine will do them dramatically faster - instead of carefully working around the stump breaking the roots one by one, then slowly rolling it out, you can just put the bucket on the stump and pull.

If you're looking for a weekend hobby for a few years, then yes. If you just need the job done, I'd seriously consider renting a bigger machine (or hiring a guy with a machine who does it all for you in one go).
 
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Scm

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Equipment
BX23S
Sep 28, 2024
316
305
63
Missouri
Its doable depending on how much time you have. It took me about 8-10 hours to get a 14"-16" ish white oak stump out with my BX
 
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85Hokie

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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
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Bedford - VA
It will do ANYTHING you want it to!! However - a mans gotta know his limitations! ( Clint Eastwood)

It will do it a small bite at a time !

I have removed many stumps - depending on tree type it will be fine, make sure you have a sawsall or other root cutting device.

I am of the opinion that it is better to buy once - cry once than to rent several times!
 
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edritchey

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2026 Kubota T2290-48 2026 Kubota ZD1211L-3-72, 2025 New Holland CNH WM75
Jul 19, 2014
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Those little machines are amazing.
 
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RTG

New member
Apr 13, 2026
6
2
3
Adel, GA
How many is "a lot"? Is it plausible to rent a machine to do them all in a couple days, then buy a BX without a backhoe? Do you have other tasks for the backhoe?

I haven't had a BX backhoe, but I have had a small mini-ex, which most people will say is more capable than the BX. It can dig stumps, but it's very slow going. I'd do it for a couple, but I'd get pretty tired of it if there were a lot. A bigger machine will do them dramatically faster - instead of carefully working around the stump breaking the roots one by one, then slowly rolling it out, you can just put the bucket on the stump and pull.

If you're looking for a weekend hobby for a few years, then yes. If you just need the job done, I'd seriously consider renting a bigger machine (or hiring a guy with a machine who does it all for you in one go).
Thanks for the info. I probably have about 50 pines that I'll be cutting down. Most of them are in the 4"-6" diameter, but a few are closer to 10". I just bought a property where a pond was dug years ago and the dirt piled in three places. Over time, the pines grew up in the dirt piles. I want to get the pines out and use the dirt for a little fill and grading in a few low spots. I'm not looking for a quick weekend completion. This will be an ongoing project.
 
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RTG

New member
Apr 13, 2026
6
2
3
Adel, GA
It will do ANYTHING you want it to!! However - a mans gotta know his limitations! ( Clint Eastwood)

It will do it a small bite at a time !

I have removed many stumps - depending on tree type it will be fine, make sure you have a sawsall or other root cutting device.

I am of the opinion that it is better to buy once - cry once than to rent several times!
Thanks for the reply and the tip.
 

Scm

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23S
Sep 28, 2024
316
305
63
Missouri
Pines have shallow roots. If you cut them tall 5-6-7' up (leverage), you may be able to pull them out of the ground using the backhoe. maybe a footish off the base of the stump you could dig around too break some roots, maybe a bucket deep, then use the bucket on top and shake the tree to break more deeper roots
 
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RTG

New member
Apr 13, 2026
6
2
3
Adel, GA
Pines have shallow roots. If you cut them tall 5-6-7' up (leverage), you may be able to pull them out of the ground using the backhoe. maybe a footish off the base of the stump you could dig around too break some roots, maybe a bucket deep, then use the bucket on top and shake the tree to break more deeper roots
That sounds like a good plan. Thx
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,
Apr 2, 2019
13,702
6,203
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
Yes it will be 'fine', not fast but it WILL do the job. Have removed 1/2 dozen spruces 18-24" diameter last year. Yes slow, but I wasn't in a hurry. If you need speed, rent a full size excavator for the day. Two tricks, cut tree but leave 2-3 feet of the trunk, makes a great 'lever' to wiggle loose the stump. Also dig 3-6 feet from the trunk, depending on the type of tree, so you can cut the roots. They will make it a LOT easier to dig and wiggle the stump out. If all your trees are the same species, you'll figure out in the first 2-3 how best to attack the rest of them. Also be sure to grease all the Zerks before you start !
 
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Shawn T. W

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Equipment
'05 L5030 HSTC - '21 MF GC 1725 MB - '18 JD Z960M Z-Trak
Dec 9, 2024
625
1,134
93
SW Missouri Ozarks
That is the same size SCUT that I have ... These are the only stumps I've dug out ... Some kind of hardwood ... The factory 12" bucket would only scratch the surface of the frozen ground, so would the 6" trenching bucket ...

IMG_20240123_095123821.jpg

Ground was frozen 8" down, I used the root ripper to break through so I could dig, a very handy tool for a Backhoe! It really concentrates the limited power you have into a very small area!

IMG_20240123_100459102.jpg

IMG_20240123_123540618.jpg

IMG_20240123_130005132.jpg

The "Quick-On" makes swapping tool ends very quick and easy ... All available from https://www.bxpanded.com/bx23s lots of very useful additions to your tractor!

The"Quick-On" basically works like this ... You install it with your factory pins, and then you take the red pin and slide it into the red slot, then hinge the purple up and put in the pin! The website has a short video if it's operating ...

IMG_20240123_094631218~2.jpg
 
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Speed25

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501(sold) - BX25D
Apr 23, 2024
300
474
63
NC
Pines have shallow roots. If you cut them tall 5-6-7' up (leverage), you may be able to pull them out of the ground using the backhoe. maybe a footish off the base of the stump you could dig around too break some roots, maybe a bucket deep, then use the bucket on top and shake the tree to break more deeper roots
This method has worked well for me on hardwoods (no pines near me). The extra leverage of the tall "stump" really helped to free the roots.
 

RTG

New member
Apr 13, 2026
6
2
3
Adel, GA
That is the same size SCUT that I have ... These are the only stumps I've dug out ... Some kind of hardwood ... The factory 12" bucket would only scratch the surface of the frozen ground, so would the 6" trenching bucket ...

View attachment 172872

Ground was frozen 8" down, I used the root ripper to break through so I could dig, a very handy tool for a Backhoe! It really concentrates the limited power you have into a very small area!

View attachment 172873

View attachment 172875

View attachment 172877

The "Quick-On" makes swapping tool ends very quick and easy ... All available from https://www.bxpanded.com/bx23s lots of very useful additions to your tractor!

The"Quick-On" basically works like this ... You install it with your factory pins, and then you take the red pin and slide it into the red slot, then hinge the purple up and put in the pin! The website has a short video if it's operating ...

View attachment 172876
Thanks very much for the info. My ground is very sandy in South Georgia and is always soft. I have no hardwood stumps to pull, all pine. The backhoe bucket should dig without a problem.
 

pjoh784350

Active member

Equipment
BX23, quick attach bucket, 3 point, pallet forks
May 3, 2019
170
78
28
Danville
That is the same size SCUT that I have ... These are the only stumps I've dug out ... Some kind of hardwood ... The factory 12" bucket would only scratch the surface of the frozen ground, so would the 6" trenching bucket ...

View attachment 172872

Ground was frozen 8" down, I used the root ripper to break through so I could dig, a very handy tool for a Backhoe! It really concentrates the limited power you have into a very small area!

View attachment 172873

View attachment 172875

View attachment 172877

The "Quick-On" makes swapping tool ends very quick and easy ... All available from https://www.bxpanded.com/bx23s lots of very useful additions to your tractor!

The"Quick-On" basically works like this ... You install it with your factory pins, and then you take the red pin and slide it into the red slot, then hinge the purple up and put in the pin! The website has a short video if it's operating ...

View attachment 172876
Totally agree with the suggestion of the root ripper and quick attach from BXPANDED. I have a BX23s and the backhoe will drag the machine. Power may not be as much an issue of the size of the machine. Love my BX for my 3 acres, I can think of worse ways to spend a few hours than sitting on a machine digging stumps!
 
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bird dogger

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Vendor Member

Equipment
Kubota B2650 and lots of other equipment
Feb 24, 2019
1,763
1,744
113
North Dakota
I have the same quick-on and root ripper for my BH77 and couldn't imagine getting by without it. It turns the backhoe into a mean digging machine for removing brush, stumps, and other debris hiding in the ground!!