BX23S Backhoe Rollover After Action Report (AAR)

[@1965ace]

I have 25 hours on mine, dug a 600' trench on very steep uneven ground. Getting on and off and rotating the seat has been the only real difficulty. I'm mindful of the pinch points and bumping the control levers. I'm happy to hear you didn't get severely hurt. The BX is small and cute but don't think it's any less dangerous than a larger tractor.

[@christinelombardi4854]

Oh my! I am a self taught tractor owner. Have had my Kubota bx for a year now. The very first time I tried to hook the backhoe back up the seat hit the levers and I almost panicked! It is as if the backhoe has a mind of its own!! It started jumping all around and going nuts! I immediately reached over and shunt down the engine! I called the salesman at Kubota and it took several pictures and about 2hrs and he walked me through the whole process! What a hero he was. I was terrified but I HAD to stand up to that piece of equipment and figure out how it worked! I have alot of respect for this backhoe. My problem was on the videos I totally missed getting the bottom of backhoe set up with the top part at the same time. This caused the backhoe to tilt too far and resulted in the seat actually JAMMING the controls! Luckily all it did was bend one of the fenders. Thanks for the video it helps. My ego was busted too. I'm thankful it was ok and I had Ken to help me thru it on the phone!!

[@terryk3118]

Good of you to offer these interviews so many people can learn from others mistakes. Thanks for doing then!

[@ODLife]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@glennvengroff7235]

I have watched many videos of the bx models and have seen it happen only once and I almost sh?t myself watching from home something that happened a couple years earlier. With people I never seen before! I am so glad that this video reminded me of it..TYVM

[@sportglideriderdennis8971]

Thank you for sharing this story! I remember watching video you posted a few years ago of your roll over on a tree root. My 2014 BX25D has yet to be rolled, but thanks to your “heads-up” I’ve been very careful. I always without fail install the “swing” lock pin whenever getting off the backhoe. The boom/tiller out/in is not as dangerous if accidentally bumped, but the swinging of boom could easily crush you as you mount or dismount tractor, especially at 3000 RPM! There was a KZbin post of user who nearly crushed his finger between the boom and lock pin due to having engine RPM to high while adjusting boom lever on his BX to line up the holes. Always do those functions on low idle was his suggestion!

[@ODLife]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@brentnorrod300]

Another thing to look out for is loose clothing hooking the backhoe “wobble sticks” while getting on, or off from the backhoe position. I hooked one getting off, but realized it quickly. I had raised the out riggers already, and now the boom was swinging at me as I was half way off.

[@ODLife]

Yeah, I have also nearly done the same thing. Good to be very deliberate or just turn it off.

[@doncarlton4858]

I have that exact model. The seat can be a bear to swivel. But seat back should be up before swiveling. There is a backhoe lockout lever, but I've never used it. Perhaps I will from now on! It would be very difficult if not impossible to adjust RPM from the seat when swiveled to the rear. The safety pins should be in place until read to use. He was indeed lucky he was not hurt and the tractor was not damaged. As you can see the Roll Over Protection System (ROPS or roll bar) was in place and did it's job. Never operate without it! The tractor would have rolled on it's back or tumbled down the hill if it were not in place!

[@peterkober6758]

O and D good to learn by mistakes no one hurt and lessen learned God Bless PaK

[@ODLife]

You got that right PaK! Live to play another day! Take it easy buddy!

[@davidwilburn8450]

Straddle trench with mine, went over at 45 degrees and engine stalled before able to use backhoe to lift it back. Ended up putting jack in trench under tire, lifting to about 10 degrees when I was able to fire the engine, bucket flat and used backhoe to lift and swivel rear tractor to solid ground. Shouldn't have been in the situation but all went well.

[@alphaone101]

I have a 2019 23S that I bought new. I haven't used the backhoe yet but I did read the tractor manual. I don't recall any mention of that "lock out lever" for the backhoe so that it won't operate, nor can I remember seeing that lever. Tomorrow I'll have to go to the barn and look for that backhoe lockout lever. I also was unaware that the back of the seat can be reclined so I'll have to check on that as well. Glad the owner/operator was hurt in this accident. I spent many years operating large farm tractors and even a couple of full sized backhoes and I must admit that this little tractor scares me a bit. It just really seems top heavy to me and just not stable like a big tractor but that might just be me.

[@ODLife]

It does need to be respected, that is for sure. I have been really pleased with mine and have been able to do lots of projects with it and help maintain and transform my land. Love it!

[@doncarlton4858]

The Backhoe has its own manual and the control is shown there. But can easily overlooked it has a locked/unlocked 🔓 icon next to it.

[@ODLife]

Bob, looks like the live chat ended. You asked if I could demo on my tractor how it could have happened, I could. Good idea.

[@sdemille]

I had something happen with my Bx23s first week after buying it, I thought I was doing everything right, but went I turn the seat around it hit the control of blackhole and it lift the tractor up over and on too it side, couldn’t turn off it keep burning oil, black smoke just pour out of tractor, some of my neighbors and I was able to upright it finally shutdown after it was upright. Couldn’t find any information about this problem till I saw this video. Now I turn off tractor or fold seat down before turning seat around. I was almost in tears I thought I ruined my brand new tractor, but don’t seem to be any problem with it, going on to about 300 hr now. I told dealer and they never hear of this problem.

[@ODLife]

Wow glad you were safe. I imagine it has happened much more than we hear about or at least have close calls. Would you be interested in being interviewed about the story?

[@botabob]

It's possible the tractor could have jack stands placed under the frame to keep the tractor from tipping over again. It might require the rear wheel to be removed to put the jack stands under the tractor. I am glad no one was hurt during this mishap. Thanks again for sharing your story so someone else might learn from your experience. Sorry I missed your premiere, and another good video Garrett. Cheers

[@ODLife]

Hey Bob, that could work if the backhoe is not too far down.

[@racoming1035]

I feel like I'm the only one the drags the outrigger on a slope to keep from tipping. I put extensions on my outriggers so I can do this on any slope. I have at times while using the FEL on a slope swung the BH to the side and extended it to use it as a counterweight. Probably not an OEM recommended practice but neither is rolling your machine.

[@ODLife]

I have at times, and heard of others doing it. Seems to be when people get complacent after getting over the "sketchy" feeling.

[@organicvids]

Tractor should b off when your switching between backhoe and loader seat position.

[@michaelfinney2160]

These sub compacts are just too tall like the seating position and too narrow for the height. Really they're not much bigger than a high end garden tractor. Put a loader and a backhoe on it and you got a recipe for disaster on an incline especially. I just got the BX 1870 54" deck no loader just the 3 point hitch and QH 05. Scary enough in some places even like that. Guess it's because the seat is mounted up so high. I love these little tractors but you just got to be real careful where you go with it. Remember Shiny Side Up ! Be safe and God Bless !

[@ODLife]

It does sit high and the pucker factor can start on a slight hill. Without the loader or BH, I do feel significantly better.

[@jea069er]

I have hit my controls on my 2016 BX 25 DLB , I never turned my RPM'S that high off the machine. Why was the seat reclined that far? If you hit the side lever it folds forward not back, why did he put the backhoe down that far, he obviously didn't watch enough videos or some idiot using one the wrong way! I would have put the legs down, to right it possibly. I have gone on steep grades and put the legs down and skimmed the ground so it didn't roll. Still had my seat belt on, (insurance) would kill me if i didn't!

[@ODLife]

I think just a combination of situations resulting in the outcome. I think some times people might keep seat forward and do a quick job kneeling on seat and maybe recline it? Not really sure. He did not put the backhoe down that far himself, his seat forced the controls back. Interesting that you would have tried the stabilizer down to try and right. So you would have started it and risked bending a rod? Sometimes you do what you got to do. Good food for thought.

[@XxBloggs]

77 years old?!? First tractor. Come on…