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Just ordered my BX23 last Friday! My first tractor and I've found this forum invaluable (thanks!) While telling everyone about my new tractor (to be delivered within a week), someone asked if I got an engine block heater. Oops! I've seemed to order a bunch of attachments (snow blower being one of them), however, I forgot about a simple thing like that. <br>
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I was wondering how necessary the heater might be, I live in New Hampshire, so we'll get short stretches of -10F weather... I bought one for my (gasoline) car and forget to use it half the time and it doesn't complain too bitterly. Granted I'm expecting the tractor to greatly outlive the car... and it might get cranky in it's older age when it comes.<br>
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If the heater is recommended, how much should I expect to pay for it (and installation)?<br>
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Thanks for being a great resource to us tractor newbies!<br>
- Sergio<br>

Engine block heater for BX23 in New England
Kubota Tractors
Replies 7 Post by sergiorubio

Oliver, definitely take JKJ's advice and read that book. As a fellow horse husband I sympathize with you ;-) My wife and I have built stalls for our two small barns, however, she's great at figuring out exactly what she wants and executing it, so I've only been there to help with the construction and not with the choice of materials... but here's my advice:<br>
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Rough cut is great, stronger and cheaper, however, we used kiln dried 2x6's just because of availability. We've always just nailed in the boards, makes it easier to replace pieces when broken/eaten through.<br>
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Some horses just love to chew (our two remind me of beavers occasionally), once you've finished with the stalls treat them with some sort of chew stop (there are clear treatments which are quite effective). It's amazing how quickly they can turn that beautiful new stall into something ugly (they will tend to eat just more than the top board...)<br>
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As hardwood mentioned rough cut is heavy, our 2x6 kiln dried stall doors are heavy enough, I can only imagine them with the extra weight. Since you're in Mass, door hardware (tracks and hangers) are available at your local Home Depot (look for Stanley hardware) or try your local feed store.<br>
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One thing to note before doing the construction, if you're considering stall bars be sure to decide on a manufacturer before starting/finishing construction. We were limited since the barn wasn't quite as big as we wanted, so we have slightly odd stall sizes which meant that we'd have to order custom bars which meant several thousand $$$. <br>
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I love tractorpoint.com, however, you may consider posting to a more equine oriented forum (and then perhaps update this thread with your findings), my wife is addicted to the Ultimate Dressage forum - very active and informative group.<br>
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Maybe I can get my wife to post, she's the one you really want to talk to ;-)<br>
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Congrats on moving your horses home! It'll save tons of money and if your wife is anything like mine, it'll make her happier to have them where she can see them all of the time.<br>
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HTH,<br>
- Sergio

Putting stalls in barn
Parts and Repair
Replies 9 Post by sergiorubio