New JD 3520 : she's a beauty !

[johndeere4300]

Nice tractor!....I really like the tires and would like to learn more about what is mounted on the rear

[soulasphil]

Thank you for your appreciation, I'm really thrilled with the machine.
The dealer was a bit upset by my order of Ag tires with the mower but humored me and I'm quite pleased with the result. Experience has taught me that a tractor can easily get stuck around here and needs a lot of traction to handle tree trunks and such.
As most of you have already guessed, the big akward thing on the back is a three point hydraulic hedge trimmer. The model name is LICORNE (a unicorn) and it's built by the British firm S.M.A. It uses the tractor's hydraulics for the rams and the motor. I guess you coud also use it to cut the grass around your pond, but I don't have a pond. It can manage a horizontal cut at 3.2 meters (10' 6'') and a vertical cut up to 4.5 meters (14' 9'').
Judging by the massacre I did on a couple of my hedges, I can tell you the operator needs a lot of practice to obtain decent results, but it is very fast.
Here are a few more pictures of the thing.

[johndeere4300]

Originally Posted by soulasphil

Thank you for your appreciation, I'm really thrilled with the machine.
The dealer was a bit upset by my order of Ag tires with the mower but humored me and I'm quite pleased with the result. Experience has taught me that a tractor can easily get stuck around here and needs a lot of traction to handle tree trunks and such.
As most of you have already guessed, the big akward thing on the back is a three point hydraulic hedge trimmer. The model name is LICORNE (a unicorn) and it's built by the British firm S.M.A. It uses the tractor's hydraulics for the rams and the motor. I guess you coud also use it to cut the grass around your pond, but I don't have a pond. It can manage a horizontal cut at 3.2 meters (10' 6'') and a vertical cut up to 4.5 meters (14' 9'').
Judging by the massacre I did on a couple of my hedges, I can tell you the operator needs a lot of practice to obtain decent results, but it is very fast.
Here are a few more pictures of the thing.

Very nice setup!

How hard would it be to take off the trimmer...and put it back on???

[kennyd]

Originally Posted by johndeere4300

Very nice setup!

How hard would it be to take off the trimmer...and put it back on???

It looks like it has it's own built-in QA setup to attach it...VERY cool!

[pilot-werx]

Very nice!

[johndeere4300]

Originally Posted by kennyd

It looks like it has it's own built-in QA setup to attach it...VERY cool!

OK Kennyd...I looked again & i see what your talking about....Yes very cool.

I want one.....BUT the better half would NOT understand why

[soulasphil]

Taking off the trimmer is easy and takes about 10 minutes, including putting everything back in order. The only problem is it's very heavy and the heavy part (the gear box) is not centered and not at the bottom, so it cannot be trusted on its 3 legs and could easily fall and break.
Putting it back on shouldn't be more difficult (probably a bit longer to get the three point hitch exactly where you want it) but I haven't done it yet. I'm sorry to say there is no QA system.
As for better halves, this required a negociation including a planned journey to Spain ...

[jenkinsph]

soulasphil, very nice tractor there and should last you quite a spell. Are you by chance the owner of Imperials also?



Steve

[DaleJR88Fan]

Very nice tractor and I hope you like your green machine as much as I do mine and it serves you well. Hopefully your old massey will go to a good home. I really like the mirrors on your tractor, what can you tell me about them? Those would really come in handy on some of our machines in the states.

[soulasphil]

In this country, the 3520 is allowed on the roads and must have the same equipment as other vehicles and refrain from using off-road diesel (unless used professionally in agriculture).

First requirement is a numberplate at the back so that cops can give you tickets . We are just beginning to use European numberplates that are supposed to be anonymous, giving no indication of country or district and stay with the car, not the owner. But I notice the Bretons have managed to put their flag on it and the Breton name of the province BREIZH, and the number of the departement, 29, larger than the French F. That's the spirit !

Then you must have the same lights and indicators as a car, two rear-view mirrors and an orange flashing light on top. That's all very well on the road, but an expensive nuisance when you drive through the woods, trim hedges, etc... So people tend not to replace them when they get broken.

The mirrors themselves are big, well placed, not too much in the way, and give you a clear view of the long line of cars waiting for an opportunity to pass you. I wonder how long they will last though!

I really love the machine so far and am having a grand time driving it. My only concern is about stability. She'very narrow (about a foot less than the Massey) and I feel uncomfortable on slopes. Perhaps it's only me !

By the way, I didn't make the round balls you can see on my meadow. They were made by my neighbour with a 135 HP Massey Ferguson. He will use the hay to feed his sheep.