So, how's your 2520 holding up?

[tomd999]

Hi All,

I was just out in the garage cleaning chaffe from the radiator screen after a good day of mowing yesterday and it struck me that I really haven't done much to my 2520 except oil, filters and grease for almost 4 years. That got me wondering how other people are doing.

So, that being said, I would like to collect some info and maybe find some common issues that popup at roughly the same hour range so owners will know what to expect and also for the new people that buy or are thinking of buying, can see what I expect to be the case, an very sturdy reliable platform that will be trouble free for years.

I am going to include a question for Deere attachments specifically made for the 2520 so we can see how those are holding up as well. (62D, 47-54 Blower, 54" blade, Hoe)

OK, here they are:

Year:

Hours:

Details of your tractor: (R4's/turfs, wheel weights/loaded, added hyd circuits, lights)

Average # of hours between fluid/filter services:

Brand of fluids if not Deere:

Primary use of tractor: (Activity that consumes the most hours of use)

Secondary use of tractor:

Environment type: (flat, rolling, hilly, mountains, dry, dusty, wet, hot, cool, alien..)

Your equipment use style: (Slow and easy, average, Git-er-dunn, Why won't this thing go any faster!!! Grrrrrr)

2520 specific attachments:

Attachment that consumes the most hours:

Issues: (List hours and issue/resoultion, be detailed please)

OK, that's all I think we will need to find out about the 2520 to get a good baseline.

Thanks for your input,

Tom

 

[tomd999]

Hi,

Here's my data:

Year:07

Hours:130

Details of your tractor: R4's, wheel weights/loaded, added loader hyd circuit, lights)

Average # of hours between fluid/filter services: 50

Brand of fluids if not Deere: Amsoil

Primary use of tractor: Mowing

Secondary use of tractor: Snowblowing

Environment type: mountains, wet in spring/fall

Your equipment use style: Average to Git-er-dunn

2520 specific attachments: loader

Attachment that consumes the most hours: 60" RFM

Issues: None

 

[Runner]

Good idea. Also might want to add whether purchased new or used. Mine was purchased new, with about 30 minutes on the hour meter.

Year: 2007

Hours: 192

Details of your tractor: (R4's/turfs, wheel weights/loaded, added hyd circuits, lights)

R4, Full wheel weights (three per side, 60lbs each/360lbs total), power beyond

Average # of hours between fluid/filter services: 50/yearly/as directed in manual

Brand of fluids if not Deere: Regular Hygard for hydro system, Shell Rotella T 10w-30 motor oil, JD polyurea grease

Primary use of tractor: (Activity that consumes the most hours of use): Mowing (mostly finish with 72 RFM, about 10-12 hours per year brush hogging with 60 inch rotary cutter)

Secondary use of tractor: loader work/backhoe/snow plow/blowing

Environment type: (flat, rolling, hilly, mountains, dry, dusty, wet, hot, cool, alien..): very hilly/rough/fairly wet/grass, weeds, trees

Your equipment use style: (Slow and easy, average, Git-er-dunn, Why won't this thing go any faster!!! Grrrrrr) average - all mowing in low range, most other work in low range

2520 specific attachments: 46 backhoe, 62D mower, 54 front blade and blower - not enough time on any of these to really say how they will hold up - front blade and backhoe each used a few hours and no issues yet.

Attachment that consumes the most hours: 72 inch rear finish mower - mows two acres every week or two from April through September

Issues: (List hours and issue/resoultion, be detailed please)

- bad battery at, maybe the 75 hour mark - replaced with Exide unit

- acid leakage is causing rust on hydro oil cooler and battery tray - no fix yet, just clean off with baking soda/water - probably will need to have replacement cooler handy for when it blows and then Ill take it all apart and repaint the battery tray too

-"old style" three-point arms caused tire rubbing - replaced by Deere

 

[PCABE5]

Year: 2011

Hours: 7.2 +??? (tach quit)

Details of your tractor: R4's, one set of rear weights, front/rear worklights, temp gauge on order

Average # of hours between fluid/filter services: 50 initial then every 200 hrs

Brand of fluids if not Deere: Deere Hygard, Shell Rotella T or Delvac

Primary use of tractor: Mowing 4 hours/week

Secondary use of tractor: Loader/Front blade work

Environment type: rolling to hilly and all temperature ranges

Your equipment use style: Average

2520 specific attachments: 72"MMM, loader, front blade

Attachment that consumes the most hours: MMM and loader

Issues:

Brakes not adjusted properly - will not hold on a hill
Battery acid line - just dangling with not catch bottle
Rate of drop valve - no adjustment to speak of
Tachometer - quit working
Front Hyd pump - suction line leaking

 

[bz1]

Year: 2008
Hours: 384
Details: R4's, 3 front weights, rear work light
Average hours between service: 75 to 100 hours between oil changes, hydraulic oil and filters changed when required by manual
Brand of fluids: JD Low Vis Hygard, generic diesel motor oil
Primary use: mowing
Secondary use: snow plowing with rear blade
Environment: relatively level field and woods, sandy soil
Use style: average
2520 specific attachments: 62D MMM
Attachment that consumes more hours: 62D MMM
Issues: 3 point lift arms replaced with 2720 style free by JD, no other issues

 

[hizoot]

Year:2010 -bought december.so its six months old
Hours: 53

Details of your tractor: R4's,loaded,backhoe,61" front loader bucket

Average # of hours between fluid/filter services: changing fluids/filters this weekend..so 53

Brand of fluids if not Deere: rotella
Primary use of tractor: landscaping-installing new yard for new house

Secondary use of tractor:garden,equipment mover/loader

Environment type:hilly,sandy,very hot

Your equipment use style: average
2520 specific attachments:backhoe

Attachment that consumes the most hours:loader

Issues: none

 

[lowechj]

Year - 2006
Hrs - 240
Avg time between fluid/filter changes - yearly or 50 hrs
Details - R4 tires, block heater
Brand of fluid - JD Hygard low viscosity, Shell Rotella Synthetic engine oil
Prim use - snow and moving manure
Sec use - loader work
Evironment - flat, hot summers, cold winters
Equipment use style - avg
Attachment useage - depends on the winter, this year the blower was used for 22 hrs whereas I can use the loader 12 months a year so I use it the most
Attachments - JD loader 200 cx, 42" front blade, generic 60" rear snow blower
ballast box
Issues - oem battery failed at 27 months or 139 hrs
- ongoing fight with JD over rear draft arms rubbing on the rear tires
and of course they refuse to do anything for me.