John Deere JD25202 4.80 star(s) (29)

John Deere 2520 Compact Tractor
Model Year: 2008

I am pleased with the JD 2520 compact tractor overall. It has 4WD, a Yanmar diesel engine and a front end loader. My major concern is its narrow stance. It is not as stable as I had hoped it would be even on slightly sloped ground. Unfortunately, my 2.5 acres is slightly sloped over 40% of the land and steeply sloped over 10%. I use extreme caution on the 40% and do not attempt to navigate the 10% at all. When I use a Woods bush hog that helps the stability of the JD 2520. I have a Ford NAA and feel much more comfortable on it on the 40% of my land that has a slight slope. But it does not have a front end loader and has seen its better days. For the remaining portion of my land the JD is excellent. I have learned to use the front end loader as a brush clearing implement. ( Tilt it down and drag backwards with the slope not across the slope). The JD 2520 has helped me accomplish a lot this year and I probably have recouped 10 to 15% of the $13,000 used price it cost me by just doing the work myself. The categories that I have rated 4 stars are all rated that way because of the narrow stance as it affects all of these attributes of the JD 2520 Compact tractor.

Pros: Reliable, made to work, diesel power.
Cons: Unstable on event the slightest slope.

JD 2520
Model Year: 2011

I had a JD 755 for twenty years. During that time I replaced the battery three times, replaced oil and filters---and that's it. I gained a respect and admiration for the Yanmar engine and the drive train that is top shelf. So, twenty years later, I went looking for a replacement (the reason won't be mentioned here). I looked briefly at other similar sized tractors, looked longer and harder at Kubota, and decided on the JD. I picked the 2520 because I wanted a specific PTO-driven tool that required 25hp. Otherwise, I probably would have gone with a 2320. I added the quick mount 5' bucket and the 62D On Ramp deck. It's a nice tractor.

Pros: It starts easily every time I turn the key, it cuts my 2 acres of grass, it drives my wood chipper, and it moves my trailers around.
Cons: I believe the 755 had greater lifting power than this rig. I lived in NH---The Granite State---and I moved a lot of humongous rocks with that machine. We added a porch to our house, including nine granite steps that weighed 600 to 700 lbs apiece, and I put each of them in place with the JD. Quantifying this, with the 755 I could approach a weight of any kind, get under it with the bucket, and the load would either come up with the bucket or the rear tires would come off the ground. The 2520 has NEVER lifted the rear tires off the ground. If the load is too heavy, it just sits there with apparent (to me) hydraulic slippage or leakage going on. One other project worthy of note was when my wife asked me to remove this little rock that was sticking up... I ended up digging a hole that could hide the whole John Deere, and having that "little rock" roll over so I could bury it. The John Deere 755 did everything I ever asked it to do. Two of the quick disconnects for the bucket leak constantly. When I went to the local JD dealer to buy replacements they ordered the wrong ones. I'm living with the leaks. I brought my 2520 to the local dealer once, and without wanting to I was impacted by their head mechanic's preference for big AG tractors... He couldn't be bothered with the "little stuff." I took my tractor home and will live with it as is. I have the independent lift kit, because there are times when I cut with the deck while I have the bucket mounted, and I want to be able to control the bucket (curl) and the deck lift concurrently. The design of the joystick and the additional hydraulic control down by my right heel is impractical and awkward. I've been cutting trees; I deliver the wood to three neighbors, bucket by bucket. At high speed on the road the PTO arms swing back and forth and rub against the inside of the rear tires, and rub rubber off the tires. That's a design flaw. It's been mentioned by many other owners. Living in NC means living with red clay. I cannot dig a hole with this machine. Maybe if I replaced the bucket with one with teeth it would be different.

JD 2520 62c Mower and 200 Loader
Model Year: 2010

Has been trouble free. My wife uses it all the time and enjoys it.

Pros: Other than regular maintenance nothing has been touched.
Cons: None.

So Far So Good
Model Year: 2007

So far so good with the little diesel tractor I bought. It has done everything I have ever it put it through. The implements on the other hand have needed repair and tweaking. The first year I had the rake, it got all bent up. It was a very poor design. But a simple fix to weld a channel all along the angle help stiffen it right back up and haven't had any problems. I would look to put a hoe on back but haven't wanted to throw the cash down for it. I have ripped out 8-10 tree stumps just with the bucket on front and have learned how to use my tractor quite effectively. I love it and can't wait to add more attachments.

Pros: Small and versatile.
Cons: I little cramped around the operators seat but I'm a big guy so that I guess is my problem.

John Deere 2520
Model Year: 2008

I bought my tractor in '08 for several jobs at home I had to do mowing being one of them. I own 23 acres mow 7 acres with I finish mower 60". It works great. I have a 54" snow blower and 48" tiller for it 4' brush hog for it and a set of forks for it. I love the tractor it works very well no complaints.

Pros: Geasy to switch attachments and to get around.
Cons: Wish the open station was bigger not enough room.

JD 2520
Model Year: 1972

Tractor meets my needs running a horse/alpaca operation and putting up approx 55 acres of hay.

Pros: Enough horsepower for small hay operations but not so large it is hard to service.
Cons: Mid mount PTO for sickle bar mower is inconvient to hook up and unhook when rear PTO power is needed.

Great Tractor, Just Too Complicated for the Average Homeowner
Model Year: 2010

This tractor gets the job done on our property. There are a lot of useful implements for it: mowing deck, snow plow, snow blower, front end loader, aerator, utility cart, etc. It has enough horsepower to get through anything with ease. My one really big gripe about it involves the complexity of it, especially when using the implements. Many of them are heavy, requiring two people to move and position. Also, the instructions are incomprehensible to the average homeowner. There is a lot of jargon and the pictures included with the instructions are often difficult to see because they are in black and white and generally are not crisp. It's also VERY expensive to maintain. We do some of the work ourselves but the annual service usually costs in excess of $500. Don't get me wrong, this is a great tractor. Very reliable and useful if you live in the country and have a large piece of property. It's just not easy to use in certain circumstances if you are an average homeowner.

Pros: Reliable, versatile.
Cons: Instructions not useful for average people. Implements are sometimes too complicated to take on and off.

Great Purchase
Model Year: 2012

We purchased a JD 2520 with a 62"MMM, 200cx loader, 46" backhoe and a rear ballast box. We live on 56 acre property w/about 50 acres of woods/mountain and 6 acres to mow and maintain including a stream and a large water culvert outback. After living here 10 yrs. finally got a real tractor. Has a craftsman riding tractor w/50" deck. Did all I could ask and more RIP. The new tractor is very impressive so far. I needed something that could cut my mowing time, mow a steep hill & be very user friendly for all around yard work. Mower works good but not as nice as my last finish mower. This machine is heavy & you need to be careful not to make ruts or tear up grass while mowing but it does cut the mowing time by quite a bit. Overall mowing I give a B. Its pretty easy to get the desk on/off. I use/needed the lower far more than I knew. You can do almost anything with the loader and this hp. I give this an A. The backhoe was really tough to get on/off the first 2 times but now it takes about 10 minutes. It really helps to have 2 people making the switch on/off. I know it's not the biggest bucket nor does it have the greatest reach and is cost about $8k if I remember right, but after 2 back surgeries it is sure good to have when you need to dig. So far I give it a B. I wish it could dig a little more but I knew what I was getting when I bought it. Overall, very happy w/this machine. I looked for 2 years & I know I made a good purchase. The 4wd is great! This tractor makes live so much easier. I have big plans for this machine in the spring so we will see how it goes but I expect it to do great! Thanks to all who post reviews they were very helpful when I was making my purchase decision.

Pros: Tough, dependable, able to handle many tasks.
Cons: Price, size of backhoe.

My John Deere 2520
Model Year: 2010

This is my first "real" tractor. I have learned a lot over the past two years. I only wish I had bought a tractor 10 years ago. It has saved me so much time and work. I've had my 2520 for a little over two years now. I originally bought it for mowing grass (62D MMM) and moving some dirt (200CX loader & BB). Since I bought the tractor I've added a SB1164 3 PH snowblower, JD 655 tiller, BB2060 box blade and a set of pallet forks. The only implement that I don't use is the 62D MMM. The cut quality was okay, but the tractor and mower were too big to use around the house and buildings. I still use my 18 HP Simplicity with a 50" deck for lawn mowing. I have about 3 1/2 acres that I mow. The other implements I've used and they all work well. With the box blade I will lose traction before I lose power. This is because the tractor is fairly light when compared to the power of the engine. With the snowblower I sometimes have to slow down as I will lose power when taking a big bite of snow. A big bite of snow is crusted snow 24+" deep and the full 64" width of the blower. On previously broken ground the tiller works great. On non-broken ground with heavy sod it will break it up, but you need to go slow and make many passes. It's better to plow or disc the sod first, with a bigger tractor, then till. For most of what I use it for the tractor has performed flawlessly. For the things I ask it to do that are a little out of it's league, I have to go slower and take my time. It does get the job done, it just takes more time. I do most of my own maintenance (oil changes, etc.) and this tractor is easy to work on. I know most of the compact tractors out there are good, well built machines. I bought John Deere because in my area John Deere seems to hold it's resale value a bit getter than the others. I bought mine from a dealer 70 miles from my home. I do have a JD dealer 15 miles from my house and they weren't really interested too much in selling me a compact tractor. The dealer 70 miles away was great. They made me feel like I was important to them. They took their time and explained everything. They gave me what I felt was a good deal and delivered the tractor for free. If and when I go tractor shopping again, that will be my first stop.

Pros: Hydrostatic transmission, two pedal control, power for it's intended use, realiability, ease of maintenance, control layout.
Cons: No cons really. I think I need a bigger tractor.

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Avoid Mod Mount Mower
Model Year: 2010

Tachometer quit after 150 hours. Mid mount mower is sub par. Cuts well and easy to remove and reinstall, but the hydrolic lift has moor travel than the deck actully has. In other words, the lift moves 4 inches but the deck only has 3 inches available, so it breaks pins. Everything else has been excellent.

Pros: Easy to use.
Cons: Tachometer, cutting deck.

My Best Tool
Model Year: 2011

I have had a very pleasing experience with my little tractor so far. I had hesitated for years in spending so much money on a little tractor, however, it has been the HANDIEST tool I have every purchased. I feed some calves and 3 horses and we use round bales to feed them. The 2520 with a rear spike moves them very well even in sloppy deep mud.

Pros: With 4 wheel mechanical assist it powers through mud, snow. Starts great.
Cons: CX200 loader won't pick up round bales.

JD2520
Model Year: 0

No surprises. Got what I expected. Very satisfied. Use with 72" 3pt. mower, 54" snowblower, 72" box blade, ballast box, quick hitch 3pt. adapter.

Pros: Plenty of power for size. Easy handling. Easy on fuel.
Cons: Hydraulic hoses hang low enough to be of concern when in the brush.

The Right Tractor for Me!
Model Year: 2011

I had originally started investigating the JD 2305, but they were scarce to find as the 1000 series was long overdue in the dealer showroom. While I waited and waited first the 2320 was offered with a rebate, and soon after the 2520 was advertised with its own rebate of $2,500. It was a hard decision for me as it would be my first "real" tractor. I asked a host of question to the forum, and listened to each response. In the end the rebate on the 2520 won the day, still a little apprehensive I bought the 2520, and have been extremely happy with my decision. No buyer’s remorse here. In retrospect I think the idea of deciding what you are going to need for a tractor then buying one size up worked for me. It does ring true at least it did for me that once you have a capable tractor you start talking more home projects that you hadn’t even considered before. A real big thanks to the members of TractorByNet for getting me going in the right direction!

Pros: Really enjoy using this tractor, surprising what it can do!
Cons: None so far.

JD 2520
Model Year: 2006

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Pros: Good.
Cons: Still good.

JD2520
Model Year: 2011

Just getting started with the tractor, mowing 5+ acres with rotary cutter and 62D MMM. Waiting for some snow this winter! No complaints.

Pros: Powerful, reliable.
Cons: None.

John Deere 2520
Model Year: 2011

I should note that I had a JD 755 for twenty years before I bought the 2520. I used the 755 for lawn maintenance, light logging in my own woods, and snow removal. While I bought the 2520 in NH, within a few months I moved to NC, so I'll use the new JD for everything but snow removal. I ordered it with R3 turf tires, the independent lift kit, diverter kit, 210C FEL, 62D MM deck, rear lighting kit and brush guard kit, and omit the ballast box. (It arrived WITH the ballast box.) I have my doubts about the diverter kit. The selling dealer's prep crew installed the lines wrong; at least one hydraulic line leaks (5 drops a day); and I don't feel that the FEL has the same lifting capacity as my old 755 and 70 quick disconnect FEL. We built a 32' farmers porch on our NH house and I had granite steps cut from the local quarry. My JD 755 had no problem lifting and positioning the new steps, which the quarry had labeled with their exact weights, all between 620 and 740 lbs. With the 2520 I'm having trouble burying the bucket in a mound of heavy wet loam and lifting a full bucket (60") of dirt. I find the 4wd selector lever inconveniently placed; I'm sorely tempted to use my left boot to engage 4wd but manual warns against doing that. I also find the diverter kit handle inconveniently place. I can kick it backward with my right heel and select the belly mount lift arms, but then it's hard to reach down to use just two fingers (small handle) to pull the diverter back forward to re-engage the FEL roll/tilt control. I have the "rear lighting kit" lights pointed 30 degrees to either side of straight ahead, and that solves the problem of the headlights being masked by the FEL bucket. In the dark I travel in a near circle of bright light that is delightful --- and productive. It turns out that while turf tires were advantageous in NH, they are awful in the NC clay. They load up within one rotation in the slimey clay down here, and then they're like racing slicks. I have traveled on the road several times, going to help neighbors with this or that, and if I make any abrupt turns within my lane (which swings the 3pt hitcharms) the hitch arms absolutely rub on the inside of the rear tires, with chunks of rubber flying off. Those things sound negative, but this tractor fires up at all temps and all weather, works hard for me, and in general pleases me. The PTO power is impressive for a compact tractor. I have a PTO chipper that chips up to 5-1/2 inch trees and it chews that stuff up like it's mashed potatoes. The low range pulling power is great (while I have traction). Thank you, John Deere, for relocating the fuel filler cap! This tractor will outlast me.

Pros: Excellent value all around. Drive-on belly mount deck is SO easy.
Cons: 3PT arms rub inside of rear tires. FEL seems to have limited lifting capacity.

2011 JD 2520
Model Year: 2011

I bought this 2520 with the intention of using it around the property for projects and an occasional commercial use. Well things did not go according to plan and so I decided to start a tractor work business. The tractor has been great. It does everything I ask of it. I am amazed at what this little tractor is capable of. There are times though that I wish I had bought bigger. One complaint I have is more against John Deere than the tractor, I wish they would offer more hydraulic options from the factory. I have installed TNT as well as a 3rd scv at the rear, without having to use the mid scv's.

Pros: Very capable tractor.
Cons: Not enough factory hydraulic options.

JD 2520 - 9 Months of Ownership
Model Year: 2011

The 2520 is a great little tractor. Was considering a 2305 or 1027, but ended up buying one size up. Purchased the 2520 over the 2320 because of improved hydraulics and a special dealer rebate at the time. Attachments purchased include the 200CX FEL, ballast box and 64D mower. I later added my own tool box behind the seat and chain hooks on the FEL bucket. Tractor has performed flawlessly...no regrets with the purchase decision. Only issue was the lack of the Stow n' Go feature for the mower deck. Apparently this feature was dropped however neither the dealer nor advertising info stated this.

Pros: Great tractor and value.
Cons: None at this time.

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JD 2520 Compact Utility Tractor
Model Year: 2011

I purchased a JD 2520 to handle anything from mowing grass to skidding timber. I have not been disappointed. It has done everything I have asked of it. I am very pleased with it. I would recommend it to others.

Pros: Excellent turning radius, 4WD does very good.
Cons: I wish I could totally remove the rollbar when mowing grass due to going under trees.

6 Month Review
Model Year: 2011

It is a good tractor that I would buy again. I have the 200CX loader, 62D drive on deck, RC2060 rotary mower and 54" front blade. I got iMatch which makes putting stuff on the hitch a breeze. I picked Deere mostly due to the brakes being on the left side. I live on a hill, and I like the ability to keep my foot on both brakes and gas in certain situations. The rotary mower is great. I am able to mow places in one afternoon that I might weed eat once a year. I'm still learning how to really use the loader, but it has been helpful a few times. I have not used the front blade yet, but will be in the next few weeks for snow. The issues I list below are minor, but keep the tractor from being perfect: You do have to be careful when turning on grass - sharp turns have a tendency to tear up the grass - especially in damp areas. 4WD make this much worse. I have a similar issue on a steep section of yard where you have to use 4WD. I am going to plant something there and avoid mowing it I think. The front grille sucks up grass when mowing and blocks airflow. You have to shut off the tractor to get it off. The parking brake is a little weak when the tractor is in neutral. You have to be careful where you park it when leaving it running while off the tractor. The biggest complaint I have is that you have to switch the hardware underneath the front when going between 62D and front blade. It is not that hard to change, but you would think one set of plates would do both. Also, the blade's hydraulic hose colors do not match the tractor's.

Pros: Brakes on left; Deere quality.
Cons: Price, lawn damage in certain areas, grass on grille.