about to buy a 2320

[EdC]

I have right at 300 hours on my 2320 with the 200cx and loaded tires. The loaded tires definitely help but more weight on the back is needed for loader work unless you are just moving snow. Usually I have a 60 inch rear blade or carryall loaded down with rocks as a counterweight. My R4 tires are filled with beet juice (rears only) and they have been problem free. I have not bought an I-match because that is money that could be spent on another implement. :laughing:

If you are planning to do a lot of work with the loader consider getting a toothbar. The toothbar makes the loader a much much better digging tool, especially if you have a lot of clay in your soil. If you are thinking about moving rocks the toothbar acts as a great reinforcement for the bucket cutting edge.

I actually never take my loader off since I end up using it so often; at most I will drop the bucket so I don't have any idea how light the front end is without it.

My wife has no problem using our tractor and in the summer probably puts as many hours as I do on it.

$16,100 seems like it is in the ball park. What you could do is use the JD configurator on their website to get full retail price and then compare it to the offered price to see how much of a discount your dealer is offering.

 

[dmay]

If my main usage of a tractor was lawn mowing I would get a belly mount mower which is much easier to 'drive'.

To make changing 3pt attachments a simple task I would get an iMatch (or similar quick hitch).

For rear weight I would not fill my rear tires as then you have this extra weight to deal with when you may not want extra weight, ie lawn mowing. When you do need extra weight a ballast box has the advantage of being small and sitting close to the tractor, out of harms way. Another good rear weight option looks to be a Heavy Hitch.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

the ballast box ties up the 3pt. from using something on the rear. I believe that if I am using the loader, then I am going to be using a blade/box scraper or some other attachment also.

Myself, I would not put anything in my tires. I read one thread on problems with liquid in the tires and I cringe at the thought of it. Others will swear by it. I ain't going there.

My ballast box is is one of the most valuable attachments I have. Your comment above makes no sense to me.?? Look, if you have a blade on the back and you need the rake....the blade becomes a pita. A tractor is not always the most efficient tool. We all change attachments and it is not always easy but, it does get easier.

The fact remains that if you use the FEL, you need ballast. Period. And, a rear blade isn't ballast. A box blade isn't ballast.

In fact in some cases, I have read, if a tractor is sold with a loader, the ballast box comes with the tractor, as it should.

When I was new to tractors (not that long ago) I thought I could use a carry-all loaded with firewood for ballast. LOL. What an idiot I was.!!

Sir, you need a ballast box. Get one and use it. You will be soo glad you did. It serves a dedicated purpose...it protects your front axle, not to mention how the performance of your tractor is elevated to the max.

To me, it's a no brainer.

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with Dmay and JohnDeereGReenGrass,

There are always trade offs with 8 in 1 tools, when the wife is mowing with a mid mount mower she is less likely to hit anything. Don't need alot of ballst for this task. When using the fel for gravel you need the weight box, you can easily switch to a rear blade or box blade without leaving the seat with an IMatch.

I recommend you use a setup that allows you to compensate for the task at hand, filling the tires is not something you can readily change or adapt, a weight box can be added or deleted easily.

 

[Gittyup]

If mowing is a big part of your tasks, skip the tire loading and get the ballast box. However, if mowing is not. Load the tires. Performance, and more importantly, safety will be greatly enhanced by loaded tires. You still might need some counter weight depending on the work you are doing. And a box or scraper blade may be enough with the loaded tires.

If you are afraid of the leaking issues with fluid filled tires, get them foam filled. This will add even more weight and you'll never have to worry about a flat. If I were buying new today and loading my tires, this is the way I'd go.

Imatch is great. But, if you are scraping together a pile with a blade on the back and then moving it with the loader, would you really want to be changing 3PH implements every few minutes? You'll start skipping the switch over to the ballast box and then you might be working unsafely with insufficient weight.

As has been said repeatedly, a tractor is a jack-of-all-trades. Seldom perfect for all jobs. That's why I have two. One for mowing. One for ground engagment/digging/loading.

 

[revitupfaster]

I have a 2520, and on advice from this forum, went with a ballast box. I also have the "I" match hitch, which makes picking up or dropping off the BB a breeze.

I don't want to carry additional weight all the time, such as when cutting grass. (I also have the 62D mower). I have a JD X495 which is my primary mower, and it also has a 62" deck on it. The tractor I traded in on my 2520, had a 72" RFM, which worked pretty decent, however, I could always cut my grass much faster, and with a nicer cut with the X495 and belly mower, so when I got the new one, I opted for the MMM instead of the rear mount. I have about an acre of property, which remains wet, well into may, and sometimes the grass gets kinda long before I can get to it, so the 2520 will work better for me in that area.

A major reason I traded for the 2520 was to get the FEL, but also to plow snow. My X495 (with chains & front quickhitch with 54" blade) worked pretty good, but I wanted to get away from having to use chains if I could. All I can say is that the 2520, with the ballst box, and front blade set-up works great. Luckily, the areas I need to clear snow, are pretty flat, but right now, I have some areas where I have banked up the snow over 4 feet hight, all just with the blade. Works great, even with the R4 tires.

REV

 

[scrappy isb67]

Thanks for everyone's advice!
The deal is done, it will be delivered tuesday.
I got the tractor, loader and mower for $17,700 OTD. I also added a 48" box blade, Quick hitch and 5 frontend weights. total for everything came out to $19,100. I did end up with the rear tires loaded (because it was included N/C with the loader) and will use the box blade as ballast. I can also hang the frontend weights on the box blade for more weight as needed.
I can't wait for it to be delivered, My buddy is already trying to put it/me to work in addition to the projects I have waiting for it!

 

[Gizmo2]

Thanks for everyone's advice!
The deal is done, it will be delivered tuesday.
I got the tractor, loader and mower for $17,700 OTD. I also added a 48" box blade, Quick hitch and 5 frontend weights. total for everything came out to $19,100. I did end up with the rear tires loaded (because it was included N/C with the loader) and will use the box blade as ballast. I can also hang the frontend weights on the box blade for more weight as needed.
I can't wait for it to be delivered, My buddy is already trying to put it/me to work in addition to the projects I have waiting for it!

:thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

Thanks for everyone's advice!
The deal is done, it will be delivered tuesday.
I got the tractor, loader and mower for $17,700 OTD. I also added a 48" box blade, Quick hitch and 5 frontend weights. total for everything came out to $19,100. I did end up with the rear tires loaded (because it was included N/C with the loader) and will use the box blade as ballast. I can also hang the frontend weights on the box blade for more weight as needed.
I can't wait for it to be delivered, My buddy is already trying to put it/me to work in addition to the projects I have waiting for it!

I think you will do fine, and will be pleased with that setup.
James K0UA

 

[scrappy isb67]

It was delivered this afternoon, The wife and I mowed about 3/4 of our yard and I filled in a couple holes in my yard. here is a pic of it tucked into bed for the night: