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Noticed that JD changed the design of the oil filters for the 2520 when I did my annual oil change the other day. This is the same old part number they've had since 2007 (M806419), but now the filter is smaller. Looks more like what you might find for a Honda or Toyota. Usually, they do it...

Which is best: Original (with original soundtrack) - 1974 Re-Release (with generic soundtrack) - 2000 Remake - 2014 I vote for the original 1974 movie. To me the original sound track goes perfectly with the amateur nature of the production. That is...

Needed to do some chipping yesterday, but before I could do that, had to replace the "twig breaker" on the Wallenstein BX42 chipper. Well, didn't have to, it will work OK without it, but it helps break up stringy stuff. Not sure if other chippers have this but thought I would show the fix, up...

Thought I would post up some of the adapters I've made for attachments I have that are not quick hitch compatible out of the box just in case anyone is looking for ideas on how to build one. Lots of ways to do it and most people probably just modify the attachment, but I wanted to leave the...

Believe it or not, my weight box scares me the most. It is the heaviest attachment I have (809 lbs), and if it falls, it is going to do some damage to anything it hits. I usually keep it on a wooden dolly with steel casters, and moving it around, even on the concrete floor is scary to me...

Finally got sick of the hose/wire cluster on my tow-behind sprayer and made a rack to hold the hose, spray wand and wires.

Did the skirting around this deck cause the treated lumber to decompose like this in 13 years? Was I crazy for expecting more time before having this type of problem? Deck was built in 2011 and there is a concrete patio under the entire deck with this solid skirting all around. Note, a couple...

Just got back from my friendly local Ford dealer. Two years ago, this dealer installed a replacement catalytic converter on my truck after the original was stolen. Today, I took this truck to the same dealer for a motor vehicle safety inspection (required in my state to renew the license)...

Recently, our asphalt street was repaved. I noticed that after the pavement was done, they went over an intersection near our home with some type of grinding machine and applied a series of squares in a checkerboard pattern covering most of the intersection. This appears similar to the "rumble...

Pulled the trigger on a new 2024 Cub Cadet Ultima ZTXS5 54. This thread will be to document my experience in this journey. Everything about this machine, including the buying process is completely different from anything I've done before. First, a little background on my needs. I have a 6...

Our house needed a deck bad, so I thought I'd post up some pics of the process. The JD 2520 played a pretty big role in the process. Of course, it was used for moving material around, but I also used the backhoe to dig a trench to set my piers, which are 8 inch round sitting on 15 inch square...

I don't know if anyone else has a problem with this, but it bugs me to see groups out flying/giving rides in irreplaceable antique aircraft such as the B-17 in the attached news item. I know they own it and it's theirs to do with as they please, but, let's face it - the machines weren't that...

Had some nice seat time yesterday, first mowing of the season for my 4 acre pasture. There is only one locust tree in the pasture (right in the middle, above the ROPS in the last picture), so, of course, I managed to get a thorn from it in my left front tire. Doesn't seem to be leaking...yet...

Does anyone know the "official" purpose of the bracket with the two holes in it directly below the power beyond fittings? It looks like a place you might attach rear hydraulic outlets, but I don't think there are any rear hydraulics available from the factory for the 2520.

Finally got fed up with my neighbors horses chewing my lawn down to dirt along the fence line and decided to install some 2x4 galvanized wire fencing. There was already a 5-wire stranded fence in place, so I just hung the new fence right over it. The new fence came in a 100 foot roll and I...

I know this subject has been beaten to death, but I had an amusing experience at my local John Deere/Stihl dealer today. I was waiting for a tractor part and saw a new Stihl chainsaw sitting on the shelf next to me. I've been thinking about buying a new 260 for awhile now, but have had some...

Just picked this up for an early 52nd birthday present. I am anxious to cut something up, but still need to get my air filtration system worked out.

Guess somebody hit this poor fella. He was laying in the middle of our front yard last week but there was so much snow, I couldn't get down there to haul him out. Decided to give him a "proper" burial in the woods... Pallet forks came in handy again. Unfortunately, this happens all the time...

As everyone knows, snowblowers tend to dig into gravel drives. So, I tried enlarging the skids on my 54 blower, but it didn't help. Then, I decided to add wheels to the skid plates. To do this, I cut some pieces of 3x5 angle and 5/8 round stock. Welded onto the skid shoes as shown and...

Thought some might find this interesting. I heard a dozer working outside this morning and didn't think much of it because one of my neighbors has one. However, this time, the noise was a little closer. Turns out, the owner of the property immediately east of me decided to tear down a small...

Hi all. I have a question for those of you who have plasma cutters. I am thinking of buying a Hypertherm Powermax 45, but have never used a plasma before. I'd like to use it for cutting up scrap metal, cutting previously welded joints, rusty, painted metal, and such. However, from what...

I think JD makes something like this, but here is my version. Used 1 and 2 inch square tubing and a plastic tub from TSC.

Needed to sew some grass seed and I usually use an old pull-behind spike aerator for this. I run back and forth a few times to make some holes and loosen up the soil, then apply the seed and run over it a few more times to work it in. However, I can never seem to get enough weight on the...

I have a Lincoln 12v grease gun and like it pretty well, except that I have a hard time getting a grip on the hose tip (especially once it gets greasy) and also, the stock hose tip is too short to be able to get to those "hard to reach" areas, such as the middle spindle on my rear mower (which...

Maybe this post would be better off in the "Harbor Freight Tools that Suck" thread, but here goes. See, I've been having this ground hog problem for a couple of years. They're fine when they stay out back, but when they start digging around my foundation (ruining my new landscaping job) and...

Finally got around to building an adapter to use my quick attach pallet forks on the three-point hitch. Used (2) 17 inch long pieces of 10 inch wide channel iron for the main attachment points. Bridged between them with 2x2x1/4 tube and 3x3 angle. Tabs for the pin connections were made from 2...

Bought a weight distributing hitch for my new trailer and, wouldn't you know, there's a 6 inch channel crossmember right where the tongue bracket needs to go. So, had to make a pair of brackets. Draw-tite offers bolt-on brackets, but I wanted to be able to remove them. So, I made brackets...

I replaced the motor on my HF bandsaw recently and it rotates a different direction from the original. I can make the blade go the right direction by just flipping it over, however, I'm not sure the saw will work correctly by doing this. Question for electrical motor gurus: Can I change the...

Fun 2520 stuff, showing one with a cab, grass collection system and a neat boom mower. Also, check out the air suspension seat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbcnOMisTfQ&feature=fvsr

Finally got the new trailer. After much contemplation, decided on a PJ 10,000 lb GVW deckover, 20' long x 101" wide with 3' dove tail. Brakes both axles, 6 inch channel frame. Sorry for hazy pictures but it was 50 and rainy. Not sure of the actual trailer weight, but it felt like around...

Hi All, I am still looking for a trailer to haul my JD2520 with loader and rotary cutter, cars, building materials, etc. on. The tow vehicle is a 2004 F350, V10, 4WD, automatic, longbed, extended cab, with camper and snowplow packages and a 4.30:1 rear end. Now for the question. I am looking...

When I mentioned this project in another thread, someone indicated some interest in seeing how it came out, so here it is. This project is tractor-related in a couple of ways. First, it will be used to build tractor attachments. Second, I used my boom pole to set the top on the table. The...

One of the main reasons I built my front loader mounted quick hitch was to attach a three-point trailer hitch to the front for moving my trailers around. Problem is, I can't see the hitch ball when I go to hitch up and it is a pain to have to keep stopping, putting the machine in neutral...

Over the weekend, I made a boom pole for my JD2520. Since I previously made a three-point trailer hitch and quick hitch adapter for the loader, I decided to employ these elements in the boom pole. The other advantage to doing it this way is that the boom pole breaks down for easier...

A bobcat paid me a visit this morning. He hung out by my apple trees for awhile, eyeing something in the neighbor's horse pen. He jumped the fence and went into the horse pen, then, one of the horses charged him and he jumped back into my yard. I then shot this pic and he took off the other...

I used 1 inch and 3/4 inch square tubing to make stakes and stake pockets for sideboards for the carryall. Also, made a removable mother in law seat/tool shelf that attaches to the stakes. In the second to last pic, you can see how the final product will function as my tree trimming rig. The...

I threw together this backhoe dolly for my JD 46 out of scrap materials including a couple of pieces of channel iron, angle iron and scrap lumber. I originally planned on using a piece of angle iron across the two bolts on the front channel to lock it onto the dolly, but it is so heavy, I don't...

I finally got around to filling my JD ballast box. Nothing unusual here, but thought I'd post it just as an example of the weight you can get in one. First, I had two, 82 lb bags of pre mixed concrete that had been sitting in my shop for several years and hardened up on me. So, I picked up...

I put together a quick-attach loader mounted quick hitch for my JD 2520 with 200CX loader this afternoon. Parts needed were a Harbor Freight quick hitch, two 10 inch wide by 17 inch long pieces of channel iron and the quiick attach loader hooks and pins available from John Deere. Pictures show...

I finally got around to setting up my KK carryall this week. I added a receiver hitch, cut down from one off a junked car. I used treated 2x12's cut 5 feet long for the floor and back. A little JD green and it was good to go. One problem, the height of the back panel makes it impossible to...

Saturday was a beautiful day for the first mowing of the season with the 2520 and Frontier RC1060 rotary cutter. I would like to have been out there a week or two earlier, but the rain kept things too soggy. As it was, I still needed 4WD in a few tricky areas. No issues, just a very nice 65...

Thought I'd post up a few pics of the first mowing of the season for me. Should have been a week ago, but it was too wet. Still had some soft spots I needed to stay away from, but I had some grass that was getting to be a foot tall or so. The Frontier GM1072R did a beautiful job, as usual...

Could I please get some assistance in identifying this tree? I think it is a persimmon, but the fruit is only 3/4 to one inch in diameter, whereas, I have read that persimmons are bigger than that. The picture was taken at the end of October and I am located in Missouri. The fruit is kind...

Had to move a couch, loveseat and recliner today in anticipation of some much-needed new furniture so I employed the diesel powered furniture dolly. Have I mentioned lately how much I love my pallet forks? I think I'll go out tomorrow and get them a Valentine's Day card.....

Had a lovely day in Kansas City Saturday, 71 degrees and sunny, so I headed out to get some seat time. Warmed up by using the 2520 with pallet forks as a fence straightener. Seems the neighbors horses have an affinity for our grass, so they push the fence over. I found that I can ease the...

I was just playing around with the ballast calculator on the JD web site Utility Tractor Ballast Calculator and it seems to confirm my initial thoughts that the 200CX loader frame must add at least some weight to the rear of the tractor (2520 in my case). The calculator shows "-2" on the rear...

Hi all. I'm preparing to buy my first real utility trailer to haul my tractor, cars, etc. on. What I'm looking at right now is a (new) PJ, 20+5, deckover with (2) 7K axles, brakes on both axles. A couple of questions: First, this thing has the "oil bath" hubs. I'm wondering if there is any...

Mine are pretty much like the others on here, but since I don't have a lathe, I made them from two sizes of round stock. Used 7/8" diameter stock for the 10" long middle piece with 3" long 5/8" diameter pieces welded to each end. Cross-drilled a 3/8" hole near one end to mate up with the...

Finally got around to checking out the leaks on the rear tires of my lawn tractor yesterday, and had to put 5 PLUGS in one tire. Can anybody beat that?

Stopped by my JD dealer over the weekend to pick up a couple of items and found out why the "X" series loaders have those holes at the top of the vertical part of the frame: it's for attaching to the shipping pallet. Everybody else probably already knew this, but I didn't. Also saw this...

Just in case anyone was wondering what a 2520 looks like with a full compliment of wheel weights, here it is.

Bought a 15 gallon tow-behind sprayer last summer and had problems with the power wire hanging loose and getting caught under the wheel. Then it gets unplugged or yanks the wires out of the switch. After fighting this for one spray session, I decided on a fix. Bought a one foot long 2-wire...

PTO/air-powered punkin' cannon. This thing would shoot punkins 300 yards into the trees on the other side of the lake. Fun to watch.

...use my backhoe to take out these two stumps. The second one is hard to see, but it is mid way between the stump in the foreground and the tree in the background. I called the dig-rite people and they marked the property as you can see. The blue lines are the water main and the orange is...

I have a 4 acre pasture at the rear of my place in which there were two large brush piles. These were created when the previous owner cleared the property and had a dozer push most of the trees from the pasture area into the piles. My mission over the last two summers has been to get rid of...

The other day, I was shopping for some casters to make attachment dollies with. Harbor Frieght had these vehicle dollies on sale for $40 a pair with cast iron casters. From what I can see, you can't buy 8, 3 1/2 inch cast iron casters for $40, so I bought a pair to use the casters and will...

Just purchased the above mentioned unit and test ran it today. I am very satisfied with the quality of the product, and learned a couple of things. First, it's really quiet until you put a 2x4 through it. Second, if you're putting freshly-cut branches with lots of leaves through it, you need...

I keep a three-ring binder in my shop in which I have pages with commonly used information on the various vehicles/boats/tractors/engine-driven items that I have to care for. I keep separate pages for cars, trucks, etc., and each one has things like, lug bolt size/torque, oil filter number...

I just did the 50 hour service on my 2520 and have a couple of questions. First, the manual says there are two drain plugs for the transmission and rear axle housing. I only found one (see picture). Does anyone know where the other one is located? Are they talking about the plugs on the...

Greetings, all. Thought I would post up some pics of the action around here this weekend rotary cutting with the 2520. This is about a 4 acre field behind my house, minus some wooded areas and was mostly about 2 foot tall grass and weeds. A few places were 3 foot high. Took me about 3 hours...

I finally had the opportunity to mow with the new 62D over the weekend. Having had some experience with a Frontier GM1072R on this same tractor, I thought I'd give my perspective on the differences. First, I have noted in the past that the GM1072R seemed to be a little heavy for a 2520 when...

As noted in another thread, I recently purchased a KK landscape rake that is not i-Match compatible. Since this situation was unacceptable, I decided to make an adapter for this attachment. The adapter also works for a KK carryall and has a trailer hitch receiver. I used a drawbar from...

Was browsing the 62D owner's manual the other day and this statement caught my eye: "The recommended John Deere greases are effective within an average air temperature range of -20 to 275 degrees F. If operating outside that temperature range, contact your servicing dealer for a special-use...

I have about 25 hours on my 2520. I've noticed lately, that my battery is spewing acid across the top, down the back and onto my hydraulic cooler lines. This has me very concerned, because I remember reading about other JD models having this problem and the acid eating holes in the cooler...

My drive was starting to get a little thin and rutted, so a freshening up was in order. I had 25 tons of 3/4 inch crushed rock delivered ($18.38/ton) and went after it with the 2520. I had a dropoff where the drive meets the asphalt street, some low areas and areas where the gravel was just...

OK, so I get the latest TS ad in the mail. Coupon for "$50.00" off any KK purchase $400.00 or more. The 6' landscape rake is $399.99. Wonder if they'll let me use the coupon? Their pricing baffles me. The web site sez $429.00 normal price for this rake. Also need the 15 gallon trailer...

Hi everyone, and Happy New Year. I just built some gauge wheels for my rear blade that I hope to also be able to use on a landscape rake when I get one. Not sure if they're heavy enough for box blade duty. I used the commonly available trailer jacks and wheels (Harbor Freight, etc.), 3 x 3...

Santa came a little early this year and brought me a little something for the 2520. Won't have a chance to try it out for awhile as the weatherman is calling for 3 to 5 inches of snow this afternoon. Merry Christma to All.

I saw this today down the street from my house. Looks like the JD folks will be getting a visit from Santy if he can get this thing running.

I have a 2520 with power beyond, and am thinking of buying a John Deere backhoe for it (thanks Chris2520 now see what you did?). For those who bought their backhoes after the initial purchase, did you have the dealer install it the first time or do it yourself? I知 trying to decide if I...

Just a quick update on a 2520 performance issue I mentioned in my first impressions post on this unit. I had originally noted that the unit felt quite stable on the side hills I’m mowing with my 72 inch RFM, however, there was some sideways sliding and, due to the lightness in the rear of the...

My tractor was scheduled to be delivered today to I took the day off which gave me some time to move stuff around to get ready for the blessed arrival. My Deere Guy showed up around 12:00 noon. As you can see from the pics, he had a 30 foot trailer completely loaded with toys, er, tools...

Hi all. I have ordered a new 2520 with iMatch and a Frontier GM1072R rear finish mower that is scheduled to be delivered next Friday. As a preemptive measure, I did a walk-through with the dealer yesterday to see how the setup was going and make sure everything was as ordered. I was...

Hi all. New member from Missouri here making an introduction. I have recently moved to six acres of rolling hills that need to be finish mowed (2 acres) and rough cut (4 acres). Slopes in some areas are fairly steep (up to 17 degrees) but for the most part, it is just lawn and pasture grass...