Buying Advice 2320 or x530

[Rob-D]

John,
I've owned both the 2320 and the 2720. With the back Hoe on it the 2320 won't go up any form of incline but the 2720 will. The 2320 is, again, a great machine but it is no where close to the 2720 for PTO hp or pulling power. The rear wheels are much smaller on the 2320 and with both loaded the 2720 will out pull it with ease.
The engine on the 2720 is self priming and believe me if you ever need that because you get water in the bowl you'll be very thankful for the option. The 2720 is also heavier, I just put my friends 300cx HD bucket with tooth bar on my 2720 to move some dirt and rocks but the 2320 would never handle it nor would it handle the HC60 Woods RC that the 2720 runs. Look at the long list implements the 2720 takes that the 2320 doesn't.
I've snow plowed with both machines and the 2720 wins hands down especially in wet snow. The tractors are night and day, using them over a year or so when you're pushing the tractor tells the real story.

Rob

 

[Magilla1]

John in western NC: Thanks very much for your experiences with the 2320 on hills in your neck of the woods. You said many of the things I was thinking. At the end of the day, when in low gear, does your 2320 maintain speed relatively well on hills? That was one of the things I was thinking about . . . that x530 I tried out just for mowing could move along faster than I'd mow in flat areas but it really slowed down when I pointed it uphill for more than just a few feet.

DDivinia: You just put your finger on the problem and why I'm asking so many doggone questions. None of the three small dealerships within 75 miles of here have a 2320 or even a 2520. Lots of 3000 series and 2305s, but there's just no comparison to the 2320. Kinda frustrating. I can drive and go try somebody else's 2320 down in Richmond on their lot, but of course it won't be on my land, which is kinda the point. I'm thinking about trying to strike a deal with the local dealership to do a "soft" order, whereby I'm ordering it but if I don't like it on my land on Day 1, they'll take it back then and there.

Thanks everyone. Very helpful info.

John

 

[Rob-D]

I have a tractor on order from Deere. My dealer whom I trust told me once an order is in, it's in! I doubt a dealer will let you dump it back on him but I guess you can try. You should really test drive one, especially if you've never driven a tractor before.

Rob

ps:
My 2320 never bogged down on hills in low.

 

[jcmseven]

Rob, I appreciate your opinion but do not agree fully with it. Both machines are excellent, but again my results have not emulated yours. This is not to say that one is correct and the other not, but that our usage circumstances are different. The 2320 will maintain speed in low range pulling a 2048 BB up my 20% in parts and 14% average gradient gravel driveway with gravel coming over the top at 2000 rpm without bogging. It did essentially the same with my old 2060 box blade I had off my 3720 but that BB would not maneuver into a tight space around the side of my house so I stuck with the smaller one. The 2048 BB weighes 390#, so no lightweight. I would argue if it does that, it can climb a hill when mowing or pulling an implement. I want to be clear, the 2720 mentioned by Rob does have more power, and a bit more chassis weight and slightly larger tires. Perhaps, unballasted, this would make a small difference in performance with non-pto ground engagement implements but for this difference JD charges a premium that really puts the buyer into considering a 3000 series tractor. Only the potential buyer can decide whether this premium is worth it for him. With regard to climbing hills with the PTO on, one should bear in mind a certain amount of engine power is being dedicated to powering the implement. Neither a 540, 2320 or 2520 or 2720 will have its available engine power to motivate the machine as some of the torque is being dedicated to operating the implement shaft a process that occurs simultaneously but results in some parasitic loss for forward movement. Any machine chosen would be affected by that.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Magilla, if you do not mind my asking, where do you live--roughly. I might be able to help find a 2320 nearby for you to try (and a 2720 for measure) as a dealer near me has one they are dying to sell.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Rob is right on the purchase. Once a tractor has been ordered; it is ordered and I would say it would not be fair to the dealer to "soft" order something. This is one reason I think that we need to have this decision as best we can. In other words, if your heart is set on a 2000 compact, get one. No X whatever is going to work. If, in the back of your mind, a 2720 is the ultimate 2000 series for you, get it. Truthfully, and I say this too much as do others on the forum, amortized over the life of one of these durable machines the difference in cost between even an X500 and a full-on 2720 is not that much, and it would save you much money to have chosen well on the front end. For me, I did not mind giving up 7 HP on my small tractor for what I do with it. For Rob and others that 7 HP might be a difference maker and worth the additional cost.

John

 

[Rob-D]

John,
Thanks for your views.
The HC60 five foot rotary cutter weighs 640 lbs. (slip clutch model). The Deere implement brochure shows the 2320 as capable of running the LX4 but not the LX5 rotary cutter. The LX5 can be run with the 2520 and the 2720 however. You can check further in the brochure and you will see many implements that will not run with the 2320 but will run with the 2720.

Implements & Accessories - Product Catalog


Rob

 

[ddivinia]

John in western NC: Thanks very much for your experiences with the 2320 on hills in your neck of the woods. You said many of the things I was thinking. At the end of the day, when in low gear, does your 2320 maintain speed relatively well on hills? That was one of the things I was thinking about . . . that x530 I tried out just for mowing could move along faster than I'd mow in flat areas but it really slowed down when I pointed it uphill for more than just a few feet.

DDivinia: You just put your finger on the problem and why I'm asking so many doggone questions. None of the three small dealerships within 75 miles of here have a 2320 or even a 2520. Lots of 3000 series and 2305s, but there's just no comparison to the 2320. Kinda frustrating. I can drive and go try somebody else's 2320 down in Richmond on their lot, but of course it won't be on my land, which is kinda the point. I'm thinking about trying to strike a deal with the local dealership to do a "soft" order, whereby I'm ordering it but if I don't like it on my land on Day 1, they'll take it back then and there.

Thanks everyone. Very helpful info.

John

Screw'em - there has got to be other options. I would look at Hustler - they make a serious ZTR.

D.

 

[ddivinia]

Rob is right on the purchase. Once a tractor has been ordered; it is ordered and I would say it would not be fair to the dealer to "soft" order something. This is one reason I think that we need to have this decision as best we can. In other words, if your heart is set on a 2000 compact, get one. No X whatever is going to work. If, in the back of your mind, a 2720 is the ultimate 2000 series for you, get it. Truthfully, and I say this too much as do others on the forum, amortized over the life of one of these durable machines the difference in cost between even an X500 and a full-on 2720 is not that much, and it would save you much money to have chosen well on the front end. For me, I did not mind giving up 7 HP on my small tractor for what I do with it. For Rob and others that 7 HP might be a difference maker and worth the additional cost.

John

Sounds like you should look elsewhere. If they don't have any in stock and non coming - do you figure they will be able to work on it when it breaks?

What kind of stuff does your dealer stock?

D.

 

[ddivinia]

John,
Thanks for your views.
The HC60 five foot rotary cutter weighs 640 lbs. (slip clutch model). The Deere implement brochure shows the 2320 as capable of running the LX4 but not the LX5 rotary cutter. The LX5 can be run with the 2520 and the 2720 however. You can check further in the brochure and you will see many implements that will not run with the 2320 but will run with the 2720.

Implements & Accessories - Product Catalog


Rob

Don't always believe that stuff.

Brand new JD 2210 with LX4 - would not spin that mower in thick grass worth a dang. My 62C MMM worked better mowing pastures.

2305 and 2320 I bet will have the same issue.

Flat ground


Also - we have not talked tired.


I had turf tires on my 2210 - got stuck all the time.

Buy a mower and a real tractor - you will look smarter than me. I did the 2210 route. It sucked and I ended up with a 757 ZTR and a 4720. Not saying those are the exact models, etc that you should get but here is the deal. You will probably end up hating the compromise and end up spending more money because you bought the stuff twice.

D.

 

[AKfish]

Reading some of the posts here... is like attending a "Tractor Anonymous" meeting! Folk's are confessing their addictions of buying one machine and then another and another and finally having 2 machines!

I feel right at home!! :drink:

We've got 20 acres and another leased 10 acre hay field. Started out wanting that "one size fits all machine". The Swiss Army knife of tractors; tractor-loader-backhoe.

Bought one - sold it. Too small and not heavy duty enough for tree clearing work.

Bought another one - Bigger. (That's always better!) Too big for mowing... indentations and tire marks after 3-4 mowings in a summer. Wife says - bigger is not always better! :thumbdown:

Bought an X300R. Much better...

Now have 2 machines. :drink:

21 acres... Get a 3320. And we'll be very happy to have you in the fold -- 'cause you'll be back in 2-3 years asking for the latest info on a dedicated mower tractor. :thumbsup:

AKfish

 

[jenkinsph]

I support the view of dedicated mower, dedicated tlb and dedicated tractor without a fel in the way. The tractors that are small enough to mow with are too small to provide enough traction for heavier work. Tractors big enough to start filling in for the heavier work are overkill for lawn mowing.

New buyers it seems come back looking to upgrade on a regular basis around TBN. My middle sized tractors have worked out very well, I need to upgrade the field tractor and lawn mower.:thumbsup:

 

[Rob-D]

Bought another one - Bigger. (That's always better!) Too big for mowing... indentations and tire marks after 3-4 mowings in a summer. Wife says - bigger is not always better! :thumbdown:

........

21 acres... Get a 3320. And we'll be very happy to have you in the fold -- 'cause you'll be back in 2-3 years asking for the latest info on a dedicated mower tractor. :thumbsup:

AKfish

It's the story of my life!

Rob

 

[Rob-D]

Buy a mower and a real tractor - you will look smarter than me. I did the 2210 route. It sucked and I ended up with a 757 ZTR and a 4720. Not saying those are the exact models, etc that you should get but here is the deal. You will probably end up hating the compromise and end up spending more money because you bought the stuff twice.

D.

Smarter than me too! I agree D.

 

[Rob-D]

Glad to know I'm not the only one here whose dealer offered him a corner office and his daughter in marriage!

 

[Magilla1]

Rob in western NC: I live near Afton Mountain, which is a bit east of Waynesboro, Va. If you know some dealer reasonable distance of here who is aching to dump a 2320, let me know! For the dealers I've talked to w/in 45 minutes of here or so, seems like they focus on the small residential applications (ZTRs, riding mowers) and/or the bigger ag applications (e.g., 4000 series and bigger). I'm just a fella with 18 acres of woods and 3 acres of rolling grass, a little garden and a dozen peach trees. I want to play some, mow better, fix my trails, take care of my gravel driveway and occasionally push the snow that suddenly seems to like sunny Virginia. So I'm kinda in between, which is why I'm looking at the 2000 series -- or, following the sage advice of some on this site, perhaps two machines!

 

[bxowner]

I keep stirring things up, but had a new thought that you might want to consider... a FEL equipped 3032e is less expensive than an FEL equipped 2320 and more capable. Unless you have to take off the loader altoghether, people on this site report it's a better loader. You can always drop the bucket off to lose weight or reduce the bouncing effect. You lose a couple of nice features from the 2320, but they are features you may not actually need - i.e. cruise control, split brakes, etc. It might be just the compromise between the models that some have suggested would be appropriate for a 20+ acre homestead. Certainly worth looking at if you're traveling a distance to other JD dealers.

I'm sticking with my comments from last week as far as the mower's concerned... a used x585/595 or x700 series all the way!

I'm impressed that you've been patient - even if it's a function of the dealer not having what you want in stock. But, this homework is saving you money several times over - I can only pass along that if you make the right decision now, you're going to save a bundle later.

 

[AKfish]

I'm just a fella with 18 acres of woods and 3 acres of rolling grass, a little garden and a dozen peach trees. I want to play some, mow better, fix my trails, take care of my gravel driveway and occasionally push the snow that suddenly seems to like sunny Virginia. So I'm kinda in between, which is why I'm looking at the 2000 series -- or, following the sage advice of some on this site, perhaps two machines!

We're all constrained by our individual budgets (and wives..). And quite a bit of the banter back and forth here is "shuckin' and jivein'" but the opinions are certainly an outgrowth of our individual progression thru time owning and using tractors.

The 2000 series is a very good mowing platform and will suffice for moderate field duty. It won't do well replacing a dead peach tree or clearing more woods for a larger garden, bigger lawn/field or expanded orchard or food plots or extending your trails.

A 3000 series would be much better for those types of field work. As bxowner advised - the 3032E (3038E, too) is a very good fit for heavier field work and has many of the features of the 3000 series but with a price within range of the 2000 machines.

With 3 acres of finish lawn to mow - the X360 would give you an affordable mowing platform that would do a great job and likely last 15 years or more.

I haven't "penciled out" what a 3032E and a X360 would cost versus a 2520 with the attachments you'll need but it might be an interesting exercise.

Good luck.

AKfish

 

[Cidertom]

While it has been hinted at, one item for the discussion is the FEL. While the poster refered to the small amount of current use, I can say that once you have a FEL you never go back. You will try things you wouldn't. Being able to get home and do things rather than waiting until you have a full days work to make it worth to rent is priceless. I have two units a 4520 for heavy work, and a 2305 for mowing and light yard work. I would agree that alone a 2305 will be out tasked on 20+ acres (unless it is all lawn). Look at the height and the clearance issues.

 

[Artesia Aggie]

Ok for what is worth I just went through some of this recently. So here goes.

The 2320 with a 200cx loader is about $1,000 less than a 3032E with a 305 loader. The 2520 with a 200cx is about $1,000 more than the 3032E.

However, if you are putting 4' implements, in my case a rotary cutter and tiller, on the 2520 and 5' on the 3032E the cost of the implements starts favoring the smaller tractor.

For example the 4' rotary cutter was $300 less than the 5'.

This is all based on the assumption that both the 2520 and the 3032E will do the job for you and as has been mentioned there are a lot of people who buy small and trade for larger.

Also, I decided not to get rid of my JD317 lawn tractor for mowing. It is old but still runs great and the more I looked at this the more I decided two machines would work better than one for me.