2320 questions before purchasing

[jcmseven]

The 2320 will have no trouble with an aerator. The real reason a 72" deck is not recommended is that the 2320 has less than 20 PTO HP. This has nothing to do with its ability to move ground engaging attachments around--unless they are a power rake or other high demand PTO attachment that also ground engages. I will say, and know this from first hand experience with both machines, that the 2520 would do absolutely NO more ground engagement work than the 2320. This is the main reason I went with a 2320. For less dollars it equalled the performance of the 2520 in what I do--mainly pulling my box blade, light duty loader work and removing snow. I also mow, but only at my parents and the 2320 does great with its Frontier 60" RFM. I suspect it would also power a 72", but it would struggle in deep grass. The rough rule of thumb for finish mowers is 4-5 PTO HP per foot of cut, but this is to achieve perfect performance. I suspect that one could put an 18 pto HP tractor with a 72" mower and it would do better than 99% of the lawn tractors out there, especially with rear discharge which seems to lower demand on the engine. When I had my 4520 I ran a 60" RFM behind it for a while. That was neat to watch a plume of grass shoot out the back like a rooster tail of green water behind a drag boat. I could even smell the gear box and belt with that 50+ PTO HP powering only 60". With TEN HP per foot of cut, needless to say, power was not an issue.
A 2320 would not notice most under 500# aerators.

John M

 

[JeffinNE]

Thanks T-Bow and John! Just looking for some reassurance. The advice from actual users is great. Most of the JD dealers are so geared toward the ag tractors that their only knowledge of the sub compacts is what they read.