2520 3 pt hookup

[Yseesee]

When I hook up a rear implement to my 2520 I seem to be having problems with the three point arms hitting the rear tires. Anyone else having this issue, if so, how do I properly adjust the turnbuckles? I’ve only had the tractor for a couple of weeks and I can’ seem to get this setup correctly. I’m not very pleased with this configuration, it seems like a squirrelly idea if you ask me. I like the old style arms much better, all I had to do was install two sway bars and the implement was perfectly centered and it never hit the rear tires! The way the 2520 is set up now I can barely get to the turnbuckles when I have something hooked up. Did John Deere come up with this idea so you are almost forced into buying the Imatch hitch or am I doing something wrong???

 

[Chris2520]

If you had the imatch , it would have much less chance of hitting the tire. First off . do you have the rear tires set to the wide setting. this will help some. now on the sway adjusters. take them silly rings out now , get your 3 point centered. raise everything up. and see if your arms clear your tires. at this point thay should. now with the adjusters tight where you cant turn them anymore. take 2 long zip ties and run them through the center of the adjuster and around the 3 point arms. and pull them tight.
i like 2 on each side . some here use buji staps to do the same. eather way. your adjusters wont come loose. and your 3 point arms will stay centered. the main problem is those silly rings wont keep the adjusters tight. so dont use them. . this is what i do. and it works for me. keep in mind. my wheels are set to the wide side. and i do have an IMatch. witch everyone should have anyway. but thats another story. Good Luck...

Chris.....

 

[Yseesee]

Thanks Chris! I'll give that a try. I noticed when I had the brush hog hooked up and I lifted it up all the way that's when it really hit the tires. I had to actually drive back to the shed with it on the ground because it was hitting so hard it felt like I was driving down the middle of the rail road tracks. Bump, Bump, Bump... I'll have to see if the wheels are set to wide also. I'm not sure how to change it if isn't but I'm sure there is something in the owners manual about making that adjustment. So far I have been very impressed with the tractor except the drink holder isn't tall enough to hold my bottled water!! If that's the only thing I find wrong with it then I'll be one very happy John Deere owner.

 

[prosperity]

I just went throught the same thing with my new 2520.

Even though you only gain ~1" on each side by widening the wheels, it does help a lot. You need to remove the rear wheels, and switch them side for side paying attention to the direction of the tire rotation.

Then, like Chris said - I hooked up my implement, and raised it just above the ground. Get the implement centered, then tighten the turnbuckles. After tightening the turnbuckles, slowly raise the implement all the way up watching the turnbuckles that they are not too tight and bind.

I also got rid of the little rings, and use regular hair-clip pins to stop the turnbuckles from turning - or use a tarp strap as Chris said.

Being that I change implements often, and spent the last 20 or so years struggling with attaching implements, I just installed the Pat's easy change system - very well worth the money, especially because of the way the 3 point is designed on these machines.

 

[Chris2520]

Thanks Chris! I'll give that a try. I noticed when I had the brush hog hooked up and I lifted it up all the way that's when it really hit the tires. I had to actually drive back to the shed with it on the ground because it was hitting so hard it felt like I was driving down the middle of the rail road tracks. Bump, Bump, Bump... I'll have to see if the wheels are set to wide also. I'm not sure how to change it if isn't but I'm sure there is something in the owners manual about making that adjustment. So far I have been very impressed with the tractor except the drink holder isn't tall enough to hold my bottled water!! If that's the only thing I find wrong with it then I'll be one very happy John Deere owner.

2 answers for you. if you want to make sure the tires are set to the wide side. look at the valve stems on the tires. thay should be faceing the inside . in other words you cant see them. Now for that dang cub holder that wont hold your bottled water and bounces out when moveing....now ant i right..... well i am working on that. i will have a fix for that soon...

Chris.....

 

[Deadman]

You really only gain like 1/4-1/2 inch of width by flipping the wheels, but it all helps.

 

[vintagemilano]

This is interesting because I was having the same troubles, the 3 point arms rubbing the tires. At the time I looked in the owners manual and there is no mention there about a wide setting on the tires? When getting my unit PDI'd I asked if there was a wide setting to use that so if you know where the info is to confirm this that would be great.
Yes, the cup holder is useless, already destroyed a phone when it bounced out and got run over... sigh...
Yes the turnbuckles are a bear to get at, yes as chris said they have to be super tight and centered. Once there you can almost raise the 3 point up to number 8 without rubbing... This is with the valve stems out........

 

[Chris2520]

You really only gain like 1/4-1/2 inch of width by flipping the wheels, but it all helps.

I have always had mine flipped since day one. cause i got a backhoe.
the hoe wont fit unless the tires are turned to wide. even then i still had to trim a 1/2 inch off the step plate to make me happy...

Chris....

 

[Chris2520]

This is interesting because I was having the same troubles, the 3 point arms rubbing the tires. At the time I looked in the owners manual and there is no mention there about a wide setting on the tires? When getting my unit PDI'd I asked if there was a wide setting to use that so if you know where the info is to confirm this that would be great.
Yes, the cup holder is useless, already destroyed a phone when it bounced out and got run over... sigh...
Yes the turnbuckles are a bear to get at, yes as chris said they have to be super tight and centered. Once there you can almost raise the 3 point up to number 8 without rubbing... This is with the valve stems out........

turn your tires around. to wide. there is no point in them being in. wide is more stable and more clerence no matter how little it is. its a 10 min fix. . just wait. and i will fix the cup holder and you wont break any more cell phones. just give me time. i got to fix a drainage ditch first...

Chris...

 

[vintagemilano]

Where does it tell you that valve stems in is wide? My rear tires are loaded so would be a bit more that ten minutes for me...