2520 Questions

[drgrant]

Hi All-

I have a few questions for any 2520 owners out there.

-How long has the 2520 been out? How long (do you think) that JD will
keep making it?

-What is the ground speed of the 2520 with turf tires? (The spec sheet
seems ambiguous about this).

-How much would a set of AG tires cost? (I would want to start with
turfs and then get AGs; is it better if I just buy them with the tractor?)

-How is the 200CX loader? Can you fill the bucket with crushed
stone (given appropriate ballast) without it struggling? I won't need
to lift pallets of sod or any of that crap, but I would want to be able to
fill the bucket without trouble.

-Is it possible to add a thumb to the JD 46 backhoe? ( This would be
something I would do down the road ) Also, how long does it take to
install/remove the backhoe?

-How much ballast can one add to the 2520? I'm guessing that makes
a big difference when using the FEL.

-How is mowing with the 2520? Might eventually want to use it for
light commercial mowing.

-Anyone here use the plow on their 2520? I might end up using it to
plow snow occasionally.

My basic idea behind getting a 2520 is to use it for my own existing (small)
property now (removing some small stumps, replacing my lawn, maybe install
a sprinkler system) and doing some light commercial work with it, eg, tilling
gardens and finish mowing large chunks of grass, using the FEL to deposit
loads of crushed stone, sand, dirt, mulch. Eventually I plan to buy a far
bigger chunk of land and it will really be able to stretch its legs. There
might be some landclearing involved but that'll either get subbed out or I
will buy a huge used backhoe at that time; I figure the 2520 will still be useful for
"cleanup" as well as landscaping the new property. I would consider it
a "lifetime" tractor (from what I hear JD is good on parts... ?)

Thanks in advance for any advice/comments. I really appreciate it. I have
to say I've found this site really useful, and it's good to know there are
resources like TBN out there. I've learned a lot of things about different JD
products already, as well as a bit about Tractor safety, etc.

-Mike

 

[lincolnvt]

Mike
Welcome to the forum! I have owned my 2520 since June and have 63 hrs on it already. I will try to answer some of your questions and I am sure the other 2520 boys will chime in. I have R4 industrial tires on mine - you can't get Ag tires which are R1 on the 2520 so your choices are b/w turf R3 or R4. Mine are loaded in the rear for ballast - most people wouldn't load the tires if mowing is going to be a major chore for the tractor. I also use a ballast box which I filled with cement - weighs around 700lbs I would guess based on the 8 bags of concrete I used. The combo of ballast box and filled tires makes the tractor very stable with full loads of gravel, top soil etc in the bucket. I have the 61in HD bucket with a tooth bar so I am carrying a fair amt of weight - this means that I will at times finesse big loads into the bucket but it will lift them. The 54 in standard bucket may be better if you want to drive right into gravel and lift. I wanted something for digging, tearing out roots and stumps so went with the heavier duty bucket. I have moved over 100 yards of soil with this set up and it works great. The tractor is well powered for its size and handles my 4ft brush hog and 72in landscape rake perfectly. I'm not sure what the top speed is in high gear - 11-13mph is probably about right. Low gear at 4.5 mph is plenty for pulling brush hog or moving a full bucket around. I have 10 acres and no regrets - looked at the 3020 series and thought they were too big for my uses - clearing trails and getting in and our of the woods. For snow I plan on using the front loader - maybe add a blade or snowplow depending on how things go. I think the 2520 would be great for your immediate and long term goals. Again - welcome and good luck

Brad

 

[Deadman]

I read your questions, and I will answer them all at once. My 2520 gets used for almost the exact same reasons that yours will, and it does ALL of those jobs effortlessly and looks for more work. Its a very impressive tractor, and very capable, but you can not get aig tires for it. I even looked aftermarket and there is very very very very slim pickings because of the wheel size.
I have the R4 tires, and they are excellent except they HATE SNOW in the worst way ever possible. I almost sold the tractor the first month I had it because I bought it in winter and tried to work in the snow with it....... I bought a huge set of chains for it, so problem solved now.

 

[Chris2520]

Hi All-

I have a few questions for any 2520 owners out there.

-How long has the 2520 been out? How long (do you think) that JD will
keep making it?

-What is the ground speed of the 2520 with turf tires? (The spec sheet
seems ambiguous about this).

-How much would a set of AG tires cost? (I would want to start with
turfs and then get AGs; is it better if I just buy them with the tractor?)

-How is the 200CX loader? Can you fill the bucket with crushed
stone (given appropriate ballast) without it struggling? I won't need
to lift pallets of sod or any of that crap, but I would want to be able to
fill the bucket without trouble.

-Is it possible to add a thumb to the JD 46 backhoe? ( This would be
something I would do down the road ) Also, how long does it take to
install/remove the backhoe?

-How much ballast can one add to the 2520? I'm guessing that makes
a big difference when using the FEL.

-How is mowing with the 2520? Might eventually want to use it for
light commercial mowing.

-Anyone here use the plow on their 2520? I might end up using it to
plow snow occasionally.

Hi drgrant , Welcome to the forum.
I like Deadman use the tractor for about everything. except i dont mow with it.

1 # as far as i know JD has been makeing a 2520 since 2005 it replaced the 4115

2 # I dont know the ground speed with turf tires. but R4's is about 3 1/2 to 4 mph in low and 14 mph in high , it will fly in high. but not good for work. for power work i use low..

3 # as for tires like deadman said AG's are not offered , just turf and R4's i would get R4's there a tuff tire and have the best all round traction. and not to hard on the yard.

4 # 200cx works great. I have a 61 inch bucket. and carrying a full bucket or anything is not a problem. it will carry most what ever you put in it.
lifting power by far exceeds what is wrote on paper. trust me. i know this for a fact.

5 # Yes there is a thumb for the 46 hoe. several companies make them. I have give this some thought. if i ever get one. i will just make it my self.
I am pretty good at this....

6 # you can add as much ballest as you want as far as the ballest box go's
I dont think you will exceed the lift of the 3 point.
i use a JD ballast box filled to the rim with pure portland cemete and 4 cast iron pipes to carry tools. according to jd calculations and what kennyD posted it should weigh 1000 + . and it holds it down well. but i usualy have the backhoe on. so my ballast is covered....

7 # I dont mow with the 2520. I have a JD GX lawn tractor for that.

8 # I dont use a snow plow I live in the south, all we have here is
alot of hot dry days. a snow plow here would be only a conversation
peace......
Many people here use a plow on the 2520 and like it very much.
i am sure you would have no problems.

and you will love the backhoe , everyone needs one. you
can do so much with it. just last week i repaired my sewer field lines my self
and dug 125 feet of storm drain. can you imagine what it would have costed me to pay someone to do that....
I love the tractor best investment i made in a while.
Hope this helps alittle...

Chris......

 

[Jksnvly]

Dang it Chris, would ya stop it with the backhoe talk already. You're gonna get me in big trouble here!

 

[Chris2520]

Dang it Chris, would ya stop it with the backhoe talk already. You're gonna get me in big trouble here!

Jksnvly , go a head and bite the bullet. I mean whats
$5500 hundred anyway..... You know your going to do it sooner
or later. you just cant resist. So whats the difference if she gets mad now
or later. Go a head and buy it now. and let her get mad and get
it over with by Christmas everything will be fine.....

You wont be sorry. if someone said thay were going to take all my attachments , and leave me just one. it would be the hoe. it rips roots
out where the loader just sits there and grunts. snaps concrete apart.
tares walls down. dig stumps. works as a cherry picker. and will dig one
mean ditch as far as you want to go. also makes a real good jack
just put stableizers down , lift the back to get rear tires off. ..
the possabilities are endless.

I almost forgot. it works great as a grapple too.
last weekend i had about 40 yards worth of vines that were growing in trees
out on the side of the house. we tied chains to the loader spent all day pulling them down. I had a pile of vines 40 feet long and about 5 feet high. the loader bucket was about useless. so i thought about it. and used the hoe to scoop up big piles in the bucket and dipper curled. and off i went to the back.... about 5 or six trips and thay were all gone. Another good use for the hoe....

Chris.....

 

[jimgerken]

Chris, you are killing us.

 

[jdbower]

There are two issues I can probably add a little more to:

I wouldn't be too concerned with when JD will discontinue it, parts and service will likely be available longer than they'll be available for you While I doubt they'll discontinue it for a few years that's all speculation. They may also introduce a 2720 the day after you buy it, if it does what you think you'll need it to do and you need a tractor now it's not generally worth playing the waiting game for the latest and greatest.

Mowing with a MMM is surprisingly decent with the 2520 as it's very nimble for a tractor of its size. Having an RFM would make occasional use of the mower a bit easier since you wouldn't have to deal with a lift kit, but I'd also consider spending a little more and getting a dedicated ZTR or lawn tractor. It's not THAT much more than outfitting a tractor with a mower deck and it makes it so you don't need to compromise between a tractor and a lawn mower.

 

[drgrant]

I want to thank everyone for their responses, I found them insightful.

Chris- I saw those pads you made for your 46- you should really either
cajole JD into offering them stock or start offering a service to modify/create
them. You'd probably sell a ton.

One other question- do you find that the BH subframe interferes with your
steering? I read that there is a bit of front tire interference with it, not sure
if that's true with the R4's.

Now that I've done a little more research I'm not all that worried about
not having AG tires on it, the R4s will probably be fine; might need chains
for use in the snow but for most conditions they'll be more than
enough; especially with some wheel weights on it, and maybe filling the
tires.

Also, whats this business I keep hearing about reversing the
tires? I'm guessing this adds a couple of inches to the wheelbase.

Jdbower- The more I think about it an RFM sounds like a better/easier
option if I'm going to mow with it at all. Then again on the other hand
there are a lot of lawn tractors out there for not too much money that
work pretty well for mowing, or if I'm going to go all out, a ZTR would fill
that role nicely. Then that way I could just keep the 2520 ballasted/weighted
most of the time and not worry about leaving impressions
in lawns while mowing, etc.

While I'm at it here, what do some of you use to tow your 2520? I'll
probably just have it at home to begin with, but eventually I will probably
end up getting a truck and trailer capable of towing it. I would want
to find a trailer that could at least handle it with the BH, FEL, and some
weights on the machine.

Thanks again for all the advice. This place is great!

-Mike

 

[Chris2520]

Chris- I saw those pads you made for your 46- you should really either
cajole JD into offering them stock or start offering a service to modify/create
them. You'd probably sell a ton.



-Mike

Mike , I have shown the pads to my JD dealer. and thay were blown away. and as a matter of fact , I have made several sets for other people.
and there very happy with them. I ask the dealer why JD would not make them for the 2520 and he simply said. because thay want you to buy a 3000 seris and 448 hoe... well i figured that. So when people want the good stuff. i will make them for them...

as for the backhoe brackets hitting the tires. i heard this could happen with turf tires. as i think there taller. i never heard of it with R4's.

and as for flipping the rear wheels. i think everyone should do it. to be as wide as you can. but it only gains about a 1/4 inch on each side. but that still wider in my book.

Chris.....

 

[Chris2520]

There are two issues I can probably add a little more to:

I wouldn't be too concerned with when JD will discontinue it, parts and service will likely be available longer than they'll be available for you

I dont think the 2520 will be discontinued for some time. Acualy
my dealer said he heard a while back jd was going to try to space things out
a bit in the future. he said , and just take this with a grain of salt. he said the first tractors to go would be the 2320 , and for sure the 3120 i think its gone after 2008 year. and the 4120.

witch means you would have a larger jump from 2305 right to a 2520. and from 2520 to a 3320 and from a 3720 to a 4320. if thay would get prices in check it would make since.

For the record he said the 3120 was the worse selling tractor john deere has.

here is a few stats

what i am told. so dont shoot me...

2305 it the best seller of the 2000 seris.
2520 is close behind.
2320 is about hafe as much sold as the 2520.

3320 is by far the best seller of the 3000 seris
none of the others are even close.
surprizeing the 3720 out sales the 3520 2 tractors to one.
this includes cabs and open station.
the 3120 is less than 10% of the 3000 seris. you can bet its out of here.

in the 4000 seris
4320 sells best
followed by 4520
and then 4720 and last is the 4120.

now this was what was told to me in conversation.
i ask how he knew about witch tractors would be removed from the
line up. he said i hear things. so what ever that means.

Chris.....

 

[jdbower]

One other question- do you find that the BH subframe interferes with your steering? I read that there is a bit of front tire interference with it, not sure if that's true with the R4's.

No issue with my R4s either. So far I've been happy with the R4s, not too hard on the lawn (although I do leave tire marks if it's wet) and the traction has been decent. As a consequence I'm hesitant to fill my tires in case the extra weight will make more visible marks on the lawn. Cruelly I had no snow last year of any consequence after getting more than my little snowblower could handle the year before. Well see about this year.

Also, whats this business I keep hearing about reversing the tires? I'm guessing this adds a couple of inches to the wheelbase.

It's apparently not very dramatic a difference on the 2520 but every little bit helps. So far I haven't found an implement that will rub the rear tires much so I haven't done it but it's a cheap/free way to get more space at the 3PH at the expense of not being able to fit in as tight spaces.

While I'm at it here, what do some of you use to tow your 2520?

I wish I could help here, my SUV is only rated for 5000lbs and I've had trouble finding a trailer that gives me a comfortable enough margin. Look at a double axle trailer capable of handling about 4000lbs+ payload for starters. The tractor itself is about 2000lbs (IIRC), but then you start adding the FEL, BH, an implement, loaded tires, etc, and it starts to add up quickly. If you're willing to tow the tractor separately then you may have better luck, but getting the implements on the trailer without a tractor can be rough. My next vehicle will likely be a decent-sized pickup truck and I'll think more about the trailer then.

 

[lincolnvt]

Mike
I tow with a 2005 Tacoma V6 with tow package and brake controller hooked to a 18 foot dual axle trailer with brakes. I have had my 2520 with loaded tires, loader and brush hog on board without any problems on VT hills.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[ducati996]

I dont think the 2520 will be discontinued for some time. Acualy
my dealer said he heard a while back jd was going to try to space things out
a bit in the future. he said , and just take this with a grain of salt. he said the first tractors to go would be the 2320 , and for sure the 3120 i think its gone after 2008 year. and the 4120.


For the record he said the 3120 was the worse selling tractor john deere has.

here is a few stats

what i am told. so dont shoot me...

2305 it the best seller of the 2000 seris.
2520 is close behind.
2320 is about hafe as much sold as the 2520.

3320 is by far the best seller of the 3000 seris
the 3120 is less than 10% of the 3000 seris. you can bet its out of here.

in the 4000 seris
4320 sells best
followed by 4520
and then 4720 and last is the 4120.

Youre gonna upset a few folks with this info - get ready

Actually I think the 4120 is the perfect model in the 4000 series - less cost and same hydrolic performance as the others, with enough PTO to do what ever you need for that size machine - so I dont see it going anywhere soon.
3120 is another good model - same hydrolic performance as the other 3000 series, cost effective, decent PTO power. I see the 3320 as the next popular because it has a little more PTO power, same hydrolics as all the 3000.
I think the larger the model in the series 3000 & 4000, the less competive they get with competitive brands when it comes to performance. The first in the series has both the price competitiveness and performance as their advantage. Since the performance stays the same (in the hydrolic area), just the price that goes up -

Its strange that the 448 backhoe is used on the 3000 & 4000. I feel the 4000 series should have their own model with more power and reach. But the 4000 has their own FEL

Just my .02 cents

 

[Chris2520]

Duc , the way it was explained to me. was most people willing to make the jump from a 2520 go right to a 3320 for the pto power. since the 3120 is only 2 hp difference. that the way i was told. and because the 3320 was such a good seller. as for the 4000 seris and hoe. i do thing thay make a 49 hoe for a 4000. but its not a curved boom. but does dig deeper than a 448.

Dont shoot me , i was only the messanger...
I guess time will tell if any of this comes about.....

Chris....

 

[ducati996]

Duc , the way it was explained to me. was most people willing to make the jump from a 2520 go right to a 3320 for the pto power. since the 3120 is only 2 hp difference. that the way i was told. and because the 3320 was such a good seller. as for the 4000 seris and hoe. i do thing thay make a 49 hoe for a 4000. but its not a curved boom. but does dig deeper than a 448.

Dont shoot me , i was only the messanger...
I guess time will tell if any of this comes about.....

Chris....

Your are right and I agree with the PTO aspect - looks like the 3320 is the ideal choice in the 3000 series. No dealer mentions the 49, not sure if its still available? I'm strongly considering a 4120 but I would like to have just a tad bigger hoe.

 

[Chris2520]

I understand what your saying. I myself would like a true backhoe.
A JD 110 would be nice. but the cost is extream. and its a little to big.
I really like the kubota L39. size and price is good. I just really dont like the GST trans. i like Hydo myself. and in reality it still may be to big for what i would want. I still think a 3000 seris and a good 448 would be plenty for me.
I think it diggs about 9 feet. everyone says it has a ton of power. nothing like a 110 or an L39 but i keep in mind i do still haft to drive across the yard. and both of the big ones would be 8 to 9 thousand pounds. thats alot
on the grass. but thay would be some digging beasts....
I think Brett said his 3320 with loader and 448 weighed close to 6000.

Chris....