Oil & Fuel 50 hour oil change on the 2520

[ScottK]

Marco - the 2305/2320/2520 have different engines/hydraulics. Unfortunately that means they all use different filters for everything and drains are in different places, etc. Even though the 2305 and 2320 have the same HP, they are still different for some reason. Hydraulic filters are totally different sizes. There's no glow plugs on the 2520. JD did not seem to think similarity was important. Heck - I don't even know anyone who has a manual with service pictures that look like their tractor and lots of my neighbors have this line.

 

[gilabill]

I realize this is a rather old thread, but bear with me, this is my first post here. In looking over this thread, I see that a lot of maintenance stuff is going on with your various John Deeres at the first 50 hours. I just got a 3720 (how sweet it is) in September and my owners manual states absolutely nothing about the first 50 hours as far as changing engine oil or transmission oil. It appears that I am to change the engine oil and filter the first time at 200 hours and then the trannie first at 400 hours. I even went to the Deere site and verified this recommendation online. Since I am closing in on 50 hours on my 3720, does this big variability in first oil change etc make sense to you guys or would you think I should at least change engine oil/filter at 50 hours?

 

[marco246]

gilabill,

I have a couple of JD tractors, a new 2305 and a four-year-old 4610. The owner's manuals for both specify the first motor oil and hydraulic fluid and filter changes at 50 hours. My default position on maintenance is to do it "by the book or better", and I'd recommend you do the changes earlier rather than later. On the other hand, maybe there is something special about the new 3000 series tractors that obviates early maintenance. Why not give the service manager at your dealership a call and see what he says?

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Eric102]

I realize this is a rather old thread, but bear with me, this is my first post here. In looking over this thread, I see that a lot of maintenance stuff is going on with your various John Deeres at the first 50 hours. I just got a 3720 (how sweet it is) in September and my owners manual states absolutely nothing about the first 50 hours as far as changing engine oil or transmission oil. It appears that I am to change the engine oil and filter the first time at 200 hours and then the trannie first at 400 hours. I even went to the Deere site and verified this recommendation online. Since I am closing in on 50 hours on my 3720, does this big variability in first oil change etc make sense to you guys or would you think I should at least change engine oil/filter at 50 hours?

Check under the hood, my 3320 hood sticker says change the engine oil at the first 50hrs, the manual says 200 hours (same manual you have). Both say change the tranny fluid at 400 hours. I'm following the hood sticker.

 

[ScottK]

I have seen other threads recently bringing up the discrepancy on the 3000 series. 200 hours is what others have noted as well. I can tell you that on the 2000 series there are a lot of metal filings to be removed from magnets in the transmission at 50 hours which is why I think we do it at 50 hours since the fluid still looks fine. Maybe your tractor has some other way of eliminating those metal pieces, or maybe much larger magnets.

For engine oil the filter on the 2000 series is very small. Not sure how it compares to the 3000, but if the 3000 series is much larger, that could explain the 200 hour allowance.

 

[thatguy]

<deleted text>

For engine oil the filter on the 2000 series is very small. Not sure how it compares to the 3000, but if the 3000 series is much larger, that could explain the 200 hour allowance.

I would agree that the filter is quite small.. My wifes Subaru and my 2320 take the same size filter and after researching filters for the Subaru I found this link that showed different mfg filters that would work on it..

Oil Change Guide - ScoobyMods


NOT to start any filter wars - YOU can get a Mobil 1 extended performance filter (autozone, Advance - it has synthetic filter material) that is a little big larger than the OEM size.. It is a M1-110 - The m1-108 is the same size as the OEM.. You can also go with the M1-104 if you have room - it has a larger diameter than the others.. All of them have the same threads/gasket size though..

brian

 

[gilabill]

Hey guys, thanks to all for your input.

Eric, I looked at my 3720 underhood sticker and it's generic--you are exactly right. Based on that sticker and some other comments you guys made I am sure I will go with a 50 hour oil/filter change but I probably won't do my eHydro at 50. ScottK, are folks finding metal filings on magnets at the 50 hour change of their eHydro fluid or is it from their PowerReverser? I guess I was thinking the eHydro was a fluid coupling, not gears, like I think an automobile automatic torque converter is (was?), but maybe I am wrong.

Anyway, I sure don't understand why Deere itself is so inconsistent on things like this. Another example: the brochure I was given and on which I at least partially based my purchase decision of the 3720 clearly stated that it came with a 3-yr warranty. When it came time to buy, it was just a 2-yr warranty, disappointing but not important enough to call off the deal. Later I called and asked a lady in Deere Technical Service (or some such) and she had no idea whatsoever what I was talking about (seemed to think I was making it up) and said her documentation showed it was 2 years, period, end of discussion. So that was that, but I still wonder...