Mowing 62D mower on 2320 wont cut higher than 3"

[Victory Pete]

This is starting to bother me. I've been reading alot of comments about the mower deck lifting mechanism on the 2000 series tractors. There is obviously a problem in design or something. The system on my 3320 works just fine. We pay top dollar to buy JD tractors for something like this to happen. It's the little things that will cause people to buy elsewhere. I know there are some JD dealers that read this forum. Maybe even some reps. I say to JD take care of these guys. Design a better system and give them the fix for free.

Exactly, I have ordered another 3 PH link, I am going to have a machine shop add threads and a coupling (Like the original part was, it is now replaced with the solid, non adjustable one). Also I am getting 2 new threaded hanger yokes. The problem now is I cant raise them because the excess threaded part is bottoming out on the lift arms, once I cut some off I will be able to get about an inch more height so when my cutting height reads "High" it will be more than 3". I hope the dealer realizes this is all "warrarty" parts. I am redesigning their system so it will operate as stated in their own manual!

VP

PS I will post pictures later when I get the parts and start the modifications.

 

[KennyG]

I have adjusted my deck so the uplimit tab is just 1/16 from the frame. At that point (at least with the independent lift kit), you get all the adjustment you can get. It can't get any higher in the lock position without hitting the frame and it will lower to the point the bottom of the deck is about to hit the ground.

The problem I see with the system is that the range between the top two cam positions (the lock up and the highest mower setting) is pretty large. I need to actually measure this when I get a chance, but as I remember, with the deck locked up, you would mow at 6" or better (and I do that for weed trimming), but at the highest actual mower setting you are less than 4". It seems like it could be designed for a more flexible range, but it works OK for me.

As far as the independent lift leaking down, I think it is intended to do that. That's why there is a lock up position. The independent lift is not a position control like the 3 point lift.

When I first got the system and found it was mowing too low, the dealer mechanic tried to tell me to use the independent lift to set the mower height. I insisted it was adjusted wrong and, after two mechanics looked at it and said it was right, I figured it out myself and set the mower lift adjustment correctly.

My take is that JD made a questionable choice on the spacing of the cam settings for this system (which I think is unique to the 2305 and 2320) but otherwise it's a pretty well designed system.

 

[Victory Pete]

I have adjusted my deck so the uplimit tab is just 1/16 from the frame. At that point (at least with the independent lift kit), you get all the adjustment you can get. It can't get any higher in the lock position without hitting the frame and it will lower to the point the bottom of the deck is about to hit the ground.

The problem I see with the system is that the range between the top two cam positions (the lock up and the highest mower setting) is pretty large. I need to actually measure this when I get a chance, but as I remember, with the deck locked up, you would mow at 6" or better (and I do that for weed trimming), but at the highest actual mower setting you are less than 4". It seems like it could be designed for a more flexible range, but it works OK for me.

As far as the independent lift leaking down, I think it is intended to do that. That's why there is a lock up position. The independent lift is not a position control like the 3 point lift.

When I first got the system and found it was mowing too low, the dealer mechanic tried to tell me to use the independent lift to set the mower height. I insisted it was adjusted wrong and, after two mechanics looked at it and said it was right, I figured it out myself and set the mower lift adjustment correctly.

My take is that JD made a questionable choice on the spacing of the cam settings for this system (which I think is unique to the 2305 and 2320) but otherwise it's a pretty well designed system.

So can you get it to hit the frame in the lock position?
What year is your 2320?. Something is quite different with mine. I cant get any higher than 3" and I am at least 3" away from hitting the frame. The only way I could hit the frame was after I drilled a new hole and shortened the 3 PH link. Then the highest I could get the mower knob was a little more than 3". Something is very wrong.

VP

 

[KennyG]

My 2320 is a 2010. Although I'm not completely familiar with the 3 point hitch lift arrangement, you might want to confirm with the dealer that you have the correct installation kit. When I bought mine, delivery was delayed because the dealer thought he had the independent lift installation kit but when he started to install it it was for a 2520 or 2720, not a 2320. It would make sense that the installation kit for a larger tractor would have a longer 3 point hitch linkage and not be able to fully raise the deck on the smaller tractor.

This is just a wild guess, but it's worth checking on.

 

[Victory Pete]

I just set up the mower like it was when I started. I am cutting at 2 1/2". The deck is about 3" from the frame when all the way up. I am almost at the highest settting on the mower dial. I cut the grass. I noticed some height differences between adjacent passes, they leave obvious lines. It is due to the ground being uneven. When I set the anti scalping wheels to the recommended height I noticed they were a bit higher than I had with other mower decks. I think this is what is doing this, I adjusted them lower and they just barely touch my cement floor. I will try next time and see if this helps. They do have bearings with grease fitting so I think they can take the load.

VP

 

[Victory Pete]

My 2320 is a 2010. Although I'm not completely familiar with the 3 point hitch lift arrangement, you might want to confirm with the dealer that you have the correct installation kit. When I bought mine, delivery was delayed because the dealer thought he had the independent lift installation kit but when he started to install it it was for a 2520 or 2720, not a 2320. It would make sense that the installation kit for a larger tractor would have a longer 3 point hitch linkage and not be able to fully raise the deck on the smaller tractor.

This is just a wild guess, but it's worth checking on.

The link in question came with the tractor, Do you know what happen to yours? Do you know if yours was threaded?

VP

PS Good point about parts getting mixed up, it happens all the time!

 

[KennyG]

The link in question came with the tractor, Do you know what happen to yours? Do you know if yours was threaded?

VP

PS Good point about parts getting mixed up, it happens all the time!

Since I have the independent lift, installed by the dealer, instead of the 3PH lift, I don't know if there ever was any hardware for the 3PH lift. If there was, I never saw it. In previous discussions on this issue, both the 3PH and Independent Lift folks have all been able to adjust the linkages so the lock up position is against the frame, so yours should do that if it has the right parts.

 

[Victory Pete]

Since I have the independent lift, installed by the dealer, instead of the 3PH lift, I don't know if there ever was any hardware for the 3PH lift. If there was, I never saw it. In previous discussions on this issue, both the 3PH and Independent Lift folks have all been able to adjust the linkages so the lock up position is against the frame, so yours should do that if it has the right parts.

Nope, cant do it unless I "Shorten" my nonadjustable link rod by using the new hole I drilled, but then that causes other problems, iif it were threaded (Like they used to be) I could dial in the right amount. Also my turn buckles are also all the way up and the threaded part is hitting the lift arms, something is wrong here!

VP

 

[shortthrow50]

It is normal for your deck to lower or leak down on its own. 3x20 does it too. Nature of the lift cylider setup they use

 

[Victory Pete]

It is normal for your deck to lower or leak down on its own. 3x20 does it too. Nature of the lift cylider setup they use

Right, I had independent lift on my 2305, because it only has one hose to the cylinder it can only go up under power, there is not another hose to send it back down or keep it up while the motor is running. So it drifts down after you lift it. They put a washer with a tiny hole in the line that causes the deck to drop with time, the hole is small enough to make the deck drop very slowly, but it is still large enough for the pressurized fluid to go through. My dealer said I would hate the independent lift because you had to constantly hold up the deck while mowing, apparently they didnt put in the washer! It does come in a somewhat large bag and is hard to see.

VP