Killer_B
Platinum Member
AKfish said:
Nope. There is plenty of clearance. More than there was on my last Kubota by far.
KB
considering trading-in 3520 for 748
- Thread starter hpc
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Nope. There is plenty of clearance. More than there was on my last Kubota by far.
KB
Steadite
Member
I'm of the opinion that the 45 loader on an X-series will do 98% of what most homeowners need....might take a little longer, but you'll get there. I found that it was a big improvement to shim the pressure relief valve (I went from 1000 to 1250 psi) to really utilize the capability of the loader. Mowing and snow plowing are top notch. If you need 3pt, probably best to get a bigger machine.
That said, hard to believe you can go near the dealer without losing your shirt. I vote for staying put with what you have.
That said, hard to believe you can go near the dealer without losing your shirt. I vote for staying put with what you have.
Hiya,
My experience has been that one never makes out tradin' horses. That being said, if $ is no issue, trade it. You can always buy another one if you find the need exists in a couple of years.
Some machines will sit significantly once they have done the heavy lifting for you. Again if $ is not a huge issue, who cares if it sits, at least it is there the times when you really need it.
Finally, remember one can generally do a small job with a bigger machine, but can seldom do a big job with a smaller machine. JMO
-Muff
My experience has been that one never makes out tradin' horses. That being said, if $ is no issue, trade it. You can always buy another one if you find the need exists in a couple of years.
Some machines will sit significantly once they have done the heavy lifting for you. Again if $ is not a huge issue, who cares if it sits, at least it is there the times when you really need it.
Finally, remember one can generally do a small job with a bigger machine, but can seldom do a big job with a smaller machine. JMO
-Muff
LBrown59
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hpc said:
1*I would certainly expect the 3520 to be a bunch more tractor than the x748 garden tractor.
You've skipped clear up past the 2305 Subcompact and the 2320 & 2520 Compacts.
The 3520 is at least a 4 model upgrade over the x748.
2*By the same token comparing a 3520 with a full sized commerical TLB would make the 3520 look like a toy no doubt.
farmerhays
Member
I have 3.5 acres of lawn covered in oak trees on a corner lot with steep ditches on two sides.
I have mowed this property with a JD 335 garden tractor (48C mower deck with mulching kit) as well as my JD 2520 (62D mower deck -- no mulching kit).
Both machines have nearly the same quality cut. When the grass gets a little tall, the mulching kit on the smaller tractor saves me from raking while the larger deck creates the typical 'windrow'/hayfield efffect. That's mostly due to the mulching kit. I would like to get a mulching kit for the 62D someday but hestitate since I use the 62D with a trac-vac to pick up leaves in the fall and not sure I want to dismantle the mulching kit. If I keep up with the lawn it isn't a problem with regulary mowing with the 62D. The wider the deck, the lower your cut quality will be if your yard is uneven ("country lawn" versus "city lawn"), simply because the wider decks can't adapt to mole hills and chuck holes as easily -- but who wants to cut 4 acres with a 36" deck?
You feel the slopes more on the 2520 than the 335 when mowing along the ditches (these are 15-20 degrees of slope). I believe that this is mostly due to sitting higher in the 2520, but it is also wider. I haven't had a tipping situation with either tractor, but 20 degrees is beyond my comfort level with either tractor. The nice feature of the 2520 over the 335 is the 4wd that allows the front wheels to pull the front of the tractor uphill so that it isn't sliding down the slope. If you get a garden tractor, I vote for 4wd (and agree with earlier poster that all-wheel-steering would be undesirable...and unnecessary).
I am in a similar dilemna in that I had originally planned to sell the 335 and just have the 2520, but the 2520 seems a little big to mow with (the rollbar doesn't fit under some of the oak trees and the R4's with 2000# of tractor weight can be tough on my semi-marshy turf after rains), but the 60" deck on the 2520 is the right size to get the job done in a reasonable time. Ideally I would like a diesel, 4wd, 60" deck on a garden tractor, but I'm scared of having that dinky loader on a 500- or 700-series tractor. (And I would have to get rid of that BearCat chipper!).
Finally, if you have to deal with snow, my 335 with a 42" single-stage blower will clear a driveway at least 2x faster than my 2520 with 55" bucket. A 48" 2-stage blower would be ideal on a garden tractor, but the blower for the 2520 is too narrow for the wheel-tracks and way too expensive!
Hope this gives you some perspective for your situation. Let me know if you have other questions.
I have mowed this property with a JD 335 garden tractor (48C mower deck with mulching kit) as well as my JD 2520 (62D mower deck -- no mulching kit).
Both machines have nearly the same quality cut. When the grass gets a little tall, the mulching kit on the smaller tractor saves me from raking while the larger deck creates the typical 'windrow'/hayfield efffect. That's mostly due to the mulching kit. I would like to get a mulching kit for the 62D someday but hestitate since I use the 62D with a trac-vac to pick up leaves in the fall and not sure I want to dismantle the mulching kit. If I keep up with the lawn it isn't a problem with regulary mowing with the 62D. The wider the deck, the lower your cut quality will be if your yard is uneven ("country lawn" versus "city lawn"), simply because the wider decks can't adapt to mole hills and chuck holes as easily -- but who wants to cut 4 acres with a 36" deck?
You feel the slopes more on the 2520 than the 335 when mowing along the ditches (these are 15-20 degrees of slope). I believe that this is mostly due to sitting higher in the 2520, but it is also wider. I haven't had a tipping situation with either tractor, but 20 degrees is beyond my comfort level with either tractor. The nice feature of the 2520 over the 335 is the 4wd that allows the front wheels to pull the front of the tractor uphill so that it isn't sliding down the slope. If you get a garden tractor, I vote for 4wd (and agree with earlier poster that all-wheel-steering would be undesirable...and unnecessary).
I am in a similar dilemna in that I had originally planned to sell the 335 and just have the 2520, but the 2520 seems a little big to mow with (the rollbar doesn't fit under some of the oak trees and the R4's with 2000# of tractor weight can be tough on my semi-marshy turf after rains), but the 60" deck on the 2520 is the right size to get the job done in a reasonable time. Ideally I would like a diesel, 4wd, 60" deck on a garden tractor, but I'm scared of having that dinky loader on a 500- or 700-series tractor. (And I would have to get rid of that BearCat chipper!).
Finally, if you have to deal with snow, my 335 with a 42" single-stage blower will clear a driveway at least 2x faster than my 2520 with 55" bucket. A 48" 2-stage blower would be ideal on a garden tractor, but the blower for the 2520 is too narrow for the wheel-tracks and way too expensive!
Hope this gives you some perspective for your situation. Let me know if you have other questions.
ChuckinNH
Elite Member, R.I.P.
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Interesting thread since I am kind of in the same boat. I agree that the weight, and size of a garden tractor is really best for mowing, when considering turf damage. Even my BX22 with loaded bar tires, but without loader, and BH was noticably more damaging to tender areas in the spring when used side by side with my Simplicity Legacy (which is the same size as the X7xx series.)
The jury is still out for me on the 4 wheel steer though. One TBN member recently bought a JD X749, and posted some pretty impressive pictures of that thing on slopes. You might want to do a search, and follow that thread (in lawn, and garden I think)
I sold my BX private sale quickly, and the OP might want to consider that option too. You get a better price, and being without a tractor at all sure forces you to reevaluate your needs. ( Yea, I know, becoming a tractor dealer was the last thing I wanted to do too, but local dealers weren't too interested in trading)
Thanks for the input on the 2520 mowing! I've been thinking about the 2320 some, and needed that input. I also need a loader, and am beginning to think that there is no one tractor solution. (My Simplicity mows OK, but I've just never come to love that thing...... at 500 hrs now)
Here is a link to the thread on the X749
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/lawn-garden/110065-deere-new-models.html?highlight=x749
And a Pic:
The jury is still out for me on the 4 wheel steer though. One TBN member recently bought a JD X749, and posted some pretty impressive pictures of that thing on slopes. You might want to do a search, and follow that thread (in lawn, and garden I think)
I sold my BX private sale quickly, and the OP might want to consider that option too. You get a better price, and being without a tractor at all sure forces you to reevaluate your needs. ( Yea, I know, becoming a tractor dealer was the last thing I wanted to do too, but local dealers weren't too interested in trading)
Thanks for the input on the 2520 mowing! I've been thinking about the 2320 some, and needed that input. I also need a loader, and am beginning to think that there is no one tractor solution. (My Simplicity mows OK, but I've just never come to love that thing...... at 500 hrs now)
Here is a link to the thread on the X749
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/lawn-garden/110065-deere-new-models.html?highlight=x749
And a Pic:
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LBrown59
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1. I'm not a fan of mulching or raking. I use the mow it and throw it technique.
Been doing it that way since 1966 and it's worked well for 42 years on this place for me.
2. Same for the leaves.
3. I feel the slopes more on my BX23 than I do on my BX1500 and CC GT2554.
That's one reason I have them.
4. 4 wheel drive on the BX1500 is one reason I bought it to replace the CC GT2554 garden tractor.
5. I'm replacing the 2 wheel drive CC Garden tractor with the BX1500 4WD.It just hasn't sold yet.
6. Read the thread that ChuckinNH posted a link to above.
7. The BX23 wasn't a 1 size fits all for me so I added 2 BX1500 tractors which worked out great.
8. I had the same size issues with the BX23.
Adding the BX1500 solved it nicely.
9. The BX1500 gave me 4x4, diesel engine, size and nimbleness of a garden tractor and the extra capabilities and versatility of a sub compact.
The BX1500 cost $7750 or about half the cost of a JD X749.
10. A FEEL on the BX1500 wasn't needed as the BX23 has a FEL.
11. I use the 60'' front blade on another BX1500 for snow plowing instead of the FEL on the BX23.
The thing I like about the front blade over a snow blower is you can use it to move and grade dirt, sand, gravel, slag, etc., but you can't do that with a blower.
The Biggest snow we've had since Sep.2004 is the 4 incher we got a couple a months ago.
What few other snows we've had were in the 1 to 2 inch range.
Wonder if this has influnced my thoughts on snow blowers.
== L B ==
Been doing it that way since 1966 and it's worked well for 42 years on this place for me.
2. Same for the leaves.
3. I feel the slopes more on my BX23 than I do on my BX1500 and CC GT2554.
That's one reason I have them.
4. 4 wheel drive on the BX1500 is one reason I bought it to replace the CC GT2554 garden tractor.
5. I'm replacing the 2 wheel drive CC Garden tractor with the BX1500 4WD.It just hasn't sold yet.
6. Read the thread that ChuckinNH posted a link to above.
7. The BX23 wasn't a 1 size fits all for me so I added 2 BX1500 tractors which worked out great.
8. I had the same size issues with the BX23.
Adding the BX1500 solved it nicely.
9. The BX1500 gave me 4x4, diesel engine, size and nimbleness of a garden tractor and the extra capabilities and versatility of a sub compact.
The BX1500 cost $7750 or about half the cost of a JD X749.
10. A FEEL on the BX1500 wasn't needed as the BX23 has a FEL.
11. I use the 60'' front blade on another BX1500 for snow plowing instead of the FEL on the BX23.
The thing I like about the front blade over a snow blower is you can use it to move and grade dirt, sand, gravel, slag, etc., but you can't do that with a blower.
The Biggest snow we've had since Sep.2004 is the 4 incher we got a couple a months ago.
What few other snows we've had were in the 1 to 2 inch range.
Wonder if this has influnced my thoughts on snow blowers.
== L B ==
farmerhays said:
LBrown59
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== L B ==ChuckinNH said:
1*My BX23 tearing up the yard has never been a problem for me even though I leave the FEL and BH on it all the time.
2*It don't excite me any.
3*Took 3 for me.
2Malamutes
Bronze Member
In some ways I just did the inverse of what the OP is doing. Moved into a new place with some land and a long, wide drive. I went out and bought the 728 with the 60" 7-Iron, 54" blade and 47" JD snowthrower. First couple of days I noticed I couldn't keep it in the float position while blowing my new smooth concrete drive, so I tested and found it took a 5 ounce load to overcome the float detent. Dealer picked it up and replaced the detent kit. Next couple of days when blowing the battery light kept randomly coming on and staying on, and then we had a good snow that left some 3 to 4 foot drifts in front of the garage that the tractor was struggling with. Tractor just felt like it was too small for the job, and with the problems I just felt like someone was trying to tell me I had the wrong tractor. Although my wife tells me it is partly because I am 6'3" and the tractor just didn't look big to me.
Fortunately my dealer, Steensma in Kalamazoo, was great to work with, and the "John Deere Promise" meant I just told him I wanted a 2320, and they swapped it out for me. I couldn't be happier with the 2320, and at this point I have no doubt the 7xx just wasn't the right tractor for me. There are a few things I did like on the 728:
1. No 7-Iron deck for 2320, although admittedly as it is midwinter I don't know how much worse, if any, the 62D On-Ramp with mulch kit is going to be.
2. Although small, I really liked the dual back-up lights built into the rear fenders that came on when pressing the reverse pedal. Blowing snow usually happens in the dark, and with the winds I miss those lights.
3. No tilt wheel on 2320. I am tall and leggy, so the tilt wheel was nice just to get it out of the way while climbing on/off.
4. No "toolbox" on the 2320. Honestly I just used it to store the garage door opener while blowing but it was really handy for that since throwing it in a pocket sometimes results in an inadvertently opened door.
The list of benefits to the 2320 is so much longer, and it is just plain a lot more tractor. I'm surprised at how maneuverable the 2320 is as I was worried about that. The 45 loader for the 7xx is so much more expensive than the 200CX that it alone nearly offsets the price difference between the two let alone factoring in the rear PTO and cat. 1.
I guess the good thing is I never used the 7-Iron deck so I'll never know if the 62D is worse, but I would definitely recommend the 2320 over the 748 based on my personal experience.
Fortunately my dealer, Steensma in Kalamazoo, was great to work with, and the "John Deere Promise" meant I just told him I wanted a 2320, and they swapped it out for me. I couldn't be happier with the 2320, and at this point I have no doubt the 7xx just wasn't the right tractor for me. There are a few things I did like on the 728:
1. No 7-Iron deck for 2320, although admittedly as it is midwinter I don't know how much worse, if any, the 62D On-Ramp with mulch kit is going to be.
2. Although small, I really liked the dual back-up lights built into the rear fenders that came on when pressing the reverse pedal. Blowing snow usually happens in the dark, and with the winds I miss those lights.
3. No tilt wheel on 2320. I am tall and leggy, so the tilt wheel was nice just to get it out of the way while climbing on/off.
4. No "toolbox" on the 2320. Honestly I just used it to store the garage door opener while blowing but it was really handy for that since throwing it in a pocket sometimes results in an inadvertently opened door.
The list of benefits to the 2320 is so much longer, and it is just plain a lot more tractor. I'm surprised at how maneuverable the 2320 is as I was worried about that. The 45 loader for the 7xx is so much more expensive than the 200CX that it alone nearly offsets the price difference between the two let alone factoring in the rear PTO and cat. 1.
I guess the good thing is I never used the 7-Iron deck so I'll never know if the 62D is worse, but I would definitely recommend the 2320 over the 748 based on my personal experience.
Killer_B
Platinum Member
2Malamutes said:
I got my tractor there too. I found them good to deal with.
I'm in Richland, where are you at?
KB
