Horsepower change in 4520 and 4720 CUTs?

[ddivinia]

Good point - resale difference.

Realistically, as you have stated before, the increased horsepower isn't that much of an advantage - if at all.

'Spose it could translate into using a bigger mower or running a round baler (4720...?).

A local farmer that put up some of the bales (small squares and rounds) that I bought for my horses has a new JD465 (I think) silage baler. It has an acid spray attachment that preserves high-moisture hay and makes it possible to get a hay crop during year's when many grower's are experiencing significant losses (like this season).

He was running the baler with a new, JD5525 (2WD). It looked like the baler was smaller and kicked the tractor around alot less than an older, plastic wrapper JD baler that was hooked up to a JD3010. I wanna think that the older baler was a JD535 or 545.

Both balers were just sprinting down the rows, but that old baler would really shake that 3010 (with FEL, too) around whenever he'd stop to kick a bale out! I couldn't imagine hooking a 4720 up to the older baler but it might power that newer model.

AKfish

Old round baler, new round baler - unless it is a really small one I would not put it behind a 4x20. I run my 467 round baler on my 5525 4WD and I would not want any less tractor. In many cases I think the baler or cutter would be running the tractor, not the other way around.

D.

 

[AKfish]

AK...agree, agree, agree...BUT...those extra horses help get work done far quicker and allow a greater use of ranges when you have the traction. My 4720 in B range gets me from point to point quicker and can pull heavy loads uphill in A range. Sometimes traction is lost no matter what size/hp tractor you have. My old 38 HP orange tractor was almost permanantly used in low range and would stall under load unless it was highly revved. Now, 58 hp later, I am clearing snow, moving material, grading, hauling, raking, etc. at a greater clip and saving time. I recently completed a few projects in a single day (looong days)...something that would have taken a couple before. That time difference was critical since the ground was dry and rain followed by more rain, and then some more. Ground became unworkabe and spongy. Had I had my old tractor, I would be half-done waiting for next year for similar conditions again. I'm sure you have big weather changes in AK and know what I mean. New England weather is always on the move and any time conditions are ripe to get something done, those extra horses help me finish before the next cloudbreak. (Although I paid dearly for them)

Well... you've made a very good case for having the extra horsepower. When conditions are good -- ya gotta make hay when the sun shines!! And those extra horses will make difinitely get ya movin' faster!

AKfish