Ideal JD for these chores

[orlo]

What exactly is a York rake? I've pulled a 5' landscape rake and a 6' grader blade with the 2305 without any issue But the 2320 and 2520 are more capable tractors especially when it comes to implements and 3pt work. Also the 2305 only has a 'select control' instead of position control on the 3pt.

I agree about cleaning, but the 62D on the 2305 comes off in a flash and can be flipped on it's side to clean (As long as you lean it up against something). Taking on and off the 72"MMM on the 3000 series is a pain by comparison (I just did it yesterday.. One other note. the 2305 and 2320 have nice convenient dial height adjuster knobs. The 2520 has no such knob and I've been told that it's just like the adjustment on my 3000 series which amounts to a non-marked large hand nut. No calibrations, etc. on the 2305 and 2320 you can change height (and go back to a place you know) without even leaving the seat. A big plus if mowing is your primary chore.

A 5' brush hog for the 2305 I think would be way to big. Although deer shows it as ok on the 2320 and 2520 I would think it's even a little big for the 2320 and 2520. Not a power thing, just that it seems physically huge for the smaller tractors. I do know folks here run that setup though. I run an LX5 5 footer on my 3720 (formerly on my 3320).

All the 2000 series will take the 47" snowblower but I've heard folks with the 2520 (maybe the 2320 also) complain about 'runover' with the wheels. The wheels on the 2320 and 2520 are wider than the 47" clearing path of the blower. On the 2305 it just about matches so it works well. I don't know if deere offers 'wings' to bring out the front sides of the blower an inch or two but some folks here have talked about them.

One other thing. I don't know if this applies to the 2520, but the 2320 has the same engine as the 2305 and is geared higher so folks have stated that unless your mowing perfectly flat land mowing in the high range is difficult so they stay in the low range which is slower than the high range on the 2305. On the 2305 mowing in high range is possible even for moderate (not steep) slopes so in effect you can probably mow faster under some conditions with the 2305 than with the 2320. The 2520 has more HP but is geared high also so I'm not sure if folks have the same issue with it).

 

[CapnDean]

I have the 4300 Hydro 4WD with turf tires & FEL. I have used it to pull my heavy 6' box blade (350-400 Lb). I use it to pull my 7' landscape rake.

My observations:
Turf Tires + Box Blade = Marginal performance.
a) a 5' blade would help
b) Industrial or Ag tires would help
c) If I had ag tires & a 5' box blade I would be heck on wheels.

Turf Tires + 7' rake = I wish I had an 8' rake. No Sweat.
a) With AG tires (or industrial) the rake would be unstoppable.

I use my rake for post construction dress work, I have added a piece or railroad rail to it for weight.

I do not screw up lawns with the turf tires. I will gladly trade rear turf tires that I have (tires AND wheels) for industrial or ag wheels. My tires are 98.5%...SOMEBODY help me find some ag tires for this unit! Turf tires are an expensive option... wait'll you see what it costs to go back to stock! ($700 per wheel according to my dealer.)

 

[AKfish]

The 2520 is significantly smaller than even a 790. The neighbor said he figures his 2520 with turfs is around 1,900 lbs. It has nearly the same PTO hp as the 790. They both have more Hp than heft.

So, when it comes to dragging around big iron off the 3pt. -- you can have control problems long before you run out of power.

If you plan on using your new tractor for clean-up and finish work around job sites, it seems to me that different soil types as well as slopes will be the norm.

The 2520 will get into spots that a 3120-3320 won't dream of. But, you might want to reconsider the size of the attachments that you plan on using.

The 6' landscape rake should not be a problem under most all situations with either the 790, 2520 or the 3000 series (heck, even an 84" here).

IMO, you could work a 5' brush cutter on the 790 in most all cases (slopes, etc.) as well and a 5' box-blade. Those attachments wouldn't even make the 3000 series hardly wiggle the tires.

The 2520 would be a different story, IMO. The LX-5 is probably gonna crowd 425 lbs. and a medium duty 5' box-blade just a bit less. That's quite a bit of iron to hang on the back of the 2520.

If I was seriously considering the 2520, I'd be lookin' at 4' attachments and the 6' rake.

Head on over to your dealer and see if he'll let you move 'em around the lot a while... see which one might fit the best.

Best of luck with your decision --- and keep us posted when you take the next step.

AKfish

 

[Chris2520]

I pull a 5 foot box blade with the 2520. a BB2060 and it weighs around 500 pounds. even with the scafers down in hard ground it seems to do just fine. just rips it right up.... if i had a need for one. i would put a 5 foot cutter behind it. and would not think twice. Lets put it this way. i done things i did not think it would do. and surprized my self. there is nothing i have tried to do , or pull or lift or dig . that it did not do.

Chris....

 

[aesanders]

My 2320 does very well with the 4 foot BB and 4 foot rotary cutter. It never seems to lack power for either unit. I can't speak from experience but would imagine the 2520 would have no trouble at all with the 5 foot BB and cutter.

 

[Builder]

OK thanks, on the 2520, what rear mounted finish mower can I expect to run? 72"?84"?

Can a finish mower be used to cut tall (24-36") "pasture grass" like a lawn that was left to grow too high and cut once a month? Or is it better to invest in a 4-5' bush hog and sacrafice some cut quality?

The only odd-jobs other than cutting, bushogging will be an ocassional trip to one of my jobsites to pull a 6' york rake around to clean-up around one of my foundations.

 

[aesanders]

OK thanks, on the 2520, what rear mounted finish mower can I expect to run? 72"?84"?

Can a finish mower be used to cut tall (24-36") "pasture grass" like a lawn that was left to grow too high and cut once a month? Or is it better to invest in a 4-5' bush hog and sacrafice some cut quality?

The only odd-jobs other than cutting, bushogging will be an ocassional trip to one of my jobsites to pull a 6' york rake around to clean-up around one of my foundations.

1. I'd recomend the 72" finish mower. Especially if you are getting into tall grass. The finish mower should be fine in the pasture as long as it is not too rough. Heck, I've seen many craftsman yard tractors tackling fields in my day (not that I would do it). Pulling that york rake would be easy for the 2520.

I've got about 4.5 acres of pasture myself. About 1.5 acres are in nicely with another 3 that I've been working on. The 3 acres was pretty rough with some area filled with heavy brush. Once I get it all cleared and manageable, I'll trade off my brush cutter for a finish mower.

 

[Builder]

I could always just keep my GT235 for cutting near the house and use the 2520 for the other rougher stuff, snow removal & york raking. My GT235 will cut an acre of grass in an hour.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Can a finish mower be used to cut tall (24-36") "pasture grass" like a lawn that was left to grow too high and cut once a month? Or is it better to invest in a 4-5' bush hog and sacrafice some cut quality?

As long as it's just grass, the finish mower should be ok. You will need to go slower, of course, and realize it's a bit hard on the mower, but I think it would be ok.

The brushhog is needed when you start mowing small trees or when you will be hitting rocks or tree branches (lying on the ground) regularly. Those aren't good for the brushhog but it will survive them, while the finish mower could be trashed pretty quickly in that use.

A brush mower can be used on grass of course, but the cut quality is far lower and it's much easier to damage the ground underneath the mower.

 

[RoyJackson]

As long as it's just grass, the finish mower should be ok. You will need to go slower, of course, and realize it's a bit hard on the mower, but I think it would be ok.

The brushhog is needed when you start mowing small trees or when you will be hitting rocks or tree branches (lying on the ground) regularly. Those aren't good for the brushhog but it will survive them, while the finish mower could be trashed pretty quickly in that use.

A brush mower can be used on grass of course, but the cut quality is far lower and it's much easier to damage the ground underneath the mower.

I don't agree with this post. I sure wouldn't use a rather expensive implement (finishing mower) to cut 2' (or more) field grasses. You'd get a lot of clogging and, as you wrote, hard on the mower.
One reason I'm running a tractor now instead of my old Wheel Horse lawn tractor was because I cut tall grass with it. Tore that mower right up...

Personally, I'd stick with a brush cutter for grasses that tall.