Is 2720/price right for me?

[petersham]

Four years ago I bought a 2120 with FEL with a 4 ft mower out the back at the recommendation of my dealer. I have 4 acres of pasture and high grass in typical new england rocky, uneven terrain with elevation. I use the FEL for manure/compost, clearing snow and pushing around fieldstone for walls.
Power has never been an issue (23 horses).

One month ago (at 195 hours) I had a catastrophic failure of the bearings at the rear pto plate leading to destruction of the case at the forward race/bearings. JD has offered parts if I pay the @$2000 for labor.

My mechanic tells me he thinks that I shouldn't be mowing with an aluminum differential/pto case and my neighbors praise the tractor but believe it is too small for mowing.

The smallest JD with a steel case is the 2720. My dealer has offered a decent trade-in on the 2210 and $750 off list for the 2720 with 53" FEL.
Any one have any recommendations on my situation? Thanks.

 

[kennyd]

Welcome to TBN

Sorry to hear of the trouble with your 2210-the only PTO issues I remember where caused by PTO shafts being to long and pushed IN on the case when the mower is raised. This is a setup problem and NOT a problem with the 2210.

There are LOTS of people using 4' mowers both finish and rotary's on these machines. I am thinking the PTO shaft was to long...did it fail when the mower was raised either with the 3PH or due to the terrain?

Next issue: The aluminum case...who told you this:

The smallest JD with a steel case is the 2720

I do not believe that is true...the 2520 and the 2720 are the same machines except for the engine. I am sure all the 2x20 series have aluminum cases-and I am even pretty sure even the 3x20 series do as well! Take a magnet with you to the dealer and see for yourself...

 

[petersham]

Thanks, I'll check out the 2520. At the moment, I'm going on the dealer's word.
The unit failed when the mower was raised slightly on the imatch hitch. Do you mean the shaft is literally too long or set up incorrectly so as to protrude too little or too far? (You can tell I'm new to tractor ptos.) I don't recall seeing any marks on the far plate from the shaft pushing on it when I saw it disassembled.
Out of the 195 hours on the tractor, I suppose about 1/2 was mowing.

 

[kennyd]

PTO shaft's telescope in and out to allow for movement of the 3PH (3 point hitch)...If it's to long, when the mower is raised-the shaft cannot collapse enough and it's pushed into the stub extending from the rear of the tractor.

I suspect yours was to long and no marks would be seen on the faceplate.

 

[petersham]

So you're saying it's the shaft on the mower, not the pto unit itself that is too long and that would place pressure on the pto and overstress the bearings?
What's confusing to me is how the mower could have set down to level ground if the shaft was too long. I suppose the wheel may have been touching ground but not fully loaded.

How does one check for the proper shaft length?

I appreciate your help, Ken.

 

[Cocre]

This may not directly relate to your model of mower, but the King Kutter manual located here http://www.kingkutter.com/downloads/manRKRK.pdf provides some idea on how to test for proper PTO length. Starts on page 17. Don't follow their instructions on cutting your PTO shaft unless you have their specific model.

I have a JD 3320 and I believe it has an aluminum case. But if your issue is too long of a PTO shaft, then if probably matters not, something somewhere is gonna break. If you are lucky perhaps only a UV joint on the PTO shaft will snap. Before you hook anything back up to your repaired tractor you need to verify that this was not the cause.

 

[kennyd]

So you're saying it's the shaft on the mower, not the pto unit itself that is too long and that would place pressure on the pto and overstress the bearings?

Yes, I am sorry for the confusion-the shaft on the mower could have been to long.

What's confusing to me is how the mower could have set down to level ground if the shaft was too long. I suppose the wheel may have been touching ground but not fully loaded.

Remember the shaft telescopes in and out. Do you have any pictures?

How does one check for the proper shaft length?

The KK link has some good info, as well as a Google search of "cutting pto shafts" will turn up some info also. Don't forget to search TBN as well.

 

[petersham]

Thanks guys for your help.

With your comments, and talking to some knowledgeable folks here, I understand the pto length issue. Since my tractor is at the dealer and my mower is here, I'm not confidant I can exactly determine proper length.

However, I do now see that mowing at an acute angle could be problematic even if the shaft is the correct length.

In the meanwhile, I'm looking closely at the 2720, taking advantage of the 0% (which my dealer also says, as noted in other posts, is at no cost to the dealer).

Thanks again.

 

[BleedGreen]

Everything below the 4000 "20" Series have cast aluminium rear ends - this includes the 4105. (The 3005 and 4005 tractors have the cast iron rear end) This is probably a moot point, as several others have mentioned - your failure was more likely related to your implement drive shaft length, rather than the cast aluminium rear end.

Another quick point, the 0% financing through Deere Credit is NOT at no cost to the dealers - it is a minimal charge - but it does cost us. I just finished quoting out a 3320 Cab tractor, and the additional "cash" discount in lieu of any special rate financing was $450.00 - not worth it IMHO in lieu of 0% for 48 months, but if you want to pay cash, you should get a little more of a discount.

 

[WilliamBos]

This may not directly relate to your model of mower, but the King Kutter manual located here http://www.kingkutter.com/downloads/manRKRK.pdf provides some idea on how to test for proper PTO length. Starts on page 17. Don't follow their instructions on cutting your PTO shaft unless you have their specific model.

I have a JD 3320 and I believe it has an aluminum case. But if your issue is too long of a PTO shaft, then if probably matters not, something somewhere is gonna break. If you are lucky perhaps only a UV joint on the PTO shaft will snap. Before you hook anything back up to your repaired tractor you need to verify that this was not the cause.

Thanks for that link. Very useful.