Tractor Sizing Is a John Deere 3320 too big for mowing a nice lawn

[cuemark8]

I don't think the 3X20 series is to big for mowing IF it properly equipt. I always have the FEL off when mowing. I've tried it with it on. It's a real pain having it there. My tractor seems to spin the tries very easily on grass when stopping and turning while backing up with loader on.
It can rut a yard up if it is very soft and wet, but so can about any tractor given rainy conditions.
I would not use a 3X20 for mowing with regular AG tires. I use turf tires on mine. Maybe idustrial tires would work ok too.
I just do what I can to eliminate weight. No cab, no FEL attached. I do have the tires ballasted, thats why I do what I can to eliminate additional weight. I ballasted the tires when purchased new. It was reccomended with a FEL. I constantly have that weight in the tires.
In a thread above I mentioned I crushed a down spout drain pipe. My front yard slopes away from my house the 4" plastic pipe is buried but surfaces in the slope off the yard. I always mowed right over top of it with the Toro lawn mower. First time using the 3520 it crushed the end of pipe. Now where it crushed there couldn't have been more than a few inches of dirt over it, but enough the smaller mower never caused problems.

 

[devildog1]

All I can add is that I mow with a Grand L 3540 with loaded rears (R4's), I do remove the loader and install the Woods 72" RFM. I cut about 3 acers and it does a great job I think just as well as my 48" cut Garden Tractor just a bit faster.Rear tires on 3540 are about 19" or 20" wide and sometimes they leave track marks but in a day or two they are gone. I never mow when wet even using the Garden Tractor. As far as septic systems go if you have 18" of dirt over lines your good to go. Oh my grass is green not like a golf green, but country green lawn.
DevilDog

 

[gary_dsc]

I traded my 2520 in for a 3320 last year. Both are equipped with R4's. I can't see any appreciable difference between the two when finish mowing. My lawn tends to hold moisture and I usually just stay off it for an extra day. However this spring I did mow it when it was a little wetter than I would have liked. It mashed the grass down, but the marks were gone within a couple of days. I am very happy with the way the 3320 mows. Seems to turn very sharply and handles great. Over the years i have mowed this same area with a 318, 445, 2305 as well the 2520 and now the 3320 and I can't see much difference in the appearance of my lawn. Like others have said, if you use common sense as to when and how you mow, you won't have any problems with the 3320.

 

[cobracnvt]

Thank you for all of the feedback. It sounds like it will work OK if unecessary attachments are taken off and care is taken when mowing. One piece of advice I liked in the thread was regarding space for maneuvering around objects and the space a larger tractor requires. I do have a few areas where the larger tractor would require more turns to mow and would therefore impact the grass more. It sounds like the 3320 is a good mower, but the characteristics of the area to mow, (dampness, space, slope, things in the way, underground objects) would affect the outcome.

 

[shortthrow50]

I use my tractor for mowing mainly. I had the same concern as well but all is well.

 

[kromc5]

I'm mowing with 4320 / cab and r4 tires, leaves no tracks in the grass when mowing. I cannot see a difference from the honda 217 push mower verse my 4320 in the grass. Most of my property is pipe clay so it is quite hard. You should have not issues, but depends on soil type as well.