JD 2320 vs. JD 790

[elalexander]

I have been looking at the JD 790's on the Deere website. It has a footprint the same as my current tractor and 27 HP vs. 19. However, I went to the JD dealer today and saw them, a 790 and a 2320 side by side. The 790 did have Ag tires which made it, I think, look taller then the turf tires I want will and it's ROP isn't foldable. Some time under the welding hood could fix that as the dealer said Deere doesn't offer a foldable ROP for the 790. However, I never considered the 2320 or 2520 and the 2305 is just to small. I don't have a problem with the gear transmission on the 790 but now see where the hydro on the 2320 would be great for my wife if I opted for a belly mower instead of the 5' woods I now have. Any of you have the same comparision before you made up your minds? Price was, on the website at least, and the dealer, when these two machines when equiped with FEL's very close. I do like how the 2320 has a lower profile and foldable ROP especially since I will be in the woods a fair amount of time.

Thanks, EL

 

[orlo]

I haven't formally compared them but I actually ordered a 790 once, (Changed it to a 3320) and have a 2305 and 3720 now.

Besides the obvious things here are a few differences:

The 790 is very rugged, has more PTO HP (4 more I think) than the 2520 and will take a 300 loader vs the 200CX (Which has a higher lift and more capacity I think). You could probably drop it off a bridge and drive it away afterwards.

The 2520 on the other hand has more 3pt lift capacity and lot's of nice creature comforts and the hydro is great if you are using the loader. The 2520 had a very high hydraulic output flow for it's size and will run the loader very quickly. It will lift approx 20%+ more than the same loader on a 2305 due to higher pressure. It will also go faster in High range.

Anyway, my quick .02. Off to lunch.

 

[unreconstructed]

I went 2320 over 790 because of the nonfoldable ROPS on the 790 and not being able to get the belly mower on a 790 4WD. In retrospect, I am not getting along all that well with the belly mower and I suppose the ROPS could be overhauled--my welding isn't that great these days. Orlo made a good point about more lifting capacity on the 3PH in favor of the 2320.

I have been trying to cut fairly tall pasture grass with the belly mower and its a constant battle to keep the radiator screens clean so the machine won't overheat-seems like the debris is just sucked up from the mower. The belly mower worked great on domestic grass however. Nice cut but watch the divots. I believe there's a thread on here somewhere about the new 62D's eliminating the divot problem.

The HST is nice, but I have a 5203 also and the gear tranny does not keep me up worrying at night about the inconvenience. So its whatever you like I guess. I do quite a bit of loader work with the 03 and really have to watch for gear grinding when I get tired and sloppy. So there's a point for the HST.

I may try a RFM on the 2320 and see how that works. Only takes money(!@#$).

 

[elalexander]

Thanks for taking time to write back guys. As for the belly mower I will have lawn and not pasture to cut with it. We went back to (1) Deere dealer today and got a price on the whole FEL, MMM, 2320 package. They in turn will look up the value of our Bolens in the Blue book. I can't find that blue book on the net for used farm equipment or tractors. Anyway, we have the ball slowly rolling. My better half really likes the 2320 over the 790 and agrees the 2305 is just to small.

We haven't gone to other dealers, JD or otherwise yet, but from what I have seen so far we, guys, have done to tractors what we did to pickup trucks. Back in the days of them being straight shift, no frills, we were the only ones who wanted them and we got to keep a little bit of beer money in our pockets. A woman wouldn't drive one for the most part. Then someone said lets add air, PL, PW, CD player etc, etc and now look at a pickup truck prices. When my wife is talking about the creature comforts on a john deere tractor on our ride home from the dealer I think maybe we have pushed the envelop just a tad. Oh yeah, did I mention that the 2320 has a cupholder and the 790 doesn't? And did any of you notice all of the "cute" JD thinks for the kitchen and kids rooms? It's the same marketing plan Harley uses. At least she didn't have to have a hat or tee shirt. This just might get ugly, EL.

 

[ducati996]

I haven't formally compared them but I actually ordered a 790 once, (Changed it to a 3320) and have a 2305 and 3720 now.

Besides the obvious things here are a few differences:

The 790 is very rugged, has more PTO HP (4 more I think) than the 2520 and will take a 300 loader vs the 200CX (Which has a higher lift and more capacity I think). You could probably drop it off a bridge and drive it away afterwards.

The 2520 on the other hand has more 3pt lift capacity and lot's of nice creature comforts and the hydro is great if you are using the loader. The 2520 had a very high hydraulic output flow for it's size and will run the loader very quickly. It will lift approx 20%+ more than the same loader on a 2305 due to higher pressure. It will also go faster in High range.

Anyway, my quick .02. Off to lunch.

The 2520 has more FEL than the 790 w/the 300 loader (non CX) - see link

John Deere 90 Series Compact Utility Tractorshttp://www.deere.com/specsapp/CustomerSpecificationServlet

 

[EdC]

elalexander

We did look at the 790 and Kubota, MF, and New Holland before we settled on the JD2320. A good part of the reason was the dealer but even aside from that the 2320 works pretty well for us. My wife is comfortable enough on it that she will use the ripper, rear blade or FEL. She would not be able to drive a 790. Most of my work is with the FEL and I really like the HST.

We do not have a mower on it because we mow our lawn with an L120. The 2320 is reserved for moving dirt and digging trenches. After my yard is a bit more level in a year or two we will get a rough cut mower.

 

[jcmseven]

One thing mentioned is the 2320, not the 2520, v. the 790. The 790 is a good basic tractor. It is solidly made, and plain. It does everything well. As my dealer says, "If a man wants a solid John Deere machine and does not want to spend much money, a 790 is a good choice." That said, the 2320 is a good machine also. My take is that it is not as heavy-duty as the 790 but would do almost the same, save for heavier ground engagement tasks. The hydro makes it a snap to operate, even for those who might not use it regularly. The gear drive in the 790 is not bad either, but requires practice to use effectively. The resale of the 790 is not quite as good, at least where I live, so if you wish to upgrade at some point it MIGHT be a LITTLE more difficult to move the 790. 2320's and 2520's move quickly as they are small enough for the average homeowner yet big enough to do bigger jobs. I would go for the 2320.

John M

 

[tonybada]

I have been looking at the JD 790's on the Deere website. It has a footprint the same as my current tractor and 27 HP vs. 19. However, I went to the JD dealer today and saw them, a 790 and a 2320 side by side. The 790 did have Ag tires which made it, I think, look taller then the turf tires I want will and it's ROP isn't foldable. Some time under the welding hood could fix that as the dealer said Deere doesn't offer a foldable ROP for the 790. However, I never considered the 2320 or 2520 and the 2305 is just to small. I don't have a problem with the gear transmission on the 790 but now see where the hydro on the 2320 would be great for my wife if I opted for a belly mower instead of the 5' woods I now have. Any of you have the same comparision before you made up your minds? Price was, on the website at least, and the dealer, when these two machines when equiped with FEL's very close. I do like how the 2320 has a lower profile and foldable ROP especially since I will be in the woods a fair amount of time.

Thanks, EL

Hey that is the same exact decision I am making (790 vs 2320) the weird thing about it is my wife likes the 790 and I like the 2320. My wife was born and raised on a farm so she likes big tractors. I like the HST and the size will be better to bushog my woods to make it park like. You do seem to get more tractor for the money with the 790, but if you don't need the extra hp I think the 2320 is the way to go. If I had big open fields that i was going to pull a 5' bushog or finishing mower I would choose the 790.

 

[elalexander]

Yeah Tony we are in the same boat. Really the 2320 would be a better fit in the woods then the 790 but my wife could mow with the 2320 better. The dealer we talked to yesterday did not recommend a toothbar on the 53" bucket for the 2320 and there is no good way to put a grapple on the bucket as you need a third hydrulic port. That may be availible next year I was told. Money wise they came out almost the same with filled tires etc. The guys on this site will be sharing their input which is always a big help.

The funny thing is now, as I mentioned in one of my replys' is my wife is looking at going to the John Deere dealer with the same "can't wait to get there" attitude she has when we are traveling and are going to stop at a Cracker Barrel resturant. She loves their little gift shop and thinks it's nice John Deere has one too. Thanks for sharing, EL.

 

[tonybada]

you could put a set of forks on it. Why can't you put tooth bar on 53" bucket?

 

[EdC]

elaxexander

By all means get a toothbar. I have had one since my tractor hit about 20 hours (67 on the clock today). A toothbar by Markham or another make increases your digging effectiveness a huge amount.

Now could I damage the FEL because I have this big toothbar on the front. You bet, but you could damage a regular bucket misusing it just as easy. You just have to be careful and approach the tractor's limits slowly. Actually the toothbar helps reinforce the bucket.

I have a 7 tooth ATI which is way overbuilt for my tractor, it is actually meant for skidsteers and weighs about a hundred pounds and is probably the toughest part of my tractor so I do have to be careful but boy does it increase the tractors usefulness.

 

[elalexander]

The dealer I spoke to just said he didn't recommend a toothbar on the 2320 buckets. It is OK on a 790 with the heavy duty bucket. If I remember right the 2320 had almost or a bit more lifting power then the 790 too. I would really like the toothbar and a grapple on the bucket as well. If all I had to do was move material off the ground or piles of dirt, compost a regular bucket would be fine. However I do intend to do some digging. We are going to another JD dealer next week.

 

[EdC]

elalexander

Did the dealer give a reason? Most toothbars actually reinforce the cutting edge of the bucket and make it stronger.

 

[Woody71]

The 2320 digs quite well without a toothbar. I have removed sod and dug out 6" deep for our 20x50 patio and just finished digging out a sand bunker for our kid's climber. I can only imagine that having a toothbar would relieve a fair bit of strain on the loader and bucket since the actual ground penetration would require less force. If digging is what you want to do, the extra lift power of the 2320 definitely comes in handy. The 2320 will push into the sod so deep, you have to back away so the hydraulics will lift the chunk out. Just make sure to have lots of ballast or the rear end lifts up! It is amazing what these little tractors can do!

 

[RollTideRam]

Deere does not make a toothbar for the 53" bucket. Maybe that is what he is going by. I had a Markham on mine, and it never hurt the bucket. It sure makes the tractor work easier when digging up a sappling. I now have the Deere 61" toothbar, and like others have said, it is heavy duty. JC

 

[EdC]

Woody

Good pics, I am going to take my toothbar off when I cut sod next week. I am hoping that it will make a smoother cut. That toothbar sure has been a help digging in red clay and rocks this summer though.

 

[elalexander]

Woody ,nice pics thanks.

Ed. The dealer didn't give a reason just that he didn't recommend it. If I remember right the 2320 will lift more then a 790. He said a heavy duty bucket and toothbar were availible for the 790. I don't know way not for the 2320. I'll be going back and to anyother JD dealer as well. I'll pass along what ever I find out.

 

[Woody71]

Thanks Ed,

The first cut through the sod is the tough part. Depending how deep you are planning to go down, you may want to cut your edges with the toothbar on. After the first bite, as long as I didn't try to take more than a 3 inch layer at a time it just rolls into the bucket like butter. It sure beats the heck out shoveling.

 

[VABlue]

Nice pics, Woody... I remember fondly the times when I dealt with real dirt while growing up in Michigan. Now I have to deal with VA hardpan clay. It's the most anti-plant soil I've ever come across...

 

[Nuru]

The dealer I spoke to just said he didn't recommend a toothbar on the 2320 buckets. It is OK on a 790 with the heavy duty bucket. If I remember right the 2320 had almost or a bit more lifting power then the 790 too. I would really like the toothbar and a grapple on the bucket as well. If all I had to do was move material off the ground or piles of dirt, compost a regular bucket would be fine. However I do intend to do some digging. We are going to another JD dealer next week.

toothbar was fin on my 4100 with the 61" bucket. Just be careful how you use it.