JD 2720 - Need opinions

[Runner]

labs,

Absolutely beautiful place you have there.

I have an antique bike myself, although it wasn't intended to be. I just bought my 1974 Raleigh Grand Prix new and it grew old with me. Guess that makes me an antique too!

Also have the 62D belly mower for my 2520 and it works as advertised. Delivers a very nice cut and is easy to mount/dismount. See attached pic of the machine tackling one of my 20 degree slopes.

 

[jenkinsph]

My wife and I are going to buy a compact tractor and have decided on a John Deere. I have researched a lot about the 2720 and I am just wondering if it will be a short lived model? I also see that some people are concerned about th2 speed range. We will use it mostly for mowing around fence lines and fields but will also need a bucket for lighter jobs. The 3000 series are just too big for what we need.
Is the 2720 a good choice in a tractor - engine, etc? Any opinons are helpful.
Thanks for helping a newbie out!

First of all that is a very nice place you have and I enjoyed looking at the pictures.
Second if you are responsible for getting it in that shape then you aren't a newbie, try veteran instead.
Third, if you have a larger tractor currently then the 2720 should be fine for the fill in tasks.

I can see using a 2000 series if backed up with for example a 5000 series. I just don't think a 2000 series is large enough to be all encompassing to be clear.


Steve

 

[turbo36]

Go for the 2720 and don't look back. I have a 2520 now (among others) and really like it but I want the 2720 just for the horsepower difference. If you can afford the price, then go for it. Life is short.

 

[edman1000]

Now I feel like I'm going over kill! I only have 6 acres to play with and I'm going with the 2720. I thought the 2520 would be to small. I plan on doing a lot of backhoe work though. I alos got the 72" belly mount and the loader. I liked the extra hp in the 2720. I'll be sure to let you know how I like it when It gets delivered .....any day now.....!

Also, I got to talk to you about the suspension in your V-max, I got a 600 with no (at least thats what it feels like) suspension in it.

 

[AKfish]

runner- We also have some hilly areas but not real steep. It would be mostly used for mowing around fences and around the fields but once in awhile a small meadow or two. We do want the belly mount mower and not a rear mount. It sounds like this model would be good for us and with reading about the 3000s being a little tippy, my wife may not like that feeling on one! Thanks for your input.
Some of these pictures we have on Flickr may show a little more of the property we would be mowing - if anyone is interested in looking - vmax4coco's photosets on Flickr

Great pictures! Thanks. Very nice place.. and quite a selection of critters, too!

Best of luck with your new tractor.

AKfish

 

[zr2blz]

I had a 2520 with 200cx and 46 bh (13" bucket). Used it to dig sons crawl space 36'x72' x 4' deep. Took a while but it did it. Then I dug a bunch of trenches, some at the max 6 1/2'. But, the hydraulics acted up. Bucket would only go up 3/4 of the way and it had no down pressure. Took it to JD and they replace PS assy under hood (down time 10 days). Well, now transmission made a bad noisy and had to keep turning the wheel to keep going straight. Gave tractor back to JD to fix. Was still down after 4 weeks and more parts coming, so I traded for 3320 with 300cx and 447 bh with 16" bucket.

Boy, do I love the 3320. 3 speed verse 2, doesn't need to be in N to start. 2520 would kill and was hard to get into N so it would start. Had filled tires on both but the 3 point on 2520 was old type and would rub on tires with my 6' blade. No problems on 3320 and its so much stronger and it can swing to left/right more.

Just look at the axles on 2520 and 3320. Big different, so much more meat on the 3320. It rides better (nice seat) and has tilt wheel. I ran both with wheels reversed. The 2520 would rub the front tires on the bh before I swapped tires. The teeth on 46 bh are very weak and bent right away digging rocks.

I had the 51" bucket on 2520 and 61" on 3320 (on the lot). I wished I had the heavy duty bucket, I'm bending top a lot doing big rock work.

The 3320 bh will do a lot more work faster with the bigger buckets and higher hyd flow. If I would do it again, I would go straight to 3x20 with large R4s (for more ground clearance) as I've been in some deep mud. The 300cx will lift a lot of weight in bucket but I move lots of big rocks around end up rolling 'em or pulling 'em.

ps: just did 72 hrs of bh'ng. Done at 1000 rpm and got almost 5 hr per gallon. Another nice thing is the bigger fuel tank.

 

[unreconstructed]

Don't know anything about the 3000 series. I have a 2320 and a 5325. The 2320 is perfect for what I bought it for--tight spots and mowing. Don't know if I had rather have a 2720 or not since I never have operated one. When I bought the 2320 I considered the 2520 but decided since I had a bigger tractor for bigger applications I did not want to spend any more money for a little more HP. Anyhow, its a great little piece of equipment for darting around tight spots and doing those jobs that would be a PIA to do with the big fella.

I intend to get a 4' rotary cutter to mow in and around my many oak trees. I understand the 5' would work just fine, but I want the narrower width. I have a 62D MMM which is a nice mowing unit, but think I had rather mow my rocks with the cutter than with the MMM.\

So no war intended here either, just my personal "druthers".

 

[unit40]

I believe that the engine used in the 2720 is the same one that is in my JD1445 front-mower. If it is then you are in for a very sweet sounding, powerful engine. It doesn't clatter like a diesel usually does. Perfect for the size of the 2720. You will simply have plenty of power on hand. Especially running a 72" mower, you will have no problems at all.

 

[labsrus]

Well, we bought a 2720 and hopefully it will be delivered here this Saturday.
Can anyone tell me how long from front to rear with the bucket on? I may need to make some room in the garage!
Thanks again for all the opinions. I will post some pictures of it, once we have it here.