L2800

[la200o]

Last year I moved to a place where the owner had been mowing about 8 acres of pasture, with a 5' brush hog and an ancient Ford 8N. I bought this rig for cheap and somehow managed to mow with it last summer, but now it's pretty much kaput.

So now I'm about to pull the trigger on an L2800 HST w/industrial tires for $12300 OTD. I think this is an OK price (though if anybody'd like to comment, I'd appreciate it). I'd like a FEL, but just can't afford it for now.

Here are my questions to the board: What about the PTO problems I've read about here and there? Does it make sense to go w/the HST rather than the standard transmission for the kind of work I mostly envision doing (5' brush hog, pasture mowing, pretty flat ground)?

Answers to these questions or any other advice would be much appreciated.

Bill

 

[gerard]

Here's my three cents. If you plan on doing mostly mowing ie constantly moving at one speed, constant rpm's etc, a gear is fine and you get more hp to the pto. That said hst is superior for loader work or any "fine" work when you want to inch close to something or have alot or forward/reverse direction changes. I would recommend you get a live pto no matter if you go gear or hst. (I don't think they even make a non live pto on an hst model). I have an L2500 DT w/loader. You're basic gear tractor. It's been very reliable and all I've ever known so I'm happy with it. BUT I miss a live pto when bushogging and snowblowing and I would love a shuttle shift or hst when doing loader work. My next tractor will PROBABLY be an hst.

 

[dangerdoc]

Last year I moved to a place where the owner had been mowing about 8 acres of pasture, with a 5' brush hog and an ancient Ford 8N. I bought this rig for cheap and somehow managed to mow with it last summer, but now it's pretty much kaput.

So now I'm about to pull the trigger on an L2800 HST w/industrial tires for $12300 OTD. I think this is an OK price (though if anybody'd like to comment, I'd appreciate it). I'd like a FEL, but just can't afford it for now.

Here are my questions to the board: What about the PTO problems I've read about here and there? Does it make sense to go w/the HST rather than the standard transmission for the kind of work I mostly envision doing (5' brush hog, pasture mowing, pretty flat ground)?

Answers to these questions or any other advice would be much appreciated.

Bill

8 acres. How smooth is it? How frequently are you mowing it?

If it is basically a big yard, I'd find a nice used commercial mower. Much faster than a tractor and does a nicer job.

 

[art]

Coming from a 8N most any tractor PTO system will be better! The 2800 would work well as a replacement as well as many other models. With the pocket book being tight why not look at used?

 

[la200o]

Thanks for the answers. It's too rough for a commercial mower; I really need a tractor and brush hog to keep it mowed.

As far as used is concerned, I'm looking at new because I can easily finance and I really need something I can rely on, not being much of a mechanic, to say the least.

Bill

 

[Westendorf-RR]

You can always get into an aftermarket loader in the future. Just to give you a ballpark figure, we make a small compact loader in the price range of $4500. It has a 122" lift height and lift capacity of 1450#. Includes everything you'll need, valve and joystick, and quick hydraulic dismount and mounting without tools so you can remove when mowing. I would agree with gerard, HST is very desirable if you are planning on adding a loader.

 

[RobJ]

Your needs are like mine. Gear tractor is fine and a lot simpler to if it ever breaks. Surprizing to many, my tractor is very useful without a FEL or BH. I could use a bigger BH if I keep doing this...(that's a 4' bh)

I bought my L2500 off ebay for $5000, 4' BH and 5' Woods FM came with it. It's a 1999 model with 1200 hours, used in a lawn business. Comming up on 3 years.

 

[dangerdoc]

Thanks for the answers. It's too rough for a commercial mower; I really need a tractor and brush hog to keep it mowed.

As far as used is concerned, I'm looking at new because I can easily finance and I really need something I can rely on, not being much of a mechanic, to say the least.

Bill

I'm not familiar with the L2800 but if it is too rough for a commercial mower, make sure the tractor has large front wheels. I had a Ford 851 and it would rattle your teeth on rough ground. I bought a M5400 which has significantly larger front wheels, it made a huge difference.

I agree with others, for mowing, you want a gear transmission. Most of the time, you will set the throttle and run at the same speed. For occasional bucket work, gears will do but they really do slow you down. I've mown with hydrostatic and frankly, it gave me an ache in the foot after a few hours.

One nice thing about a bush hog, it is more forgiving when you hit the occasional rock. I haven't bent a blade on the ZTR but when I find a rock, it makes me cringe.

 

[B2400]

Go with the hydro, I 'm positive you'll never regret it!!

 

[ccsial]

Go with the hydro, I 'm positive you'll never regret it!!

Ditto

I wanted a gear for simplicity and my dealer talked me into an HST. He was right.