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.

 

[subzero]

get the hydrostat .. I have this tractor and I do lots of commerical mowing, from big grass to the weekly stuff. ... if you are going to keep it cut, less then 6 inches before you cut it again, get a 6 foot finish cut mower with rear discharge, the first time you cut, you will have to run a little higher, like the wheels on the mower off the ground about 6 inches, then set the mower wheels at the highest postion and re mow again, , the hydro, will let you set your speed to what ever is needed, and get the loader right away , you wonder how you lived with out it...as far as PTO problems it is just a cable setting that is required, simple setting like adjusting the brakes on a bicycle, with the cable THERE ARE TWO ADJUSTMENTS POINTS, , Do not worry about the PTO problem,

 

[mjfox6]

I've mown with hydrostatic and frankly, it gave me an ache in the foot after a few hours.

Simply use the cruise control on the 2800 and you'll think you have a gear transmission, plus, no aching feet.

I mow 8 or 9 acres with a 5 foot bushhog, it takes a long time! If you plan on keeping it mowed low, you might consider a 6 footer. I also bushhog the edges of my field a couple times a year by backing the bushhog into the woods around the big trees. I can't imagine doing that with a gear transmission. HST is great for changing directions and stopping movement of the tractor to get out of trouble, just take your foot off of the pedal and it stops moving.

 

[canoetrpr]

Westendorfer - that looks like a heck of a beefy loader.

The OEM loader only has a lift capacity of 1100lb or so.

How much do you think a user should be worried about the extra weight on the front axle if one were to get a heaftier loader like yours?

I'd imagine it to be fine so long as you weren't lifting at the loader's capacity all the time. But there is some risk as the loader is about 30-40% more in capacity than the OEM one.

 

[DanielTerence]

Simply use the cruise control on the 2800 and you'll think you have a gear transmission, plus, no aching feet.

I mow 8 or 9 acres with a 5 foot bushhog, it takes a long time! If you plan on keeping it mowed low, you might consider a 6 footer. I also bushhog the edges of my field a couple times a year by backing the bushhog into the woods around the big trees. I can't imagine doing that with a gear transmission. HST is great for changing directions and stopping movement of the tractor to get out of trouble, just take your foot off of the pedal and it stops moving.

I just put a bid to bushhog 5 level acres of tall grass with a few rocks, logs, and trees to work around. I guessed it would take between 6 - 8 hours with my L2800 and 5 foot bushhog. Is this a good estimate? How long does it take you to cut the 8 - 9 acres?
Thanks,

 

[mjfox6]

I just put a bid to bushhog 5 level acres of tall grass with a few rocks, logs, and trees to work around. I guessed it would take between 6 - 8 hours with my L2800 and 5 foot bushhog. Is this a good estimate? How long does it take you to cut the 8 - 9 acres?
Thanks,

About 8 or 9 hours, but I've never timed it to the minute.