MMM on 2520?

[Yseesee]

When I remove my 62” MMM from the tractor, attach an implement to the TPH, and try to use the implement in the lowered position the arms that are used to lift and lower the mower deck practically drag the ground. I’m really afraid these arms going to get damaged and I can’t figure out how to keep them in the up or retracted position. I have seen posts about “independent lift” elsewhere in this forum but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. Is this something I should have considered prior to purchasing the tractor? I thought I did some pretty good research prior to ordering the 2520. I didn’t even think about this scenario until I actually started using the little beast! Any tips or tricks are surely welcome!

 

[ChuckinNH]

I think that I read here that there is an easy way to remove them, and that seemed the best solution. Hopefully someone will chime in here, and set us straight.

 

[kennyd]

I just use cable ties (zip ties) to hold the arms up on my 4110 when I take the deck off, or as mentioned, they come off fairly easily.

 

[jdbower]

If you're OK with removing the mower when you use a rear implement I agree that a cable tie is probably the best bet for keeping the mower arms up (just raise the 3PH and tie off the arms, they should stay put). You can also remove the arms fairly easily if you'd prefer.

The independent lift kit adds a hydraulic cylinder which frees up the 3PH when it comes to mowing, but there are a few drawbacks:

1. It uses one of the FEL SCV pairs which means that you won't be able to lift the deck and use the FEL at the same time.
2. The cylinder is there for lifting only, it won't hold the deck in place for long. This means that you'll have to adjust the mower height (a physical stop for the deck height) to keep the deck up.
3. You have to remove portions of the kit to use the Deere backhoe.

On the plus side, I can keep my mower attached a lot of the time when I use a 3PH implement. This adds a good deal of weight below the normal center of gravity and helps with traction. It's also a great excuse for a hydraulics project to add another SCV.

 

[Yseesee]

Well, now I have a better understanding of needs to be done. I'll have to take another look and see how involved taking the arms off is going to be. I thought perhaps there was some sort of lock I wasn't aware of. After running the brush hog for a couple hours I decided to take a break and that's when I noticed they were almost hitting the ground. There was a bunch of grass and sticks hanging from them, I'm just lucky they didn't get hung up on anything and get damaged!

 

[RollTideRam]

If you have the independant lift, when you remove the mower, raise the arms with the joystick. Then turn the adjustment know to raise the arms all the way up. This knob will wind up the cable that keeps the mower at your cutting height. Just remember where the arrow on the knob points to go back to your desired cutting height. This has worked for me for over a year. The only other suggestion I would make, is to remove the hitch pins that keep the lift arms on the tractor, and replace them with the circle clips. I lost a pin when using my grapple. one of the arms came loose and before I knew it I had a bent arm. JC

 

[VABlue]

It doesn't have a lock mechanism to keep the up without the mower attached? I thought that would be a standard, common sense item? I'm somewhat disappointed in JD for not adding said lock...

 

[orlo]

This may be a stupid suggestion, but don't you have the same hand screw nut deck height adjustment like I have on the 3720 on your 2520? (A long lead screw with a hand nut you turn?

If so just tighten it all the way - You'll lose your height setting but it'll hold those arms tight at the top.

On the 2320 and 2305 you just put the height adjustment knob in the 'lock' position - does the same thing.

 

[jdbower]

This may be a stupid suggestion, but don't you have the same hand screw nut deck height adjustment like I have on the 3720 on your 2520? (A long lead screw with a hand nut you turn?

I didn't have one when I had the mechanical lift installed, but something similar comes with the hydraulic lift. I don't see why it can't be fit to the mechanical arms as well, if you've got a good dealer they may be able to order just the appropriate parts for you.