Kargok9
New member
Hello and thanks,
I am not only a new forum member but also a new tractor owner. Since moving to this amazing piece of property here on the Tennessee River, my wife and I have labored to improve and update it to the level that it deserves. It became instantly apparent that the LT 38 wouldn't work and a 455 took it's place and has done yeoman's work for the last few years. However, it just never didn't have the utility that we needed to do all that we need here.
So last week when a new used 2320 with FEL, 62D and LX-4 became available I realized that it would perfect for our application here (maybe). Long story short, we bought and picked up the tractor last week. The tractor had 40 hours and had been used to supplement a much larger tractor. The previous owner found that it wasn't being used and elected to sell it.
Once back on my property, having never owned a real tractor before, we began circling the beast and scratching our collective heads. It started and ran just fine. I was admittedly skeered, but I figured that if I could fly a helicopter and juggle (not at the same time) I could probably figure out how to operate the thing, even if I had to read the manuals (which I did, front to back, numerous times). The 62D deck just didn't seem to work correctly. It was functioning, but would not adjust well. Specifically, the deck rode very low and didn't seemed to respond to the height selector knob. The wear on the guage wheels did not seem commensurate to the 40 hours on the tractor.
I was aware of TBNet, having previously searched for information on the 455, but never to the extent that I did for the last few days for the 2320. What I found out was extremely rewarding on two levels: first, the level of civility on the forum is unprecedented. So many forums degenerate to the typical AOL food fight. "you suck", "no, you suck!", "no, you suck MORE". Thanks for not going there.
Secondly, the level of technical expertise here is astounding. I'm certain that a lot, if not most of the technical information is the result of expensive mistakes made by operators like me (BTDT). Having spent my life in a trade that must be passed along from one person to the next, I deeply appreciate that contributors here take the time and effort to pass along the information to appreciative folks, again, like me.
With regard to the 2320, I found that there was a ton of complaints about the performance of the 62D deck, most about the height adjustment knob. After spending days reading and re-reading the posts about the trials and tribulations of the deck operation, I spent all weekend tearing apart and re-configuring the deck. The posts regarding the deck were absolutely spot on. I, too, was astounded that the deck had been installed and sold to a customer so poorly configured. As recommended by many of the contributors, I dutifully removed the deck for the first time (works as advertised) and crawled under the deck with my headlamp to survey the height adjustment cam. Voila! Exactly as you said! The deck could never be operated with the position decal in the position that it was placed. A simple silver Sharpie fixed the topside labeling. With that done, I set about attempting to re-install the deck. Works as advertised again, what can I say. From there, I began trying to get the deck close to the recommended 2mm clearance on the up stop. It took 5 adjustments with an untold amount of turns to get the up stop the prescribed height. With that done, the front of the deck was hideously low. I remove the draft bars and started adjusting them with a crescent wrench. I remembered somewhere in the forum that 1 3/8" was a nominal place to start. The initial setting was 1/2 to 3/4" too long. You would really think that JD or the installers could get closer than that. Anyway.......now the deck is perfectly level, it actually PARKS in the lock position and works just beautifully. Tip of the hat and hearty thanks to all that contributed to make me feel very good about this machine and to preclude an expensive and time consuming trip the the dealer.
I do have two questions to throw out to the group. First, the hydraulic line from the lift cylinder under the left side of the mower passes adjacent the up stop on the deck. There is obvious damage to line already having been pinched by the up stop. Is there a better routing for this line to prevent chafing and eventual failure? And to demonstrate that I really am a complete noob an operational question: should the deck be able to move out of the park position with the FEL installed?
Long and drawn out, but you guys really did save me a lot of grief. I cannot confirm this, but I really think that one of the reasons that this tractor was sold was that the previous owner was disappointed in the use and performance of the deck.
If this is in the wrong place or thread, I apologize.
I am not only a new forum member but also a new tractor owner. Since moving to this amazing piece of property here on the Tennessee River, my wife and I have labored to improve and update it to the level that it deserves. It became instantly apparent that the LT 38 wouldn't work and a 455 took it's place and has done yeoman's work for the last few years. However, it just never didn't have the utility that we needed to do all that we need here.
So last week when a new used 2320 with FEL, 62D and LX-4 became available I realized that it would perfect for our application here (maybe). Long story short, we bought and picked up the tractor last week. The tractor had 40 hours and had been used to supplement a much larger tractor. The previous owner found that it wasn't being used and elected to sell it.
Once back on my property, having never owned a real tractor before, we began circling the beast and scratching our collective heads. It started and ran just fine. I was admittedly skeered, but I figured that if I could fly a helicopter and juggle (not at the same time) I could probably figure out how to operate the thing, even if I had to read the manuals (which I did, front to back, numerous times). The 62D deck just didn't seem to work correctly. It was functioning, but would not adjust well. Specifically, the deck rode very low and didn't seemed to respond to the height selector knob. The wear on the guage wheels did not seem commensurate to the 40 hours on the tractor.
I was aware of TBNet, having previously searched for information on the 455, but never to the extent that I did for the last few days for the 2320. What I found out was extremely rewarding on two levels: first, the level of civility on the forum is unprecedented. So many forums degenerate to the typical AOL food fight. "you suck", "no, you suck!", "no, you suck MORE". Thanks for not going there.
Secondly, the level of technical expertise here is astounding. I'm certain that a lot, if not most of the technical information is the result of expensive mistakes made by operators like me (BTDT). Having spent my life in a trade that must be passed along from one person to the next, I deeply appreciate that contributors here take the time and effort to pass along the information to appreciative folks, again, like me.
With regard to the 2320, I found that there was a ton of complaints about the performance of the 62D deck, most about the height adjustment knob. After spending days reading and re-reading the posts about the trials and tribulations of the deck operation, I spent all weekend tearing apart and re-configuring the deck. The posts regarding the deck were absolutely spot on. I, too, was astounded that the deck had been installed and sold to a customer so poorly configured. As recommended by many of the contributors, I dutifully removed the deck for the first time (works as advertised) and crawled under the deck with my headlamp to survey the height adjustment cam. Voila! Exactly as you said! The deck could never be operated with the position decal in the position that it was placed. A simple silver Sharpie fixed the topside labeling. With that done, I set about attempting to re-install the deck. Works as advertised again, what can I say. From there, I began trying to get the deck close to the recommended 2mm clearance on the up stop. It took 5 adjustments with an untold amount of turns to get the up stop the prescribed height. With that done, the front of the deck was hideously low. I remove the draft bars and started adjusting them with a crescent wrench. I remembered somewhere in the forum that 1 3/8" was a nominal place to start. The initial setting was 1/2 to 3/4" too long. You would really think that JD or the installers could get closer than that. Anyway.......now the deck is perfectly level, it actually PARKS in the lock position and works just beautifully. Tip of the hat and hearty thanks to all that contributed to make me feel very good about this machine and to preclude an expensive and time consuming trip the the dealer.
I do have two questions to throw out to the group. First, the hydraulic line from the lift cylinder under the left side of the mower passes adjacent the up stop on the deck. There is obvious damage to line already having been pinched by the up stop. Is there a better routing for this line to prevent chafing and eventual failure? And to demonstrate that I really am a complete noob an operational question: should the deck be able to move out of the park position with the FEL installed?
Long and drawn out, but you guys really did save me a lot of grief. I cannot confirm this, but I really think that one of the reasons that this tractor was sold was that the previous owner was disappointed in the use and performance of the deck.
If this is in the wrong place or thread, I apologize.
