New Member - New JD2520

[revitupfaster]

Hello all......I just registered on the forum, but have been following the posts in the CUT forums for a while. Seems there are a lot of very knowlegeable & helpful folks here, willing to share their views.

I have a JD X495 with the 62C mower deck, front quick tatch and 54" Blade, and the little rear "Tractor Trunk" on the back.

I also have a Yanmar YM276D 4 wheel drive with a rear mount Yanmar 72" finishing mower.

I recently made a deal with my local JD Dealer, and have traded the Yanmar in on a new JD2520 with 200CX FEL (53" Bucket) and 62D MMM. I also traded the Quick Tatch hitch from the X495 for the Quick Tatch that will fit the 2520 so I will now use the Blade with the 2520.

My X495 is a 2 wheel drive, but I put chains on it for the winter, when pushing snow. It did a pretty decent job, but at times, to me, seemed to lack the weight, and would get "pushed" around by the snow.

My new 2520, will have the R4 tires, and I am, hoping to be able to clear snow, without having to add chains. I have about a 300' flat paved driveway & a gravel area in front of my garage about 50' x 100'.

I would like to hear from anyone pushing snow with a similar set up (R4's and no chains) What is your experience. What's the opinions regarding R4's vs Turf Tires for pushing snow?

Which one works better? (I know thr R4's will be a little tougher on grass, but I will be using the X495 for most of the grasscutting)

Thanks

REV

 

[nmu98]

We have a 4110 with a front blower and turf tires. That thing is great in snow and does not need chains for cement or gravel. In heavy snow the tires clean out well and we have not added any weight to the tractor at all. I was very suprised with the performance of that tractor and turf tires in the winter. 4 wheel drive is needed when using. Even though this is used with a blower, I would put these turfs up against any R4 in the winter.

I use a 3720 with R4's to push snow around my home. I have an 84" snow push on the FEL. I need to have a weight box on the rear to get traction mostly due to the size of the snow push. I do have a hard time steering it without using the brakes on cement. If I am pushing snow and there is very little snow left behind, I do not have much of an issue. If I leave snow behind on gravel, the R4's fill up with snow and traction is lost pretty quick. I cannot compare this to anything else at this point, since I have only used the snow push on this tractor. I have a new tractor with R1's on the way and I should be able to compare.

I doubt you will have trouble with your r4's. Weight and air pressure are keys to get traction in the winter.

 

[revitupfaster]

Thanks for the reply.

Do you feel the R4's will fill up faster than the Turf tread? I have the Turf tread on my Yanmar, and the treads will fill up very quick in the muddy stuff. I thought the R4's would clear themselves a little better, just because of the bar spacing.

Oh well, just have to try them I guess. It really doesn't seem that either one has that much of an advantage over the other.

REV

 

[beenthere]

Needing chains or not will all depend on the winter conditions. The conditions can be everywhere from wet slushy snow with mild temps that will turn to a sheet of thick ice if the temps drop to 0 degree F, to that light, fluffy snow that drifts in overnight and becomes a heavy snow pack, to everything in between.

Sometimes the wet slush will turn to slippery snot with the first spin of the tire and chains are the only alternative to penetrating the iced slush. Beenthere!

Or it rains and melts a layer of snow then turns cold and ends up 2" of clear ice. Beenthere too!

Or it stays cold and the snow doesn't melt and getting around easily with no chains is what most of the winter time snow pushing amounts to. Beenthere too and like it the best.

Warm temps followed by freezing temps will be the nemesis of whether chains are needed. I only need them two or three times a winter (R-4's) but when needed, thankfully I have them. Or I would have to rely on help to become unstuck.

 

[Artesia Aggie]

Not much snow in my area, but I love my 2520. Post pictures when it is delivered.

 

[glc24]

Hello revitupfaster and welcome to TBN

IMO,if you're going to use the FEL or a plow,especially in deep snow,chains are in order. I found that out this past February. I managed to get 'er stuck twice the same day. I have R4's.

Greg

 

[bxowner]

Simple answer from my experience: a 2320 with R4s, in northern Vermont, without chains, in 4WD = a potted plant. No traction whatsoever on any slope. Literally, a 2-3 degree angle left the tractor spinning its wheels in place. $400 later, fitted with real (rear only) chains made it unstoppable in any conditions.

Another experience of mine? Spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on a piece of equipment in no time at all, then spending hours, days and weeks struggling with the decision about whether to spend a couple of hundred bucks more on an accessory/attachment. I've done this often!

Hope you have fun with your new tractor. It's a great piece of equipment!

 

[revitupfaster]

[QUOTE
Another experience of mine? Spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on a piece of equipment in no time at all, then spending hours, days and weeks struggling with the decision about whether to spend a couple of hundred bucks more on an accessory/attachment. I've done this often!
[/QUOTE]



I have no problem spending the money for chains, it's the PITA of putting them on that I was hoping to avoid, not to mention that the chains on my
X495 have already chewed some holes out of my asphalt.

When it comes to chains, are there different types, maybe some easier to install than others?

Also I have heard of some putting chains on the front tires only. Is this OK? Will it hurt anything with just front chains?

REV

 

[Runner]

revitupfaster,

Welcome to the forum!

I have a 2520 with R4's and have a driveway with a pretty good slope. Couldn't move on it when trying to plow 12 inches of snow last Christmas. That was with a full set of (6) wheel weights on it and a rear blade. So, I took the rear blade off and put on the 800 lb ballast box and it did fine.

Best of luck with your new machine and please post pictures.

 

[Deadman]

I have a 2520 with R4 tires. Its useless in snow, especially once you have a little ice underneath, or hard packed snow on the edges of the driveway. The R4's are basically a "Racing slick" with some notches cut in them. They are great in every other surface that I use them on, but snow and Ice they just absolutely HATE. I put huge double crossbar V-bar chains on the rear, and the tractor will go thru anything or push anything, but you still can't steer it at all. The fronts are more like "Rudders"! lol :laughing:

Its a great tractor, and honestly I would think the Turfs would push snow better, but I could be wrong as I have never ran them.