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3520 too heavy to finish mow

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thespaugh
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 10 Stanwood, WA
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2008-09-03          156471


I found a good deal on a low hour Deere 3520 with 300cx loader and I'm considering buying it for use on my 4 acres on which I’m about to begin building my house. Heavy equipment will clear and log the fur trees, take the stumps and knock down the blackberry vines. I'll be cleaning the roots/debris, removing smaller 20' alders/furs, grading and doing FEL work for the first year. Afterward I'll have to keep the garden tilled, make flower beds, grade the 700' driveway, do general landscaping and finish mow the remaining yard (~3 acres).

I have no doubts of the 3520 meeting and exceeding my needs - except when it comes to long term finish mowing.

I live outside of Seattle and the ground is wet in the spring. Is the 3520 going to trash my lawn if I try to finish mow with it long term? Would switching to turfs solve this? Am I better off with a 2520/2720 given my needs and land size?

Thanks in advance,
Chris




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3520 too heavy to finish mow

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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2008-09-03          156472


My opinion is that it's too heavy for long term finish mowing in the rainy pacific northwest. Turf tires would help but by the time you buy new turf tires (and the wheels they need) your good deal would look a lot less good.

My 4310 is roughly the same size, maybe a bit lighter, and when the soil here is saturated it sinks in a few inches. ....


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3520 too heavy to finish mow

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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2008-09-03          156473


Sounds like an ideal rig for all your needs except fine mowing. Later, for the cost of four rims with turf tread you could buy a garden tractor or at least a lawn mower. ....


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3520 too heavy to finish mow

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nosteiner4me
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 113 ohio
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2008-09-03          156482


The 3520 is a big machine...It could handle mowing dry land only, wet and you will sink and leave ruts all over the place. I have the 2520(1000 lbs lighter) to mow 4-5 acres and criss cross directions weekly on dry land and i can feel the ruts i left the week before. Will you really use the 3520 much after all your work is done? If so then buy the 3520 and get another lawn mower for the lawn itself. ....


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3520 too heavy to finish mow

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nuruc7
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 7
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2008-12-18          158672


I have a 3520 Cab tractor and it does finish mowing with a MMM fine on wet turf and soil, and with slopes. I do have Turf special tires, so that helps quite a bit. i looked on eBay and found the tires and wheels for sale for $700 bucks, when I had my former 4310. I used it on the same lawn, traded it in, kept the tires and used them on the 3520. Works fine. My R4 smalls are sitting in my garage right now waiting for thei next use. ....


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3520 too heavy to finish mow

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bvance
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 280 The Great Pacific NorthWet, Olympia, WA
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2008-12-19          158678


I live in Olympia and a 3520 will be too heavy for mowing except for July and August. You will find that any other time, you will make ruts and tear up your grass.

I have a BX with turf tires and even I leave ruts or tear up the lawn when it is really wet early and late in the season. I would recommend turf tires for most any size tractor if you plan on doing much mowing. I think for most home owners, turf tires will do everything you want them to do without any problems.

I even find moving the 10 inches of snow we just got, the turf tires work great. I have quite a bit of slope and it has been quite icy and I spin a bit on the steeper slopes, but they do amazingly well.

I believe most folks under rate turf tires. They believe the macho look of the R-4s have got to work better, but in my opinion the more rubber you have in contact with the ground, the more friction you will get and consequently the better traction, except for the sloppiest conditions, and for most homeowners, waiting a day or two for it to dry out is a much better option because you will generally end up just making a bigger mess anyway.

The best test I had for my theory was hunting with 2 identical CJ-5's Jeeps. One had a quality, but normal mud and snow tire and the other had honking big knobby tires that looked like they chew through anything. That one got stuck twice in a dry gulch on firm but steep terrain where the one with normal tires had no troubles and ended up pulling the other out.

Brian ....


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3520 too heavy to finish mow

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nuruc7
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 7
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2008-12-19          158680


The Turf specials i bought are wider than the standard R3 Turfs and spread the weight of my unit pretty well. However, I would agree that not mowing on very wet turf and soil is a good idea. I have 15 to 25 degree slopes on my property and mowing then when they are very wet is quite scary. I can mow pretty easily without leaving ruts and tracks, with the grass wetter than it would be from morning dew, and with soft soil, but not in very wet soil.

I use these tires during the winter for snow plowing and they provide excellent traction in the snow and even on roads with melting ice underneath the snow. ....


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