52" or 60" Rotary Broom for JD2520

[North of 60]

Hi there -

I am considering getting a rotary broom for my 2520 & have a couple of questions -

Which model allows for hydraulic height adjustment - I know both will angle using hysraulics, but does which one can you adjsut the height of the broom using hydraulics and not just relying on the float wheels?

Considering that I currently have the front mount snow blower & attachment hardware - which would be most compatible given I already have the mounting frame.

Any help is truly appreciated - thx.

 

[Deadman]

I have the 52 inch rotary broom on my JD X475 Garden tractor, and it handles it with ease. Its really the PERFECT size for it, by the way it feels and works.
I think your 2520 would be happier with the 60 inch broom as far as physical sizing goes. But, remember if you plan on getting in narrow spaces, the wider one will be problems. I would measure the width of your 2520, and make sure to get a broom thats like 6 inches wider than the tractor, because they angle alot and then you would sweep the area you are driving over.

The brooms "should" both mount onto the JD quick hitch, and that should be power angle, and power lift. I know my garden tractor is.

 

[fountain42]

North of 60 I have a 2520 with a 60" broom. From what I read in your post you are looking to adjust the height of the broom using hydraulics? No you cannot the broom raises an lowers with hydraulics but to sweep you have to use the float wheels. But that is with the mount that is made for the broom. I would'nt do without my broom winter snow, spring sweeping stones out of the ditch dethaching the lawn mine gets a lot of use.

 

[fountain42]

I forgot to say the 60 is needed to angle and be wider then the tires.

 

[jimgerken]

I have found that removing the gauge wheels ends up doing a lot less damage to the turf, when sweeping crushed rock off the lawn in the springtime. You have to run the hydraulics to keep the height about correct, but you have a couple inches of tolerance because of the flexibility of the nylon bristles. Before discovering this, I would use the gauge wheels, but found that they were sinking into the turf so bad, I started contemplating putting much bigger wheels on it.

 

[Deadman]

The gauge wheels are so unpredictable. I use mine all by feel on the hydraulics.
Otherwise if there is a high spot, low spot, or soft ground, etc, the broom either digs in deep, or skips over the top.

 

[wolfmanmd]

I have the 60" broom on my 2305 JD, and use it on my lawn for raking up acorns and apples, as well as getting gravel back where it belongs. I've found that the bristles are forgiving enough that I can put the broom almost all the way down and not hurt the grass...if anything, it dethatches it!

I agree that keeping the broom at the right level is tough on slopes (I have to brush the gravel from an incline...from a ditch back to the road). SO, I either put the broom down further than I need (which will scrape the grass, but again, I've found that the bristles are forgiving enough that it doesn't hurt it much if at all), OR I make several runs forward, rather than angling the broom and running parallel to the road.

Please note that the grass I'm using it on is not a baseball field or golf course, it's grass on a 3.5 acre lot that's fairly far away from the house, so if you're using this on VERY nice grass, I wouldn't gaurantee that this will be the best method for you.

 

[wolfmanmd]

North of 60, just a clarification on one of the posts.

The 60" broom uses hydraulics for agling from side to side, as well as up and down. HOWEVER, when I say "up and down," I mean that the broom will ANGLE up and down...it attaches via the quick-tatch system, and THAT remains fixed at the same height. So the broom can angle up and down, but it's not physically MOVING up and down.

Hope that helps.

 

[hobby_jebb]

I realize the thread is old, but the content is so spot on.
I have a 52 broom on my X728. As JimKergen states above, it is tough to use this broom to remove stones on grass. Especially in the spring when the ground is soft.
Each year I compain and say I am going to try and solve this. Each year I don't get it done.
The problem with this broom is the gauge wheels are a couple feet behind the broom. So by the time the gauges wheels see the new terrain, the brush is already digging in.
Also the gauge wheels are small, and they don't stay afloat in soft conditions.
Although perfect for concrete or asphalt, for soft conditions it is poorly designed, as it would make more sense to have the wheels right on centerline of the brush.
So my first question is, has anyone attempted to relocate the wheels to the center of the broom? The existing storage brackets could be used as wheel holders I think?
My second option if moving the wheels is not possible is some way to better control the hydraulics.
Float is not an option because the small gauge wheels allow the broom to dig in on soft soil.
Down pressure is WAY too fast. You can't "fine tune" the height. Even though there is a diverter flow control valve installed as part of the broom kit, it doesn't do jack squat on my unit. I am thinking of some type of flow restrictor fitting to go into the down hydraulic line. IS there such a thing? I would also find this beneficial for my snowblower as well.
So I am looking for some feed back!! Any ideas?

Also as an FYI, when I removed stones from grass in early spring, what I have found works best is to do it early in the morning just after we have had a crusty frost the night before. The frozen top crust helps to keep the gauge wheels riding on top, and the broom digs in much less. The stones fling right off, as does the deer poop too. But you have to catch the weather just right, and dress up warm.

 

[TCowner]

I have the 52 broom on my John Deere 1026r. I put on the optional gauge wheels that replace the parking stands and found a "yuge" improvement. Its not perfect if the ground is wet because the gauge wheels can dig in let the broom become much too aggressive. I too get a little anxious in the spring of the year to get the rock I have plowed off my driveway during the winter but I just have to force myself to wait until it dries. If I go out too early I sweep a lot of dirt along with the rock even with the extra gauge wheels.