Advice choosing between the Yanmar 2310D and 2420D and what size rotary cutter?

[Mark in GA]

Hello all. I am studying tractors and trying to determine what would best meet my needs. The 2310D and 2420D from Fredrick's have caught my eye as being worth considering. Planning to use for bush hogging some roadside, cutting trails and small food plots (1/2 to 3/4 acre) at my hunting lease, and a few times a year at a 3-4 acre field by my house. Largest brush would be under 1.5", really the vast majority would be under 1" and grass/weeds. Would likely get the Koyker loader on either. Also considering the Kioti CK2510, but I am unsure how these 3 would compare.

Given that, would either of these two reasonably or realistically run a 5' rotary cutter? Or, would they really be happier with a 4' cutter? I assume they would run a 5' finish mower ok, but the rotary cutter would be more of a HP consumer. Would a 5' cutter simply be asking too much of this size tractor?

Also between the two what are the pros and cons? I know the 2420 is a year or two newer and has the the power shift on the column. Their weights appear to be very different so I'm not sure what else is different between them. Which would be better on parts availability? Have heard the 2420 may have wet brakes, but not sure.

Thanks,
Mark in GA

 

[normde2001]

Not familiar with either tractor, but would go with the 5' cutter based on HP and rear wheel span w/ reversed wheels. U may need front weights if no loader.

 

[kenmac]

Really can't compare a 35 yr old tractor with a new tractor..The newer ck tractor will most likely have some features the older tractor doesn't have..There are different types of cutters.. light duty. med. duty, heavy duty.

 

[Mark in GA]

Yes I know the Kioti can have some things the Yanmars can't, like HST and Power Steering. I'm just saying as far as pulling and running a 4' or 5' brush hog in my scenario, how would they compare?

As far as what grade/type of cutter, I have been thinking of something like either a 4' or 5' LMC Andy cutter.

Mark in GA

 

[winston1]

You are looking at 23, 24, and 20 pto hp. I used a 5 footer with a 20hp yanmar. It could be overloaded but handled the lifting fine with some weight or a loader on the front. No doubt either of the older Yanmars would handle a 5 footer.

 

[runningbird]

I would go with the 2420, the shifter on the steering collum is real nice. the tractor itself is a bit more refined than the earlier 2310. If they have a 2420 with the ufo on it, go for it.

 

[kenmac]

I run an Andy 500, and I can bog the engine down on my 3110..I thought yo meant how they compared with the features of the ck...If you are going to buy the yanmar,I would get the larger hp tractor 2420..Never can have too much HP:thumbsup:

 

[clemsonfor]

I too would get the larger HP tractor unless there like crazy different in price, say like $1000.

BOth will run a 5ft bush hog. I run a bush hog squealer 5ft behind my YM2000 which is 20 hp like Winston. I have a 4 ft too. The 5 foot is fine 90% of the time. Its only like if you cut really deep Bermuda, fescue or bahaia grass does it really bog down. But you can just take a 4ft or less bite in that stuff when necessary. Normal cuttings it cuts fine and it is a lighter duty cutter but handles that diameter fine. You will need a loader of front weight. I have about 150# hanging off the front of mine to hold it down . It will run a 5ft finish mower all day long. I run a 6ft FTH720 bush hog finish mower. It is all the tractor wants but if you were to do weekly mowing of shorter grass it would not be an issue. Also it is a side discharge if it were a rear discharge I don't think it would take as much HP as those clippings would not all have to be moved to the right and out the side discharge, they would just be laid out the back.

 

[sirgknight]

When I purchased a bushhog for my 1700 I considered the fact that I would be operating between a lot of trees. I ultimately decided to go with the 4' cutter simply from a safety standpoint. I know that whatever the tractor will clear the cutter will clear also. This was also true for my scrape blade. I purchased a 6' blade only to have it occasionally grap a tree or fence post. Fortunately the blade had re-moveable 1' extensions on each end so I could remove them to make a 4' blade. Much safer. The tractor could definitely handle the bigger implements but it was the safety that I considered.

 

[Mark in GA]

Just checked with Fredricks. The 2420D is $400 more (tractor and loader combined) than the 2310D. Also just for reference, the next size/frame up model 2610D is $900 more (tractor and loader together) than the 2310D.

Mark in GA