JD 3320 and 6ft cutter

[kennyd]

I mow about 7 - 8 acres with a Woods PRD7200 RFM behind a 3320 at about a 3 & 3/4 height and the tractor never misses a beat. The soil on my property is very rich and the grass grows very thick, very fast. I usually cut every 2 weeks and by the time it needs to be cut again the grass will have grown to about 8 inches. I run the engine at PTO speed and generally move pretty quick, unless I'm in tight spots. There is one long straight stretch about the length of a football field and I can run in "B" range in 4th gear, which is about 5.5 mph, and it never has a problem with leaving stray, uncut strands of grass behind. It discharges very well at that speed and it's never gasping for power. I agree with you that sharp blades make all the difference in the world. Some people will let the blades go, or never change them at all, then you get a lawn that looks like it was cut with a bushhog.

My first tractor was a 3320. I had a 5' BH finish mower with no problem. You can handle a 6' without any worries. I pulled a 8' disc with the very same tractor.The front end was a little light at times. That tractor pulled the disc in the ground to the axles easily in 4WD. A 6' mower will be very easy. The 3320 turbo is a very strong tractor. The 3320 has a "load match" feature that when switched on will send additional HP to the PTO to match the demand required.

The OP is asking about a Rotary Mower (bushhog), Not a finish mower.

 

[plastikosmd]

3320 turbo, did you mean 35 or 3720? I agree my 3320 is a tough bugger and I like the torque/displacement..no turbo tho

 

[WH401]

My first tractor was a 3320. I had a 5' BH finish mower with no problem. You can handle a 6' without any worries. I pulled a 8' disc with the very same tractor.The front end was a little light at times. That tractor pulled the disc in the ground to the axles easily in 4WD. A 6' mower will be very easy. The 3320 turbo is a very strong tractor. The 3320 has a "load match" feature that when switched on will send additional HP to the PTO to match the demand required.

The 3320 is a strong tractor, but it isn't turbo charged, only natural aspirated. Also the load match feature won't have any effect when your running the engine at PTO speed for cutting. Your already using all the available power of the engine so there wouldn't be anything for the load match to add.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

..... Your already using all the available power of the engine so there wouldn't be anything for the load match to add.

I think thats a false statement... I may be wrong, but the way I understand how LoadMatch works is by monitoring Engine Power/Speed and adjusting the various outputs....Ground Speed, etc to prevent stalling....In this case if LoadMatch is engaged, and your bushogging and hit some really tough stuff, your groundspeed will "automaticaly" decrease to prevent stalling of the engine...

 

[WH401]

I think thats a false statement... I may be wrong, but the way I understand how LoadMatch works is by monitoring Engine Power/Speed and adjusting the various outputs....Ground Speed, etc to prevent stalling....In this case if LoadMatch is engaged, and your bushogging and hit some really tough stuff, your groundspeed will "automaticaly" decrease to prevent stalling of the engine...

I was under the understanding that all it did was increase engine power if you did something that might stall the engine while running at a low RPM. You may be correct though as I have no experience with the option, I have a gear trans anyway. If definitely doesn't send additional power to the PTO when running at high RPMs though, it may just redistribute it accordingly.

 

[WH401]

The OP is asking about a Rotary Mower (bushhog), Not a finish mower.

Yes, and if you had read my first post you would see that I'm well aware of that.

Well if Nmu's 3720 gets a good load drawn on it from an MX5 in thick grass then I think you with a 3320 will notice a big difference in thick grass with a 6 ft'er. Like Nmu said, your probably going to have to go slower, a lot slower I would expect. Personally I think you'll be better off with the 5 ft cutter. Yeah it may not give you the biggest swath per pass, but if your going to have to go super slow for the 6 ft'er to work then it's not worth it, too stressful on yourself.

But it also depends on what your definition of "thick grass" is?, how tall is it too?

In this post-

I mow about 7 - 8 acres with a Woods PRD7200 RFM behind a 3320 at about a 3 & 3/4 height and the tractor never misses a beat. The soil on my property is very rich and the grass grows very thick, very fast. I usually cut every 2 weeks and by the time it needs to be cut again the grass will have grown to about 8 inches. I run the engine at PTO speed and generally move pretty quick, unless I'm in tight spots. There is one long straight stretch about the length of a football field and I can run in "B" range in 4th gear, which is about 5.5 mph, and it never has a problem with leaving stray, uncut strands of grass behind. It discharges very well at that speed and it's never gasping for power. I agree with you that sharp blades make all the difference in the world. Some people will let the blades go, or never change them at all, then you get a lawn that looks like it was cut with a bushhog.

- I was merely comparing my experience of using a 3320 w/ a 6 ft finish mower to "Ordite"s experience.

 

[nmu98]

My first tractor was a 3320. I had a 5' BH finish mower with no problem. You can handle a 6' without any worries. I pulled a 8' disc with the very same tractor.The front end was a little light at times. That tractor pulled the disc in the ground to the axles easily in 4WD. A 6' mower will be very easy. The 3320 turbo is a very strong tractor. The 3320 has a "load match" feature that when switched on will send additional HP to the PTO to match the demand required.

The OP was not talking finish mowers...

There is NO WAY a 3x20 series tractor would pull and 8' disk up to its axles unless there was no angle to the disc. My 5203 would have a hard time with an 8' disc up to the axles.

Load match does not send "extra" Hp to the pto.... Loadmatch reduces the tire speed to not as much "load" is put on the tractor through the PTO....


ON EDIT: OPPS, second page of this thread where he is already attacked for his ignorance... my bad...

 

[jenkinsph]

My first tractor was a 3320. I had a 5' BH finish mower with no problem. You can handle a 6' without any worries. I pulled a 8' disc with the very same tractor.The front end was a little light at times. That tractor pulled the disc in the ground to the axles easily in 4WD. A 6' mower will be very easy. The 3320 turbo is a very strong tractor. The 3320 has a "load match" feature that when switched on will send additional HP to the PTO to match the demand required.

Man, I wan't one of those! I have been looking for a 75 hp tractor in the clothes of a 30 hp one.




Steve

 

[jca47]

you are better off keeping the 5ft. rotary cutter.
not enough tractor for a 6ft.
I have a 3320 e hydro, and a 5ft. cutter and it will bog down in heavy thick or wet grass.
you just have to slow down and work through it.