New 3720

[NYBOB]

I have been off the forum for a while due to coaching high school football.

I finally decided on the JD 3720 hydro with the 300CX loader with a 6 1/2 Curtis skid steer snow plow. Got the heavy duty bucket. For mowing I bought the Woods PRD7200. I also bought a Split Fire wood splitter for the 3 pt hitch. The tires are loaded with citrus fluid. I have a Woods quick hitch system installed.

I love the power of the machine, the ehydro is much better in my opinion then the treadle pedal on other manufacture's tractors...the Woods mower works like a dream. The Split Fire splitter allows you to split on the backward movement of the cylinder. Cuts splitting time in about half.

The only large issue I have, is on my property when I have the bucket on, even empty, it feels unstable. I have hilly property going from 5-20 degrees...I have a tiltmeter on it. It just seems to more unstable feeling then the NH TC33D I had previously.

I asked the dealer about dishing the tires out and he said they can't be if they are R4s. JD help desk says they can. I am going to have my dealer call JD and find out what is the truth.

My questions are, I believe I have the standard R4 wheels since I didn't know they had two different sizes. Would that have helped my unstable condition? Also, should I put additional rear wheel weights on? I have used the loader with my 780lbs Woods mower on the back. Shouldn't that be enough ballast? I have a ballast box that I am going to fill with concrete.

I will get pictures on as soon as I can.

Thanks, this forum is the greatest tool for tractor research and assistance.

Bob

 

[mnbowhunter1960]

Hey Bob, I have a 3320 with r-4's and they had no problem dishing the wheels out for me, I also do not have any extra ballast and have had no problems so far, I like having the loader on when brush cutting to knock down brush I am going over and finding hidden stumps or rocks just keeping the bucket about 6 inches off the ground. MH

 

[Killer_B]

Congrats, Bob.

I'm curious, why did you go with the Curtis snow plow instead of the Frontier?

KB

 

[NYBOB]

I had one before and really liked it...just personal preference....

 

[NYBOB]

Here are some pictures finally...

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Bob, it's hard to tell from the pics but I think I can see a valve stem in the second pic. That means your tires are set in the narrow position. The tires can be switched to the wide position. It should gain you a few inches. If that doesn't work the are whaeel spacers made for the purpose.Any more question feel free to PM me.

Matt T.

 

[radman1]

Switching the rear tires to the "wide" positon with R4 tires will net you about 2 inches. Not much but just as well switch them. Loading the rear tires or adding wheel weights will give the best stability.

 

[HODAK]

Interesting placement of the mower tires. I didn't know you could place the rear ones on those inner brackets. I have mine set to the outer position, (which is where they will stay).They don't track the front ones, they are offset on either side of the bracket on the deck. I don't think the manual shows that setup. They are awesome mowers.

 

[jerrynycom]

How much was the splitter? Are do you like it? How many tons?

Thanks!

 

[KennedyDiesel]

looks like the same loader and bucket setup as mine. 66" Foundry. Nice to see a tractor with a real bucket.

I have the larger R4's in the std position as delivered with no stability problems. The rears are full of Rim guard.

Curious how the splitter works for you?

 

[NYBOB]

The splitter was $799 and I believe it is 16 tons.

I really like it...much nicer then having another engine to maintain and it is easier to store.


How much larger are the bigger R4? Would that fix my stabilty issues?

 

[dirtworksequip]

NYBOB, changing to the other size R-4's isn't going to help at all with the stability. I went thru a lot of time and expense with my 3520 to try and get it balanced better. First I added 4 in unverferth wheel extensions to the rears, which gained me 8 more inches in width. It did make it a lot better than it was,but still not satisfactory for me. I then added 105 lbs to each rear wheel. Better........but still lacking. I just don't think I'll ever get it where I want it. It's not like I am a stranger to equipment. I run heavy equipment for a living and I owned a JD 870 for 12 years and it was way more stable. I just think the 3x20 and 4x20's were built for someones flat yard. They are nice tractors, but.................

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[NYBOB]

was the wheel weight or the wheel extensions the most useful? What do the extentions cost?

I had this same issue with my NH TC33D....I thought this tractor would be better with a wider wheel base...but I was wrong....

I should have brought the tractor out to my land to try it first....

 

[wolc123]

I can not speak for the 3000 series which I see you own, but can for the 4000 series. I use my 4120 for mowing fairly steep ditches and stability has been great, even with the R1 tires at the narrowest setting, a big improvement over the Ford 2000 that it replaced. I don't think generalizing from one series to the next is such a great idea. Maybe you are talking about cabbed models (mine is not) as I can see where that would make them a little more top-heavy. Also, my rears are loaded with calcium solution and I know that this adds greatly to the tractor's stability. Wheel weights put the same ammount of weight above and below the axle, while a partial liquid fill puts more under the axle making the liquid fill far more effective at improving tractor stability (side to side) than wheel weights.

 

[NYBOB]

Mine is the non cab model and my tires are already loaded with a Citrus fluid.

 

[KarlJD3520]

Nice Tractor !

My CX300 Manual lists minimum required ballast for 300CX and 3000 Series as three rear wheel weights, fluid filled wheels and 1100lbs 3 Point Hitch ballast box. your Woods mower is listed at 719 lbs without the chains and I'm not sure of where the center of weight is calculated from the back of the tractor on the ballast box vs the mower. As the lever arm gets longer the force gets less so 4 lbs hung on the back of the tractor is the same as 1 lb hung 4ft off a lever in back. Your mowers weight is farther in back of your tractor than a ballast box.

It sounds like you are light in the wheel weights, so adding them and setting the tires to the wider position should help as a start.