Well I took the plunge ...

blueriver · Jan 30, 2012

I recently asked in another thread about the JD 5520 ... got alot of good info, man this site is awesome ... anyway I bought it and here's some pictures ...

JD 5520 Cab MFWD, Backhoe ... came from my neighbor who bought it new with every option available ... darn nice unit.

blueriver · Jan 30, 2012

And even though the backhoe is new to me ... well I used it and dad gum it those levers are tricky ... I'm going to leave the backhoe on for a few weeks and dig anything and everything I can.

hanson1999 · Jan 30, 2012

looks like a great rig!

Jamming · Jan 30, 2012

Very nice set up, do you have a big farm ? Because it's a lot of tractor for someone like me, with just a property to work on. Looks great ! :thumbsup:

creekbend · Jan 30, 2012

Congratulations and enjoy your Seat Time with your tractor, especially the backhoe. :thumbsup:

chevy · Jan 30, 2012

Congratulations. that is a nice tractor.

CinderSchnauzer · Jan 30, 2012

Very nice machine - congratulations. you didn't ask and so far no one has mentioned - just keep the rpm's low while learning the BH and it will operate a lot smoother and be easier to learn. Move the control levers slowly and gently until you get on the learning curve. My 3320 is much smaller, but I often just have the rpm = 1500 - 1700

blueriver · Jan 31, 2012

Jamming said:
Very nice set up, do you have a big farm ? Because it's a lot of tractor for someone like me, with just a property to work on. Looks great ! :thumbsup:

I wouldn't call the farm big ... in some folks eyes it would be and others would say not. Today we write the lease on an additional 80 acres that will put us over the 300 acre mark all with in 7 miles of the home place and I help a good friend maintain his 200 acres along with his cows.

No row crops around here, some grew peanuts last year slong with cotton. I just go with hay and pasture.

blueriver · Jan 31, 2012

CinderSchnauzer said:
Very nice machine - congratulations. you didn't ask and so far no one has mentioned - just keep the rpm's low while learning the BH and it will operate a lot smoother and be easier to learn. Move the control levers slowly and gently until you get on the learning curve. My 3320 is much smaller, but I often just have the rpm = 1500 - 1700

Good advice and that just the way I dug my first tree out ... low RPM and slow and easy.

When I thought the hoe was going right it would go left... up it would go down ... you get the idea !!!

Zebrafive · Jan 31, 2012

Nice find! Lucky the neighbor even wanted to sell it. I've never used a hoe either as long as I did not break anything it would be a fun learning curve.