Can my LX2620 handle this attachment?

[HCR_Munith]

Hi everyone,

New tractor owner and first time poster here. I am looking to add a roller-crimper to my food plot operation and am having a hard time getting a sense of whether a 6-foot crimper or 4-foot crimper is the right choice (on the 3 pt not the front loader). The best deal I’ve been able to find is for a 6 foot crimper weighing 860 lbs.

The tractor specs suggest that the 2620 should be able to handle this weight on the 3 pt no problem. And it’s ground driven, so there’s no tax on the PTO. That said, I don’t have any experience to fall back on, so I’m looking for some vets to chime in and let me know whether this is a good fit. Any reason why it would work for crimping stuff like rye or sorghum?

For reference, here’s the implement: https://www.google.com/search?q=pal...l9yY1FfMTcYATABOAEgr_Wf_w4wAUoKCAEQAhgBIAEoAQ

Many thanks for helping out this tractor newbie.

 

[JasonW]

That tractor should handle that fine. Guessing the product weight on their website is with it empty as it shows a fill capacity of 55gal.

I wouldn’t do 4’ on that tractor size just due to the tire width.

Just started researching drilling and crimping methods a few months ago myself.

 

[SDT]

Hi everyone,

New tractor owner and first time poster here. I am looking to add a roller-crimper to my food plot operation and am having a hard time getting a sense of whether a 6-foot crimper or 4-foot crimper is the right choice (on the 3 pt not the front loader). The best deal I’ve been able to find is for a 6 foot crimper weighing 860 lbs.

The tractor specs suggest that the 2620 should be able to handle this weight on the 3 pt no problem. And it’s ground driven, so there’s no tax on the PTO. That said, I don’t have any experience to fall back on, so I’m looking for some vets to chime in and let me know whether this is a good fit. Any reason why it would work for crimping stuff like rye or sorghum?

For reference, here’s the implement: https://www.google.com/search?q=pal...l9yY1FfMTcYATABOAEgr_Wf_w4wAUoKCAEQAhgBIAEoAQ

Many thanks for helping out this tractor newbie.

I wouldn't.

 

[Elliott in GA]

FWIW, I have an LX2610 SU, and I use an RCR1860 rotary cutter. My LX handles it fine, and I have used it for 5 years to clear/reclaim 12+ acres of old fields that were overgrown with weeds (higher than the tractor hood), edges (covered in privet and saplings) and a 70 yards long, 20 yards deep wall of 8-10 foot high multiflora rose - all over rolling/hilly terrain.

That said, I would not want to put an attachment that weighs more than twice as much as my rotary cutter on my LX. My rotary cutter is 600 lbs., and it rolls on a wheel. Your planned attachment will weigh more than 1250 lbs. when filled with water, and yours is a semi-ground engaging implement. I would be very concerned about your weight/balance going up any grade. You probably could drag it around on flat ground in Low - possibly needing 4WD. If you were to drag it up a grade, I think your front end would become very light to the point of a safety issue depending on the slope.

 

[bobnic]

Wouldn't carrying a load in the bucket help to offset any lightening of the front end?

 

[SDT]

Wouldn't carrying a load in the bucket help to offset any lightening of the front end?

Yes, at the expense of added weight and power requirement.

As Elliott said, you can probably pull it on flat ground without issue but lifting it on slopes will be problematic without some sort of front weight.

 

[Elliott in GA]

Wouldn't carrying a load in the bucket help to offset any lightening of the front end?

Yes, but you are getting heavier and heavier. Plus, you now have a weight raised to some level (would need to be several feet in the air to avoid incidental contact with the ground over a typical field) exerting forces on the front of the machine. Again, up and down grades, over bumpy fields or both grades and bumpy at the same time. It would be a very unwieldly set up, and it could easily prove to be unsafe.

 

[JasonW]

FWIW, I have an LX2610 SU, and I use an RCR1860 rotary cutter. My LX handles it fine, and I have used it for 5 years to clear/reclaim 12+ acres of old fields that were overgrown with weeds (higher than the tractor hood), edges (covered in privet and saplings) and a 70 yards long, 20 yards deep wall of 8-10 foot high multiflora rose - all over rolling/hilly terrain.

That said, I would not want to put an attachment that weighs more than twice as much as my rotary cutter on my LX. My rotary cutter is 600 lbs., and it rolls on a wheel. Your planned attachment will weigh more than 1250 lbs. when filled with water, and yours is a semi-ground engaging implement. I would be very concerned about your weight/balance going up any grade. You probably could drag it around on flat ground in Low - possibly needing 4WD. If you were to drag it up a grade, I think your front end would become very light to the point of a safety issue depending on the slope.

It doesn’t have to be filled with water if it’s not needed to crimp. Also it is tucked closer to the rear of the tractor so it will not have the same leverage as a rotary cutter.

 

[bobnic]

Yes, but you are getting heavier and heavier. Plus, you now have a weight raised to some level (would need to be several feet in the air to avoid incidental contact with the ground over a typical field) exerting forces on the front of the machine. Again, up and down grades, over bumpy fields or both grades and bumpy at the same time. It would be a very unwieldly set up, and it could easily prove to be unsafe.

Needing the bucket raised "several feet in the air to avoid ground contact" would be a mighty rough field. Probably far to rough for use of the 3 pt attachment under consideration by the OP.

 

[Elliott in GA]

Needing the bucket raised "several feet in the air to avoid ground contact" would be a mighty rough field. Probably far to rough for use of the 3 pt attachment under consideration by the OP.

What gets you are the dips, and in my case terraces.

 

[Elliott in GA]

It doesn’t have to be filled with water if it’s not needed to crimp. Also it is tucked closer to the rear of the tractor so it will not have the same leverage as a rotary cutter.

I think you are looking at this from the wrong perspective.

First, the rotary cutter has a tailwheel; and therefore, the weight it exerts is not leveraged towards the back.

Second, the rotary cutter has low rolling resistance.

Third, your planned implement weighs twice as much and has significant rolling resistance. The combination of the much greater weight and rolling resistance will dramatically increase the force it exerts on your tractor.

It is your tractor, and your choice.

 

[JasonW]

I think you are looking at this from the wrong perspective.

First, the rotary cutter has a tailwheel; and therefore, the weight it exerts is not leveraged towards the back.

Second, the rotary cutter has low rolling resistance.

Third, your planned implement weighs twice as much and has significant rolling resistance. The combination of the much greater weight and rolling resistance will dramatically increase the force it exerts on your tractor.

It is your tractor, and your choice.

I agree with that last sentence. I wouldn’t say a crimper has significant rolling resistance though. It’s literally a wheel with bearings, it rolls over standing grasses.

You brought up having less weight on the front wheels with this. Which I mentioned the leverage with the length of a rotary cutter. But if you were talking about having either implement on the ground that doesn’t matter.

 

[Elliott in GA]

I agree with that last sentence. I wouldn’t say a crimper has significant rolling resistance though. It’s literally a wheel with bearings, it rolls over standing grasses.

You brought up having less weight on the front wheels with this. Which I mentioned the leverage with the length of a rotary cutter. But if you were talking about having either implement on the ground that doesn’t matter.

In a word, no. Having more weight and especially more weight and increased rolling resistance causes the rotation of the back wheels to apply more or much more force that must be counter balanced by the weight of the front of the tractor. This is why people install weights on the front of their tractor for ground engaging work.

If you chain your 3 point to a tree, either the back wheels will slip or you will flip.

You have not described the land you will be working and traversing (both count). As you ascend a hill with your tractor, the point of balance is shifting to the rear based on the slope. Add pulling something heavy, the shift is greater - possibly to the point of losing steering control (which can cause a roll over) or flipping.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[HCR_Munith]

I really appreciate everyone thoughtfully weighing in here. Deeply useful information and it’s helping me think through my options. My terrain for what it’s worth has some gentle slopes—probably 25 degrees. But smooth sand for the most part. I’d be working a total of about five acres between a few small plots.

I am getting the sense that 850 lbs might be pushing it on the 3 point with so much weight at the back end of the tractor. My other options would be a tow/pull behind model designed for ATV use, or a more
compact unit on the front loader. I am feeling like the tow-behind is the safest option, but if anyone wanted to share their thoughts on a front-loader crimper (pic attached), I’m all ears. The front loader unit is 4 feet and weighs 1050 with the adaptor plate.

 

[JasonW]

If you have the tractor buy implements for it, no need to buy implements for an ATV. This type of implement needs weight to work well.

I’ll add for the LX2620, rear lift capacity is 2139lbs. And the LA535 loader is 1067lbs. Use that information how you please.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You really need to get and read the operator's manual as it has all this information in it.

 

[SDT]

What gets you are the dips, and in my case terraces.

Bingo.

Gulleys, dips, ditches, etc....

 

[SDT]

You really need to get and read the operator's manual as it has all this information in it.

Bingo, again.

 

[HCR_Munith]

Bingo, again.

Thanks again, everyone. I have indeed read the manual and am well aware of all the specs. This whole post has been about soliciting further wisdom from those more experienced than myself, and to that end it has been successful. That said, if I’m going by the manual, 850 lbs on the 3 point should be no problem at all, so I may well roll with the crimper as originally planned. I’ll let you all know how it goes in the fall.