High draft requirements

Operators are requiring faster field working speeds and larger implements and tractors because of a dramatic increase in farm size. The market is asking for and receiving tractors with more torque, more weight, and more horsepower. This increased draft requires more from the implement frame and hitch components. 

Frames and hitches have been redesigned with increases in frame tube thickness, additional diagonal bracing, and frame gussets for 600 engine horsepower requirements.

Category 5 implement hitch link

As part of the redesign, implements include a beefy Category 5 implement hitch link, providing the necessary strength and dimensions to match a Category 5 tractor drawbar and associated load.

The drawbar pin is increased from 51 mm (2 in.) with Category 4 to 70 mm (2.75 in.) with Category 5. The hitch link thickness is increased from 47 mm (1.85 in.) with Category 4 to 58 mm (2.28 in.) with Category 5.

The addition of this option will satisfy tractor Category 5 drawbar requirements.

Compatibility

• Category 5 implement hitch links are not compatible with Category 4 tractor drawbars
• Category 5 tractor drawbars are not compatible with Category 4 implement hitch links
• Category 5 drawbars are currently not available on John Deere 9000 Series Tractors

2720 Level-lift hitch

The Level-lift hitch/turnbuckle:

• Holds the frame level fore and aft for consistent depth throughout its range of operating depth, without the need to re-level the machine when the depth is changed
• Allows the operator to go from the working position to transport without re-leveling the machine

A single 152-mm x 254-mm (6-in. x 10-in.) hitch tube enables tighter turns on the headlands without the inside tractor dual interfering with the hitch tube.

The turnbuckle is used to adjust fore-aft leveling:

• Convenient, easy adjustment to match the hitch to the tractor drawbar
• Locking mechanism makes it easy to adjust turnbuckle as required; no jam nut to tighten
• Adjustment is made only once for each tractor

The turnbuckle-adjustment wrench is in base equipment:

• Store for easy accessibility
• Also used to adjust eye bolts for wing depth control cylinders

Round-bar or knife-edge rolling baskets

Hydraulic round-bar rolling basket

Hydraulic knife-edge rolling basket

The industry-exclusive hydraulic rolling baskets found on the 2600 series disks and vertical tillage are also available on the 2720 Disk Ripper. The baskets come in a round-bar or knife-edge configuration. 

Below are the benefits of each basket:

• Round-bar – does a better job of busting clods and firming the ground.  Slightly more prone to plugging over the knife edge because there are more bars.  Works best in drier conditions.
• Knife edge – slices through clods. Works best in heavier, wet soils. Knife’s grab dirt and recycle more to size clods more effectively. Cleans out very well in the field. 

The rolling baskets can be set in three different positions based on their hydraulic operation:

1. Down Pressure - a gauge on the front of the 2720 allows operators to set basket down pressure to ensure constant ground contact.  Down pressure also allows for better sizing of slabs, clods, and rootballs and will leave a level soil profile.
2. Float - the baskets can be put in the float position using the selective control valve (SCV) on the tractor. This allows the weight of the basket to roll over the ground. 
3. Raised - the baskets can be lifted off the ground when encountering a wet area of the field to help eliminate any chance of plugging.

Down pressure should always be set using the gauge and operated from the cab.

• Baskets are attached to the frame by a welded gusset, not straps and bolts. This makes the basket attaching method much more reliable to withstand harsh-field conditions.

Basket attachment to frame

NOTE: Rolling baskets are not available on the 7-standard narrow transport model.

Contact a John Deere dealer for more information on Round-bar rolling baskets and Knife-edge rolling baskets.

Disk gang spacing

The 2720 disk gangs use field-proven gang components from the 2600 Series Disks for excellent reliability and performance. Disk gangs provide the following:

• Size residue to flow through spring tillage tools
• Kill weeds
• Work the soil
• Level the soil profile
• Mix the surface residue
• Give full-width tillage up to 152-mm (6-in.) deep

C-spring standards protect the gangs from obstacles. Sealed maintenance free bearings prevent foreign material from getting into the bearings, thus ensuring long life. The bearings come with a two-year warranty.

The 2720 disk gang also features a floating scraper that is now mounted to the gang instead of to the gang tube.  This allows the scraper to stay in constant contact with the blade when the gang side-loads in harsh conditions allowing for increased residue flowing capability.

Floating scrapers mounted to the gang to increase residue flow

The 610-mm x 7-mm (24-in. x 0.256-in.) solid spherical low-concavity disk blades are spaced at 279 mm (11 in.) for sizing residue and to ensure residue flows well through spring tillage tools.

The 660-mm x 7-mm (26-in. x 0.256-in.) solid spherical low-concavity disk blades are spaced at 279 mm (11 in.) for sizing residue and to ensure residue flows well through spring tillage tools.

NOTE: Pieces are not sized so small they deteriorate quickly, blow away easily, or are buried readily, and yet are small enough to flow through a field cultivator.

Crank-adjust single-point depth control is easily accessible from the front of the machine. This convenient performance feature:

• Is in base equipment
• Is easy to set
• Conveniently provides an infinite range of depth settings
• Gives excellent repeatability

TouchSet™ depth control for 7R (infinitely variable transmission only), 8R, and 9R Series Tractors is available as an attachment.

Residue remaining

2720 remaining residue in corn stalks

Typical percentages of residue cover remaining from the 2720 Combination Ripper are listed in the table. These percentages do not take into account variables such as the conditions of the residue, speed, and soil type.

NOTE: Percentages assume disk gangs are operating at 152 mm (6 in.) of depth.

The 2720 offers increased weight per blade over the 512 to penetrate rock-hard soils and deliver up to 203.2 mm (8 in.) of blade working depth to bury residue. The chart below details the weight per blade of the 2720 with and without a basket versus the 512.

The 2720 achieves increased weight per blade over the 512 because of the following:

• Mainframe fore/aft tubes increased from 152.4x152.4 mm (6x6 in.) on the 512 to
  177.8x177.8 mm (7x7 in.) on the 2720
• Mainframe fore/aft tubes increased from 9.5-mm (0.38-in.) thick on the 512 to 12.7-mm (0.5-in.) thick on the 2720
• Wing frames have changed from 6.4-mm (0.25-in.) thick on the 512 to 9.5-mm (0.38-in.) thick on the 2720
• Increase in gang bolt size
• Cast spools

2720 burying corn residue

*Non-fragile residue includes crops like corn, sorghum, and wheat (more than 45 bu).

**Fragile residue includes crops: soybeans, edible beans, peas, wheat (less than 45 bu), sunflower, peanuts, and cotton.

Tandem wheels

NOTE: The option code 6095 included in the base price of the ripper. Option 6095 is listed under the finishing components and is less round rolling basket.

Michelin 340/65R18 tires

Walk-Over tandem wheels provide added support and stability for smoother operation in the field.

Wheels in front of ripper shanks

The wheels are located behind the front disk gangs and in front of the ripper shanks. This allows the wheels to run on ground that has been leveled by the front disk gangs for more stable operation.

Goodyear is a trademark of Goodyear Rubber and Tire Company. Michelin is a trademark of Michelin North America, Inc.

Disk and shank pattern

The 2720 Combination Ripper uses the disk-shank-disk configuration (DSD). In the DSD configuration, the ripper standards are located between the disk gangs instead of behind them (or DDS) as some competitors use.

With the shanks at the rear of the machine, the shanks can leave large ridges and valleys.

50-mm (2-in.) disk gang bolts

Gang tension system

John Deere's 2600 Series Disks provide an innovative approach to tension disk gang bolts.