522xi

[papaglide 542]

Well do to me being such "a good customer, you buy a lot of stuff" at my local toro/ kubota/ wheel horse dealer, I will get to test drive a 522xi for a couple months to see if I really want to buy it. I think that its a 2002 with 1400? Hours. I will double check the hours and year tomorrow when I get it. I have done a search on the site and have read the pros and cons. Mostly pro's!

From what I have read, a slot hitch or clevis hitch will hook up no problem? And a long frame blade with 520 extension will fit as well? Now, the decks from the 300,400,500 series will not attach? Those are my biggest questions. Anyone's opinions on these tanks change? I have wanted one for a couple years and am getting excited to check it out.

Lesson learned here: sure you might pay more but SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL DEALER, you never know what will happen!

[bigfkd22 11]

The decks won't fit and I'm pretty sure the 520 plow with extension won't fit. The clevis hitch is different as well google wheel horse clevis then do a xi clevis and you'll see the "arm" on the left side is different. It's a great machine but the bad news is attachments are harder to come buy and for the most part are unique to the xi line. If there really is 1400 hours on the machine it would need to look really good and be priced right for my money. IMHO

Kohler commands can go 2500 with good maintenance from what I've read.

I will say I have a 522xi with 2 stage blower cab weight box wheel weights and chains no other wh comes close to this package for blowing snow. Once I got this and tried it i sold all my other blowers.

[RMCIII 838]

Mike:

 

Nothing from the "XI" line alligns with any other model... If you chose to make it work, you would be cutting and re-welding the brackets on the attachments. The "XI" attachments are much larger than the one's from the 520.. Does it not have any attachments that would go along with the sale?

 

RC

[papaglide 542]

It has a 48" deck. I will talk to the guys there to see if they at least can hook me up with a snow blade or something.

[Forest Road 594]

I have 1100 hours in mine. I do believe the loader has been mounted most of that time. She's still going strong!

A little patience goes a long way. In sure you'll run across a plow sooner or later. I know toro still had a few decks availbe last year. But a new deck will probably cost more than what you're paying for the tractor.

Best of luck

Kevin

[Desko 608]

Well any pictures

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497]

Hey Mike. Can't wait to hear what you think. I only put 3 hours on mine since getting it. Yes sir attachments are hard to find. Been looking. Sooner or later they will come along. I like when going up / down my steep hills. No power outs. Total and complete control. What a frigging bear of a machine. All the newer technology. Eaton 1100 high low range. Come on bro. WOW!!!! It doesn't have the design and charm of the older stuff. True. But are you buying it to look at or work it? It is becoming my favorite. I am not a big guy. 5'10" 200lbs. Drags me around like no one's business and very very easy on and off. So far I really really like my xi. Other machines will have a long way to go to out work it and beat it.

OK fellas. Let the beatings begin.

Glenn

Edited April 29, 2014 by JERSEYHAWG / Glenn

[rexman72 210]

that's one nice looking machine

[papaglide 542]

Well this is what I am riding:

1998 ( 8900365) 522xi with 1438 hours

48" deck, no rust

Tin is straight, no rust just faded

Kohler doesn't smoke and sounds good

I actually spent am hour this afternoon cutting wet grass! The kohler didn't even bog down. It's a comfy machine although I kinda felt like I was tilted forward the whole time and my feet kept me on the seat.

The reverse pedal takes a second to actually get the machine moving backwards.

The pedal actually has about 3/4 inch of play in it ( at the tie rod end ) is this normal.

The tractor doesn't go to 7 mph in high with the pedal to the metal so to speak, maybe 5.

The tranny is warm after an hour cutting, is this normal?

The steering seems loose, quarter turn before she starts to turn. Is this normal?

I like the slow down effect when turning.

I need armrests to stay in the seat.

It is really a bear of a machine. The high-low is nice. The larger foot boards are nice and makes it a touch more comfy than my Cub 1864. The Cub's power steering is a touch more responsive and has more feel to it. If I didn't have the Cub prior to the 522, I would be amazed but with that being said it is only a slight upgrade IMHO. I have a choice to make, sell the Cub( it's up on the for sale thread) and keep the 522, or send the 522 back to the dealer and keep the Cub.

Glenn, that is a real nice looking tractor.

Edited April 30, 2014 by papaglide

[papaglide 542]

Guys a couple of questions before I pull the trigger on this:

Are these normal?

The pedal actually has about 3/4 inch of play in it ( at the tie rod end )

The tranny being warm after an hour

The speed not going up to 7mph, is this not reached because of the age?

1438 hours for $1500. What is your opinion? Good deal, fair deal or too high?

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497]

Mike. I can only comment on the price. I am to new a owner. Sorry. My 2002 522xi with 221 original owner hours cost me $2200. In my humble opinion that price is wayyyyyyyyyy over the top. Keep looking. And best of luck. They are showing up now.

Glenn

Ps. Granted. I got a deal. But you keep looking you will come across something better.

[RMCIII 838]

Mike:

 

Some how my posting did not make it from yesterday...

 

Pedal is probably just an adjustment, nothing to worry about

 

Tranny warm? Remove the access that allows you access to the tranny fan and fins. My bet is that just needs a good cleaning all around in there.

 

Speed is not reached becasue of the linkage is not tight like it use to be from factory for the pedal.

 

Price - Well, Glenn is a little correct, but then again, that was a steal for that machine... They don't come up often, and when they do, they usually are a bit more than one would hope to pay.... However, it is a 522xi, the hours I would not be concerned with. I would use the linkage, speed and overall service that is needed to haggle a lower price... If you can get it for $1,200 to $1,300, that is more where it probably should be.

 

RC

[doc724 925]

Another place to look at for speed not being correct is that the neutral adjustment may be incorrect.  Mine was.  Someone had the cam 180 degrees out of position.  It mad for a faster reverse but slower forward speed.  BTW, how are you checking forward speed?  TIme over measured distance or other?  I used a Garmin and just held it in my hand when I drove down the street.  After I fixed the neutral adjustment, I was back "in spec" at 7-7.5 mph.

[papaglide 542]

Guys, thanks for,the input. I really think that I want to keep the machine. I will check the fins and fan. As far as speed goes, I had my daughter riding the 416 while I rode the xi. We were both going the same speed when all out. The top speed for the 416 in 3rd high is 5 or 5.5 so I figured that the xi was doing 5 to 5.5.

I will dig deeper into,this tractor. I do like it. Like the dealer told me, if it takes 1 or 2 months to get the cash, no problem! I guess what I am saying is that I have time to decide.

[Irv 115]

And then there's the one on our cl with 29 hrs for $4900.

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497]

Mike, thats great. Like Rob says and I agree with his numbers. If you get the price knocked down a few bucks you will be more inline. Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

Glenn

[papaglide 542]

Question regarding the cam, do I have to remove the rear fender to adjust? And does it adjust like the older hydros? Also, to tighten the pedal, can I just tighten the nuts in the tie rod area? Will that make the pedal less sloppy? One last thing, how do I unattached the deck? I do not have the manual for this and the PTO is quite different. It is similar to a Cub style but the mule drive has me confused slightly.

Maybe the reason we become collectors is that it's just so exciting to get a new to you tractor, fix it up and return it to "normal". Then become disinterested in it so begin the search for a new one.

Edited May 1, 2014 by papaglide

[wh500special 2,160]

That sounds like too much play in the pedal. When I get a chance I'll feel one of mine out for reference.

If the trans is just "warm" you have no problem. If it's too hot to touch or the indicator lamp is on you need to investigate. Start by cleaning all the junk that has piled up on top of the transaxle. toro has an excellent service manual for these that you need to get. It covers how the dense and footrest assembly lifts right off to access things for cleaning and all the linkage adjustments.

The deck will pop right off and on. First grab the grille and pull it straight off to access the pto belt. Under the mule drive is a heavy bent wire lever (attached to the mile drive right under the tension knob). Swing that lever down after unlocking it from its lock position. This detensions the belt...you don't need to adjust the knob. Remove the belt from the deck pulley and pto pulley. Remove the mule by unhitching its attachamatic.

Set the deck hight to lowest position. Lower deck to ground. Pull the lift arm pins (u-shaped, one on each side of tractor just ahead of each rear wheel). Unhitch mower attachamatic. Lift hydraulic lever. Cut wheels all the way left. Slide deck out right side.

If you want to, you can restrain the deck's lift arms in the up position by sticking a short 1/4" pin thru them near their pivot points. This is useful when attaching a snow blade and basically required with a mid blade.

Enjoy.

Steve

[wh500special 2,160]

The edit function isn't working for me, so two quick adds:

The word "dense" above should be "fender pan". Not sure why it autocorrected that way.

The warm trans can sometimes be fixed with a fluid and filter change. On the power steering equipped tractors you also want to clean the filter in the power steering circuit. It's behind one of the air intake screens on under the steering wheel. I don't remember which side it's on. Easy to do, but the manual is nice to have for this too.

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

To adjust the cam, you need to jack up the rear end, remove the rear wheels, and place it on jackstands. Adjustments are made with the tractor running. Make sure that it is secure because you need to lean under the fender to access the cam (it is too much of a tractor to come down on you!) There are complete directions in the Service Manual. It takes longer to jack it up than making the adjustment.

 

The cam is in the large hole in the upper right.

 

[papaglide 542]

Steve and John, thank you so much for the help. I will have to check the manuals section to see what I can download. I drove the tractor around earlier and the tranny is JUST warm not too hot, so maybe this is normal?

The cam is then adjusted just like the earlier ones?

I will have to check out the power steering filter tomorrow. So much to check and amazed at how different this tractor is from my earlier ones. Not different in a bad way, just different!

Edited May 2, 2014 by papaglide

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497]

Mike, regarding the power steering filter. Looking at the tractor from the back it is the air screen on the left side that you remove. The hydraulic lines are right there. Close to where the side screen meets the middle screen. I will be doing that same thing myself. Look up the service manual on the computer. I think SCRIBD has it posted. I tried to copy and paste the page for the picture but I cant get it to post. Make sure you read about it. Its important which line you take off FIRST as not to get air in the system. You will then take this piece apart, remove the screen and clean it with solvent. I think its recommended at 200 hour intervals.

 

Re the TORO 5XI SERIES SERVICE MANUAL, I have been trying to find one myself, so far no luck. Did you get any manuals with the tractor? I got some real basic ones, but nothing that is good like the service manual.    

 

Glenn  

 

edit: 3 am, just found a used book in PA. online. its ordered.

Edited May 2, 2014 by JERSEYHAWG / Glenn

[RMCIII 838]

Mike:

 

(1) last thing to remember... If in deed you keep it, then start collecting wear and tear parts as they come up or you see them.... Yes, Toro will get them in, but the cost a mint... That mower belt from Toro is $80.00... I could have purchased (4) Deere belts for my 212 for that price, and that was from Deere. Same with attachments.. If you know you would like to add attachments, and you see what you want for sale, better jump on it quick. The attachments, like the GT, do not come up for sale often. It is like looking for a Morel mushroom. Once you find something you feel you have accomplished something great....

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,029]

Working on getting your manuals posted

 

Illustrated parts list

 

Garry

[papaglide 542]

Thanks so much guys. ITS BEEN SAID BEFORE BUT I WILL SAY IT AGAIN:

 

THIS IS THE BEST FORUM BAR NONE BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS;  THE MEMBERS; WHO SO FREELY SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND ARE SO WILLING TO HELP OTHERS.