JD2305 Owners what is your tractor used for?

[JDGREEN1]

JD2305 Owners what is your tractor used for?
Do you do any pasture work?
Bush hog?
How much land do you maintain?
Do you wish you bought a bigger tractor. Like a JD2320. Or is it not worth the extra money for basically the same tractor?
I am thinking of upgrading to a JD2320 but do not know if it is worth it.
Can't afford anything bigger than the JD2320.

 

[EdC]

JDGREEN1

Don't have a 2305 but I sure looked at it a lot before I bought my 2320. The reasons the 2320 was worth the extra money to me are.
1. Position control on the three point, use it a LOT
2. Increased ground clearance, I am clearing brush and smoothing the ground where I can
3. Beefier frame, the clearing work is hard enough on the tractor that having a slightly larger tractor than the 2305 will not "age" my tractor as quickly.

Do I sometimes wish for a larger tractor; you bet especially when I tried to lift a partially buried rock last week and lifted the back end of the tractor almost off the ground. My butt was holding on to the seat so hard my seatbelt was redundant. Do I wish for a smaller tractor; a couple of times when I was right up next to our house. There will not be a machine that is perfect just one that will meet most of your needs.

Any chance of the dealer bringing out a 2320 so you can try it on your place? That would make the decision much easier.

Good luck!!!

 

[Backup]

I've used mine for mowing (62" belly), tilling (60"), and general FEL work, some gravel grading, etc. I'm mowing about 4 of 9 acres. The rest is wooded, never intended to take a tractor in there. When I'm mowing the flat open parts I could use something larger. But when I'm around the trees, house, barn, etc anything larger would be more difficult. And I've got several low spots that don't drain well, and I've got to be careful with the 2305 - something heavier would be worse. I did get the 2305 stuck once, all 4 wheels just packed with mud and made ruts (mower off, FEL on). I did wish for something larger then. It is darn near perfect for tilling - doesn't compact too bad and plenty of power. I'll probably get a 4' rotary cutter for it soon, as I see where it would be useful in clearing some areas, but the 2305 is too small for rough pasture work over a couple acres, IMO. It would prob do it though. The FEL has been just the right size/power so far.

Thing is, since I bought the 2305, it now looks like I'll be adding additional acreage, about 40 acres. I'll have a farmer work the tillable though, so not much I need to do to it myself. There is some acreage that I might like to plow someday, but I'd need a much larger machine to do it. One size does not fit all!

 

[megotatractor]

I'll answer since my 2210 is same as 2305; mow 3.5 acres of country lawn with the 62c mower, bumpy former pasture. wish for something that rides better, maybe I should mow with a ATV?? My 2210 diesel is extremely economical to run at about 3 quarts of fuel an hour. I have done some light excavating with the FEL; actually dug a big hole 3 feet deep and filled it with concrete rubble. It grades my 200' driveway with a 5 foot rear blade. I also move a LOT of snow with its FEL and rear blade. We also roto till the small garden with the 50 inch tiller, does a hellofa job! Regrets? Last couple of March's brought heavy snows and wish I'd bought a front blower and cab. perhaps a plow on my 4x4 Ranger would be more economical. I need to get some wheel weights, the rear of the 2210/2305 is too light for FEL work. I have the old 210 loader on which I think I've tweaked the frame slightly, would like to have the new 200cx curved frame loader for better visibility. Occasionally I wish for a larger tractor with a grapple for moving branches after wind storms. A 2320 also LOOKS nicer with tires more in proportion to the machine.

 

[orlo]

Hi:

I have a 2305, and a 3320 (which they picked up to day - Trading in for a 3720 cab). I use them on two different properties. I've never rough cut with the 2305 (have an LX5 on the 3320), but it finish cut's great with the 62D. I would even say I can cut faster (Ground speed) with my 2305 and the 62 than I can with my 3320 and the 72. Given the 3320 is cutting an extra 10 inches it may in fact be a little faster as far as acres per hour. Thing is I can mow full out in high range on the 2305 (about 9mph) very well and not bounce. I cannot mow that fast without tipping over or bouncing off the tractor on the 3320 (Maybe 7mph max)(Note loaded R4's on both). I used to mow about 4-5 acres with the 2305 and could do it in less than 1.5hrs (Flying). Please see other threads with folks stating that mowing on the 2320 is pretty much limited to low range due to the higher gearing except on dead level ground. (Same HP, higher Speed and more weight = A lot less torque to move you).

The FEL on the 2305 is plenty strong for the tractor and you will need to load the tires and have ballast. (I have the BB filled with concrete for 700lbs). with that you won't loft the rear wheels. Yes, the 300CX will lift much more and the 3320 will push into the piles better but the biggest difference is the speed of the hydraulics. The 2305/2320 have slow flows, starting with the 2520 the flow almost doubles so the speed of using the FEL is much better. The 2320 will lift about 20% or so more than the 2305 due to higher pressure.

The 2305 also feels very 'stable' compared to the bigger tractors. I'll go over side slopes I wouldn't even look at on my 3320.
I suppose with an 84" or 96" RFM it would be faster.

I do miss the position control. I've missed the independent brakes (2320 on up have them) but only once or twice when using it for snow removal. (I use the 47" blower which works great).

I've never got my 2305 stuck, but I don't generally go where ground clearance is a problem. This would be a good reason to go with the 2320 instead of the 2305. Note that R4's regardless of size can cake with mud. I've caked up my large R4's on the 3320 a few times, never got stuck though.

 

[rvtech]

Primarily mowing and the 62 C does a good job. I think the power is impressive. I like the tight turning radius. I wish it had a foldable ROPS and I may purchase one. I frequently use the loader for moving dirt and gravel. I have used it for grading a parking lot, grading a garage floor to prepare for cement. I moved over 20 tons on just those 2 jobs. I have a backhoe and frequently use it for trenching and landscape work. I have tilled about 2 acres and graded it to plant grass. We mow about 4 acres and it takes about 2 hours. Based on estimates, I have about 50% of the backhoe money back that I was going to spend on a rental and I still have the backhoe which is nearly like new. I would like to have independent brakes. The steering is lost with down pressure on the loader for grading.
The 2320 was not out when I purchased mine. I think the 2 things I want are on the 2320. (folding ROPS, independent brakes) I don't know if it would be worth the extra money to me. I wouldn't want to give up the tight turning radius either.
I would like to add a Zero turn mower so 2 can mow and cut the time down. I will still continue to mow with the 2305. It has the best power of anything I've mowed with to this point.
My original plan was to complete all the jobs I had for the backhoe and then sell it. I may change my mind. It is very handy to have. The only problem is during mowing season, it is hard to find the time to remove the mower and install the backhoe, get the job done and then reinstall the mower before I need to mow again.

 

[JDFANATIC]

I have a 2210 which is basically the same as the 2305 and use it primarily for mowing, for which it does an excellent job. In the winter I use a front-mounted single-stage snowthrower to clear ~13,500 sf of driveway, and this combination works well for this. I use the FEL quite a bit for spreading mulch (we have many beds with some covering large areas) and am in the process of reclaiming some acreage that I've let get overgrown. I also use a PTO spreader to put down nutrients etc.

Before the 2210 I had a 755 which I would compare to the 2520 of today and felt the 755 was too large.

There are things I would like to see changed about this tractor (position control, temp. gauge, separate actuation of the MMM like the 755 had, a different location for the MFWD lever) but all in all this is one tractor that is tough to beat.

 

[VABlue]

Mine is still new, so I haven't used it much yet. Its primary purpose is mowing about 2 acres, and I've been impressed so far. I also plan to use it to clear some woods and reclaim that land for grass. I'll also create some paths through other woods and the obligatory mulch/stone moving. I wanted something more than a lawn tractor could offer, but couldn't justify the $$$ for a real garden tractor when looking at the 2305 (or BX2350). I need to acquire some more implements, though!

 

[gary_dsc]

I've got 35 hours on my 2305 and have found it to be everything I had hoped for and more. Mowing is my primary use, both lawn around the house where I keep it mowed and along waterways where I let it get up to 10-12 inches high between mowings (total about 5 acres). I have used the loader to move logs from a fallen tree and to tear up a concrete pad. I have moved gravel, dirt and mulch with the loader as well. I bought a spring tooth rake to mount on the 3PH for clearing sticks and branches from the lawn. I moved some large rocks for a neighbor and helped him dig a trench by pulling his ditch witch when it was stuck in the mud. I bought the front blade for clearing snow from 400' of driveway, but thankfully I haven't gotten to try that yet.

I thought about a 2320, but after driving both, the 2305 felt better on the sloped areas and goes anywhere I need to get into. The only thing that might have been nice to have is the position control on the 3PH, but I don't have that much need for that and couldn't justify the additional cost. I keep coming up with new uses for the 2305 and haven't regretted buying it at all.

 

[cast_and_blast]

Finish mowing, light-medium loader work, snowblowing. Soon landscaping, and heavier loader work.

My wheelbarrow days are officially over.

Scott