New member with new 2305

[JohnnyTractor]

Greetings!

I just found the site this weekend, which is good because I just took delivery of my new 2305. I also purchased the FEL and a 54" deck.

In the first 15 minutes after taking my new toy off the trailer, I almost rolled it on a grade. front left dug in to the hill, and the right rear was ~2 feet in the air - talk about heart palpitations!

Several things went wrong here:
1. Filled the bucket with dirt - nothing in the ballast box
2. The dealer had 16 psi in the front tires - the left front blew the bead and the tire came off the rim.
3. Driver, being a dumba@@ and too excited to 'go to work' did not notice any of these things, nor did the know-it-all read the manual before turning the key.

Well, I dropped the FEL and lifted the tractor. I popped the tire back on the rim and was able to reseat the bead with my air compressor. Manual says 22 psi and to add 4 more if using MFWD and FEL. I've got the tires at 28, and they still look soft.

Glad to have found the site, and look forward to hangin' out.

best regards,
cj

 

[rvtech]

Be careful with that loader. I also have a 2305 with a CX200 loader. I've been moving about 30 tons of dirt to grade for a garage floor without any ballast. (my Woods backhoe is supposed to be my ballast) I've had every wheel off the ground at one time or another. I'm getting pretty good at judging when the load is enough. I certainly don't recommend no ballast.
I'm glad to hear you didn't roll it. This should be a good lesson.
Enjoy the 2305 /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[BloomingtonMike]

Tonight I put 450 lbs of concrete cylinders I had into a JD rear ballast box that a TBN member gave me (for a total of 580lbs). I need to stop using my 300X loader without rear ballast. Your thread proves that even more. I will add sand around the cylinders to add more weight. Please be careful using your tractors - We want these "tools/toys" to be safe not dangerous.

 

[JDFANATIC]

JT,

Welcome to TBN and congrats on the 2305. My advice is to load the rear tires with RimGuard. On your tractor that will add ~ 220 lbs to the rear. This will be good for LIGHT lifting. When things get heavier, then put the ballast box on. I have mine filled with concrete (I believe Deere says this adds 680 lbs). Keep that seatbelt on. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Lobo56]

I filled my Ballast box on my 2210 3/4 full with sand and then set 10 - 42lbs. J D suitcase weights on top of the sand. I had the ballast box sprayed inside with rhino liner to keep it from rusting. I figure 700+ with the ballast box, sand and weights. The weights are set just low enough to put a cover on box to keep the weather out.

 

[JDFANATIC]

Lobo,

What kind of a cover are you using -- a tarp? Or do you have something hard that works? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Lobo56]

I made the cover out of 3/8" tempered Plexiglass glass, you can hit this stuff with a hammer and not break it.

 

[JDFANATIC]

Lobo,

How about a pic? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Lobo56]

I'll have to work on taking some photo to post. Still have to take photos of my pto trac vac for someone else. Just keep forgetting to do it.