John Deere 2305 Reviews

5.00 star(s)
johnwilldo

2305 John Deere
Strong Little Tractor
Model Year: 2010

We maintain a small 23 acre horse farm in a steeply hilly portion of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. I wanted a tractor that had a low center of gravity, was four wheel drive, could mow a large lawn, mow pastures, maintain two riding arenas, remove brush and move small amounts of dirt and plow snow. The John Deere 2305 with the R4 tires seems to be a good fit. It is like a lawn tractor on steroids! The 62" belly mower does a nice job and is easy to install and remove, the 200CX FEL is a seriously good tool which has gotten constant use with the bucket and an after market set of pallet forks. It handles field mowing and brush removal with a 48" brush hog. It grooms the arenas nicely and has a very short turning radius. It is easy to maintain.

Pros: Low center of gravity, short turning radius, can tackle very steep hills.
Cons: Narrow wheel base, very bumpy ride, overheats easily when the radiator and grill get covered with grass clippings, small fuel tank which is not well located.

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5.00 star(s)
harrell727

2305 John Deere
Happy with My 2305
Model Year: 2009

Bought this tractor off of CL this past spring. I am the third owner. I had only 82 hrs on it when I got it. I came with an auger and FEL. For 10K I thought it was a pretty good deal. Since I've owned it, I've drill post holes, mowed with a 5' finish mower, moved dirt with a 5' box blade, tilled my garden with a 4' tiller. Every machine will have it's limitations, but this one does a good job at what I want it to do.

Pros: Does what I need it to do.
Cons: 3 pt hitch is "limited" on height.

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4.00 star(s)
Riner Hunter

2305 John Deere
Powerful SCUT for size
Model Year: 2008

Nice unit and easy to operate & maintain. Somewhat small for my use, but will complete the required tasks. HST is decent but struggles with pulling steeper hills. Good power for the size of the unit. Main use is the FEL (landscaping & materials handling) & light brush cutting of filed grass with 4' rotary mower. Only negative issue is the electrical problems with voltage regulator. Two trips to the shop for same issue. The dealership/shop is close to home and very good to deal with. That is a plus.

Pros: Good power to size ratio. Easy to operate & maintain.
Cons: Eletrical issues on the voltage regulator & weak HST going up steep slopes.

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5.00 star(s)
johnfharding

2305 John Deere
2305 Tiny Tractor
Model Year: 2011

I have only had the tractor and run it 10 hours or so. I like it so far. 62 inch cut with mulcher deck has served me well over rather rough and uneven terrain. Finish cut looks nice and have only noticed clumping if I am cutting off way more than your supposed too. For regular weekly cuttings it looks great. The seat needs more suspension which I added by taking two old GM valve springs and sticking down in side the rubber/foam seat springs. This seemed to help a lot and make it more livable until I can upgrade the seat to a suspension seat or something.

Pros: Small enough to be maneuverable and it's a diesel.
Cons: Too small for anything bigger than a 4 ft. brush hog.

5.00 star(s)
kimallman

2305 John Deere
Solid
Model Year: 2010

Excellent compact utility tractor. 23 hp Yanmar diesel. You can add a front bucket, it has a rear PTO, and it drives like a lawn tractor. Perfect if you mow more than one acre. I love it.

Pros: Small.
Cons: Turf tires rub on tie rod ends when you cut the steering wheel too sharp?

5.00 star(s)
Anonymous Poster

2305 John Deere
Help from John Deere
Model Year: 0

After my original review of my new to me JD 2305, I may have not given it a fair review. After putting a few more hours on it using the loader. I can say I am more than pleased with it. Has been up to my expectations. As for the year of the tractor, JD got back to me very quickly and did verify that it was not a 2010 as the seller told me when he sold it, but they did say the engine was manufactured in 11/2008, installed and assembled with the tractor in 2/2009 and was purchased in 4/2009 and had a 200x loader installed in 2/2010. I wasn't expecting all the details but they were very helpful.

Pros: Good size for small acreage.
Cons: None.

4.00 star(s)
gfish

2305 John Deere
JD2305
Model Year: 2008

Purchased this used 2305 after almost a year of looking for a SCUT with loader. Just happened to look on Craigslist and this one was just posted and ended up the owner was only 3 miles from my house. The owner told me he was original owner and bought new in 2010 but after having it only a month and using it all morning, I shut it off for lunch and when I went to start it back out, it would not start, only buzzing sound from under dash. After researching problem on your website, I come to conclusion it was the battery, and it was. But in doing so, I discover the battery had Oct. 2008 stamped on it and looking at engine, it also say manufactured 2008. So I believe this may be a 2008 model that he bought in 2010. The old owner said he could not find the manual so I am not sure what year it is. If anyone could help me identify year I would appreciate it.

Pros: Handy size to get in tight spots.
Cons: None so far other than battery going bad on me after one month.

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3.00 star(s)
dpn

2305 John Deere
Tires
Model Year: 2006

Never had as many flats on a tractor, found out tractor front rim was defective.

Pros: Starts right up.
Cons: Defective rim.

4.00 star(s)
dpn

2305 John Deere
Overheating
Model Year: 2006

Grass clippings get blown into the radiator screen and causes overheating. Poor design!

Pros: Good power.
Cons: Overheating.

5.00 star(s)
Johnnyh

2305 John Deere
Tires
Model Year: 2008

Turf tires looked good the day I bought it from an individual. After using it that evening, and most of the next, I realized I had a flat on the right front. After further investigation, I realized that I had torn up the tire. By that evening, I had a rear tire almost flat. It is now. The tractor apparently had lived outside all its life. Dry rotted I guess. I am now looking for tires.

Pros: Pulls my grooming mower easily.
Cons: Lack of cruise control.

5.00 star(s)
Jd9630

2305 John Deere
2305
Model Year: 2008

Very useful tractor around the yard. Starts well even when it's cold. Independent lift on mower does not stay up even when tractor is running and lifts poorly.

Pros: Easy starting.
Cons: PTO lever can be in the way.

4.00 star(s)
snohobigdad

2305 John Deere
Love my JD 2305
Model Year: 2007

This my first tractor and I have found it brings a smile every time I saddle up. It isn't too big and it isn't too small. I maintain about 3 of my 5 acres and the quality of he cutting is huge.The bucket doesn't get a ton of use, and I most always does what I ask of it. The brush hog has been a nice add. The roto-tiller works great, I just doesn't get a lot of use.

Pros: It is the right size for what I do.
Cons: With the quick disconnect mid mount deck was a drive over.

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4.00 star(s)
kato911

2305 John Deere
John Deere 2305
Model Year: 2010

Good quality, great starting little tractor. Cuts grass well, comes up a little small on most other tasks. Fuel cap in the center of hood is really inconvenient. This particular 2305 doesn't have a swivel ROP which is again very inconvenient. The electric switch on PTO seems harsh I prefer manual lever. All told a not a bad little tractor as I said seems to come up small, my neighbor has B 2600 Kubota that certainly performs way larger than my John Deere. Our local dealer has little time for lawn tractors.

Pros: Starts well.
Cons: Poor dealer and tractor performs smaller than I thought it would.

4.00 star(s)
stworley

2305 John Deere
Great Little Tractor
Model Year: 2009

It does everything I ask it to do. 5' 3 point finishing mower does 10 acres golf course type grass. The loader's small but works great. Debris forks and blade good. Don't like PTO selector gouging me in the left hip, the crappy placement of the emergency brake or the 2/4 wheel drive selector almost on the floor. Almost as good as my old 855.

Pros: Size and strength.
Cons: Placement of selectors.

4.00 star(s)
dbongard

2305 John Deere
Great Little Workhorse
Model Year: 2010

I have the 2305 with a 200CX loader, carry all, and 62 inch MMM. I use it pretty hard. Digging stumps, moving rocks, mowing unlevel paddocks. It's pretty much dented and scratched from end to end even though it's got low hours. I figure its a tool and it's meant to be used. No point paying that kind of cash for a show-pony. The only thing that has let us down in any way is the battery, and the dealer took care of that for me even though it wasn't covered by the warranty. But I really wish it had the diverted valve to switch between mower and loader without getting off the tractor and getting oily. This is just a silly $50 manual valve and should have been standard fit on all of them. I want to install one in the future but's not cheap as an add-on because of all the labor involved. It will need a work light installed as the JD headlights sit right behind the loader blade so you see nothing at night but the loader. Even if they leave out the extra light to save cost, it would have been great to see a switch and factory pre-run wiring harness in the top of the ROPS hoop for a work light. It's a little thing, but again, it's going to be a pain to do it as an add-on. The mower sits too low in the parked position as delivered. Too little ground clearance when not mowing, and that cost me a mower wheel already. I find I cut on the longest possible setting too. And with about a dozen shorter settings on the dial I could really just use a few longer ones. I'm trying to sort that out underneath. I had to move the lights to the inside of the ROPS because they were constantly in the way. I know this is a standard procedure done by 90% of the owners and I also know that John Deere needs to put them on the outside to comply with regs...but why the heck wouldn't JD put a disconnect plug on the lights so I didn't have to cut and splice them to move them? There is a pin on the loader that scrubs the front left tire when turning sharp. Makes a horrible noise and scratches the tire. I have heard others complain about it and there are custom mods to the pin that will supposedly fix it...but didn't JD work this out of the design? I also did the famous piece of rope connected to the mower grass deflector upgrade (so you can lift the deflector out of the way when edging on the right hand side of the tractor). Again...this is done by almost everybody. Why wouldn't JD do this from the factory? I got the ag tires rather than the turfs, and there have been several times that I'm glad I did. The CX loader is big for the 2305, and I like that about it, and it really does come on and off in less than a minute once you get used to it. Although the first time I tried, my thoughts were, "that's kind of hard! I'll have to leave this thing on full time!". Now I drop it off every time I mow so that I can get around easier. It takes me less time to drop it off than the carry all. Also, I believe that the radiator fan on the Massey equivalent actually blows forward rather than sucking back like a car, and that this keeps the grill from getting blocked with grass clippings. Bloody good idea in my opinion! I wish JD would do it. I usually have to clean that sucker about every 2 to 3 hours of mowing. And it's a very little thing, but having the filler cap level and in the middle of the hood is very hard to contend with without pouring diesel all over the place. And an even littler thing, the cup holder is only big enough for a can or stubby, not for a 'working in the paddocks sized' bottle of water. And I'm not sure if any other models have this or not, but if the lights went off when I turned the key off then I wouldn't have to boost the battery every time the kids play on it. All up, I sound negative but I'm glad I bought the 2305. Any bigger and I wouldn't get in and around my trees while mowing. Any smaller and you just wouldn't get any real work out of the loader and hitch. It's very very tough and I can see it lasting many many years, which means that even though a JD wasn't the cheapest option, it should pay off down the road. I still have a few things to do to it (as mentioned above) before I'm satisfied, and if JD had taken care of those small details I'd have been over the moon since delivery day, but I won't be looking elsewhere until this little work horse has taken it's last puff.

Pros: It's green. Starts like a dream. Barely even needs fuel. Loader is awesome. And it takes a beating and laughs about it.
Cons: Lights and loader don't match. No diverter valve.

4.00 star(s)
nickc

2305 John Deere
Small Workhorse
Model Year: 2007

Used mostly as mowing rig. The Powerflo has unbelievable suction; deep thick wet leaves, no problem. The 200cx quick park loader, couldn't ask it to do more. Am concerned about the PTO issues people talk about but haven't experienced it myself. The 647 tiller makes short work of tilling chores all in all a great investment. I'd buy it again. Only limited buy the low 3 point height.

Pros: Small workhorse.
Cons: Low clearance.

5.00 star(s)
jamesfr

2305 John Deere
John Deere 2305
Model Year: 2007

Bought new with belly mower and front loader. Used to mow 1.5 acres, snow removal and to provide lift support for my son's tree service company. Always met and exceeded needs and expectations in both roles. No breakdown or maintenance issues. Decided it was undersized for tree service work so I traded it in on a new JD 3720. Would definitely recommend this tractor.

Pros: Value and performance.
Cons: None.

5.00 star(s)
Mary K

2305 John Deere
Our Little Jewel is the Envy of the Neighborhood!
Model Year: 2010

Stinky may be tiny but she harrows, scoops mud, digs post holes, and moves gravel like a big tractor. I've borrowed my neighbor's big old Kubota tractor to groom the arena for years. It's size and creakiness intimidated me. I wanted something with a smaller footprint for gates and horse shelters, and I wanted something easier to drive. The 2305 is perfect! I will say the John Deere dealerships here and in southern Washington make being a customer difficult. They are truly snotty to small property people. I wound up buying this barely used model from a good friend despite worries about a lifetime of having to work with the local Deere dealership. I was much more impressed by the New Holland/Yanmar distributor up north. My friend gave me too good a deal to pass up however, and I am pleased with the tractor itself.

Pros: Size, power, ease of operation, ease of maintenance.
Cons: Hard to get in and out of because all the levers are in the way, I don't like green.

5.00 star(s)
rblauser

2305 John Deere
JD2305 Reliable Subcompact Workhorse
Model Year: 2006

I purchased my John Deere 2305 to replace a JD444 that I had been using. It was a package deal that included the tractor, 54 inch mower deck, weight box, JD260cx loader, and a JD260 backhoe. I was able to keep my JD46 snow thrower from the other tractor. I have since added a full metal Curtis cab with heater and fan, purchased a Woods Brothers TC4500 wood chipper and a Bilt Rite 53 inch rototiller. I mow slightly over an acre of lawn as well as develop flower beds as required and make approximately 8T of compost a year from leaves and green debris off the flower beds. Since retiring, I increased my garden size to 1/3 ac and plan to increase to about an acre.

Pros: Lots of power, easy to change oil and filters, well built, easy on fuel, easy to change over implements, I can go from mower to loader in under 10 minutes, including removal of the mower, back hoe is easy on and off.
Cons: The under frame for the loader cuts ground clearance to slightly over 8 inches making some gardening tasks a bit dicey. There is no protection for the transmission filter which sticks out in the middle of the transmission under the tractor. It is subject to dents (experience) and breakage from debris.

5.00 star(s)
Anonymous Poster

2305 John Deere
JD 2305 Has Been a Great Utility Unit
Model Year: 2007

This JD2305 is powered by a 24HP diesel and I power a 54" mower, a bagger system and a front end loader (bucket). With the JD2305 PTO I run a SALSCO 5" wood chipper and a personally fabricated 13500 watt standby home generator. This JD unit has been nothing short of great. :--)

Pros: Many.
Cons: None.

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