John Deere 2305 Reviews

5.00 star(s)
Dan D

2305 John Deere
John Deere 2305 Tractor
Model Year: 2009

I purchased the tractor in 2009 with a MMM. It has been nearly trouble free since I have owned it except for a power steering hose failure in 2010. The failure was the hose being cut by a mower sheave when the mower was in the raised position. I believe the cause was due to improper securing of the hose during production. This year I found a CL100 FEL and modified the mounts to attach it to the 2305. I also added a JD ballast box (BW14701) and a hood guard. In addition to a tool box and a switch and 12VDC outlet to power my sprayer. The outlet is installed in the right hand rear light assembly. I also reversed the 3 point lift links end for end to allow for sway control of the ballast box. This little tractor is perfect for my 5.6 acres.

Pros: Easy to add and remove attachments.
Cons: Minor failure of hose, but costly due to pickup charges.

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3.00 star(s)
Christian Thibaudeau

2305 John Deere
Broken PTO Casing for Using Bush Hog 5 Times
Model Year: 2007

Had the tractor for five years, no problems. Bought a bush hog that met the specifications for my tractor. Used it five times and PTO casing broke open. Went on internet to inquire about this type of problem and learned that this was apparently a common problem for this type of tractor if bush hog was used with them. Was disappointed to learn that apparently John Deere knew about the defect or weakness in the structure of the PTO casing but continued to sell the product without notifying customers of the known defect while their sales department provided me with guidance to purchase my bush hog.

Pros: Worked well until major break down.
Cons: The front wheels are somewhat small which reduce steering under load.

5.00 star(s)
Yatt

2305 John Deere
JD 2305 Review
Model Year: 2007

The 2305 is very agile on the steep slopes I have. Areas that formerly were mowed only up and down can now be mowed perpendicular to the incline. I seldom need 4wd. When turning short the 4wd is hard on the grass due to the front wheel on the outside of the turn will want to skid. The only problems I have had with this machine were from improper set up by the dealer. The mower deck had to looked at a couple times to get it to cut right and the snowblower wasn't set up well either. I have done all the maintenance myself without issue. The 3 point hitch works great for the 55 gallon sprayer and spreader!

Pros: The diesel motor is excellent and very fuel efficient.
Cons: John Deere is mighty proud of attachments and parts.

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5.00 star(s)
SI2305

2305 John Deere
Great Tractor to Intro to Scut/Cut World
Model Year: 2004

Overall, I cannot say enough about my beloved 2305. While at times I may way a larger one, while using I have always been satisfied, thrilled even. We built on just shy of 10 acres with only an L-120 which was great in its own right till tranny died. Got 2305/LX4 1 year after being so snowed in that we needed something else. Wife being a doctor, we needed a much more powerful tractor and the FEL was instrumental. 6 mo. later bought cheap grader blade. Well worth the $159 I paid for it. I have added since grader blade (very cheap model--works like a champ): subsoiler/middle buster, 3pt tow hitch for 8' trailer, LandPride 60" RFM (love LandPride; $500 cheaper than Deere alternative) homemade landscape rake, log trailer for moving large fallen trunks. 2305 does everything I through at it and more. I Bush hog, clear deep snow (though I want to move more and really test it), bush hog, finish mow, use middle buster to really dig up lengths of sod for Garden bed. I can then use loader to dig deeper and dig myself on heck of a trench and replace a tiller. I have cleared 1/4 acre of underbrush with LX4. Uses about 2/3 gallon per meter hour (more like .4 or less/real hour) Lots of power/torque for small package. Used loader to move many tons of wood fallen after tremendous storm--fire burned for over a month! Maintain trails in prairie area. Near perfect tractor! Sor being a Sub CUT, it does not "feel" like on while riding

Pros: So much in so little a package.
Cons: Tranny fan vulnerable, ground clearance an issue if not accustomed.

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2.00 star(s)
Anonymous Poster

2305 John Deere
Piece of Crap
Model Year: 2006

I loved this tractor to begin with. However, having to deal with the jerk at the dealer was another point. I have no idea why a mechanic thinks he can insult a customer. I will never buy another Deere again. This tractor blew up totally at 550 hours. The 4-wheel drive and bearings. Rough seat, limited power.

Pros: Small size.
Cons: Unreliable.

4.00 star(s)
Timbo58

2305 John Deere
2305 Review
Model Year: 2007

Use tractor mainly for mowing in summer and snow plowing in winter. looked at 2395 and 2320, settled on 2305 for price. excellent mower and good for snow removal, would like to get front frame snow plow in the future. FEL has many uses also don't know how i got along without one. very good tractor in my opinion. might up grade to 2320 in the future. timbo58

Pros: Hydrostatic drive, maneuverability, price.
Cons: Non-folding ROPS, slow hydraulics.

4.00 star(s)
Timbo58

2305 John Deere
2305 John Deere Review
Model Year: 2007

Very nice small cut, looked at 2305 and 2320, went with the 2305 for weight and price. Have small concerns with seat area and controls as I'm a large man, but nothing too uncomfortable.

Pros: Light weight, maneuverability, price.
Cons: No dual brakes, solid roll bar.

5.00 star(s)
flipperbud

2305 John Deere
JD 2305
Model Year: 2006

Purchased originally for home use, however when backhoe became available, was put to use in business running water, sewer and gas lines. Small size has been very handy on many occasions.receives regular use with b/h, bush hog, scrape blade, mmm, and fel. Have been very happy with purchase and would recommend to others.

Pros: Small footprint, very strong for size.
Cons: No tool box, better lighting for scrape and b/h.

4.00 star(s)
manzanitaz

2305 John Deere
John Deere 2305
Model Year: 2007

It's been almost 5 years since purchase. I have used this little tractor and it is well built. However, it does have an Achilles heel and a expensive one potentially. 3 years after purchase the tractor suddenly would not start but did stutter slightly upon cranking the engine with the starter. After removing the fuel lines one by one I determined a small squirt was happening then stopping. I assumed it was a faulty fuel injector pump. I removed the pump myself and had it rebuilt to the tune of 1200. After replacing the rebuilt pump the same problem kept occurring. After reading the owners manual over and over I called the dealer. They were not helpful. I called numerous times trying to talk with a mechanic or tech guy. Finally the one guy told me I could remove the fuel solenoid temporarily and the engine should fire if the solenoid was bad. Sure enough the engine fired. So I proceeded to buy the 200+ dollar solenoid and replaced that. Turns out that's not it either. So there I am 1,400 bucks later only to find out it was a faulty solenoid relay switch. What the, this is not acceptable for a three year old tractor. The engine is well built and the rest of the tractor is fine with the exception of the drivers seat. Way under engineered. Gets stuck trying to turn it around and ripped to shreds so easy and worst of all after only two years had ripped off the rails and i had to weld them back to the bottom of the seat. Furthermore the fuel and rpm gauge cluster have broken from their mounts and are now floating around inside the dash The seat and dash are are both tinker toy quality. Other than that it's a real machine that can bust through hard rock with a little patience.

Pros: Engine and steel well engineered.
Cons: Fuel solenoid relay, drivers seat , gauges.

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5.00 star(s)
johnwilldo

2305 John Deere
The Little Tractor That Could
Model Year: 2010

After leasing it for a year, we purchased a small 23 acre horse farm about two years ago and needed an all purpose compact tractor to tend to the 12 acres that were in pastures and lawn. We also needed something for snow removal, something to dress the outdoor and indoor arenas, and something to do some minor excavation. The farm is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania and is very hilly. After reviewing the available tractors that seemed to meet out needs, we selected the John Deere 2305 with the CX 200 Loader, the 60 inch belly mower and a Frontier 48 inch field mower. We passed on purchasing the back hoe since our property is mostly shale of different types and we were not convinced that the small unit could handle a project such as installing 1000 feet of underground water and electric lines that we had planned for the summer of 2011. We are pleased with the selection after about 175 hours of use. The low center of gravity is a comfort on our steep hills as are the seat belt and the roll over bar. The belly mower and sharp turning radius make short work of the large lawn and the four wheel drive lets you climb up very steep inclines. We selected the I Match hitch to speed in the changing out of the ballast box and field mower. The commercial (R-4?) tires are perfect for our needs since we do not need to do many sharp turns when mowing lawn or pastures. The loader and the belly mower can be changed out in 20 minutes or less depending on you level of skill and dexterity. The front end loader is a seriously good tool but requires lots of attention to your angles in hilly country. I have removed countless junk bushes with the loader by partially pushing them over and then pulling them out with a logging chain. The I Match hitch is great for pulling up the corner fence posts that are buried 4 feet deep and need to be rocked back an forth while applying upward pressure with the three point hitch assembly. Self servicing of the oil, air filters and grease joints are easy and the included manual shows you exactly how and when to perform your maintenance tasks. I jokingly refer to my 2305 as a riding lawn mower on steroids! It has proved to be a good match for our requirements.

Pros: Low center of gravity, sharp turning radius, economical on fuel, easy to operate and service, very quick and easy to change out implements.
Cons: Height of roll over bar makes is a challenge to get into a garage, lack of accessories for the loader.

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4.00 star(s)
cyrusing

2305 John Deere
John Deere 2305
Model Year: 2008

Purchased the little tractor with package including FEL, Belly Mower, Box Blade, Auger, and trailer about three and a half years ago. It has never ceased to impress me. My wife is even happy about the purchase. We picked up a Jinma 6" chipper/shredder within a couple of weeks to aid in cedar removal of our property. Even though the tractor is marginal for the chipper according to the horsepower rating, it runs all but the largest logs through without much fuss. I use the tractor for moving dirt and wood chips, positioning trailers, mowing, and hole drilling. The only minor complaint I have is that the battery went bad after a couple of years. I think we would all like to have a larger tractor, but there are many advantages to having one of this size. Since it's not much larger than a garden/lawn tractor, it fits through most gates. It is also extremely maneuverable in tight spaces.

Pros: Power, reliability, features, attchments, compactness.
Cons: Battery, non-folding ROPS.

4.00 star(s)
Henri88

2305 John Deere
JD 2305
Model Year: 2008

Luv it! Best all around sub compact tractor for my need. Small enough for lawn mowing without ruining your lawn and cutting around trees and bushes yet big enough for a front end loader. I use it winter time for snow removal (54''snowblower) and summer for mowing and garden care. My attachment are snowblower, f.e.loader, 62''mmm, pallet forks, tiller, cultivator, middle buster, quick hitch. Lots of power and traction for my needs. Tires are turfs. Have had one major bad luck issue. Engine lost compression at 295 hrs and JD install a new short block on warranty, no question ask. They could never find out what have cause it and my search on internet concluded that it was an isolated problem.

Pros: Lots of traction and power, versatile, easy to maintain.
Cons: ROSP does not fold, no height adjustment for the 3ph.

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4.00 star(s)
Henri88

2305 John Deere
JD 2305
Model Year: 2008

Luv it! Best all around sub compact tractor for my need. Small enough for lawn mowing without ruining your lawn and cutting around trees and bushes, yet big enough for a front end loader. I use it winter time for snow removal (54''snowblower) and summer for mowing and garden care. My attachment are snowblower, f.e.loader, 62''mmm, pallet forks, tiller, cultivator, middle buster, quick hitch. Lots of power and traction for my needs. Tires are turfs. Have had one major bad luck issue. Engine lost compression at 295 hrs and JD install a new short block on warranty, no question ask. They could never find out what have cause it and my search on internet concluded that it was an isolated problem.

Pros: Lots of traction and power, versatile, easy to maintain.
Cons: ROPS does not fold, no height adjustment for the 3ph.

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5.00 star(s)
Dcook52549

2305 John Deere
Love my 2305
Model Year: 2011

Great for lakefront cleanup. Use the landscape rake for debris cleanup and works like a champ.

Pros: Love the size for my 1 acre lakefront property.
Cons: Hard to use box blade.

5.00 star(s)
CAchris

2305 John Deere
Good Tractor
Model Year: 2006

I have been using my 2305 for everything from lawn mowing to removing tree stumps. It is very easy to use, service, and has great power for its size.

Pros: Power, size, real cat 1 hitch, PTO, fun.
Cons: Expensive.

5.00 star(s)
Schmitz1

2305 John Deere
2305
Model Year: 2008

I love my 2305. It is so handy and I love how all the attachments come on and off in minutes. Built very well and a workhorse for its size. Definitely glad I got a 2305 and not a regular garden tractor. The only two things I would change is a foldable ROPS and tilt steering wheel but that is very minor. Great tractor.

Pros: Everything.
Cons: ROPS and no tilt wheel.

5.00 star(s)
Anonymous Poster

2305 John Deere
Excellent but Could Be Improved
Model Year: 0

Have been using this machine to mow/mulch and move dirt with the CX-200 loader. The machine has sufficient power to do all things I need it to do. Cuts tall wet grass without complaining even at high speed. The machine is a bit top-heavy and so care is needed around any sloped areas. The battery charger circuit quit but was readily diagnosed and repaired by the dealer. Overall I would highly recommend it and would buy the same machine again.

Pros: Power to weigth ratio, dealer experience, reliablity, ease of starting.
Cons: Could do with better headlights, hydraulic oil filter location is awful, plastic fan used for cooling hydraulic oil breaks easily (should be moved), could do with an oil temperature gauge (not just an idiot light), could do with a 12V outlet and pre-wiring for additional lights etc.

5.00 star(s)
hink10

2305 John Deere
John Deere 2305 TLB
Model Year: 0

I have over 100 hours on my 2305 after the first summer. I have been very impressed with it's performance and capabilities. I have the loader, BH, 62" deck, front blade, ballast box, Artillian forks and box blade. I love everything about it so far. Wish I could have waited for the new model with a better seat etc., but got in on the 48 month 0% financing. Not so pleased with the dealer, but that's another story. Don't underestimate the usefulness of pallet forks, many uses!

Pros: Power, ease of use, size and pretty much everything else.
Cons: Seat not so comfortable if you have a bad back, gas fill awkward and cuts well, but obviously not as well as a dedicated mower.

4.00 star(s)
Grustang

2305 John Deere
Deere 2305
Model Year: 2008

The machine is the greatest tool/toy I've ever purchased. It is my first loader tractor, and it does almost everything I need it to right now with my small land size. The only problem is when the rear half of the transaxle where the 3pt lift arms are broke in two when I was using a post hole digger. The dealer would now warrantee it because it was 9months out of warrantee and Deere would not offer any assistance on the 2000 dollars worth of parts or the 4500 dollar total bill.

Pros: Compact, reliable, easy to use
Cons: Rear trans housing made from cheap cast aluminum instead of steel

5.00 star(s)
tdeveau@charter.net

2305 John Deere
John Deere 2305 Compact Utility Tractor
Model Year: 2009

I reached the age where my wife finally took pity on me and agreed to let me purchase a tractor. I had previously made the mistake of bringing the subject up years earlier when my mother-in-law was visiting. My wife and her mother argued that we could purchase a car for the price of the tractor. The tractor included a loader and back-hoe and came with a zero interest four year loan with a monthly payment that matched the cost of a daily rental. So using the tractor at least one a month covered the corresponding rental cost. I have since paid off the loan. I don't know how I managed before buying the tractor.

Pros: Wife finds it easy to operate.
Cons: No complaints.

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