2305 and MMM, worth it?

[castiman]

MR NC

First, my deck height adjustment knob does not work. No matter what height setting I put it on, when lowered it is stopped only by the gage wheels. Second, when I raise my deck, it "leaks" back down to the gage wheels in less than thirty seconds. The only way I can "transport" is to continually bump the "joy stick". Like I said previously, both times the repair lasted only a short time.

I am glad your 2305 works as it should, I just wish mine did. Maybe my third trip to the dealer will be the one that fixes it. Right now though I regret buying it.

Note, I am not saying the BX2660 is better, I just personally prefer it over the 2305 for the following reasons: brake location on the right, "heel and toe" HST controls, throttle location/operation, reclining/adjustable seat, deck belt thickness and easier to steer. These can be used as reasons why someone would prefer the 2305. The 2305 is our 5th JD and the 2660 our 2nd Kubota. I also own Case, Massey Ferguson and Ford.

I have a 2007 2305 with a 62'' mm deck, this year i had the independent lift kit installed. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS YOUR HAVING. After my third trip back to the dealer finally the problem was fixed. First the setting decal was set wrong and the internal stop for the height adjustment was not catching to stop the deck. A new decal was installed and new part put in for the stop however the indepent lift kit is designed to raise and lower the deck only not hold it.Your deck needs to be set at the height you want and the the height adjustment knob stops the deck. The only thing i'm unhappy with is the fine adjustments aren't there. Its either high or low nothing in between to speak of. I hope this helps, its still a dam good tractor.

 

[TripleR]

I have a 2007 2305 with a 62'' mm deck, this year i had the independent lift kit installed. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS YOUR HAVING. After my third trip back to the dealer finally the problem was fixed. First the setting decal was set wrong and the internal stop for the height adjustment was not catching to stop the deck. A new decal was installed and new part put in for the stop however the indepent lift kit is designed to raise and lower the deck only not hold it.Your deck needs to be set at the height you want and the the height adjustment knob stops the deck. The only thing i'm unhappy with is the fine adjustments aren't there. Its either high or low nothing in between to speak of. I hope this helps, its still a dam good tractor.

I appreciate the information. I guess everyone has different needs/expectations in a tractor. For me the 2305 has not lived up to my expectations and if I had known the limitations of the MMM, I would not have bought it. I don't want to have to lock my deck out to keep it from dropping down all the time as I transport over rough ground, sticks and such and also use it to pull trailers and such. I also miss the fine adjustment feature. Yes, it is a "**** fine tractor" just not for me. I have been trailering my other tractor up there when I know I am going to need a small tractor. Fortunately, most of the time someone else uses it.

 

[gary_dsc]

I guess that I've been lucky or maybe my expectations are lower. I've had my 2305 since early 2007 and my primary use is mowing, but have also done a fair amount of loader work. In addition to the yard, I had been using the MMM for mowing water ways, but I needed to mow these more often that I would like to keep the height of the grass and weeds down The MMM (even with the mulching kit) would go thru about anything. It just took longer. I recently bought an old 5' Bush Hog and am cutting the water ways with that now. In any case, my MMM has performed very well. I don't have the independent lift and frankly, don't see the need for it. I don't have real precise control over the height of the cut, but can set it pretty close to where I want it. I guess that I'm not real picky about the height.

 

[TripleR]

I guess that I've been lucky or maybe my expectations are lower. I've had my 2305 since early 2007 and my primary use is mowing, but have also done a fair amount of loader work. In addition to the yard, I had been using the MMM for mowing water ways, but I needed to mow these more often that I would like to keep the height of the grass and weeds down The MMM (even with the mulching kit) would go thru about anything. It just took longer. I recently bought an old 5' Bush Hog and am cutting the water ways with that now. In any case, my MMM has performed very well. I don't have the independent lift and frankly, don't see the need for it. I don't have real precise control over the height of the cut, but can set it pretty close to where I want it. I guess that I'm not real picky about the height.

I see you have an 8N, I grew up farming with a couple of those until 55 when we got a 600 series; still have it and bought a 54 a few years ago; love those old things. How does your 2305 handle the bush hog, I was told not to go that big.

 

[gary_dsc]

I've had the 8N for about 15 years now. The 3ph doesn't lift real well any more and that's on my list of things to fix when I retire. Don't use it much now anyway. Most of the work is done with the 2040 or the 2305.

I have been cutting everything with the 2305 MMM for the last 3 years including the yard, along the lane and the waterways and have had no problems with that. We don't have any pasture or grassland since everything is out in corn or beans. However, this year, I let the waterways go for about 2 months because of a death in the family and the grass was nearly as high as the hood of the 2305. I set the MMM position at the highest level and was able to get thru it, but I had to go over it a couple of times. Seemed kind of like I was asking more of the mower than I should. I was at my JD dealer and asked if he knew about a used bush hog for sale that would work with the 2305. Turns out he had a 5' Bush Hog cutter for sale personally that is at least 20 years old and wasn't asking much for it. Since JD doesn't recommend anything larger that a 4' cutter for that tractor, I was hesitant, but he told me to take it and try it out and bring it back if I had any problems with it. He didn't think that I would and he was correct. I have 5 suitcase weights on the front and the tractor handles it just fine. I used it in grass about 15-18" tall, running in low and cut it in one pass. Does a nice job and doesn't stress the tractor at all, either running it or lifting it and it weighs around 650 lbs. If I was trying to cut thicker stuff (small trees and the like), I would likely have problems but it works just fine for my use.

 

[LBrown59]

I see you have an 8N, I grew up farming with a couple of those until 55 when we got a 600 series; still have it and bought a 54 a few years ago; love those old things. How does your 2305 handle the bush hog, I was told not to go that big.

4' is as big as i'd go with my BX Kubotas.

 

[TripleR]

4' is as big as i'd go with my BX Kubotas.

That is what I have on my BX2660 now, but I haven't bought one for the 2305 yet; 5' units are easier to find and cheaper in my area so I was curious how the JD would handle one.

 

[98ramtough]

Why do you insist on spamming your BX on every JD 2305 thread? We get it, you like your BXs!

4' is as big as i'd go with my BX Kubotas.

 

[cast_and_blast]

Why do you insist on spamming your BX on every JD 2305 thread? We get it, you like your BXs!

You're new here, aren't you?

Scott

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

You're new here, aren't you?

Scott

Thats a good one !!!