John Deere 2305 transmission fan

[chipsndust]

Mid Mount Mower

 

[chipsndust]

I concur with jsb2b.:thumbsup:

+1 I agree:thumbsup:

 

[kjung17]

See, now I feel a little dumb. We're just a bunch of old rednecks. We refer to them as belly mowers.;-)

 

[JD755]

I also refer to them as belly mowers, as I'm sure others on here do when talking about them. Since JD uses the term MMM that's just the common term used when typing here, but glad you asked since there are probably others who also wondered that. :thumbsup:

 

[Ironhand]

...and the 54" does clear the tires.

 

[jsb2b]

jsb2b Thanks for the reply. Yes I meant denting the hood while using the loader. It's must be that the posts of 2305s with backhoes that I have looked at a number of the hoods were damaged apparently by rocks falling backward from the FEL. I just wasn't sure why that was happening.

I notice in your profile you have the 62" MMM. I was wondering if the 54" MMM sticks out far enough to cut beyond the tires. That is to say the actual cutting blades.

62C is easier to trim with because it sticks out further. It also cuts down on mowing time. If you can afford it, do it. You'll not regret it unless you have to get through fence openings or other tight spots (I'd widen them!!!). :thumbsup:

 

[LBrown59]

Want to say hi from a new member. And ask a few questions.
1*I have been reading as many posts as I can about the John Deere 2305, and I've got the sore eyes to prove it!
I thought a used 2305 with a FEL and BH, and mower would fit me just right,
2* but used with the BH seem far and few between.
3* Wife thinks maybe I should find a used 2305 without a BH then look around for the BH. I think I would probably end up not having a BH!
4*Aslo thought about just renting a back hoe to do my rock/stump removal and projects, but at $200 a day that adds up quickly.
5*. After reading the posts I see two repeating issues: broken transmission fans is that a reason in itself to not buy the 2305, and
6* deck height adjustments not holding.
7. Does JD ever go beyond the 0% for 4 year financing?
8*P.S. Of the BH equipped 2305s I've seen a number of them have dented in hoods is that do to the inherint design or operator error?
I'd bet a new hood would be $300 or more.
9*Maybe buying one already dented isn't such a bad idea?

1*You would have better luck finding what you want by looking beyond the JD 2305 because it isn't the only Sub Compact in the pool.
2*That's why you need to consider other brands.
3*That's about a 99.% chance if you take that approach.
4*Not only that but you will probably never get many things done so what you do accomplish cost you much more.
I have a 2004 Kubota BX23 with FEL and BH I have put over 1200 trouble free hours on it .
At 40 bucks an hour The BX has paid for it's self more than 3 times over.
Best money I ever invested.
5* No .
6*I've never heard of that as being a common problem..
7*Don't know about JD but MF does or did have 5 or 6 years.
8*You would have seen that on all brands with or without Back Hoes had you been looking ; Operator error.
9*Not usually a good idea to buy abused equipment

10*Your Credit Union Loan Officer is an idiot.
11*If you mean the front loader, that's just plain idiot operator error....
12*The 2305 has it's limitations but it is a darned good tractor for someone that doesn't expect to do professional excavating. It suits many people with less than 5 acres to maintain.

10*No other way to explain it.
The OP ought to stop in and thank him for screwing him out of a good deal.
11*The kind of error that can get one killed.
12*Right but it hain't the only treat on the grill.

13*Thanks for the reply. Yes I meant denting the hood while using the loader. It's must be that the posts of 2305s with backhoes that I have looked at a number of the hoods were damaged apparently by rocks falling backward from the FEL. I just wasn't sure why that was happening.
I notice in your profile you have the 62" MMM.
14*I was wondering if the 54" MMM sticks out far enough to cut beyond the tires. That is to say the actual cutting blades.

13*That has nothing to with BackHoes.
14*Yes but not far enough which means you can't get close enough along ditches and banks meaning more back breaking trimmer and push mower work.

15*First, I wouldn't just limit myself to a 2305,
16*The only negative on renting might be how much time you have to devote toward the project.

15*The OP is really putting the hurt on himself by doing that.
He needs to deepen and widen the pool .
16*That's not the only one there are others.

17*As for dented hood !!!!!!!!! User error!
I almost bought tractor from a Kubota dealer. Checked around
18*I could buy new with bh ,new fel and new mmm for around $300 more than what Kubota dealer wanted.

17*The kind of error that can kill or mayhem.
18*Very often new can be as cheap or cheaper than used.

19*All my dents have come from hauling big tree branches in the FEL, and then they swing around and fall on the hood when i try to haul them to the burn pile. Its always user error, but it seems like a good idea at the time! lol

19*But it could be fatal.

*20*I have read several references to "mmm" on this site. Please clarify. Thanks.
21*I'll bet the answer makes me feel stupid. Lol

20*Mid Mount Mower.
21*Are you feeling stupid yet ? or aren't I trying hard enouth? Just kidding.
Best of luck in your tractor search.

See, now I feel a little dumb. We're just a bunch of old rednecks.
22*We refer to them as belly mowers.;-)

22*They are also known as that.

..
23*The 54" does clear the tires.

23*Yes But not enough.
I have a 60 inch MMM on a BX23 and it still leaves way 2 much trimmer work along banks and ditches.

24*62C is easier to trim with because it sticks out further. It also cuts down on mowing time. If you can afford it, do it. You'll not regret it unless you have to get through fence openings or other tight spots (I'd widen them!!!).

24* Very good advice.

 

[smalltown]

LBrown59 Thanks for extensive reply, and thanks to all others that took the time to add their comments.
Maybe I am focusing too much on the JD2305 it's just that I thought the JD name was the only was to go. I'll have to look also at the Kubota's.

Still do wonder about the new JD's yet to be unveiled.

 

[orlo]

Hey, I know I'm jumping in late but just my .02 here.

I've had a 2305 since 2005 right after they first came out. I have about 180hrs on mine.
I also have a 4720cab and have had a 3720cab and an open 3320 while owning the 2305. I had the 72" MMM on the 3320 and 3720 and currently use an 84" RFM on the 4720.

I have a 62C deck, 47" snowblower and Woods backhoe on the 2305.

I've run over brush and rarely heard the fan make a noise but I've never had to replace my fan. No signs of abrasion on it, etc. Granted, I don't run over piles of brush since I know better and often my 62" MMM is on most of the time so I bang it up but it protects the fan . The Deck is off in the winter where I'm just running over snow so there is really no chance of hitting the fan there.

Bleed down of the deck when you are mowing isn't a problem - You use the mechanical deck hold (You should anyway) to set the minimum deck height and lower the cylinder. If you don't need the cylinder just use the mechanical rear lift and you won't have the bleed down when you are trying to keep the deck all the way up temporarily. If you want it all the way up, lift the cylinder and put the adjustment in the 'lock' position. The 62C cuts well and other than changing the blades I've not had any issues with mine.

I've loaded, dug, tugged, mowed, etc. with my 2305 and it just keeps on going. Does the ground clearance suck? Yes, but I'm not skidding logs with it so I don't care. It feels very stable on the ground and mows better than my 3320, 3720, or 4720 did or does. (I'm not talking about pure 'cut' quality as the 7 iron 72" deck on the 3000 series I had cut superb.) - I'm talking about stability, resistance to 'rocking' while mowing (causing irregular cuts), the ability to turn at full mowing speed, stability on inclines, etc. FYI - the deck on the 2305 lifts much higher than the 7 iron did on my 3320 or 3720 providing much more (Still not great) ground clearance. The deck clearance all the way up on the 3320 or 3720 sucked, and banging up a $3K+ deck that was much harder to take off than the 62C to do tractor stuff sucked.!

The gearing on it in high is much better to mow than the 2320 or the 2520. Sure, they'll transport a ton faster but are geared too high to mow on inclines in high.

It also will blow a ton of snow.

The Woods BH6000 I have is very similar to the 260 (and pre-dates the introduction of it). It'll pull the back end of the tractor to the ground and lift up the front with the FEL on. Plenty of power for a small BH.

I'd say look around at all your options but don't count the 2305 out. My 3320, 3720, and current 4720 are very capable tractors, but they don't impress me as much as my 2305 has over the years. I 'expect' the 4720, etc. to do everything I throw at it, the 2305 does 'most' things I don't expect it to be able to do. It's a tireless, reliable, very economical little workhorse.

Last summer I was removing 30-35 large rocks out of my girlfriends back yard. I couldn't lift them all with the 2305 but the Backhoe could pull and roll (at least a bit) all but one. One was so heavy my 4720 would only lift it about a foot off the ground to transport it, but the 'little workhorse' was able to dig it out of the ground.

 

[LBrown59]

The Deck is off in the winter where I'm just running over snow so there is really no chance of hitting the fan there.

I would not want to stake my life on that.

The other day when I cleared off about 7 or 8 inches of snow from my driveway I looked down to my side and there was a 1 inch branch sticking up out of the snow.
I stopped the tractor and picked it up as I could have easily ran over the end of it buried in the snow with a wheel and jammed the other end of the stick into the fan.