2305 v. 2720

[orlo]

John:

If mowing will be a primary duty (Finish mowing that is) the 2305, although much slower on the hydraulics and lifting than the 2520, 2320, etc. is the mowing champ. It's geared for about 9mph wide open in high and you can mow fine in high range.

 

[bandit67]

jcmseven,

Take a look at this picture: Moving some fill pictures from home & garden photos on webshots.

I was able to climb all the way to the top of the newly placed steep pile of fill. The 30hp engine would work, but could make it up in M range with a bucket full and the backhoe on the back, and with absolutely no problem in L range.

Also, that 30hp engine is working at 8500 feet above sea level, so it is losing approximately 35% of it's power at this altitude. There isn't much of my property that is flat, aside from a few areas that I've built up or dug out in the last year.

If you aren't happy with the 2 range on your property, I have no doubt that a 3 range machine would work just fine for you.

 

[jcmseven]

Perhaps this 2305 is doing a better job than I give credit. It will climb my drive in high range, which I am interested to see if can be done on a 2320. I also might have an "in" to try a 3030 Kubota also. I hate to sound non-committal, but I just do not want to get a machine that does not fit my needs. Having used larger machines in the past I did not realize that a 2048 BB is too heavy for a 2305. This is perhaps why it struggled to pull it. Though only 48" it is a full Cat 1 BB and weighes nearly 400 pounds, v. the 1048L which weighes 150 pounds less and apparently is matched to the tractor. I really WOULD like a 2720, but it is quite expensive for something just to box blade, move a little snow and mow.

John M

 

[JiminGa]

there is my main issue with the 2305...limited cat one with no position control, you can't rent the "L" implements so you have to purchase things you may rarely use. And you have to guess on height or add check chains.

 

[whoodle]

I just drove a 2305 today with the intent of supplementing my 110 tlb on very steep terrain. It is snowy and bitter cold (0) today so my interview with the little machine was brief and flat. I did notice the high high range, but I have gotten used to mostly low around here. The 110 I can use for some things in mid range, but never high. On my trails where I plan to use the 2305 the 110 cannot go even on low, and my rtv 900 must travel exclusively in low. However, faster would be uncomfortable. I would like to mow my driveway with the 2305, and I wonder if it will go in high but not full speed. I do not plan on getting a loader. I would also bushhog my trails with the 2305. Some of the lawns along my drive are 23% grades.(23 vert, in 100 horizontal) Is this the ballpark you all were talking about? I am also looking at a bx2350 but have not yet driven. The 2305 seemed to best the kubota in initial survey.

 

[jcmseven]

whoodle,

My driveway has an average gradient of 18% and is nearly 30% at the top. I have several grades of around 25-30% at my home. In transport mode, the 2305 would climb all of them, but going up my drive with a lifted box blade and loader it took some feathering of the pedal and full-on throttle to prevent significant bogging of the engine. This, of course, was the same drive that repeatedly stalled the 4310 I used to have, though. With the PTO going, some of your engine power is going to be robbed to power the attachment. I would say the 2305 is your best bet to mow those type slopes but I suspect even it will require low range to do so, based on my recent findings without using a PTO attachment. Although I am not interested in one myself, I have read that Hew Holland offers a 29 hp sub compact tractor. I think that machine would handle about any hill just fine--in any range.

John M

 

[Engine66]

I'm not clear on all the intended uses of the 2 you are considering, but they are different and previous posters pointed out some qualities of each. I have a 2305 and a 4720...a 2720 would nicely fill the void for tasks too big for the 2305 and too small for the 4720. The 2305 is a fantastic mowing animal and I think removing the MMM is pretty painless and quick. The 200cx loader is slow and limited to light duty. Same with rear implements...

My take on the limitatons of the 2305 are speed, ground clearance, and light duty loader/rear implement capabilities. It can't go everywhere as it has limited ground clearance and limited, slow loader capacity. However, the strengths are mowing ability, ease of use, easy on the turf, ability to run small chores around the house area, etc. I use the 2305 for a lot of little stuff...I mow, clear snow from those tight places near the house, relocate implements for my 4720, haul firewood and rocks across the grass without trashing my yard, and all kinds of other things. I think you can probably do all of these same things with the 2720 and then some...but there would be a little more ground compaction if your on any type of wet soil. Also the loader would be quicker, but still limited capacity for the money.

I have sat on a 2720 and test drove one...very nice stance and comfortable. My 2305 on the other hand never ceases to amaze me at it's capability and is very comfortable as well. I wish I could take it out in the woods, but the ground clearence is low enough that I avoid getting myself in trouble.

If you don't need the turning radius of the 2305 or have sensitive, wet ground, then get the 2720 and enjoy the greater capabilities. Both are sweet machines...I give them both thumbs up...no matter which you pick, you will be happy! Enjoy and post some pics.

 

[ChuckinNH]

"Perhaps this 2305 is doing a better job than I give credit. It will climb my drive in high range, which I am interested to see if can be done on a 2320."
I doubt that it will John. The gearing seems to be the same on both tractors, and the 2320 is turning a much larger wheel. I looked at both, and liked them very much, but ended up buying a Kubota B2620. When I had my BX, I found myself going from low to high range, and back often, but on the B2620 I usually leave it in "M" and forget where it is. I wish you could get all of the features of both on the same tractor!

 

[jcmseven]

I feel as though (and I might be) perpetuating this thread to the point of nausea but I had another question for the group. I have now procured the 2320, but am OOT through Christmas day, so it will be next weekend before I get to try it out on my drive and property. Visually, and size wise, I like it better than the 2305. I cannot tell otherwise as I just loaded it onto the trailer for now. One thing I noticed almost immediately is that the engine sounds entirely different from that of the 2305. I have always assumed the tractors had the same engine based on stats, but this one clearly has a different sound, despite appearing to have the same or similar exhaust. I am hoping this machine also will have more torque as it is heavier but it appears both machines on paper have 41.27 pound.feet at 3000 rpm rated speed. Interestingly, if I recall correctly the old 20 hp 4110 and the 22 hp 2210 were rated at different RPM's (2650 for the 4110 and 3000 for the 2210) and that the 4110 had more torque at rated speed than did the 2210, despite being rated with two less HP. Does this still carry with these new machines? I wonder if the 2320 has more torque also, but is a victim of RPM criteria for rating purposes??? Maybe it is the exact same powerplant but it sounds so much different I had to ask. Thanks.

John M

 

[AKfish]

Deere website has them looking pretty much identical - engine wise. Might be a difference in exhaust configuration...

AKfish

 

[ChuckinNH]

I sure hope I'm proven wrong about the 2320, and I'm interested to see how you make out on your drive with it. I think it's a great tractor!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Decisions, decisions...John, I'm with Dirt.

Fill in the blanks to help make up your mind.

For $________ more money I can have the 2720.

It has ______ more HP for only about ______ lbs more weight.

It has ______ more hydraulic psi and ______ more hydraulic gpm.

It has ______ more PTO Hp and positional control.

I will look _____ times more better on it and my wife will really think I'm _____ times smarter for getting this model.

Done deal. I'm thinking the only reason the deal isn't done is because your dealer doesn't have one in stock....

 

[whoodle]

I mentioned the sound 2305 to salesman and he said it was the rubber engine mounts. The same seem to be on the 2320 but the enclosure is not as complete. SOOO you may just hear a louder machine.

 

[RogerH]

Do you need a mid mount mower? If not, I wonder if one of the new 3E series might be what you really need. Size wise, it is between the 2720 and 3320. 32 or 38 HP in a tractor lighter than the 3X20 series might prove to be a pretty snappy performer. The wheelbase is shorter, so it is probably pretty agile around trees an such.

 

[jcmseven]

Roger,

Thanks for the reply. Interestingly, I thought also about the "E" series tractors. They are a LITTLE big for my current needs, but my dealer harbors some disdain for these machines. He say they are not of the JD usual level in construction and/or features and he does not recommend them. I have no way of knowing aside from his expertise. I have currently the 2320 and am using it. It is a very nice tractor, so far. It CAN climb my hill in high range, but for box blading and loader work I have been using low range, so far. It is much stouter pulling the same box blade than the 2305. It not only handles it better but also seems to have more power. Please explain this one to me. I have been pleasantly surprised about its power thus far, and the loader is clearly faster than that on the 2305 I tried. I was unable to procure a Kubota B series for here, but the dealer near my folks did let me try one at their place, which is topographically similar. It had good power and the third range was nice, but it did not feel to have any more power or hill climbing ability to the 2320 I am currently using. I simply do not like the Kubota ergonomics and that, combined with my strong dealer support, will likely keep me in green, although I can see why the Kubota machines have a strong following. Without attempting to hurt the feelings of those with the 2305, I can tell a HUGE difference between it and the 2320. I think the differences are worth the additional $$$ at least for me. I am to try a 2720 next, but I will really have to think hard about whether seven HP and a somewhat faster loader are worth the additional money for me.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Well, I spent a large portion of the AM box blading my drive with the 2320. It pulls the BB2048 box blade really well, better in my opinion than many of my larger tractors pulled their respective blades on the same drive. As we expected, the 2320 will climb my drive in either high or low range, but I need low range to box blade, to prevent engine bogging. That said the 2320 will reach maximum speed, which I estimate to be about six MPH in low range, going uphill, pulling the box blade. My dealer put Rim Guard in the rear tires, and I never slipped even when pulling the BB full of wet gravel, uphill. I have thus far been impressed by the machine. The 2305 which I used last week would only make it about 1/2 up my drive while pulling the box blade with any significant gravel (same BB) so the difference in pulling is huge between these two tractors. I am going to try a 2720 next week before I make my final decision, but to me it will have to be quite a lot better than the 2320 to justify the nearly $4K price difference. An interesting sidenote, where I live it is tight and quite hilly. I have been keeping off the cuff rough times on how long it takes with each respective machine to box blade my driveway roughly the first passes. This discounts any additional time doing finish work to smooth. The 2320 I am currently using is the fastest machine on my drive I have used. This includes several 4000 series machines pulling 6' BB's. I suspect it is a combination of the ability of this machine to pull the BB at a solid speed and handling the size well, as well as the quick turning and manuverability on the hills. In my case, a larger tractor might in fact not be as efficient, which is something I had somewhat suspected.

John M

 

[JiminGa]

great info, thanks for keeping us updated....you're getting me closer and closer to the dog house!

 

[ChuckinNH]

John, one of the reasons that the 2320 seems so much stronger is that it is turning much larger tires than the 2305 with good low gearing. That really puts the power to the ground. I'm pleased, and impressed that it does climb your drive in high range. I thought the pick of the 2000 series was the 2320 when I was looking, but the 2720 wasn't available then. I just thought that it would do anything a tractor that size could do, and I liked the mower setup, thre point setup, etc. better than the larger ones.

I bought the Kubota, but might not given that choice today.