5205 17 Hour Report Card

Cityboyfarmer · Jun 10, 2005

Well, the rain came and chased me inside so I thought I would sit down and post my experience so far with my 5205.

Pros:

Simple and easy to use, especially for a rookie. I really like the sync-shift.

The loader is extremely powerful and cranks through compacted dirt. You need more than just a box scrape for ballast to use this machine at its full capability. I learned really quick to take it easy..low & slow /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The drive train has power to spare. JD seems to have matched the loader to this tractor perfectly. I could see this tractor being used very effectively in landscaping and construction work, especially with the sync-shift for loader work.

Manuvers well in tight spaces. Better than I expected.

Rides very smooth with suspension seat. Steering is excellent, makes my 92" Chevy K1500 feel like I'm steering a tank by comparison.

Ergonomics. I don't have to bend or stretch for any control. The farthest control to reach is the steering wheel.

Cons:

It is LOUD! Kinda like a Cummins engine in a Dodge truck. Gotta wear hearing protection or my ears ring. My kids think it sounds cool /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Like a big green Harley I guess /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Maybe thats not a con depending on how you look at it.

I'll put some more hours on and give another report after my new harrow, box scrape, I-Match and arm rests get delivered. I've got a whole bunch of dirt work planned in July after the bulldozer guys rake up the stumps from the pine harvest.

ScottAR · Jun 10, 2005

Nice to hear a review on the 5205. I want one! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Which way is the exhaust pointed? When I remounted the 1050 exhaust to horizontal (lays forward) it became a lot quieter. HTH.

Cityboyfarmer · Jun 10, 2005

Go ahead and get one. I think it is a lot of tractor for the money. The exhaust is a straight up stack curved toward the front of the tractor. I'd like to make it horizontal so I don't have to take it off to fit through the basement door.

Kyle_in_Tex · Jun 11, 2005

Note to the wise, Keep your front tires filled near max if you are really filling the loader enough to lift the back end with a box blade attached. Don't ask me how I know.

Cityboyfarmer · Jun 11, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Keep your front tires filled near max if you are really filling the loader enough to lift the back end with a box blade attached. )</font>

I have not lifted the back end with the loader filled on level ground. Lifted the left rear wheel up approaching a dirt pile going down-hill at an angle though. Got my attention.

Front tires filled? I can see filling the rear tires. Never would have thought about the front. Do you fill all four of your tires?

ScottAR · Jun 11, 2005

$$ says I wait a little while... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I wonder what the exhaust manifold flange looks like... The 1050's is square so it could be mounted either way. The only difference was the length of the stack. Mine was broken off through a chance encounter with a tree limb or I woulda cut the long one off. $9 at Deere and I got the "factory" piece. Anyway, my point is that it may not be expensive to convert yours over to a horizontal stack.

ScottAR · Jun 13, 2005

Ok Scratch what I said... I stopped by deere today looked at a 5205 up close. There's probably another exhaust available or just cut and reweld the original to point somewhere else. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Nice tractor... I like how the cowling nearly totally comes off to service things. I hate working on autos after working on tractors for awhile.

Cityboyfarmer · Jun 13, 2005

There are two exhaust conversion kits on the JD web page. Of course I could also solve my problem by building a barn with a nice big door to put the tractor in /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

marco246 · Jun 13, 2005

Suggest that if you're going to do much work with your FEL that you get a ballast box or find some other way of counterbalancing the front load. Lost control of my tractor a few months ago on a slope through carelessness compounded by inadequate ballast on the back. Could have been a nasty accident but for sheer dumb luck. Did more than get my attention. Still scares me to recall it.