Considering a FEL for my 2305

[netwayne]

Had this small tractor for about 3 years now and it has served us well. Over that time, there has been more than 1 occasion where we wished we had a FEL with bucket for this and are now seriously considering getting one and wanted to get some feedback. Last I heard, we are looking around $3k for this attachment...does that sound about right?

Is this something that I should have installed by the dealer initially (maybe I don't have a choice) and is it easy to get on and off the tractor?

Do they make quick attachment kits for this? I anticipate not having this bucket on all the time and will be storing it somewhere a good portion of the time.

If I am careful about what I am picking up load wise, do I really need to still have some sort of ballast on the rear of the tractor? If so, what are the recommendations for that?

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[chipsndust]

Had this small tractor for about 3 years now and it has served us well. Over that time, there has been more than 1 occasion where we wished we had a FEL with bucket for this and are now seriously considering getting one and wanted to get some feedback. Last I heard, we are looking around $3k for this attachment...does that sound about right?

Is this something that I should have installed by the dealer initially (maybe I don't have a choice) and is it easy to get on and off the tractor?

Do they make quick attachment kits for this? I anticipate not having this bucket on all the time and will be storing it somewhere a good portion of the time.

If I am careful about what I am picking up load wise, do I really need to still have some sort of ballast on the rear of the tractor? If so, what are the recommendations for that?

Thanks for any feedback!

Prices will vary depending on your location. Mine was $2300.00 in 2006.

I would not consider this a "simple" installation, I would have it installed by the dealer.

Get the 200CX (not the 200X) loader, it is designed to be removable. Also there are different sized buckets available for the loader.

You will need rear ballast. I have found that my 48" box blade on the 3 point hitch is sufficient.

 

[BethesdaEC]

Prices will vary depending on your location. Mine was $2300.00 in 2006.

I would not consider this a "simple" installation, I would have it installed by the dealer.

Get the 200CX (not the 200X) loader, it is designed to be removable. Also there are different sized buckets available for the loader.

You will need rear ballast. I have found that my 48" box blade on the 3 point hitch is sufficient.

Get the 200CX, it will demount in about two minutes and remount in about the same time. Also get the upgraded 53 inch bucket, it comes with a quick attach bracket so you upgrade to forks in the future if you want.

 

[Henri88]

Agree, get the 200cx (parking stand). I paid $3277.00 (Can.) in 2008 and it included the ballast box ($216.00) IMO stick with the standard size bucket 49''. The 2305 max out around 700 lb. so believe me once you have that bucket full of gravel you will be close to your max. and you can add the pallet forks with the quick attach, you don't have to upgrade to the 53'', the quick attach is already included. Yes, you will need the ballast box. Have to agree with everybody else, it come on and of in minutes. I also bought a set of pallet forks and I use them as much as the bucket. The change from the bucket to the forks takes about 1 minute. Just 2 pins to remove and put back in. I've received and install my fel by myself. Not that hard to install if you have the place and the tools but you will need some help to unload and move things around. Total weight is 647 lb but keep in mind that the brackets and bucket are not attach together when it arrive. If you do buy one, you will probably use it more than you think. Once you have it you will find all kind of work for it. Park the wheel barrow. :laughing: Here's a couple of pics. In the trailer you can see the tiller, fel, and in the box is the snow blower.

 

[chipsndust]

Henri:

Are you at the other end of that chute, catching the firewood as she slides it down?:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[Henri88]

Henri:

Are you at the other end of that chute, catching the firewood as she slides it down?:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Are you kidding? The daughter is unloading and the wife is catching, I'm the OPERATOR. :thumbsup: ps. Don't let the wife read this.

 

[chipsndust]

Oh, yeah,

That's what I thought:thumbsup:

 

[netwayne]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

 

[RalphVa]

Can't imagine a tractor without a loader. It's my diesel wheelbarrow.

Have never removed mine. Took just the bucket off once and have seen others running tractors like mine or the 2300 series with just the bucket removed. It's easy. It just sits on 2 U brackets and is held in place with a couple of pins at the top above these brackets.

The bucket's also useful for breaking off limbs and other chores, other than just hauling with it. Can also be used as a stump finder by running it low in front while bushhogging.

Ralph

 

[hink10]

Get the loader if you can afford it! I don't recall right off hand what I paid, but it was in the $3000 ballpark. I bought the tractor for the loader, also have a backhoe which may be overkill, but I am using it a lot. I have back problems so the loader and BH are great. I would also highly suggest the pallet forks, they may be more useful than the bucket! I have used them to break large rocks out of soil, lift a very heavy basketball backboard into place and just today, I used it to load a heavy table saw and planer into a pickup. I moved a firewood pile, if I was careful, I just scooped up the wood and didn't have to get off the tractor much.

It really does take just a minute to switch between the forks & bucket. I usually have the forks on and put the bucket on top for storage. Even though the mower decks have wheels, it's much easier to use the forks to lift and move the deck when needed. Oh yeah, get the 200CX loader, it's amazing how fast it goes on and comes off. I can mount the loader and BH in 5-10 minutes and the only real physical effort is connecting the hoses. :thumbsup:

 

[Nuru]

Yep, go for loader. you will find a lot of uses for it.

 

[cantbeatadeere]

even have a loader for my 728...cant live without one now.

 

[netwayne]

Really appreciate all the responses!

Seems to be a little difference of opinion as to what bucket size to go with. I understand the concern with choosing the larger bucket and the potential for being too heavy but since it is an option for the 2305 and if the "boss" approves of the upgrade price, I am going to defer to the old aviation adage...."better to have and not need then to need and not have".

I will definitely get the rear ballast box as part of this package. Should be getting this ordered this week.

 

[fuseboxer]

I like my loader and try to show it in use a little for the wife. It is hard to justify with very little use but sure nice to have. Make shure you do a little work using it for you wife. I have a dump 3pt rear bucket that I have had for about 15yrs and seldom use my tractor but after finding a temporary use for my wife its golden.

 

[lowechj]

When I bought my 2520 5 years ago I got the FEL and front blade which I used the first year for plowing snow. The next year the snow was heavier so I put on the loader and traded my mid mount mower for a rear snow blower. I never thought that I would use the FEL that much but I use it all the time for scraping hay off the field, moving manure around and in the winter I can pile snow and/or blow it.
I have taken it off a few times but I always seemed to have a problen reconnecting the hydraulic lines with pressure in the lines while trying to connect so now I never take it off. Should put the ballast box on but am too lazy, in the winter the snow blower provides the weight. Short answer you will find all kinds of uses for it.

 

[hink10]

Really appreciate all the responses!

Seems to be a little difference of opinion as to what bucket size to go with. I understand the concern with choosing the larger bucket and the potential for being too heavy but since it is an option for the 2305 and if the "boss" approves of the upgrade price, I am going to defer to the old aviation adage...."better to have and not need then to need and not have".

I will definitely get the rear ballast box as part of this package. Should be getting this ordered this week.

I thought about getting the largest bucket (60" or 62"?) when I bought my 2305. Things to consider are where and how you will use it. If you will use it to clear snow on sidewalks, or if you have gates or other narrow areas to get through, you might get one of the other buckets. When I sought advise, the weight capacity was a factor also. Sure, the large bucket would carry a full load of mulch but when you get into dirt/rock etc, there is always the risk of overloading and/or making the tractor less stable. I ended up with the 54" bucket I believe, so far I'm pleased. Hope you get the loader, it really is worth it. Sure it may sit sometimes, but when you need it it's priceless and so is being able to mount it in minutes.