Couldn't pull the trigger on the 2520....

[rcooper]

If mowing is your primary endeavor and you have other ground engaging equipment, go with the 2305 as I did. My 2305 mows great and leaves little impact on the grass. However, you do notice the wheel tracks on certain types of grasses and you must compensate by mowing different directions. I have 1.6 acres with part of it used for gardening. I have the JD 647 4'-0" tiller and it is perfect for medium to large gardening. I believe the larger tractors will impact your grass more even with turf's.

This spring I moved 50 yards of landscape mix over 2 acres for my neighbor in about 6 hours with little impact on his bermuda and St. Augustine yard. The loader worked very well and I am use to larger machines such as my JD4500 and CAT 953 track loader. Bigger is not always better (my two cents worth)

 

[VABlue]

Everyone will tell you the 2305 is a mowing machine and it's true. You can mow faster and cleaner, with less impact, than any other tractor in the JD lineup. The loader is plenty sufficient for 1.5 acres of mulch and dirt moving. So it might take an extra trip with a 53" bucket? With a new lawn you're going to get tire marks when its wet. Think seriously about them - do you want big tracks from a large machine digging in?

You'll miss the 3pth position control when using the rake, but otherwise the 2305 will handle anything you do on 1.5 acres. And it will be easier on the entire yard in the process. The 'limited' part of the cat 1 hitch only means that you need to be careful about which post hole digger you buy - get a shorter one. All other attachments will fit the same as any other cat 1 hitch.

Bigger normally means better, but not always. If you really don't have room around the yard, then smaller is better.

 

[JDCAN]

Hey Doug, I was pretty much in the same boat as you. I have 2 acres of finished yard that I wanted dialed and looking perfect. I was very nervous of the track marks a 2520 could leave, well after a few months I have no issues at all. While the 2520 is heavier than a 2305 it travels well across the yard. The only issues I can see if you use the MFWD it might make some tracks on sharp turns. As for the mower, the 62d is a dream. I find the cut is great and the drive over feature is very nice to have when changing back and fourth. I got a newer deck and have had ZERO problems with the wheels causing divots. As others have meantioned this problem has been fixed. I have never cut grass with a 2305 but the 2520 with 62d is very user friendly. It is very easy to get up close to the house and edging without any worries. I am sure your wife will have no problems either. The casing on a 62D has a nice lip that allows you to run right up to walls and so on without any problems. Did I meantion the 62d is super thick? It is built like a tank and will last alot of years due to the gauge thickness of body.

As for which to buy, either tractor will be great, but look at it this way, weather you spend 12k to 13k on a 2305 or 17k to 18k on a 2520 it is alot of money. I would say if you are ready to spend 13k spend the extra 5k now to jump up to a 2520. 5k over 15 years of ownership is nothing. In the long run you will be more happy with the extra power and options down the road. Like alot of members here you will always find more things to do with the tractor so having bigger can be a good thing. At the end of the day 2305, 2320 or 2520 they are all pretty small tractors. Neither of them should worry you about being to big. I think alot of members here have provided some good information on going with the 2520, I would like to add if you do go with the 2520 I am postive you will not regret spending the extra 5k, in otherwords you will feel good about the extra bells and whistles for the difference of 5k. Well worth the extra 5k.

Good luck with the final pick. You will be pretty happy either way.

 

[gunmaker]

Doug, hope you're having fun shopping. I picked the 2520 as I'm sure you've read and am very happy with it. I am also happy that I kept my 425 for mowing and clean-up snowplowing. I think that the 2520 is perfect for everything in my yard except mowing. I have approx 100 trees to mow around, and an area in my backyard that slopes close to 30 degrees. The 425 fills the mowing need more easily and comfortably. My wife 5'4" has no problem operating either tractor when the need arises.
My next tractor for mowing will be the JD 748, the next for landscaping/yard work will be another 2520 or maybe 3000 series. Good luck finding what's right for you!

 

[thepawnshop]

Wow...you guys are making this decision even tougher! That said, I am still leaning towards the 2305. I have been to 2 different dealers and spec'd the exact same machine...one dealer is 45 minutes away and is $400 cheaper than the dealer that is 20 minutes away. $400 may not sound like much money in the big scheme of things but it just strikes me odd that teh same exact machine differs that much in price at 2 different locations. Another example...the base 2520 45 minutes away is $13,900. At the local store they priced it to me at $14,800.

Now personally I'm not a fan of driving 45 minutes whenever I have a problem with my tractor, but for $400 I may have too. Do you guys think I am being unrealistic? For the record, I offered to meet the local dealer in the middle and pay $200 just to by the machine closer to home...on principal alon I don't think I can go the whole $400.

 

[VABlue]

Does he know you have an offer $400 less but further away? He probably does even if you haven't told him (a good manager knows his competition) and is playing on that because everyone wants to be closer to home. I don't know how you'll pay for the machine, but I can see that $400 is a rear blade. Otherwise, it's not too much of a difference at $14K.

I see you're a builder, any chance the machine would be used on your construction sites? If so, get the 2520 because it can lift pallets easier. If not, I really have to wonder what the extra capacities will do. Yeah, you have a 4" wider bucket, but you can still get a 53" bucket on a 2305. And it will lift the same amount of mulch, dirt, stone, etc., as a 2520. It might take you 5 seconds longer to pickup and dump a load... The bottom line is what are you going to do with it? If you plan on doing a lot of heavy work that you want done now, the 2520 is right. If the heavy stuff can take a little longer, or you're not doing any, the 2305 will be plenty of machine for anything around the home. Both are great machines you can't go wrong with...

 

[thepawnshop]

Thanks, Blue.

The ONLY thing I want to use it for on teh jobsite is for seedbed prep and landscaping. I also own a Gehl rough terrain forklift as well as my 50D mini excavator and 322 CTL so as far as any type of SERIOUS dirtwork, it is more than covered.

This piece will solely be used for making lawns and then making em pretty (especially mine!)

Thanks Again!

 

[Dutch445]

Thanks, Blue.

The ONLY thing I want to use it for on teh jobsite is for seedbed prep and landscaping. I also own a Gehl rough terrain forklift as well as my 50D mini excavator and 322 CTL so as far as any type of SERIOUS dirtwork, it is more than covered.

This piece will solely be used for making lawns and then making em pretty (especially mine!)

Thanks Again!

I still think if you are wanting to use a harley rake, stay with
2320 or 2520,,
are there any 2305 owners out there using them with a power rake?

 

[VABlue]

Not me, but I do see where Harley makes a 4' version specifically for machines w/ 15-22 PTO HP. Again, it might take an extra pass, or two, but why wouldn't it work otherwise? The difference is in the position control - easier to use. But not impossible with the 1/4-inching valve, either, just takes more arm movement.

Look, I'm with ya in that if a lot of heavy ground work is involved, then the bigger machine is warrented. But if it's normal household stuff the smaller machines are just as capable. I put in a new yard running a 48" tiller 6-8" deep through compacted VA clay and the tractor didn't break a sweat. The little ones do work quite well...

 

[cast_and_blast]

For what you're working on (sounds VERY similar to my requirements) I believe the 2305 will be just about right.

Now - if you're going into the woods to bush-hog, I'd step up for the ground clearance. If you plan on doing extensive loader work, I'd step up for the faster hydraulics. If the ROPS height is an issue then you can get a folding ROPS for ~$250 or trim the trees.

The 62C deck (not 62X as stated above) has been around for quite a while and provides a beautiful cut.

I cut my 1.5 acres, do some loader work, move a few boulders and plow lots of snow and my 2305 has been just right.

Good luck!

Scott