Interested in 2305 or 2520

[gunmaker]

JDCAN: My 2520 w/200cx fel & 61" bucket, 61" JD toothbar/46bh-13" bucket ($6000)/rear ballast box/i-match/54"front blade with full hydraulics/power beyond kit/ hi output alternator/ block heater / front weight extension bracket w/ set of weights/ all set-up and delivered for $25K.
The toothbar for the 300cx 61" bucket fits the 200cx 61" bucket perfectly, and was $300 installed.
The ballast box is not included with the fel, but you NEED the ballast box
for safety, traction and counterbalance.
I avoid operating anything over my septic system, just rather be safe than sorry. The 2520 w/fel&bh does walk softly for its size and weight.
I still feel that the advice given here, which I followed, is sound. Buy a machine that is reasonably bigger than what you anticipate your needs to be. It will pay off in safety, durability and re-sale/trade-in value when the time arises. Enjoy!

 

[Chris2520]

Great information, it's hard becuase 1 side of me wants the 2305 and the other side wants the 2520

What are some of the prices or going rates you guys paid for the following:

2520

62inch mower

61inch FEL

backhoe.

Chris2520, what did the JD teeth cost? the current dealer I am in contact with said no teeth are avail. for the FEL bucket.

Also the dealer is telling me the ballast box is not needed on the 2520 and does not come with a front end loader, does this sound right?

In closing this might not be the best place to find this answer, but after reading Chris2520 saying it comes in at 4000 lbs, my property has a septic bed, the septic bed is rasied, has around 3 feet of soil etc. above it, will the 2520 in all it's thunder cause troubles driving over the raised bed area? Any feedback would be great.

Thanks again everyone for making this pick so hard jejej

JDCAN , everything you see in my sig line below. includeing all foward and rear lights tooth bar installed. and a 400$ heavy duty alternater was 25,400 delivered
and i got a free filter pak and 3 JD hats....

I think you would be very happy with it. I like mine.
i was digging in the dirt today . found some roots giving me fits. but thay were no match for Johnny D's long arm on the back.... there now gone.
I gave him a serious bath. he is all shiny again....

 

[vintagemilano]

Just getting a 2520 with 200cx in BC, taxes everything is 24k.

 

[archerynut]

As far as Bh on hte 2305 vs. the 2520 (and hydraulics in general) the 2520 wins hands down as far as speed and capacity. The 2305 will just be a lot slower due to reduced hydralic flow. The 2520 is going to be 1-2 seconds faster per cycle depending on what exactly you are doing.

As far as BH, I would think that the 2520 is going to be faster, but I am not sure. The difference in depth is 6 inches. There is about 800 lb digging force difference between the two.

As far as when I said faster to attach implements I meant the BH. I believe the subframe needs to be removed to mount the MMM on the 2520, it doesn't need to be removed on the 2305 (and you don't need to hook the 3PH up if you have the independent lift for the mower). Just a side note, the MF GC2310 can leave the 3PH arms on nad hook up hte BH (that's what sold me on the MF).

There's no reason that you couldn't get a ballast box for the 2520, it's listed in the catalog for the 2520 (# BW15073)

Here's what I was quoted for the 2520 (Western PA)
Tractor with Turf tires - 14257.57
62" MMM - 2778.14
Loader - 2404.69
BH - 5920.34
54" Snow plow - 1184.82
Total - 26545.56

 

[RollTideRam]

Deere does make a toothbar for the 61" bucket but not any smaller. You don't have to get a ballast box, but you will need ballast. I use a box blade with 4 weights added to it. I have the independant lift on my 2520 and it adjust with a knob beside the seat. It is not numbered like my x475 was, but you don't have to get off the tractor to adjust it. I never really looked at the 2305 because I knew I needed more ground clearance.
Just for referance, I paid 17,600 plus 1.5% tax for my 2520 last year. I got the 200cx, 62d with independant lift and rear light. JC

 

[JDCAN]

vintagemilano - If you are looking at that machine buy it from USA and have it shipped in. 2520 with FEL runs around 16 000 USA , add todays exchange rate 1.12 comes out to around 18 000 Canadian. Then add 6% G.S.T tax and some shipping charges you come out to 19 000 Canadian. A savings of 5000 over the BC dealer.

Also for people with the toothbar, is it worth the charge? Does it come in handy?

Laslty, with people that have experience with backhoes in general, what is the deal with the sizing of the buckets? I notice JD offers 9 inch up to 24 inch. I was personally thinking 24", can anyone with knowledge of a back hoe offer the pro's and con's of bucket sizes.

Thanks again.

 

[Phunge]

I am currently going through this same decision process myself. I only have one acre, but have extensive landscaping that I wish to do. I started out thinking Kubota BX24 or JD2305. Of these two, I am leaning towards the BX24. See the attached PDF documents for some of the reasons & specification comparisons.

I find myself drawn towards the JD2320, though, because of the increased lifting capacity, position controls, and full Cat1 3ph. I am going to want to bring in some large rocks for my landscaping project, would like to have a set of pallet forks for unloading stuff of my pickup truck. I'd also like to be able to rent or buy some Cat1 implements from time to time, such as a PHD, tiller, Box Blade, wood splitter, etc. and prefer the extra capacity and position controls on the 2320 3ph.

I pretty much eliminated the JD2520, because you have to remove the entire BH subframe to mount the MMM. Also, there is nothing bigger from kubota that interests me until you get to the B2630, which is too big and expensive for my needs.

My fear with the 2320 sized machine is that once the bulk of my landscaping project is complete (say in 5 years), the 2320 will be way overkill as a mower. Also, My property is all hills, and I have read that the 2320 does not have enough power to mow hills in high range, because of the large tires and it is geared higher than the 2305.

Anyone else have a 2320 or 2520 on a 1 or 2 acre lot? Is it a pain to mow with such a large machine? I will design all my landcaping as much as possible to allow for mowing with whatever machine I end up with.

 

[JDFANATIC]

I am currently going through this same decision process myself. I only have one acre, but have extensive landscaping that I wish to do. I started out thinking Kubota BX24 or JD2305. Of these two, I am leaning towards the BX24. See the attached PDF documents for some of the reasons & specification comparisons.

I find myself drawn towards the JD2320, though, because of the increased lifting capacity, position controls, and full Cat1 3ph. I am going to want to bring in some large rocks for my landscaping project, would like to have a set of pallet forks for unloading stuff of my pickup truck. I'd also like to be able to rent or buy some Cat1 implements from time to time, such as a PHD, tiller, Box Blade, wood splitter, etc. and prefer the extra capacity and position controls on the 2320 3ph.

I pretty much eliminated the JD2520, because you have to remove the entire BH subframe to mount the MMM. Also, there is nothing bigger from kubota that interests me until you get to the B2630, which is too big and expensive for my needs.

My fear with the 2320 sized machine is that once the bulk of my landscaping project is complete (say in 5 years), the 2320 will be way overkill as a mower. Also, My property is all hills, and I have read that the 2320 does not have enough power to mow hills in high range, because of the large tires and it is geared higher than the 2305.

Anyone else have a 2320 or 2520 on a 1 or 2 acre lot? Is it a pain to mow with such a large machine? I will design all my landcaping as much as possible to allow for mowing with whatever machine I end up with.

Phunge,

Interesting comparison. I'd say the numbers are so close to each other, no one machine stands out on paper. What it should come down to is your likes and dislikes (ergonomics), and strength of dealer.

Have you done any test driving?

 

[Phunge]

I have seen all of the machines, but not yet driven them. The dealers are about equal, with a slight preference to the JD dealer.

I agree the numbers between with BX24 and JD 2305 are close, with the exception of:
BX24 Hydraulic GPM: 21% more than JD 2305 (6.3 vs 5.2)

On the 2320 vs 2305 comparison, though, the significant differences that matter to me are:
3pt hitch lift capacity 24" behind pins 69% more (1150 vs 681)
Front axle capacity 17% more (1940 vs 1654)
Rear axle capacity 64% more (1477 vs 2426)
Loader Lift Capacity at full height 26% more (628 vs 498)
Loader lift capacity at 59" 34% more (829 vs 617)
Backhoe Bucket Force 20% more (2450 vs 2036)

Price wise, the advantages of the 2320 over the 2305 are worth it to me, however the advantages of the 260 bh over the 46 backhoe are not. Too bad you couldn't put a 260 bh on a 2320. Anyone know if a redesigned 446 backhoe is in the works?

 

[JDCAN]

Will the option to have the 62 mid mower on the 2520 while the backhoe is on, will that become a feature or an add on that will make this possible?

Any ideas?

I heard the difference between the back hoe for the 2520 and 2305 is night and day. It was put to me like this " back hoe for 2305 is a toy and back hoe for 2520 is a machine" Any truth to this?

Also any suggested on size of bucket for backhoe? Any reason to get a smaller size over the 24" size?

Thanks in advance.