new member, new 2305

[orlo]

Hi:

I mowed a few times (From Sep on) with my 2305 and it works great. I have the 62" MMM like yourself. To give you some history, I used to mow with a 50" Craftsman GT5000 (25hp) with a pull beside 60" swisher for maybe a 100" cut (with some overlap). The best I could do was about 5.5mph and the Swisher would only let me pull at that speed if the grass was low, otherwise it was about 3.3mph mowing.

With the JD I mow flat out in high range except for the occassional hill. (About 9mph at 2900rpm) (Tractor is rated 8.3mph at 2600rpm) and it mows like you wouldn't believe.
I mow about 5 acres 4.5 of which are flat and long so I fly around. I'm still not 100% convinced I won't get a set of empty Turf tires but the R4's seem very good. I also find that it'll cut high grass without needing to slow down much.

My tires are loaded R4's and I mow with the Loader on (I do take the bucket off) and the only place I can see tread marks are the areas where I make continuous turns (I mow in concentric squares, so near the end). Nothing to tear up the lawn, but just you can see the tread marks. Places I've gone Straight unless it was wet you can't even tell I was there.

The deck has great suction by the way, it sucks up everything. I use it (not every time) in conjunction with a Cyclone rake and my only problem is that when I use it I have to empty a lot.

I have been thinking about a flail mower in the far away future so I don't have to bag but for now I'm ok...

I haven't tried the mulch kit but that might work well also.

Have Fun.........

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[755inNY]

Congratulations!

I'll have to stop over and see it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jeff

 

[rvtech]

I mowed my 5 acres 6 or 7 times. I didn't have any problems with the R4's. I didn't get into any real wet areas though. I purchased my 2305 when when we closed on our house. The pasture had been left unmowed for a long time. I mowed it twice. Once with the mower all the way up, then at my normal height of the yard. I was pushing grass over the front of the hood. I mowed in low range with no problems. Mower and power are very impressive.

 

[Shawk]

Congrats on your new machine & welcome... lots of good info and people here /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[kljunior]

Great to hear from so many happy owners, it's very encouraging!
I picked up a set of R1's front and rear on wheels very reasonable online. They are brand new and were o.e. on the 2210's. They weren't an option on the 2305 for some reason. I thought I would load the rears and possibly put chains on for winter use only. That's why I was asking about the the R4's vs the turfs (R3's). The r4's seemed like a happy medium, but now I may swap them out for turfs and put the r1's on only in winter.
I have to make a decision before running on the R4's so they will still swap em out for me. If no one thinks the r4's are too aggressive, maybe I should stick with them for lawn mowing and summer loader work. They should be better on dirt while using the fel.

Jeff, small www. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Shawk]

Stick with the R4's and don't look back. They're fine on the lawn and very good in the snow. No need for chains with the R4's either IMO. I bought a set of those R1's you're referring to on Ebay this fall and never installed them... great deal btw. We had a couple pretty big snows and the R4's performed so well that I resold the R1's shortly after. The key to me... is simply to have your tractor weighted well in the winter. Good luck with your tractor... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[kljunior]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Stick with the R4's and don't look back. They're fine on the lawn and very good in the snow. No need for chains with the R4's either IMO. I bought a set of those R1's you're referring to on Ebay this fall and never installed them... great deal btw. We had a couple pretty big snows and the R4's performed so well that I resold the R1's shortly after. The key to me... is simply to have your tractor weighted well in the winter. Good luck with your tractor... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>


You're right about the r1's. Awesome deal. You and the others have convinced me to try the r4's out in the snow and on the lawn.
Thanx all.