Snow blowing with a 2305

[Inkmann]

I am new to tractors and will be using my 2305 and a 47" snow blower this winter for the 1st time.
My drive way is black top in very good shape, but a decent grade and I have turf tires on the JD.
Will I need chains or weights?

 

[dragoneggs]

I would say yes on chains. If you are talking about some decent slope and turfs on packed snow/ice... no question in my mind you want them... cheap insurance and at least for plan B. Put them on your Xmas list.

 

[fdmars]

I have a 2305 w/ turfs and loaded rears, I do have a fairly steep blacktop driveway, and have been snow blowing it for 4 years. I do not use chains and have never needed them. That is not to say I have not slid around abit as the other poster stated, but I would just move the tractor to another angle or just back up and start again. last year I went thru 36" of snow with the tractor and it did fine. Did take some time.....so I would say chains are optional. Have fun w/ tractor and keep plenty of shear pins handy. :thumbsup:

 

[Inkmann]

How do I "load" my tires?
I think I would like to try that before chains because I don't want to damage or mark up my freshly sealed driveway.
Thanks for reminding about the shear pins, I have seen them on eBay pretty reasonable, do you think those will do the job or just get the JD ones?

Thanks guys
John

 

[fdmars]

I had my dealer load them w/ "beet juice" when I got the tractor, think any tire store can fill them. want the fill to be anti freeze type liquid. As for shear pins if memory serves use a grade 5 bolt of the correct size with a locking nut. they are the softer grade bolt so they will snap before any harm done to blower....

 

[nickc]

I have a 2007 2305 & the turf tires work better than the r4s just load your ballast & you'll be fine. don't forget to have fun!!

 

[Henri88]

Agree with fdmars, grade 5 should be fine. You may also look on your blower, there is a place to store your shear bolts. There might be some spare ones their already. I will post a pics of the location on the blower. Now as for the chain I can not say as I have no hill, so no need for chains, but I can tell you what works for me. I don't use chain or load tires. Like nickc, I have a ballast box that was strongly recommended by my service manager at the dealer. I did not really need it because of the weight of the cab, but he said the counter weight in the back will put less stress on the front end of the tractor. Had to agree with him. I just have to be careful not to put in to much weight or else you lose front traction when the blower is down and you want to turn.

 

[jgayman]

I thought shear bolts were actually Grade-2? If in doubt, use the JD replacement bolts and nuts. From GreenFarmParts the shear bolts are only $0.40 and the nuts $0.24. Go crazy, drop $8.00 and get a dozen to keep on hand.

 

[Mechanos]

Agree with fdmars, grade 5 should be fine. You may also look on your blower, there is a place to store your shear bolts. There might be some spare ones their already. I will post a pics of the location on the blower. Now as for the chain I can not say as I have no hill, so no need for chains, but I can tell you what works for me. I don't use chain or load tires. Like nickc, I have a ballast box that was strongly recommended by my service manager at the dealer. I did not really need it because of the weight of the cab, but he said the counter weight in the back will put less stress on the front end of the tractor. Had to agree with him. I just have to be careful not to put in to much weight or else you lose front traction when the blower is down and you want to turn.

View attachment 348346

Even with my 59 on the ground in float, sometimes the tractor will just keep plowinng straight ahead with the front wheels cranked hard over. That's what turning brakes are for. If I need more steering control I just slightly lift the blower enough to load the wheels.

 

[Henri88]

Mechanos, agree but there is no turning brakes on the 2305 so yes sometime we have to lift the blower just a touch for front traction.

 

[Labrat]

I have a ballast box with about 200lbs in it along with loaded tires and chains so I can dig a path behind the barn so Buck Strickland's guys can get to the propane tanks. Don't really need the chains for the blacktop though.

 

[DeereMann]

My dealer said I wouldn't need chains with 4WD. This is my first 4WD tractor so I'm about to find out!! Have turf tires & 240 lbs counterweight on back. Tires not loaded.

 

[jgayman]

My dealer said I wouldn't need chains with 4WD. This is my first 4WD tractor so I'm about to find out!! Have turf tires & 240 lbs counterweight on back. Tires not loaded.

View attachment 348385

The dealers must all read from the same playbook. I heard the exact same thing when I bought my 2720... "4WD, no chains required". Wrong! I was coming from a 2WD Ford NAA which had loaded R1 tires and 800 lbs of wheel weights. Needless to say that coming from a 4000+ lb tractor with R1 to a 2000 lb tractor with R4 made a big (bad) difference in traction - and four (3 max) tires spinning did nothing for me. I ended up loading the rear tires on the 2720 and running chains on all four tires. Obviously it all depends on your environment. If you have a relatively flat driveway you may get away without chains. Regardless, when it comes to icy conditions 4WD does nothing to help you stop.

 

[bigtiller]

My dealer said I wouldn't need chains with 4WD. This is my first 4WD tractor so I'm about to find out!! Have turf tires & 240 lbs counterweight on back. Tires not loaded.

You may be able to "get by" without chains in Minnesota, but when you get in the middle of the white stuff some windy day you may change your mind. I would get some now before they are all sold out.

 

[DeereMann]

Uh-oh!!! Well, here's hoping they have some chains available should I need them.

 

[Henri88]

He should do better with the turf tires than the R1 or R4, but it really depends on what kind of grade he's got. Just make sure you let us know how you made out.

 

[DeereMann]

1/2 Main drive has fairly gentle slope, then 1/2 level next to garage. You can see it in my photo above. Pole Barn drive is flat @ street-level. I will try it w/o chains first - chains are expensive & a pain to take on/off...from past experience w/ JD 445 & 318.

Will advise results.......snow coming soon! Already in Western CA & US.

P.S. - am currently scheming on a winter enclosure!

 

[snohobigdad]

Deereman, great pic. Where's the smile? You're on a tractor!!! Life can't get much better! Jim

 

[Henri88]

Deereman, great pic. Where's the smile? You're on a tractor!!! Life can't get much better! Jim

Pretty obvious why! By the time he back-up all the snow had melted.

 

[snohobigdad]

Henri, you are a funny man for sure. I know my back and neck are killing me when I have to back up a bunch. Jim