2210 vs. 2305 vx 1023E/1026

Hi Everybody..

First, I want to thank everyone in advance who may be able to help and offer suggestions to current dilemna.

I currently own a JD 2210 (w/ FEL, 54C MMM and Front Blade attachments) with only 560 hours, but these were some hard hours as my 4 acres are hilly with 30+ degree 50-200' slopes, example: 5 very long and narrow (5-10' wide x 200' long) turfed terraces at the rear of the house which graduate with the highest being 5' higher than the ridgeline of my 2 story colonial. Front of the house is turfed and stands 50' back from the road and the elevation 35-40' high! About 1 acre of woods, brush, rough terrain.

On some of the slopes (about 50% of the property) I cant mow until the dew burns off! And I run the 2210 almost all of the time in low gear 4wd.

And until yesterday I was extremely happy with the 2210 - as it did everything I needed it to do and more - and did it easily. I have sold more JD scut's just by using the equipment on the property with people driving by asking me the make/model, and I know the local dealership uses the property as a "referral" when people are asking what a JD scut can do.

Anyhow, when I was mowing and backing up a 35 degree slope in front of the house it seems that the transmission crashed - reverse got locked up, gears grinding, wheels wouldn't move forward or backward.

Took it out of low gear into neutral, put it back into low gear and when I changed pedals to go forward (down the slope) the machine freewheeled about 50' straight down (brakes didnt grip), into a drainage ditch, across a road, and down into the opposite ditch and onto my neighbors lawn. BTW gentlemen, the JD 2210 w/ foam filled tires CAN do wheelies when given enough speed and upward ramp mobility!!

Kept the wheels straight, lifted the masts so they wouldnt dig into the bottom of the slope at that speed, and luckilly no cars, trucks, people were crossing my path. Needless to say the pucker factor was high for about 3 seconds - but I was strapped in as always and just held on while ensuring a straight downward, though very fast run.

The 2210 goes forward, but no reverse - just locks up when trying - sometimes I hear metal grinding though in the rear.

The 54C MMM works perfectly so at least I know the PTO works and no shafts got broken.

I am able to lift the FELs mast arms with no problem so I know that the hydraulics are working.

Dealer said, obviously, the Hydromatic Trans crashed and could not provide an estimate in how much it could cost - $2k to $8k was his figure. And it would possibly be more cost-effective just to get a new JD 1023E and he would give me some trade-in for the 2210

My residential property is hilly with various terrain angles and slopes, some very steep - which the dealer said was the ultimate cause of the transmission failure and that all 4 wheels were foam filled at time of purchase so as to provide, a) lower center of gravity on the slopes, b) more weight for the tires to grab the fine turf and terrain, and c) alot of sharp builder debris and nails strewn over the property which resulted in the tires becoming a magnet.

So my friends I am trying to
1) determine whether I should take the risk and get the 2210 repaired, or
2) find a late model low hour 2305 so I can use all of my 2210 attachments and then sell the 2210 as is, or
3) get a 1023/1026 w/ H120 FEL, 54" MMM, and an adapter to use my Front Blade plus I was offered $4500. as a trade-in for the 2210 w/ FEL and MMM.
4) Go Orange, Yellow or other Non-Green Machine..

Now my JD dealer says I should not expect much more than 600 hours because my property is putting alot of strain on the machine - and he said that he was surprised I got the hours that I did on the 2210.. and that the weight of the foam filled tires plus the terrain were contributing factors to the blown tranny.. but 560 hours?

The Orange dealer who knows my property said he is VERY reluctant to even sell me a tractor because of the 30 degree and greater slopes.. His suggestion was to weed whack! Not very helpful....

I demo'd the 1023/1026 and the MMMs were a show stopper as after 4 different machines and as many MM's the dealer just could not get them to mount/dismount properly, and the tolerances between MM and Tractor seem to be very very tight with even the slightest misalignment would at best not allow for a non-frustrastiong proper mount/dismount, and at worst would cause serious damage to PTO and holding clips.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.. including going to a different color tractor..

Also, I need a SCUT because of the terrain.. the JD 2320 (2230?) is too big for the property/terrain.

Any help would be appreciated..

Regards,

Mike