[ajd520d]

Hi, All! New to the group here!
I have a 2004 X495AWS that I am considering trading in on a 2008 2305 CUT. The 495 runs awesome- in in great shape, and only has 865 hours on it. The downfall to this is the fromt blade for this dude is notoriously expensive , there's no 3-pt, and there's only one set of hydraulics that is shared with the mower. The 2305 I am looking at is much better equipped with all things listed above, etc. The 2305 has less than 700 hours on it and it would be a great upgrade for my needs.
My question is this: Who out there has a 2305 and how do you like them? Any issues with them? Any good or bad points about them? I would alsol be gaining MFWD with this over the X495. The X has served me well over the last several years that I have owned it, so I have no complaints about it. I am looking to expand my capabilities and to get into a slightly larger and heavier tractor. Opinions please and Thank you in advance.

 

[theduke]

I'll chime in too kick this off.

Many members here with one of these..I'm not one of them.

Its on my Radar as a Mostly No go.

You can do some digging or read whats coming and decide.

Survey says..Its a decent machine and better than some others.

What spooks me is the Weak PTO...iirc there may have been a fix or update on this.

I've seen 2 for sale in Oregon with Non Functional PTO's

btw....Very few JD compacts ever pop up for sale here.

Let the hate commence....I like education

 

[Dirtdobber]

For what its worth, I have the 2210 which is the predecessor to the 2305. I wouldn't take anything for my little tractor. I'm at about 1600 hours and have no issues. I have had to replace the ujoints in the engine to transmission drive shaft. I have a 62 in belly mount mower that cuts very good, I frequently use a 5 foot box blade, and have a front end loader. The capability of such a small machine is surprising.

You need to research one item, and that relates to the transmission. I believe on some models there is a bearing boss inside the transmission that can bust if the rear PTO is in use and experiences a significant shock - like hitting a stump with a bushog. I'm not complete sure, so check this out.

 

[theduke]

In all fairness......one of the ones with broke pto.

He openly said...I slid down a hill backwards and the Mower hit something..stuffing the pto shaft.
This could wreck any tractor ....with a pto shaft NOT CUT to proper length.

Regardless...That seems to be the weak link...With proper care and use...Probly a great machine.
Just not in my stable...I have this size covered.

 

[Doug]

I have a 2010 john deere 2305 and have had good luck with it. The only PTO attachment I use is a Terra King TKV20 and keep the PTO shaft strait when running it I shut the PTO off when raising it to dump it. The main thing to look for is the driveshaft from the engine to the transmission it has a u-joint at both ends check them to make sure they are tight or have been replaced. I have lubed mine every 25 or so hours from day one and so far when I last check/re-lubed them all was ok fingers crossed. I would look at the PTO shaft at the back of the tractor and see if the PTO has even been used signs of any wear if it looks like new I would keep it that way. I think it was around 2008 that the transmission was updated but not sure. If you want to use a brush hog or tiller I would move on to another subcompact tractor. I don't have a need for either attachment so I am good to go. I almost forgot down by the driveshaft at the transmission input shaft there is a plastic cooling fan check it to make sure it has all of the cooling blades. If it does be very careful going into the timber or uncleared areas you will not believe what a little stick can do to the fan and that goes for the transmission filter it sits very low just waiting to find a rock or stump. I have a metal screen to protect the fan and a shield for the filter. I have the FEL, 54" MMM, TKV20, snowblower, front blade, box blade, and landscape rake. I have around 800 hours on it and have had no problems with it for me it has been a great tractor. If you have any other questions I will try and answer them.

Doug

 

[fdmars]

I have a 09’ 2305 with 440 hrs on it. I think it was in 09 that they changed the pto to a better unit. You will have to check the serial # to be sure. Others have mentioned the driveshaft and fan issues. I too have screens on mine. Yes the front zerk on the driveshaft is a pia to grease, I do it but am never quite sure if I succeed.
Not sure the screens are made anymore.
I have never run anything off the pto, just because I haven’t had the need vs worry about using it.
Has been a great tractor so far and have no plans of ever replacing it.
If the one you are looking at is priced right could be a good upgrade

 

[Bosbar]

I have a 2006 2305, with 1600 hrs. It's been a great tractor.

I have a JD 647 tiller that I have used to till 4 large gardens without any problems.

I also use a snow blade and it has a 54" FEL

As previously said, make sure to grease the driveshaft. It wasn't in the manual and I had to have it replaced.

I have no complaints. While it's still in excellent shape, I'm trading it in for a 2021 1025R, due to the fact that it is 15 yrs. old with a lot of hours.

 

[iamrfixit]

The PTO breakage problem in the early models was mostly due to the main transmission case being built too thin around the rear PTO inner races. The case was strengthened and made thicker in those critical areas, I believe that was done in 2007. I can say for sure that my 2305 is a 2008 model and it does have the reinforced case.

The case could become damaged when an implement like a tiller or mower would hit something and stall the PTO. It could also be damaged by lifting/lowering an implement with a PTO shaft that was too long. This can cause damage on many other models/brands of tractor as well.

Using a properly working and maintained PTO slip clutch is always a good idea. Not only with this tractor, but other models as well. Compact or sub compact tractors are built with many aluminum parts instead of cast iron like the larger, heavier models.

The driveshaft from the engine to the transmission was not included in the lube schedule and many did not get maintained. It needs to be greased every 50 hours. If you don't know for sure that has been done, the U-joints should be replaced and the shaft maintained going forward. The shaft is expensive and can do significant damage if it breaks. In some cases it's been known to snap off the input shaft on the transmission. Newer and other model tractors use this same design and can suffer similar issues.

 

[etcallhome]

I had a 2305, only trouble I had was the fan for hyd transmission. The fan blades did break like most, mine was the bracket that hold the fan to the drive shaft. Make sure to check this before buying, if you can turn the fan WHEN the ENGINE IS OFF.. that will cost you $200+
SIL still has his 2305 , can't remember what year he bought his . So far no issues with his, fel , has probably been more than the mmm and now he has been using his 4' brush hog. I think he still has less than 300 hrs on his , it has been used hard and been put away wet, very little maintenance ,but still going strong.

 

[Barnes]

I also had a 2305 that I bought new in 2006, and I really liked it, especially because it was a "real" tractor but in a very compact size. I used it for mowing several acres in the summer, blowing snow from my long driveway in the winter, moving stuff around with the FEL, and tilling a rocky garden with a 647 tiller.

The only problem I ever had with it was the infamous "V4 diode" problem, which I fixed using information posted here on GTT. My PTO never had any problems, despite a number of incidents where the tiller caught on a big rock and stalled the tractor.

I would still have the 2305 today except that I wanted a cab for snowblowing, so I traded it in 2018.

 

[ajd520d]

Thank you for all of the replies. With all of that being said, the only use I might have for the rear PTO is for a generator to power my home on an as-needed basis. I live in a subdivision with a decent sized lot, but have no use for pto equipment, except for the generator. I would assume that since the generator unit wouldn't "move" per say like say a rear mower would, I shouldn't have any issues with it if I decided to purchase it.

 

[SulleyBear]

Thank you for all of the replies. With all of that being said, the only use I might have for the rear PTO is for a generator to power my home on an as-needed basis. I live in a subdivision with a decent sized lot, but have no use for pto equipment, except for the generator. I would assume that since the generator unit wouldn't "move" per say like say a rear mower would, I shouldn't have any issues with it if I decided to purchase it.

When you get into the SCUTS, you generally get into a true selected 2wd / 4wd system, verses the 2wd on the x495 and the AWD on the x595. You would likely notice the potential scuffing of the front wheels on the grass on the 2305 if the machine is in 4wd. If your lawn is flat and fairly straight forward, then you might not have a need for the 4WD feature of the 2305 while mowing.

While the issues with the 2305 have been clearly identified, these are issues which can be "managed" as long as the owner is aware of the potential issues and deals with them accordingly. Awareness is key and knowing how to properly maintain the machine mitigates much of the risks of the potential mechanical issues of this machine. Based upon their strong resale value, the potential repairs or maintenance issues sure don't drive down the value of these machines.

I guess my main question is other than the FEL, what do you see as the greatest gain in making this switch? Also, please explain your comment about the "Notoriously Expensive Front Blade", you mentioned in your first comment and help me understand how you are going to avoid this issue with the 2305.

Just curious your plans for the 3ph, etc. if you don't plan on any PTO implements other than the back up generator, what other uses for the 3ph do you have in mind? Looking forward to hearing more about your plans, needs and goals for the new machine.

Are you thinking of using the FEL for snow removal, instead of using a dedicated front blade? Please provide some clarity on your concerns on these matters and how making this machine change is going to get you what you want. Just want to make sure to understand what you hope to achieve and also what you are looking to avoid, by making this machine change. Welcome to GTT, by the way.........

 

[ajd520d]

When you get into the SCUTS, you generally get into a true selected 2wd / 4wd system, verses the 2wd on the x495 and the AWD on the x595. You would likely notice the potential scuffing of the front wheels on the grass on the 2305 if the machine is in 4wd. If your lawn is flat and fairly straight forward, then you might not have a need for the 4WD feature of the 2305 while mowing.

While the issues with the 2305 have been clearly identified, these are issues which can be "managed" as long as the owner is aware of the potential issues and deals with them accordingly. Awareness is key and knowing how to properly maintain the machine mitigates much of the risks of the potential mechanical issues of this machine. Based upon their strong resale value, the potential repairs or maintenance issues sure don't drive down the value of these machines.

I guess my main question is other than the FEL, what do you see as the greatest gain in making this switch? Also, please explain your comment about the "Notoriously Expensive Front Blade", you mentioned in your first comment and help me understand how you are going to avoid this issue with the 2305.

Just curious your plans for the 3ph, etc. if you don't plan on any PTO implements other than the back up generator, what other uses for the 3ph do you have in mind? Looking forward to hearing more about your plans, needs and goals for the new machine.

Are you thinking of using the FEL for snow removal, instead of using a dedicated front blade? Please provide some clarity on your concerns on these matters and how making this machine change is going to get you what you want. Just want to make sure to understand what you hope to achieve and also what you are looking to avoid, by making this machine change. Welcome to GTT, by the way.........

I clear snow for many elderly neighbors in my area and with a 3 pt, you can buy a rear 3 pt blade a LOT cheaper than a front blade for the X495.
Rear PTO is just something that is there- I dont have any other plans for it except for a Generator.
It will be primarily a mowing and snow moving machine with a FEL that I will be doing landscaping work with since every single year, my wife loves to change things up a LOT!
The 2305 is much more able to handle these jobs since it has many more hydraulic circuits than the X495 has. It is also heavier and will stay put and not get light like my X495 does.

 

[theduke]

Soo

Your gonna use the Mid PTO for a mmm...if I'm reading this right.

I'm glad everyone chimed in...iamrfixit probly knows the internals of this model better than any Deere Dealer.

No clue if mid pto puts stress in the weak area.

He has some very well documented threads here with lots of pics of what He went through.

iirc...the bolts on ring gear loosened and kicked off all sorts of issues...You should read through that thread. I did..Just for fun and to learn what can happen and clearly how it can be fixed if your put your mind too it. I think Deere wanted some crazy amount of $$$$$ for this repair and He did it. Its a great story to read.

What year is the machine your looking at?...theres enough info posted to figure out if it may be the upgraded version.

As I stated...Many own them & many are Happy.......just be aware of its small glitch.

My work here is done...enjoy.