Riding mower suggestions.

[boraticus]

Originally Posted By: IveBeenRued
I am not bashing JD here but for ~$3K you can get yourself a Husqvarna GT52XLS with the Kawasaki engine and a Hydro-gear G730 transmission vs. the John Deere X300 with a Tuff Torq K46 hydrostatic transmission. The Hydro-gear transmission is much more robust than the Tuff Torq; 1" vs .75" axle size, 7.8 MPH vs 5.5 MPH, 230 Ft/Lbs(445 Ft/Lbs intermittent) vs 131 Ft/Lbs of torque, and the Hydro-gear has a basic service interval of 75 hours for the initial fill and then every 400 hours after that vs. the "sealed-for-life" K46. In addition, the Husqvarna has a 730CC 24 HP Kawasaki engine vs the JD with a 491CC 17 HP JD branded Kawasaki engine. As a bonus, with the Husqvarna you get a reinforced fabricated deck vs the stamped deck on the JD.



I owned a Husky lawn tractor for 13 years. It cut 1.5 acres on a pretty steep grade every four days. It's been doing it since bought new in 2002. Engine is a Kawasaki and drive is Hydro Gear. All that I've done to it is replace belts, change oil and air filter. Very robust machine for the money. I no longer own it but the people that do are still cutting their lawns with it.

Not certain what, if anything about Husky riding mowers differs from the run of the mill brands like Craftsman etc. but it certainly has held up well.

Regarding my comments about the cheap JDs found it box stores. I stand corrected.

However, I'm even more disappointed being informed that JD would build to such low levels of quality????

Who says Kubota doesn't build lawn/garden tractors?

http://www.kubota.ca/en/products.aspx?prodid=128

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: IveBeenRued
I am not bashing JD here but for ~$3K you can get yourself a Husqvarna GT52XLS with the Kawasaki engine and a Hydro-gear G730 transmission..


Given they've got a fabbed deck as well, that is a nice machine for the money. The G730's have spin-on filters on them as well.

If you could get a Sears version cheaper, that would be even a better deal.

 

[racer12306]

Question about these higher end tractors, can they mow nicely at full speed?

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: racer12306
Question about these higher end tractors, can they mow nicely at full speed?

I can hear the blade speed of my neighbors diesel 4wd Kubota from a half mile away, and the deck seems keep up with the tractor. Their lawn is all up and down and around, or rough, so its not often it gets to go fast for very long, but it cuts clean every time I see it anyways.

 

[KD0AXS]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: IveBeenRued
I am not bashing JD here but for ~$3K you can get yourself a Husqvarna GT52XLS with the Kawasaki engine and a Hydro-gear G730 transmission..


Given they've got a fabbed deck as well, that is a nice machine for the money. The G730's have spin-on filters on them as well.

If you could get a Sears version cheaper, that would be even a better deal.

I've looked at those at Fleet Farm, and I'd agree they do seem to be a nice machine for the money. Last fall, I saw the Craftsman version at the local Sears Outlet on clearance for $2K. If I didn't have my 425, it would have came home with me. Only thing I didn't like was the flimsy plastic hood, but then again the $10K John Deeres have flimsy plastic hoods on them now too.

 

[Gillsy]

Originally Posted By: jasonal
Looking at new riding mowers and really want to stay in the 4k range or less. Want something that i dont have to work on much...just regular maintenance. Reliability is the key. Good cut and some speed would be great also. Zero turn, not out of the question.

Any suggestions???
I have a Deere X320 with ten+ years of service. It has a Kawai v-twin that is very responsive, and runs like new. Repairs? In approx. 450 hours,one steering rack $60, one deck lift lock handle, $10, several deck drive belts, and one traction belt this year. I bought it because I felt it was the best at that price point, and the Deere dealer was close to me. Yes, I would buy another if I was shopping for a riding lawn mower. This is not a riding tractor. It is not strong enough for ground breaking implements.

 

[sciphi]

Most Deere riding mowers have a great cut. My box-store D105 cuts really nicely. The yard looks like a carpet when it's done. It gets used about 25 hours a year for lawn mowing and some light hauling a few times a season. I'm expecting to get 250+ hours out of it following its maintenance schedule. It's no X series. But for my needs (flat half acre, only mowing grass with it), it is plenty capable.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Man, I don't know what some of us do to our mowers.

We mow a few acres of lawn, trees, a pond edge. Decent elevation changes. I ran a 42 inch Craftsman for a decade until the frame broke. Still got 400 bucks for it! Then we bought a 54 inch Craftsman. Almost 100 hours of fantastic performance so far, and well under 2 grand on sale.

For a typical homeowner I can't see needing all these commercial monsters...

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8

For a typical homeowner I can't see needing all these commercial monsters...


Steve, I hear ya. I can make a Craftsman last seemingly forever as well.

To me, the high dollar machine difference is, if you have the tendency to be rougher on the equipment than you should be, it *should* hold up better.

IMO, for a budget mower, you can't beat a 42" deck Sears/Husqvarna machine. Excellent cut, cheap, been around forever.

The low cost deeres cut very well also.

 

[sciphi]

A higher-priced machine is often quieter, has a comfier seat, and has niceties like cruise control. Those are nice to have when mowing often or a lot of ground. It's like buying a subcompact or a luxury car. They'll both do the job, but one is better-suited for spending a lot of time with.

 

[MCompact]

I cut @2.5 acres with a 1999 Dixon 5424(42" deck) and a 2007 Cub Cadet Commercial Enforcer(54" deck). I put @14 hours per year on each mower. I usually buy commercial outdoor power equipment(Stihl for saws, blowers, trimmers, etc.) because I only want to buy the stuff once. I maintain everything by the book and fully expect to pass everything on to my son in perfect operating condition.

 

[mlatour]

Recentlty purchased a Cub Cadet XT1 / 46" deck / 22hp Kohler twin,
added mulching blades/deck discharge plug kit.
I mow about 1 acre once a week, no complaints on it's performance.