John Deere X380 vs Husqvarna GT52XLS

[JMER817]

Narrowed down to these two models. Husqvarna has the 24HP Kaw 730 motor, 52" fabricated deck, Hydro gear G7 transmission. OTD pricing at $3178. I was leaning this way until I started to read some reviews on the quality of the cut and issues with grass building up and clumping. I like some of the features of the JD X380, it has the 22HP Kaw, K58M transmission, and my guess probably one of the best decks available in this price range of tractors? OTD pricing on the 380 is $4556. Any owners of either of these riding mowers?

 

[JMER817]

Anyone??

 

[murphy1244]

How bout a Simplicity? I had a Conquest with a 54" deck. Cut real nice.

 

[JMER817]

How bout a Simplicity? I had a Conquest with a 54" deck. Cut real nice.

That model was also on my short list as well. I'm not sold on the rollers on the back of the deck that raises and lowers the mower and is in contact with the ground 100% of the time. My 2 acres is not the smoothest and I can see that deck bouncing up and down. Plus it's another $1k. The husqvarna looked promising until i started reading negative reviews on cut quality and plugging up. Not sure what to believe.

 

[JMER817]

That model was also on my short list as well. I'm not sold on the rollers on the back of the deck that raises and lowers the mower and is in contact with the ground 100% of the time. My 2 acres is not the smoothest and I can see that deck bouncing up and down. Plus it's another $1k. The husqvarna looked promising until i started reading negative reviews on cut quality and plugging up. Not sure what to believe.

Sorry, actually it was the broadmoor that I was looking at.

 

[murphy1244]

Sorry, actually it was the broadmoor that I was looking at.

I really liked my Conquest but it was too hard to convert over to a snow machine so I bought a Ventrac. I would still have my Conquest if it weren't for that.Those rollers give you a nice stripping look even in your field.

 

[Smoothas]

Y You don’t say what your property is like. But generally speaking either tractor will do job. The JD will (again generally speaking) have longer life, better frame. Better Kawi engine. And the JD will most definitely hold its resale value better over next 10 to 15 years over Husky

 

[Spindifferent]

In your comparison, you may want to consider the access you have to dealer support for service should something need repair. If you have a good JD dealer nearby, that may sway your choice.

 

[JMER817]

In your comparison, you may want to consider the access you have to dealer support for service should something need repair. If you have a good JD dealer nearby, that may sway your choice.

True, but this would only come into play for any issues during the warranty period. I do all my own maintenance and repairs 90% of the time.

 

[JMER817]

Y You don’t say what your property is like. But generally speaking either tractor will do job. The JD will (again generally speaking) have longer life, better frame. Better Kawi engine. And the JD will most definitely hold its resale value better over next 10 to 15 years over Husky

Smooth and nicely manicured lawn right around the house. Gets spotty and bumpy farther out. Rocks tend to magically appear from the ground. Couple slopes to mow up.

 

[tk tom]

X380 won't have a better Kawi than the Husqvarna, but nearly everything else will be better except the transmission - but the K58 is still a stout unit. Husky will have a far better GT available next year with a far better deck (48") that does not require a Powerflow unit to bag - but still bags just as well as one. Kawi engine, Tuff Torq K66 unit with electric locking diff, under $3k.

Still, the JD will hold value longer down the road, and simple things like steering will be smoother and last longer before repairing. Frame will be stiffer, deck lift mechanism easier to operate, and better gauges on JD - including a fuel gauge which I'm partial to. Kills me that my GX335 doesn't have one!

 

[JMER817]

X380 won't have a better Kawi than the Husqvarna, but nearly everything else will be better except the transmission - but the K58 is still a stout unit. Husky will have a far better GT available next year with a far better deck (48") that does not require a Powerflow unit to bag - but still bags just as well as one. Kawi engine, Tuff Torq K66 unit with electric locking diff, under $3k. Still, the JD will hold value longer down the road, and simple things like steering will be smoother and last longer before repairing. Frame will be stiffer, deck lift mechanism easier to operate, and better gauges on JD - including a fuel gauge which I'm partial to. Kills me that my GX335 doesn't have one!

Now that's the kind of feedback that I was expecting out of this forum. Thanks!

 

[TMR]

Husky will have a far better GT available next year with a far better deck (48") that does not require a Powerflow unit to bag - but still bags just as well as one. Kawi engine, Tuff Torq K66 unit with electric locking diff, under $3k.

I would look forward to a better Husky GT...do you know if the TT K66 with "electric" locking diff is the "auto engage diff lock...or you engage when you want/need? I do not want an auto engage. Your description sounds great...Kawi/TT K 66 with diff lock/better 48" deck/under $3K. Do you have a good source for this? When expecting to be introduced? Model #...Thanks...TMR

 

[tk tom]

I would look forward to a better Husky GT...do you know if the TT K66 with "electric" locking diff is the "auto engage diff lock...or you engage when you want/need? I do not want an auto engage. Your description sounds great...Kawi/TT K 66 with diff lock/better 48" deck/under $3K. Do you have a good source for this? When expecting to be introduced? Model #...Thanks...TMR

It is a GT48DXLS, electric via dash toggle like the current GT lockers.

It started 2 years ago with the 42" clear cut deck on the YT42DXLS, solving a problem on the 3-blade 42" fab deck reverting it back to 2 blades which made for a fantastic cutting deck. Notice Deere released "Accel Deep Decks?" Same concept. Husqvarna moved forward with their 48" model this year being available on the GT48, YT48DXLS, and Z248F zero turn.

My only beef with these tractors (this is where I forget the price range of these things) is the steering system. They need a bigger steering wheel, different ratio - something to make an easy feeling turn.

Consumer info likely won't be released until 2017.

I'm a dealer, that's my source lol

 

[Smoothas]

X380 won't have a better Kawi than the Husqvarna, but nearly everything else will be better except the transmission - but the K58 is still a stout unit. Husky will have a far better GT available next year with a far better deck (48") that does not require a Powerflow unit to bag - but still bags just as well as one. Kawi engine, Tuff Torq K66 unit with electric locking diff, under $3k.

Still, the JD will hold value longer down the road, and simple things like steering will be smoother and last longer before repairing. Frame will be stiffer, deck lift mechanism easier to operate, and better gauges on JD - including a fuel gauge which I'm partial to. Kills me that my GX335 doesn't have one!

Not to split hairs, But I think you should let Kawasagi know that there is no difference in FR and FS engine series. The husky uses a Kawi FR series engine ( Kawasaki FR730V) The X380 uses the FS series (Kawasaki FS651V) The FS is next “step up” in Kawasaki engines . As for transmission, again I’m going to disagree the on tranny’s the K58 ( 217 foot pounds of torque) and Hydro-Gear G7( 230) are very similar spec wise. If you want to give a Hydro gear a slight edge- I guess so but I’d add Tuff Torq is the more established company with far more installed units than Hydro gear
I do agree just about everything else is better on the X380, ease of steering, Better frame, better mowing deck and far superior re sale value
And again I’m not bad mouthing the Husky- but there is a reason why the X380 costs more- it’s a far superior lawn tractor

Google bent frame on Husqvarna GT52XLS or poor cut quality and you’ll see what I mean

 

[Firehawkmph]

I bought JD X380 this spring. I also have two acres to cut. I have a lot of trees, patio stone lined flower beds, little bit of inclines, a landscape mound that is about 100' long, about 10' wide and about 5' tall. I have a 54" deck on it. I was cutting before with a Skags 48" walk behind. Took 2 hours with the Skags and I walked at a decent clip for 6 miles. Just got tired literally of all the walking. I can cut the same area now in 1 1/2 hours. I have an open area that is about an acre that is a bit bumpy. The machine cuts nicely, as long as you adjust the anti scalp wheels like they tell you in the manual. The left pedal that lifts and lowers the deck is a lot easier than a lever. Parking brake is easy also. The seat moves back and forth and also has three different positions for the springs, which changes the way it rides depending on your weight. I wouldn't buy a gas engined mower that wasn't a Kawasaki, love their engines. Fuel injection is spot on, gas filler is big and in a nice location on the left rear corner. The 54" deck is as big as I could go and still fit in between some fences and flower beds. The extra 6" over the Skags 48" makes a very noticeable difference. I like the gas gauge and it has the hour meter and pto rpm gauge too. My favorite feature is the magic yellow button that lets you go in reverse with the pto engaged and keep cutting. Works like a champ. You don't have to hold it in the whole time, just push it rit before you step on the reverse pedal. Once you hit the forward pedal, it resets itself. The tractor seems to be built pretty well. I did a lot of looking, reading, and research before buying this. Most of the other machines in this size are not made to last, course they are priced cheaper, but I don't like throwaway stuff. I also bought at about the same time a JD2032 with a front end loader and a backhoe, for maintaining the property. I still have to get a brush hog, York rake, and box scraper. Bought them both from the same dealer, who gave me a very good deal and seemed very knowledgable. Hope this helps, any questions, feel free to ask.
Mike Hawkins

 

[Smoothas]

Nice setup Mike

 

[tk tom]

Not to split hairs, But I think you should let Kawasagi know that there is no difference in FR and FS engine series. The husky uses a Kawi FR series engine ( Kawasaki FR730V) The X380 uses the FS series (Kawasaki FS651V) The FS is next 都tep up in Kawasaki engines . As for transmission, again I知 going to disagree the on tranny痴 the K58 ( 217 foot pounds of torque) and Hydro-Gear G7( 230) are very similar spec wise. If you want to give a Hydro gear a slight edge- I guess so but I壇 add Tuff Torq is the more established company with far more installed units than Hydro gear
I do agree just about everything else is better on the X380, ease of steering, Better frame, better mowing deck and far superior re sale value
And again I知 not bad mouthing the Husky- but there is a reason why the X380 costs more- it痴 a far superior lawn tractor

Google bent frame on Husqvarna GT52XLS or poor cut quality and you値l see what I mean

The kawi fs may have a different carb and a foam wrap around the air filter. I've done IPL side by side comps and there are extremely few differences. Another may be a metal screen over flywheel vs plastic. Valves, rods, pistons, block, crank, the same parts.

Never meant to say the husky gt was a better tractor, just that its quite the machine for the money - kawi, locking k66 trans, solid 48" deck, $3k price tag. They are getting better every year, its only a matter of time before steering and frame get addressed, that's what they lack the most IMO vs the x series.

 

[KA3MSR]

Have had the JD X380 for a few months. Very nice machine. Got it at JD dealer. Replaced my Husqvarna LGT2654 that I want to replace the transaxle with a K66 and use as a tractor instead of a mower.

 

[sledgehammer]

tk tom - any info on availability of the GT48DXLS? It's not at my local dealer (Ace HW) yet.

Thanks

It is a GT48DXLS, electric via dash toggle like the current GT lockers.

It started 2 years ago with the 42" clear cut deck on the YT42DXLS, solving a problem on the 3-blade 42" fab deck reverting it back to 2 blades which made for a fantastic cutting deck. Notice Deere released "Accel Deep Decks?" Same concept. Husqvarna moved forward with their 48" model this year being available on the GT48, YT48DXLS, and Z248F zero turn.

My only beef with these tractors (this is where I forget the price range of these things) is the steering system. They need a bigger steering wheel, different ratio - something to make an easy feeling turn.

Consumer info likely won't be released until 2017.

I'm a dealer, that's my source lol