mjncad
Super Member
I have a 2005 JD L130 with 56-hours on it and I'm quite disappointed with it. I didn't expect it to be of the caliber of my JD 4200 CUT; but it definitely could be better.
I bought it new with the intent of mowing native grass that is choking out the nasty weeds that I used to use a rotary cutter for. I also bought it since is was less money than a MMM for my 4200 and seeing the hassles of putting on and removing the mower for my CUT swayed me to get a separate mower. Although I am not cutting golf course greens quality grass; I don't abuse it either.
In the time I've owned it, I have had the following issues with it:
1. I'm on my third mower belt; the first slipped off the pulleys and got trashed in the process, the second belt failed at the splice joint.
2. I'm on my third set of blades, which given the material being cut I can't blame on Deere. I'm using Gator Blades on it now.
3. I had an idler pulley bracket on the mower deck break off in my hand as I was removing the deck to change blades last year.
4. At 50-hours I changed the oil & filter, air & fuel filters, new plugs gapped to spec and torqued properly. Now it's hard to start, especially when warm.
5. The other day I was half way through my 1.8-acre flat lot when the mower deck quit. I thought it threw a belt again; but it didn't. I'm guessing the electric PTO switch puked, or the clutch. The seat switch works, so it's not that. I have a new $20 switch on order, which I hope cures the problem as a new clutch is $155.
Modifications I've made to the unit:
1. Removed the blasted RIO (Lawyer) switch, and jumpered the connector.
2. Slimed the tires.
3. Drilled a hole in the plastic deflector chute to bungee it in the up position for storage.
4. Added three wash ports to the deck, which work better than I expected.
5. Added nose art and a name to it.
6. Added 84-pounds of suitcase weights to the rear to help lighten the front end for easier steering. It helps; but not as much as I had hoped, so I can't imagine a plow blade being on the front of the thing.
What I like about it:
1. Maneuverable. I finished the other half of the yard with the 4200 and 5-foot rotary mower, and I'd forgotten just how difficult it is to maneuver around obstacles with 8 to 10-feet of hardware hanging off the back of the tractor.
Now I'm trying to decide whether to look at an X324 as I would like the AWS. I only need a mower since the 4200 does all the real tractor work. I would even consider a used JD 445 or 455; but the nearest ones that showed up on machinefinder.com were in Iowa, and were holding their value quite well. I would prefer liquid cooling and a fuel injected engine; but $$$$ reality usually bursts that bubble quickly.
Unlike you Midwest and east coast guys, we don't have a plethora of dealers representing non JD brands to choose from.
I bought it new with the intent of mowing native grass that is choking out the nasty weeds that I used to use a rotary cutter for. I also bought it since is was less money than a MMM for my 4200 and seeing the hassles of putting on and removing the mower for my CUT swayed me to get a separate mower. Although I am not cutting golf course greens quality grass; I don't abuse it either.
In the time I've owned it, I have had the following issues with it:
1. I'm on my third mower belt; the first slipped off the pulleys and got trashed in the process, the second belt failed at the splice joint.
2. I'm on my third set of blades, which given the material being cut I can't blame on Deere. I'm using Gator Blades on it now.
3. I had an idler pulley bracket on the mower deck break off in my hand as I was removing the deck to change blades last year.
4. At 50-hours I changed the oil & filter, air & fuel filters, new plugs gapped to spec and torqued properly. Now it's hard to start, especially when warm.
5. The other day I was half way through my 1.8-acre flat lot when the mower deck quit. I thought it threw a belt again; but it didn't. I'm guessing the electric PTO switch puked, or the clutch. The seat switch works, so it's not that. I have a new $20 switch on order, which I hope cures the problem as a new clutch is $155.
Modifications I've made to the unit:
1. Removed the blasted RIO (Lawyer) switch, and jumpered the connector.
2. Slimed the tires.
3. Drilled a hole in the plastic deflector chute to bungee it in the up position for storage.
4. Added three wash ports to the deck, which work better than I expected.
5. Added nose art and a name to it.
6. Added 84-pounds of suitcase weights to the rear to help lighten the front end for easier steering. It helps; but not as much as I had hoped, so I can't imagine a plow blade being on the front of the thing.
What I like about it:
1. Maneuverable. I finished the other half of the yard with the 4200 and 5-foot rotary mower, and I'd forgotten just how difficult it is to maneuver around obstacles with 8 to 10-feet of hardware hanging off the back of the tractor.
Now I'm trying to decide whether to look at an X324 as I would like the AWS. I only need a mower since the 4200 does all the real tractor work. I would even consider a used JD 445 or 455; but the nearest ones that showed up on machinefinder.com were in Iowa, and were holding their value quite well. I would prefer liquid cooling and a fuel injected engine; but $$$$ reality usually bursts that bubble quickly.
Unlike you Midwest and east coast guys, we don't have a plethora of dealers representing non JD brands to choose from.
