Thoughts on John Deere X749

[stlbill]

If any X749 owner would be so kind...

Does anyone know if the hard cab for the X749 can be used in the mowing season? Does it become a sweat box? Is there any way to open or remove windows for ventilation while still keeping the ROPS safety function?

I would also like to know if the X749 has the same plastic fan that the 2305 has to cool the transmission? It seems to be quite a sore subject for many 2305 owners who have lost one to yard debris.

Thanks in advance!

Bill
St. Louis, Missouri

 

[ChuckinNH]

Both the hard side, and soft side cabs for that tractor are built by Curtis. I looked at a soft side that was installed for a customer just recently, and thought it was very nice. The doors, and rear panel can be removed in warmer weather on either. I think that the windshield can tip out a bit too, but I'm not positive about that, and I didn't want to poke around someone else's new tractor. The transaxle used on the X749 is a Tuff Torq K92, and is different than the one used on the 2305. The oil filter for it is low in the front, but there is no fan there. The PTO shaft is back nearer the axle than the one on the 23005 also, and appears much more difficult to reach, but maybe someone who owns one can chime in here on that.

You would want to leave that cab on in the summer I think because they are time consuming to remove.

Edit: I could be wrong about the transaxle..... I was thinking about the 2 wheel steer X748, and they may use something different on the X749, but I doubt it is the same as the 2305.

 

[stlbill]

Thanks for the quick reply Chuck! Your "Curtis" tip was just what I needed!

My dealer only has an X720 on-display. I wonder if I can see this oil filter you are talking about on the X720 there? I will stop by tomorrow morning and take a look. I recall seeing one on the tractor before. It did not seem to be in a bad place like the 2305 oil filter is. However, if memory serves me well it was sideways. I remember spilling fluid all over the place trying to change a sideways mounted oil filter on my 1999 Ford Ranger!!! Maybe spilled hot oil is an acceptable price to pay for not busting a filter if you run over a stick in the yard??

The rest of this is about the cab... call it payback for the help you all have given me so far! (THANKS).

Based on what you said I looked up Curtis and called them at 800-343-7676. Their technical support representative was extremely helpful! I am not going to give him credit by name because I did not ask his permission to post what he said on the Internet. If you don't believe me call him yourself...

He confirmed his company makes the cab John Deere sells for the X749. John Deere sells the X749 cab direct. A 2305 cab is available from Curtis.

He also confirmed the hard cab they sell for the X749 is a certified ROPS for the X749. It doesn't offer a "rollbar ROPS" like the 2000 series, but the structure itself will protect the operator in a rollover situation just the same with or without windows installed.

The doors can be completely removed rather easily. The front and rear glass tilts open at the base and also can be removed, but it is more work than the doors.

The X749 standard 40A alternator is sufficient for all optional accessories which include front lights, heater blower, strobe light and front windshield wiper. The switch/fuse box makes for a cleaner install, but is not required.

Curtis claims the heater is 20,000 BTU. John Deere claims it is 15,000 BTU. I think both are right because it depends on coolant temperature passing through it. I don't think 5,000 BTU makes that much difference.

He recommended against the exterior mirrors because it can be hard to find a place to mount them on the cab. Personally, I do not think they are necessary and would get busted off on a tree or something. I also have not sat in the cab and driven the tractor without them.


-Bill
Saint Louis, Missouri

 

[Kansas Slim]

If any X749 owner would be so kind...


I would also like to know if the X749 has the same plastic fan that the 2305 has to cool the transmission? It seems to be quite a sore subject for many 2305 owners who have lost one to yard debris.

I'm over on the other side of the state and I just bought the X748. There isn't a second fan (besides the radiator under the hood) to worry about. But you won't have as much ground clearance as the 2305, and certainly not what the other 2xxx compact tractors have. But then the X7xx's are garden tractors, not compacts. That said, the x7xx series ergonomically "fits" me better than the compact deck of the 2305. And if you want a great mower deck, the 7-Iron can't be beat. The drive over design makes it a breeze (and fun) to remove and install as well. The X748 and X749 have the same Yanmar engine as the 2305 and 2320 do.

I don't know a thing about the "cab" enclosure.

 

[ChuckinNH]

The oil filter for the hydrostatic transmission is low center at the front of the transmission / rear axle. You can see it in this picture from the JD catalog. (which I just happen to have handy)

 

[stlbill]

Thanks again everyone!

I stopped by the JD dealer this morning. They only have an X720 in-store. It has turf tires.

Assumptions (someone set me straight):

1. The X720 has the same K92 transaxle design as the X749.
2. HDAP tires do alter ground clearance compared to turf tires.

Observations:

1. The oil filter is at least 6" above the ground.
2. A solid ground protusion (e.g. rock, stump) passing between the rear tires could strike and damage the filter.
3. With the MMM attached the object would have to bend-forward, survive the mower experience and then sharply snap back to a protruding position.
4. The same object passing under the full undercarriage of the tractor would strike a more solid/safer element first (think high center).
5. The filter is aft of the tires sufficient to cross wide objects (e.g curbs) without impacting the filter.
6. The same object not passing under the full undercarriage of the tractor, but arriving from the side due to a turn would likely be better protected by the 4WS. The tires would reach the object first and hopefully raise the filter above it like in #5 above.
7. Changing this sideways oil filter would be a messy experience.

What would happen if the filter were critically damaged? You could probably simulate most of this by jacking all four wheels up and changing the filter while the wheels are turning. I assume fluid would be lost. Would dirt enter the system? Would the tractor immediately stop forward movement because of pressure loss? If it stopped forward movement this filter could actually be a sacrificial element put there on purpose.

Hopefully y'all like my over-analyzing the !@#!@#$ out of this...

 

[ChuckinNH]

Hey yes, we are having fun as long as you are! I think you have the potential for damage pretty well figured out. I think, but don't know for sure that hydrostatic oil would be pumped out of the transmission if the filter had a hole punched in it. I think a more likely damage would be in the form of a dent. I think you will find space under there much more limited on the AWS models, and there is more steering linkage, etc. to defect, and confuse any infidel branch that has intentions for damage.

 

[stlbill]

My JD Dealer just called. As you can tell - and you have NO IDEA - I have been going back and fourth between 2305 and X749. He has a 2305 in that I can test drive tomorrow morning.

Since I am new... a little about meI am 36. My family had a 1970s Wheelhorse my dad rescued from the scrap pile and made look like new in the late 1980s. He even bought hood decals! My Grandparents had a farm with two tractors (Farmall H and Ford 8N).

Not to offend anyone reading out-of-brand on this forum, but none of those tractors compared to the price of either the X749 or the 2305 - even factoring inflation. My wife compares this to a new car because, well you can get new cars cheaper.

I was at an antique tractor pull last Summer and the announcer quoted the original sell price for one of the 1940-1950 tractors. It was a few thousand dollars! Then he pointed out some new CIH and JD tractors cost $200,000 and proceeded to itemize included options like air conditioning, satellite radio, etc.

I guess once you buy a few it becomes easier?

 

[ChuckinNH]

The first one is the most expensive since they hold their value pretty well. I agree that many of the large garden tractors, and scuts are more expensive that it seems they should be, and attachments are worse. Still, as I was reminded again today, having one, and being able to do things you never could do before, and have fun doing it makes the purchase price shock fade pretty quickly.

 

[stlbill]

My wife and I test drove the 2305 at the dealer last Saturday. We like it. Now we are waiting on implements and assembly. Once delivered the Salesman said he would give me 30 days to try it on my property like the X749's John Deere Promise. I think I will only need a Saturday-Sunday to know for sure. Prime concerns at this point between the two tractors are pucker factor on hills and how much the MFWD tears up the yard on turns.

The fan seems to have a guard under and toward the tractor rear, but the lower half of the fan front is unprotected. I laid under the tractor for literally 10 minutes inspecting this setup from both sides and determined it to be an acceptable risk. I really think for every 1 stick that reaches that fan 10-15 are going to strike something else on the undercarriage. Knowing about the tractors weakpoints will REALLY help me manage the risk.

At this point I am really more worried about using the 200CX for plowing snow. We usually do not get much snow in St. Louis. I know if I buy a blade I will not get nearly as much use out of it as an FEL. My wife and I plan to make do with the FEL for snow this year and if it is a real problem we'll buy a quick-tach blade or blower next year. I believe a 3PH blade is worse than a FEL for snow. My driveway is asphalt and concrete. Someone confirm?

Thanks,
Bill
St. Louis, MO