Can't decide X748 or 2305

[Builder]

Definately don't want to buy a discontinued model. Trying to decide if the PTO option is worth buying.

 

[Johndeere3720]

kubota does offer a lawn tractor similar to the X748. The G2110. But i9 have heard many bad reviews about the deck and the tranny. it has 4wd though. The BX series offers MMMs, they are even in the pictures i posted. I think they are Either 54" or 60" decks.

 

[Builder]

I have a really unique business. I maintain & farm a few estates for a few customers I really like. I enjoy cutting their fields, cutting hay, rebuilding fencelines, cleaning up brush piles, repairing stone walls & barns. Gives me a break from my main business, which is construction, which REALLY gets old after 20+ years.

One thing to remember is part of the reason for the purchase is to cut my own 3 acres and to replace my aging GT235. I look at the customers areas I'm cutting as a way to help "fund" its' purchase, too.

 

[Builder]

I know what you mean.
The one estate/farm I maintain has a LOT of small pockets-too big for a commercial weedeater, too small for my M-7040 and a lot of PITA triangular, paddocks & slopy areas as well as wide open stuff. The AWS would be fantastic in a few places I cut, but the dealer tells me the even 748 turns very tight, with 2WS-probably tighter than my GT325 garden tractor.

 

[jenkinsph]

Builder,
Seems we have more in common than I thought, plumbing and hvac for twenty years and I was looking for something else too. So landscaping became about 50% of my work. Good change of pace in my book too.:thumbsup:

Right now I am leaning towards the 749 for the AWS but I for this much money in a mower I wan't to try it out. It does turn alot sharper than a 748 though.

Most of what I plant for myself and my customers is Fescue varieties and it seems to mow easily with my present L130.

 

[Builder]

Builder,
Seems we have more in common than I thought, plumbing and hvac for twenty years and I was looking for something else too. So landscaping became about 50% of my work. Good change of pace in my book too.:thumbsup:

Right now I am leaning towards the 749 for the AWS but I for this much money in a mower I wan't to try it out. It does turn alot sharper than a 748 though.

Most of what I plant for myself and my customers is Fescue varieties and it seems to mow easily with my present L130.

I haven't built a new home since 2000. Mostly doing additions garages & barns, but now even that has slowed to a snails pace. I've always had customers with large properties. I've always done my own dirt work and grew up on a farm, so I started working on their farms about 5 years ago. I enjoy it more (it has plenty of headaches, but hurts my brain in a different spot than construction), so I made a go of it. So far so good. I need labor help BAD, so I pulled the reins back and have kept it to just me and a helper.

Far as the tractor goes, I don't think a 62C would survive in the conditions I'm going to be in, so the 4WS goes away. I could really use it though.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Here are a couple of things to consider.
All of the tractors suitable 748, 2305, Kubota BX series, and Massey GC2400 series have 60", or so as the widest mower available. The Kubota is the narrowest tractor in this group which gives you the most overhang with the mower deck.

The word "pockets" that you use suggests to me that there are many things to get around, between, or under. One of the 42" rotary cutters might well work best in many places for that.

Yes, I have a Siimplicity Legacy mower with a deck very much like the 7 Iron. (Very heavy, and 5" deep", and I have cut even crown vetch, blackberries, etc. that high with it several times as well as my woods trails, and I can cut 5" high with it so perhaps that is another tractor to consider. They are just a bit narrower than the 748 weigh the same, and come with pto / 3pt hitch. Simplicitiy's 60" deck is a monster though, and is probably harder to install. Both it, and the 748 use the same hydro / transaxle. Size wise, I think the new Legacy XL's are a bit smaller than the 748.

I recently saw a 748, and 2305 parked side by side, and was surprised to see how much larger the front end components were on the 748. One would think with the loader being more common on the 2305 it would be the heavy one.

Drive both the 2305 / 748, and any thing else you find interesting, and try turning as tightly as you can on grass. Front end / rear end configurations are enough different to give very different results. I think you would find that the Simplicity is most likely to tear up the grass with the inside rear tire, and the Kubota perhaps the most likely to tear things up with the outside front..........

You will find that the materials collection system on the Simplicity, and JD 748 to be the easiest, and quickest to install / remove. I don't hesitate to take mine off, or put it on several times in a day if that is the way things work out. The 2305 uses the same powerflow system as the 748 but it installs differently.

The 748 is the best looking, and most comfortable of the bunch. The only thing ergonomically that I don't like as much on them is that the hydro pedals seem to take more effort to hold down. ( my medical stuff makes that more noticable for sure)

Most of the mower decks on the Simplicity Legacy XL are left hand discharge so tow behind grass collectors are not available for them.

Hope this rambling helps some.

 

[Gittyup]

I think the AWS is a little over rated. I've used both and prefer the 2WS. It's less maintenance and fewer things to go wrong, plus a little more ground clearance. My 455 has something like a 24" cutting radius. I have lots of pine trees to dodge and have never felt the desire to have AWS.

I have been using AWS for 16+ seasons now. Wouldn't want to go back. Extra maintenance??? Yeah, I guess if a few extra grease fittings is more maintenance, then I guess so. Mine has and still does work flawlessly. The reliability and maintenance "disavantage" can't be substantiated by my experiences. And my turning radius is 13". Considerably better than 24". This is very valuable when you have alot to trim around. Now, if the mowing is mostly open spaces with only a few things to mow around, then it's of little benefit to mowing. But, then consider snow plowing. I can plow sideways easily on a 10' wide driveway. I can steer with the front end off the ground or lightened by the plow. And drive force is always in the direction of travel. No push-skidding the front end around curves. Turning on hills can't be beat on an AWS. They aren't for everybody. But, they do have some pretty good advantages under certain conditions.

The mower deck delemma is a strange one with JD. I can see how that might be a show stopper. But, if you can get 10 -15 years out of the 62C, isn't that pretty good. I thought I also read that it was pretty easy to mount a mower deck from the older 400 series deeres under the 700s and that these decks were on-par with the 7-iron. Don't know if this is true, nor to what degree it would reallly work, or allow AWS. Just thought I'd mention it. Those decks in excellent to new condition are pretty common place. I know my 54" deck under my 425 is still in outstanding condition after all these years. And I'm pretty hard on it too. I do very little to maintain it, simply clean the grass off of it in the fall and keep it greased. I haven't even had to change the original belt (970 hours now).

 

[Builder]

I have been using AWS for 16+ seasons now. Wouldn't want to go back. Extra maintenance??? Yeah, I guess if a few extra grease fittings is more maintenance, then I guess so. Mine has and still does work flawlessly. The reliability and maintenance "disavantage" can't be substantiated by my experiences. And my turning radius is 13". Considerably better than 24". This is very valuable when you have alot to trim around. Now, if the mowing is mostly open spaces with only a few things to mow around, then it's of little benefit to mowing. But, then consider snow plowing. I can plow sideways easily on a 10' wide driveway. I can steer with the front end off the ground or lightened by the plow. And drive force is always in the direction of travel. No push-skidding the front end around curves. Turning on hills can't be beat on an AWS. They aren't for everybody. But, they do have some pretty good advantages under certain conditions.

The mower deck delemma is a strange one with JD. I can see how that might be a show stopper. But, if you can get 10 -15 years out of the 62C, isn't that pretty good. I thought I also read that it was pretty easy to mount a mower deck from the older 400 series deeres under the 700s and that these decks were on-par with the 7-iron. Don't know if this is true, nor to what degree it would reallly work, or allow AWS. Just thought I'd mention it. Those decks in excellent to new condition are pretty common place. I know my 54" deck under my 425 is still in outstanding condition after all these years. And I'm pretty hard on it too. I do very little to maintain it, simply clean the grass off of it in the fall and keep it greased. I haven't even had to change the original belt (970 hours now).

You make some great points for AWS & the 62C deck. I really think I'm gonna have buyers remorse if I don't get the 749 BUT, the main 2 reasons for 7-iron are the ability to cut tall rough grass without clogging and the ability to remove quickly (drive over). My neighbors 2305 w/ 62C deck clogged up bad in only 12" grass. I'm going to be seeing 18" grass with this tractor, so a tall volumous deck with few obstructions is the way to go.

My 48C is tough as nails at 9 years old it still looks almost new, but it's never cut anything more than 10" high. I think the 62C deck would last plenty long, but I also think it would be a clogging dilema during heavy cutting and I HATE cleaning mower decks. I also want the drive-over deck feature.

I have no doubt the Deere 749 is of little extra maintenance and probably would have me wearing that silly "grin", everytime I twist around a tree without backing up.....

 

[arrabil]

I really think the right thing for you to do is purchase the X749 with 3pt and PTO and a 4' bush hog. You'll have the best of everything this way and be properly outfitted for all situations.