Is there a bulletproof mower?

[JDTank]

Good day all.

I have made my final choice for a utility tractor, so all that is left is to decide on a riding mower. This seems to be harder then a tractor!

From what I have read, there are basically no riding mowers out there that offer long life, say 10 years, and reliability. I would prefer shaft driven over belt, but I have also heard horrible things about the Kubota GR series. None of the JD's are shaft driven under the 700 series. However, if you go THAT far, you'd might as well get a 2305 for cutting grass.

My top 2 choices right now are the X360 (power steering, gotta love it) and the X540. Now, it would seem to me, the X500 series is rather useless to step up to. You get just a bit more power, and bigger tires, a locking diff, and bobs your uncle fanny's your aunt, you have a overweight X300.

My needs are 2 acres of grass about twice a week. 90% flat ground, with one slope to negotiate. I want one that will last me 10 years, not some cheap SEARS special.

Now, my next question, bagging. What is the cats *** for bagging these days? I see JD has a cool looking "power flow cart" that drags behind. It would be very nice to only empty once for the entire 2 acres, and if it could be done from the seat.

As always, I appreciate everyone's wisdom and help!

 

[Deadman]

A John Deere LX series would last you longer than you'd imagine.
My LX279 is about 10 years old, and its like brand new as the day it was bought. Its just dirty, and scratched from the moron driver!

The LX series is their premium lawnmower, not the Home Depot JUNK mowers.

I bought the LX279 because of the LIQUID Cooled Kawi engine, but most all are air cooled now to cut cost.

 

[GGB]

Skip the bagger and use the savings to buy aa larger machine than you think you need. If you have time to mow twice a week, you'll very rarely need a bagger. A larger machine will further reduce the need for a bagger by cutting better to begin with......

Nothing is totally bullet proof, but it stands to reason that if you get a larger machine to begin with, you'll be putting less stress on it, which should help longevity.

If the grass gets taller, just raise the deck so you only cut 1/3 of the height of the grass. Your lawn will be the better for it!

Bagging takes valuable moisture and nutrients that short clippings would have provided.

GGB

 

[jcmseven]

JDTank, as you can imagine, there are about as many opinions here as folks on the forum. I think your logic is sound. I think you are very insightful in your assessment of the X360 v. the X500. I had an X 360 that bought for my dad about 1.5 years ago. I trade often and later upgraded his machine, but the 360 was a great mowing machine. It comes with a 48" deck, so 2 acres 2x weekly could get a little old unless you are retired or have the time to spend doing it. To do a good job, these machines can realistically mow about 1.25 acres per hour, so it likely would take you around 1.5 hours to mow each time. The 500 series would be NO faster doing this and only cost more money. JD makes a 320 which can be had with a 54" deck, but the PS on the 360 makes it worth not getting a 320. I believe functional lifespan on these machines in a homeowner setting is about the same (between the 360 and any 500 series machine).

You have enough grass to consider a ZTR. Since you have a tractor, a ZTR dedicated mower is an option for you. Even the small ZTRs are faster mowing than a tractor-style, but not by a huge amount. I am not enamoured with the ZTR concept, though I currently have one. I also think the less expensive ZTRs sometimes cut corners on the wheel motors, etc., to reach desired price points and since these are both propulsion and steering, that is a problem to me.

As for the 700 series, they are the bomb, but you pay for it. I love the Premium 700 series tractors from JD. They mow great, do multiple other tasks and are just sweet. If you can swing one of those for mowing you would never regret it. It is pretty easy to see why they cost more money; they are just better. I can tell you on the grass I mow, my old 595 was almost as fast as a 757 ZTR with a 60" deck. This would be different on less challenging terrain than I generally mow, but this alludes to the fact one can have his cake and eat it too. My advice is a 360 or 720, and not looking at the 500s at all.

John M

 

[jenkinsph]

JD,
Lots of choices in Deeres' lineup, the 360 might be a good one for two acres if it is open ground and does have the PS built in. The 340 with 25hp and a 54" mower is another good choice with manual steering.

I looked into the X500 series but it was alot more money than the X300 and still didn't have the features I was looking for.

I have recently decided to go with an X749 AWS, has all the features I want except the 7 iron deck. I can live with that one concession considering it does everything else I want. For mowing the lawn I think the X749 is a better choice than a 2305. The advantage of a 2305 is for people who need an 8 in 1 tool to do a little bit of everything. Since you will have a much larger utility tractor you should have the other jobs well covered.

 

[aczlan]

If you are going to use this JUST for mowing, look at a COMMERCIAL zeroturn (Exmark, Ferris, the Deere commercial line, etc). They will out-cut most lawnmowers and leave a better looking cut to boot. Most of them are good for ~2000 hours if well taken care of.

Aaron Z

 

[JDTank]

Honestly I dislike the ZT mowers. Gotta have a hood in front of me otherwise it just doesn't feel right.

I can get a 2305 for the same price I can get a X700 series for. A 2305 here with no loader is about $9,000, add in a mower, looking at $11,500. I know the X700 series here starts at close to $12,000 I think.

The problem with stepping up to the X700 series is I cannot force myself to spend over $5,000 on a riding mower. It is a riding lawn mower, not a full fledged tractor. It does one thing, cut grass. I MIGHT have the RARE need to slap a blade on the front of it to push an inch or 2 of snow off the driveway, other then that, it will never do anything other then cruise the lawn.

I feel if I am going to step up to a X700 series, I am better off with the 2305. It would last years upon years on grass cutting duties, and would support a hydraulic lift front blade or sweeping broom much easier then a X700 series would.

Basically it boils down to either a X300 series or go all out and get a 2305. The nice thing with the 2305 idea is that it is the closest thing to a bulletproof lawnmower one could get.

 

[Scooby074]

I got a x540.,

Great machine, liquid cool is nice. Tons of power. Big deck. Diff lock was the main reason i needed the 540. Steep yard.

The x360 is nice. Once you have hyd steer and lift you wont go back.

700's have a lot going for them, but as you say, 2305 is "more tractor" for less money (at least here, once you add 3pt and pto to a 700 4wd).

has the advantage over a cut in that it is more compact and lower to the ground which can be handy.

 

[Transit]

Why not a PTO driven finish mower?

 

[JDTank]

Please explain??

PTO driven finish mower, for what, a 2305??