What is the smallest Deere with a diff lock?

[Kiteflyer]

I'm looking for a late model (2005 or newer) machine with a diff lock. What is the smallest deere lawn tractor that has one?

I have .8 acre to mow with several steep hills and a 75' driveway and want a good machine to blow snow really well.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Scooby074]

x500 series,

I have a x540 and wholly recommend the diff lock. Makes a huge difference , even when mowing if you have any hills

 

[greg_g]

Yup. I was shopping last year for the exact same thing. The X500 is the lowest price John Deere lawn tractor with a diff lock.

//greg//

 

[Kiteflyer]

Awesome, thanks for the replies.

What's the better tractor, x534 or x540?

I think I would rate the 4 wheel steer more important to me than the liquid cooling. Ive used a 485 with 4ws and fuel injection/ liquid cooling so I'm familiar with both. The 485 is an awesome machine, just too big for my yard.

 

[Scooby074]

Same decision i had to make.

how tight are your trees?

540 has the big deck so it saves me time, but if your trees are tighter than 54" you cant squeeze thru.

it turns pretty tight considering. I can edge around a 12" tree only backing up once (not an issue with hydrostatic). I can edge around mulched trees ~36" dia without backing up.

Overall very happy with the 540, plus theres less maintenance and complications with the straight axle. Hydraulic lift and steer is awesome.

 

[greg_g]

I had a hydraulic lift on a 430 that gave me nothing but problems. And in my mind power steering is a waste of money on such a small machine. There's considerable close work to be done on my yard and orchard, so I purposefully ordered an X500 with the smaller 48" deck. My no-frills X500 saved me big bucks over the bells and whistles variants, and does the same job as the most expensive of the bunch.

By the way, the diff lock ain't much good with the standard turf tires. I strongly recommend the more aggressive all purpose tires.

//greg//

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I would go with the 534. I wish I had the 4 wheel steering.

 

[Kiteflyer]

Here's a few more questions:

How does the foot pedal lift work with a snowblower, ala x500.

Is the x540 much quieter than the air cooled motors in the rest of the line?

How do the Heavy duty all purpose tires compare to R1 lugs? and Turf tires?

It looks like the x534 is heavier than the rest. Is that true?

Has anyone come up with a cab for the 500 series? I've seen the deere enclosures on the web site, do any of you have something better? ala, a curtis style cab for the 500's?


I haven't taken the time to go drive and see these in person, I hope to do that next week sometime. Work, kids, selling a house all get in the way!

I grew up on a 420 and loved that machine. The rear diff would enable it to climb out of ditches and really helped when pulling a two section drag. My dad traded the 420 for a 485 a few years ago and boy does the 485 rock. 4ws, fuel injection and liquid cooling. I was amazed at the jump in technology from the 420 to 485. The 485 really feels like a small tractor. I farm part time with my dad and we run many of it's big brothers. From a 9530T down to 3020's. John Deere makes great products, I look forward to buying my first mower. I'm glad I finally have a yard big enough (barely) to justify one! The 500 series is really too big for what I need, I should be looking at the small D series, but you know what they say about size!

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I would go with the 534. I wish I had the 4 wheel steering.

I know I love the AWS on mine.

 

[Scooby074]

Here's a few more questions:

How does the foot pedal lift work with a snowblower, ala x500.

Is the x540 much quieter than the air cooled motors in the rest of the line?

How do the Heavy duty all purpose tires compare to R1 lugs? and Turf tires?

It looks like the x534 is heavier than the rest. Is that true?

Has anyone come up with a cab for the 500 series? I've seen the deere enclosures on the web site, do any of you have something better? ala, a curtis style cab for the 500's?

The 540 is very quiet considering. Havent compared it to a air cooled kawi, but itw way quieter than the briggs it replaced.

HDAP is a good tire.. notice i said good. If you have any claylike mud, they WILL clog up and not clear. You WILL get stuck with both wheels spinning. That is the one issue i have with my machine. Id like to upgrade to bar tires for my conditions when funds permit. Honestly i notice little difference on lawn with the HDAP compared to turfs.

the diff lock is great crawling up off camber banks as you pointed out.

Also consider the rear tires on the 534 are smaller than the 540. And yes the 534 is heavier due to the added mechanisms from the 4ws

 

[om21braz]

What is the smallest deere lawn tractor that has one?

If you're looking at used, the Deere GX325 began having the diff. lock in about 2006. That's the smallest older model with it that I know of.

 

[Kiteflyer]

Is the gx325 belt driven or shaft driven?

Does it compare to the x500's or x300's?

(I wish the ol 318 was still in the line up). That's the size/strength of a machine I'm looking for.

 

[Carl Bert]

If you want an exceptional tractor and even greater value, take a look at a 2003-2005 GX345 or 355 (diesel) with differential lock. These tractors were way overbuilt, and considered by a lot of JD fans, as one of the best lines of L&G tractors JD has ever put out.

The older X5xx series are also outstanding machines, and available with 4 wheel drive and diesel engines. These tractors are about 6" longer then the 345 and about 250 lbs heavier, with larger 26" rear tires. I think JD stopped producing this line about 2006. It was replaced with the X7xx series.

A nice GX345 will run about $3000-3500 with low hours. The X5xx series will be about $1000-1500 more, depending on the hours and condition. Either one, you will not be disappointed.

I am not a big fan of the new X5xx. I looked at them myself, and just don't think the quality is there. Just my opinion. The X7xx is a whole other story, a lot bigger and A LOT more money.

 

[om21braz]

Is the gx325 belt driven or shaft driven?

Does it compare to the x500's or x300's?

(I wish the ol 320 was still in the line up). That's the size/strength of a machine I'm looking for.

GX325 is belt driven and IMHO I'd say it would compare best to the X500 series - maybe a little more rugged. I believe you have to go to the older 400 or X400 series at a minimum to have shaft drive.

 

[Hawaii Wayne]

With your size property I would think the X500 will/should be all you will need for a long time. Please remember this is a garden tractor and design for a heavy workload. The upgarde to the HDAP wil make short work of those hills. The X534/540 are great machines, but do you really need to have a smaller turning radius of about 5 inches? (more to break) same thing with the power steering & hyd lift. The X500 is a easy machine to use and maintain. this thing should last you 20+ years if taken care of.

 

[Kiteflyer]

If you want an exceptional tractor and even greater value, take a look at a 2003-2005 GX345 or 355 (diesel) with differential lock. These tractors were way overbuilt, and considered by a lot of JD fans, as one of the best lines of L&G tractors JD has ever put out.

The older X5xx series are also outstanding machines, and available with 4 wheel drive and diesel engines. These tractors are about 6" longer then the 345 and about 250 lbs heavier, with larger 26" rear tires. I think JD stopped producing this line about 2006. It was replaced with the X7xx series.

A nice GX345 will run about $3000-3500 with low hours. The X5xx series will be about $1000-1500 more, depending on the hours and condition. Either one, you will not be disappointed.

I am not a big fan of the new X5xx. I looked at them myself, and just don't think the quality is there. Just my opinion. The X7xx is a whole other story, a lot bigger and A LOT more money.

I looked at the gx345 and they do look nice. What did you not like about the new x5xx's?

 

[Kiteflyer]

With your size property I would think the X500 will/should be all you will need for a long time. Please remember this is a garden tractor and design for a heavy workload. The upgarde to the HDAP wil make short work of those hills. The X534/540 are great machines, but do you really need to have a smaller turning radius of about 5 inches? (more to break) same thing with the power steering & hyd lift. The X500 is a easy machine to use and maintain. this thing should last you 20+ years if taken care of.

I think you are right about the x500's lasting a while. To me that is the biggest reason to get them over the x300 or cheaper tractors. I don't want the rear end to blow out when I'm under a foot of snow. (I spent this winter repairing a 626 deere walk behind snowblower every time it snowed big) Yes, the machine had been neglected for years and now runs like a top, but it proves the point that blowing snow is hard on stuff and I'd rather have a heavy frame, and bigger trans. Power lift is for the wife, and four wheel steer just seems too cool. I do have some small spaces to turn around in and the four wheel steer might really help with a blower on the front.

 

[Carl Bert]

I looked at the gx345 and they do look nice. What did you not like about the new x5xx's?

There was no "one" thing that I didn't like about the new X5xx. The tractor as a whole just seemed very flimsy and didn't have the rugged build of the previous generation Deere. I have never owned or even driven one, and my opinion is only based on what I've seen on the showroom floor. Most of the time, that's enough, but not always. One mistake I do think Deere made on that line, was not offering 4 wheel drive and a diesel engine. You now have to move up to the larger frame X7xx series to get those options.

Only time will tell for sure, whether or not these new X5xx series tractors have what it takes to last. I personally don't think so. I am currently looking for an X595 myself. It kills me to have to give up my GX345, but I need 4 wheel drive and really prefer a diesel. Good luck on whatever you decide and don't forget to post some pics.

 

[greg_g]

It would help to know where you live, but if it's anywhere near western Kentucky - here's a nice one I just noticed in a local free paper. If it had been available last year, I might have purchased it, rather than the considerably more expensive and less substantial new X500

//greg//

 

[Carl Bert]

It would help to know where you live, but if it's anywhere near western Kentucky - here's a nice one I just noticed in a local free paper. If it had been available last year, I might have purchased it, rather than the considerably more expensive and less substantial new X500

//greg//

That one is actually way overpriced considering its condition and hours. Look at mine, which I will be selling for about the same price. It only has 260 hours and is in near new condition. This was a very popular tractor, so there are a good amount to choose from in the used market today. Save a search on Ebay.