They don't build them like they used to??

[bxowner]

I'm pushing 40. And over the years, I've often referred to myself as "the youngest old man you'll ever meet." I fit every stereotype: I'm stubborn, wear a v-neck t-shirt for an undergarment, and always have a pen in my shirt pocket. I use a napkin for a bib at every meal. You get the picture.

So, last night as I was mowing my lawn with my one-year-old x324, all I could do was complain. The battery is already dead, beginning in April, so I have to jump start it. With 12.3 hours on the meter. And there's a belt that squeals every time I steer it to full lock. And even though I've barely nicked anything of substance (i.e. a rock or stump), the cut is uneven (yes, I've leveled the deck, more often than I wish to admit).

But, **** that machine was expensive. And I financed it for the 0%.

What I can't escape is the idea that even though I was lured by 0% interest (i.e. to buy new) and moreover the 4-wheel-steer, I made a mistake by not buying a low-hour used GX 325/335/345 (I once had a 335) or upgrading to an x500, non-4-wheel steer.

Just seems like the quality of the tractor is lacking compared to what I expected and what I remember in hindsight and memory.

Am I off base? Is the x300 series really built cheaper than the GX of 3 or 4 years ago? Was the GX built cheaper than a 316/318/320? Not because it has a fiberglass hood, but actually a lower quality tractor?

Because ******, these things aren't getting any cheaper. And when I see a guy posting about a used x500 for $5500 with 300 hours, I think to myself... look for something older. For less.

Discuss. Please.

 

[Army grunt]

I also cut my grass last night. An thought dam it may need a tune up. As I wrapped the starter rope around the pulley for the 2nd time.(it normally starts first pull)Its a 1964 Lock triplex. Sold for $1200 back then. It cuts an honest 60" pass on first cut. It cuts 1 1/2 acres per hr.with a 6hp Briggs.I was thinking about reconfiguring the seat set up an adding a e-starter this winter.Time to upgrade I think.
Its not a zero turn, but close >>>Old is good<<<<:thumbsup:
Army Grunt

 

[Markcuda]

Deere is building them as cheep as they can get away with
My X360 has had a pulley on the deck replaced and a pulley under the frame replaced so far.
Yes, I am disappointed.

 

[glc24]

When we bought our house an old Speedex 1631 came with it. I used it to cut grass for nearly ten years. Out of production for many years,and parts were not common. Even getting blades to fit was a chore. Don't get me wrong this thing was a beast,but getting parts was a real P.I.T.A.
So,I decided to sell it and find a decent replacement. We really couldn't afford a new small one being we just bought the new big one. I started to check the forums as to what was a "good" older lawn tractor,and the 300 series John Deere was pretty much at the head of the class. I made up my mind on the 316 or the 318 whichever showed up first and was closest. I didn't care about the hydraulics,(even though power steering would have been nice) being they were the exact machine.
I ended up with a decent 1987 316 with a 50" deck and 970 hours on it that really wasn't maintained all that well. It had leaks everywhere. Anyway,long story short,after a few dollars and a few months of wrenching I ended up with,IMO, one awesome lawn tractor. Even though it's manual steering,it's a breeze to maneuver.
I think the phrase "don't build them like they used to" will hold true for this JD series of tractors for many years to come.

My .02

Greg

 

[JDGreenGrass]

When we bought our house an old Speedex 1631 came with it. I used it to cut grass for nearly ten years. Out of production for many years,and parts were not common. Even getting blades to fit was a chore. Don't get me wrong this thing was a beast,but getting parts was a real P.I.T.A.
So,I decided to sell it and find a decent replacement. We really couldn't afford a new small one being we just bought the new big one. I started to check the forums as to what was a "good" older lawn tractor,and the 300 series John Deere was pretty much at the head of the class. I made up my mind on the 316 or the 318 whichever showed up first and was closest. I didn't care about the hydraulics,(even though power steering would have been nice) being they were the exact machine.
I ended up with a decent 1987 316 with a 50" deck and 970 hours on it that really wasn't maintained all that well. It had leaks everywhere. Anyway,long story short,after a few dollars and a few months of wrenching I ended up with,IMO, one awesome lawn tractor. Even though it's manual steering,it's a breeze to maneuver.
I think the phrase "don't build them like they used to" will hold true for this JD series of tractors for many years to come.

My .02

Greg

THAT my friend is a good lookin' mower.!!:thumbsup:

Really nice.

 

[glc24]

THAT my friend is a good lookin' mower.!!:thumbsup:

Really nice.

Thank you JDGreenGrass

Greg

 

[C-Range]

So, last night as I was mowing my lawn with my one-year-old x324, all I could do was complain. The battery is already dead, beginning in April, so I have to jump start it. With 12.3 hours on the meter. And there's a belt that squeals every time I steer it to full lock. And even though I've barely nicked anything of substance (i.e. a rock or stump), the cut is uneven (yes, I've leveled the deck, more often than I wish to admit).

But, **** that machine was expensive. And I financed it for the 0%.

What I can't escape is the idea that even though I was lured by 0% interest (i.e. to buy new) and moreover the 4-wheel-steer, I made a mistake by not buying a low-hour used GX 325/335/345 (I once had a 335) or upgrading to an x500, non-4-wheel steer.

Just seems like the quality of the tractor is lacking compared to what I expected and what I remember in hindsight and memory.

Am I off base? Is the x300 series really built cheaper than the GX of 3 or 4 years ago? Was the GX built cheaper than a 316/318/320? Not because it has a fiberglass hood, but actually a lower quality tractor?

Because ******, these things aren't getting any cheaper. And when I see a guy posting about a used x500 for $5500 with 300 hours, I think to myself... look for something older. For less.

Discuss. Please.

A dead battery after 12 hours can't be the norm. Wasn't it replaced at no cost?

If you are really regretful of the X324, why not sell it and then transition over to the X500? As a John Deere, it has a higher resale value than most any other brand.

I have been pretty happy with our X324 so far. The 4WS was an economical alternative to buying a 4WD machine to manage our steep slopes. The 4WS makes all the difference when turning uphill from cross camber. The only feature I really loath is the reverse mowing bypass switch. That needs to go away, but I know this isn't Deere's doing. And it's not because of some slithering lawyer. It's not even the responsibility of a money mongering insurance company. It's there because of some yutz like this guy. People like this are the reason why the cost of products keep climbing and therefore, quality ends up suffering.

 

[Markcuda]

He backed over his oun frickin' kid, no one owes him any thing.

 

[Whitey]

No they don't build them like they used to. Next time buy a used one. Like a 425 AWS.......wife has a "94" and it cuts grass and plows snow like no other.

 

[jd2420]

A few issues here I have here. First you have to compare these apples to apples, not oranges, to apples, to bananas. The thing is a major difference is the cost factor. Look at the prices:

2011 324=$4,600
1974 110=$1,115 in 1974 ($4,900 in today's price).

What you are getting in 1974 is a 10hp 277cc Kohler motor, 600lbs lawn mower with probably a 42 inch deck.

What you get in 2011- 22hp 726cc Kawasaki, 600lbs lawn mower with a 48 inch deck (maybe 4ws).

Ride around on an afternoon on a 110, seriously, they are bumpy, rough, will bounce the urine right out of you. Further, they handle like a pontoon boat, huge turning radius. That is before you get to the fuel economy and the oil burn rate.

I generally agree they don't build them like they used to, for better and worse. Production today is not as substantial, but few remember the likes of say a 317 (a total pile of junk that had major engine lube issues and had a tendency to catch fire/burn up), instead we focus on a handful of legendary models and compare all else to them.

In the end tractors are like our trucks, their are the legends...and man are they cool. But, at the end of the day they are fun to play with but when working all day every on them I prefer the creature comforts of a modern machine, be that my truck, tractor, or cutting the grass...