The hydro on the BX holds back really good. I only use the brake as a parking brake.
Upgrading my lawn tractor to something bigger
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The hydro on the BX holds back really good. I only use the brake as a parking brake.
Don87
Elite Member
I may not be describing it correctly.
When you let off the go pedals on these hydros, it puts it into a 'nuetral' situation. That can be a bad thing in certain instances. I only use the brake for parking, and the 'positive stop' when needed after the 'go' pedals are released.
On a tractor with the 'go' pedals and the brake on the same side, there is that 'one second' delay that can be problematic in certain instances. I didn't want that delay on my property, especially with my wife driving it.
I think you'll find that Kubota changed their brake to the left side, just because of the situation that I'm describing. It's a safer setup, and I applaud them for making the change.
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Deere Dude
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I use a X740 with a 62" deck for a few acres and it does a great job. My neighbor has a 2205 I believe which is a subcompact about the size of a 1000 series with a 60" mower for a acre or so. He was complaining because the industrial tires chew up the lawn around tree after week after week of mowing. After watching him mow a few times, I would wager that the 740 could cut circles around him. It is just a low profile hydrostaticly driven nimble tractor. Blowing snow with a 47" snow-blower works wonderfully. I can blow out my driveway 3 times as fast as I can push the snow out with my 3720 with a front 60" bucket, and not leave a mess of unsightly banks and gravel pushed all over the lawn.
Unless you have a hundred trees to mow around, I wouldn't mess around with a ZTR, but that is just me. I mow 4 acres with a ZTR at a different location and they are great for quick in and out around trees, but give me a standard garden tractor type any day, provided it's a bigger John Deere. The controls are very ergonomically placed, almost of the time.
Why not go with a bigger deck? I used a 60" deck for a few years cutting about 2 acres and then I got a great deal on a 54" John Deere Garden tractor. After mowing with it about 6 times I decided to keep my older 420 with the 60" deck and got rid of the new smaller tractor with the 54". Just 6" difference makes a huge difference in time spent mowing, even though it doesn't seem it would.
ovrszd
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Maybe your neighbor's is a 2210 or 2305?
Why would you think the X series would mow any faster than the 1000 series??
I'm guessing your X series 62" deck is the same 62" deck that's on the neighbor's tractor, unless his is narrower??
Deere Dude
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I think it might be 60 vs. 62, but the point is that the 740 can zip around while the bigger tractor is just clumsier and also has the FEL hook up to contend with. On a straight stretch, they should be equal, or close to it.
mikehaugen
Elite Member
When I first bought my house with 2.5 acres, I had nothing to mow with. I got a good deal buying my 1070 from someone I know and it came with a woods 90" finish mower. It was way to big for my needs, but I figured it would get me by for now. My mother was looking for a mower for her 1 acre lot a couple years ago, so I talked her into a used JD 345 with 54" deck that was for sale about 30 mins from my house. The guy agreed to deliver to my house, and then I would take it to my mom's. While at my house, I decided I would mow with it once just to make sure all was well and it would give me an idea of what I was looking for to mow. Well last year I bought an old (about 1998) bunton 3 wheeled mower with 71" deck for cheap and needed to rebuild the engine. For those not familiar, these resemble a walk behind mower, but with a seat on the back with one wheel under your but, this wheel is steered with handlebars the will turn the wheel left or right. Maneuverability is near that of a 0-turn, but resembles a front deck mower, kind of a compromise between the two. My lot has a few things to mow around... a child swing set, trampoline, house, propane tank, 2 fire pits, and about 15 trees. I also keep about 200 feet of ditch mowed across the street from my yard.
So for mowing times...
-Deere 1070 (90") was about 1 1/2 hours but there was a lot left to mow, part of the ditches I couldn't mow, and I couldn't get as close to things.
-Deere 345 (54") was about 1 hour, 45 mins-maybe 2 hours, but didn't leave as much behind, I could mow all of the ditches.
-Bunton 3 wheeler (71") about 1 hour 15 mins, can mow ditches and can get very close to obstacles.
Now the tractor would also be harder on the lawn, it has turf tires, but the laminated wheels would leave bare spots around the trees where the wheels would track every time I mowed. The tractor is much more versatile though. The 345 was the most comfortable to mow with, takes up less space in the garage, and could have other uses (attachments). The bunton can only mow, can't even really pull a cart with it, but is much faster at mowing. It also goes through the most fuel (25 hp kohler command) and takes up a lot of floor space.
The reason I posted this is to show that deck size is not nearly as important as maneuverability, at least in most "lawn" type practices... in an open field is another story. The bunton is not in the nicest shape and will probably be replaced in the next few years. It will probably be replaced with something similar in size to the 345, maybe a x540 or something. It took a little longer to mow, but is much more useful and was much more pleasurable to mow with. It is also so easy to use, I could probably get the children to mow for me soon. The tractor and bunton are something that I think you need to be older to use.
So for mowing times...
-Deere 1070 (90") was about 1 1/2 hours but there was a lot left to mow, part of the ditches I couldn't mow, and I couldn't get as close to things.
-Deere 345 (54") was about 1 hour, 45 mins-maybe 2 hours, but didn't leave as much behind, I could mow all of the ditches.
-Bunton 3 wheeler (71") about 1 hour 15 mins, can mow ditches and can get very close to obstacles.
Now the tractor would also be harder on the lawn, it has turf tires, but the laminated wheels would leave bare spots around the trees where the wheels would track every time I mowed. The tractor is much more versatile though. The 345 was the most comfortable to mow with, takes up less space in the garage, and could have other uses (attachments). The bunton can only mow, can't even really pull a cart with it, but is much faster at mowing. It also goes through the most fuel (25 hp kohler command) and takes up a lot of floor space.
The reason I posted this is to show that deck size is not nearly as important as maneuverability, at least in most "lawn" type practices... in an open field is another story. The bunton is not in the nicest shape and will probably be replaced in the next few years. It will probably be replaced with something similar in size to the 345, maybe a x540 or something. It took a little longer to mow, but is much more useful and was much more pleasurable to mow with. It is also so easy to use, I could probably get the children to mow for me soon. The tractor and bunton are something that I think you need to be older to use.
stevem5215
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I have 4 acres I cut here with a driveway longer than yours. But, I don't get the snow you do there in NY in the snowbelt and that's a big factor.
We use a Craftsman 24hp with the junky hydrogear unit that fails with a 42" deck and foot control (make sure you get foot control it's the best). We also have a Ford 1900 compact that I use with a 72" mower deck. And a push mower for the trim around flower beds and other places as needed. Of the 4 acres, I own 2.5 but cut the other 1.5 (more or less I don't know the exact amount) I use the 1900 for the wide open areas. The 1900 originally came with a 73" Allied PTO snowblower too but I found it was more work to put it on and off than it was worth in the winter due to our low snow and for the occasional big ones I use my Steiner either with a bucket or mostly I just use it with a 60" Rotating brush. That's the best thing to use when you have a paved long driveway. It can be clear down to the pavement before you even leave the house. It's awesome. The wife cuts the front lawn grass (for a nice cut that's bagged if desired) and around the house. The rest of the fields are cut with the 1900. But, if it was up to me again and I had to get a single machine (with attachments) to do it all, I'd get a B series or a BX series Kubota. They are good machines that can do it all without needing more things to fix and maintain. As for deck size, the bigger the deck the faster it gets done. But on uneven terrain a 72" deck is a scalper too. If you want to cut fast then you want a ZTR. And if your fields are like mine you'll want a ZTR with suspension like Ferris offers. I've used a 1500 ferris in a open field that our organization uses and can say you can cut at 10mph with no issues over bumps. It's pretty awesome ! And FAST ! But, if you want one machine you are back to optional attachments on something. And most ZTR's are just good for cutting grass. And hence the reason I have more than one thing around here.
Good luck and hope this helps.
Steve
We use a Craftsman 24hp with the junky hydrogear unit that fails with a 42" deck and foot control (make sure you get foot control it's the best). We also have a Ford 1900 compact that I use with a 72" mower deck. And a push mower for the trim around flower beds and other places as needed. Of the 4 acres, I own 2.5 but cut the other 1.5 (more or less I don't know the exact amount) I use the 1900 for the wide open areas. The 1900 originally came with a 73" Allied PTO snowblower too but I found it was more work to put it on and off than it was worth in the winter due to our low snow and for the occasional big ones I use my Steiner either with a bucket or mostly I just use it with a 60" Rotating brush. That's the best thing to use when you have a paved long driveway. It can be clear down to the pavement before you even leave the house. It's awesome. The wife cuts the front lawn grass (for a nice cut that's bagged if desired) and around the house. The rest of the fields are cut with the 1900. But, if it was up to me again and I had to get a single machine (with attachments) to do it all, I'd get a B series or a BX series Kubota. They are good machines that can do it all without needing more things to fix and maintain. As for deck size, the bigger the deck the faster it gets done. But on uneven terrain a 72" deck is a scalper too. If you want to cut fast then you want a ZTR. And if your fields are like mine you'll want a ZTR with suspension like Ferris offers. I've used a 1500 ferris in a open field that our organization uses and can say you can cut at 10mph with no issues over bumps. It's pretty awesome ! And FAST ! But, if you want one machine you are back to optional attachments on something. And most ZTR's are just good for cutting grass. And hence the reason I have more than one thing around here.
Good luck and hope this helps.
Steve
I got a quote on a 1023E, which was only $177 more than the Kubota dealer quoted me on a BX2360.So basically the same price.
Going to check out a friend's 1023 before I decide. Both have 0% until the end of July, so I have some time.
Put that 1023 at 2000rpm and drive it up a hill then do the same with the bx. Then Tell me which has more power. The BX2360 has almost as much PTO power as the the 1025r.
