Transmission upgrade for X300?

[AKfish]

I've read several posts regarding the problems with the K46 transmission and the X300 lawn tractors.

Too light duty, unable to tow with or adequate to mow hills with, not able to service; i.e. change or add fluid and of course - if they fail (or more correctly - when they fail) it costs nearly 50% the price of a new machine to repair/replace.

Am I on track here....?

As the happy owner of a X300R (2 years and 46hrs) I'd like to know if anyone has replaced the K46 with a more rugged and reliable tranny - say, the K58 from a JD320 machine?

Is that a possibility?

I would hate to give up on my X300R if the tranny were to go and would seriously consider such a DIY project to "get 'er back onto the green" if that was a likely solution.

AKfish

 

[jenkinsph]

AKfish,
I posted a month or so back asking about the X300R with no responses. How do you like yours? I will be following this thread with interest.

It would seem to be a good size for trimming borders and I like the fact that nothing sticks out on the sides.

 

[AKfish]

Steve;

It's a great lawn tractor - in my experience. I've been using it on my two, small horse pastures (little over an acre, I'd guess) and have had no problems, whatsoever.

Have a fertilizer attachment and a 40 gallon tow-behind sprayer for it. Pastures are mostly level with just a couple of small rises (not really hills..).

I've pushed it on wet grass and plugged it -- but -- I can very nearly guarantee; that it will mow and bag when the side blowers/baggers would plug just driving around the edge of the field - just thinking about it! :thumbsup: The short, direct flow to the rear bagger is a big advantage over the side mount - IMO.

Of course, what I really like is the maneuverability and ability to get in close to fence-lines, etc from either side. Really sweet! No worries about banging into something or having to always approach your mowing direction from the same side.

What I don't like is a rather weak reverse. The power response in reverse is not as "direct" as forward. But, then forward is not a "whiplash" experience, either.. I chalk it up as a function of belt-drive tractors, generally.

Was surprised to read of the tranny concerns that X300 owner's have... That's why I posted and

hit a dry hole for responses....

AKfish

 

[jenkinsph]

AKfish,
Thanks for the info

 

[deerechris]

See replacing K46 (K46BR3) transmission on an X300 with a K66Y, which was accomplished with a little cutting, a little fabrication and new wheels/tires.

 

[stevem5215]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/164892-tufftorq-k46-repair-guide-pictures.html

Really, really good info on how to fix the K46 with pictures.

Steve

 

[MRehak]

What a timely discussion....
I just took my X300 2007 model (57 Hours) only used for two seasons in PA...Babied and Garage Kept I might add, in for service because it would not move.
I received a call this morning from the Service Tech that was evaluating my problem who informed me that my trasmission was shot. $800.00 to fix. Obviously, I am very disappointed in this. I have about 1/2 acre of grass with a bit of a hill in the back yard. I spent the extra money to buy what I thought was a much more heavy duty machine than the Home Depot version John Deere, but....seems like wasted money. Granted, the frame is much heavier and the engine is supposedly a better engine, but that all doesn't matter if the trasmission dosent hold up. I have a call into John Deere Customer Service who opened a case and told me that a manager would be contacting me in the next few days to discuss. In the meantime, I have no idea what else I can do.

 

[deerechris]

What a timely discussion....
I just took my X300 2007 model (57 Hours) only used for two seasons in PA...Babied and Garage Kept I might add, in for service because it would not move.
I received a call this morning from the Service Tech that was evaluating my problem who informed me that my trasmission was shot. $800.00 to fix. Obviously, I am very disappointed in this. I have about 1/2 acre of grass with a bit of a hill in the back yard. I spent the extra money to buy what I thought was a much more heavy duty machine than the Home Depot version John Deere, but....seems like wasted money. Granted, the frame is much heavier and the engine is supposedly a better engine, but that all doesn't matter if the trasmission dosent hold up. I have a call into John Deere Customer Service who opened a case and told me that a manager would be contacting me in the next few days to discuss. In the meantime, I have no idea what else I can do.

Do you not have the four year / 300 hour warranty (PDF link)?

If you can't get the repair under warranty for some reason, maybe a small engine shop would be able to rebuild the transmission for you, since apparently the parts are available.

 

[Terry5153]

Check these people out:

Tuff Torq service rep: Derrick Dalton (423) 585-1977

Roger Daisley roger@jd-k66-upgrade.com

jamesmaurer.com Search for John Deere Hydrostat, long discussion there.

 

[maniek]

Hi Guys. I did an diy transmission cooling upgrade in my JD x300r.
It's only prototype but so far it works grand.

here is the link: John Deere x300r, Tuff Torq k46 DIY cooling upgrade - YouTube

 

[jenkinsph]

maniek,
Good job on the cooling system, it would seem the extra fluid needed for your system would be advantageous too. Worth a bookmark and further thought for sure. I really like the 300R if the transmission would hold up. Keep us posted.

 

[maniek]

maniek,
Good job on the cooling system, it would seem the extra fluid needed for your system would be advantageous too. Worth a bookmark and further thought for sure. I really like the 300R if the transmission would hold up. Keep us posted.[/QUOte

more oil definitly helps..did 4 hour run today as transmission hac about 40 degrees celcius..now my x300r works perfect

did another movie today..

John Deere x300r DIY k46 transmission cooling - YouTube

 

[JoneJen]

I had the same problem with a 6 year old John Deere X300R with less than 80 hours on it. The dealer said, too bad. And $1255 to replace your transmission, which cannot be serviced. I took it to a local father-son Cub Cadet dealer (Lewis Farm Equipment in Warren, Maine in case you're in driving distance of them!) who replaced the cap on the transmission reservoir and charged me $133 for the labor required to get to the cap. It works fine now. Obviously, this is a problem with these transmissions. I'm posting only to let other people know that you don't need a new transmission if you can find someone to replace the leaky cap or find the cap and replace it yourself. I still can't believe the dealer refused to acknowledge there was another solution than a $1255 transmission replacement. I am, of course, done with John Deere.

 

[js5020]

There is another solution, but the dealer isn't going to implement it as it would cost you as much or more rebuilt by the dealer than just replacing the axle and the dealer is on the hook for warranty, with a new one you likely get some sort of warranty from the axle manufacturer, dealer is free and clear and keeps getting paid for their time. Dealerships want to make money, they have to make money to keep the doors open and any well run outfit is going to do the most they can to insulate themselves from possible internal warranty jobs.

As far as "done with JD" no manufacturer is going to warranty any 6 yr old machine. Look around practically every manufacturer uses the K46 in their line so its not just JD, many axles fail but most folk buy the price so we have a lot of K46s out there, many of these machines are also underspeced or overused by the purchaser and it compounds the "problem", again not just JD. I also have an X300R it now has 220 hrs or so and no axle issues but the machine is a dedicated mower for a fairly flat property, yes I toss the 10cuft trailer on the back and haul mulch or yard debris around but nothing that would overtax the axle.

 

[JoneJen]

When I have paid a lot of money ($4K to be exact) for a machine and kept it garaged and serviced and used it only for its intended purpose (mowing), I expect it to last. Instead of telling me I needed a new transmission to the tune of $1255, the dealer could have replaced the hard-to-get-at reservoir cap (like Lewis Farm Equipment did) and charged me $80/hour labor to get to it (which Lewis Farm Equipment certainly did not). I doubt fixing my machine would have cost the local John Deere dealer money. I am done with any company that does not make a product that lasts and then is willing to rip you off when it fails - that includes John Deere.

 

[JoeinNoVA]

I had the same problem with a 6 year old John Deere X300R with less than 80 hours on it. The dealer said, too bad. And $1255 to replace your transmission, which cannot be serviced. I took it to a local father-son Cub Cadet dealer (Lewis Farm Equipment in Warren, Maine in case you're in driving distance of them!) who replaced the cap on the transmission reservoir and charged me $133 for the labor required to get to the cap. It works fine now. Obviously, this is a problem with these transmissions. I'm posting only to let other people know that you don't need a new transmission if you can find someone to replace the leaky cap or find the cap and replace it yourself. I still can't believe the dealer refused to acknowledge there was another solution than a $1255 transmission replacement. I am, of course, done with John Deere.

I'm confused what reservoir cap is there? I thought these were sealed and unserviceable transmissions.

 

[js5020]

They are not sealed and can be serviced, and rebuilt, you just need to remove the transaxle and tip it upside down to change oil. The reservoir cap for the axle can be accessed on my X300R without tools by taking out the discharge chute.

 

[JoeinNoVA]

They are not sealed and can be serviced, and rebuilt, you just need to remove the transaxle and tip it upside down to change oil. The reservoir cap for the axle can be accessed on my X300R without tools by taking out the discharge chute.

Thanks. What is confusing me was this statement:

...who replaced the cap on the transmission reservoir and charged me $133 for the labor required to get to the cap. It works fine now. Obviously, this is a problem with these transmissions. I'm posting only to let other people know that you don't need a new transmission if you can find someone to replace the leaky cap or find the cap and replace it yourself.

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks. What is confusing me was this statement:

You should be confused as this is not a cure all for the K46 transmissions. There is a lot more to the transmissions problems than the cap. Wish it was this simple.

 

[Markcuda]

When I bought my first X300 series Deere,(2010) the X300 was big enough for my yard, but, I
specifically passed over it and went with the X360, because of the rear end.