John Deere X380 vs Husqvarna GT52XLS

[sledgehammer]

GT48DXLS Feedback

I have 3.8 hours on the clock after 2 sessions with the LGT48. Its a great machine and I would buy it again. Here are my observations so far. Keep in mind my observations are based on my experiences primarily with my old JD 265 and previous experience with Craftsman and other similar quality mowers.

Prior to mowing I adjusted tire pressure and then leveled mower per online instruction manual (received none in my package from dealer). As-received tire pressure ranged from 22.5 to 23.0 in rear and 23.5 to 28.0 in front. Deck was 0.5 in high on right side as-received.

1. Cutting Deck:
Best cutting deck I have ever seen in my 60+ years. Mass flow rate is incredible. There has been a lot of time spent tuning the aerodynamics of the deck. As an example my JD 265 barely gets the grass into the road when cutting the shoulder. This deck throws it all the way across the road onto the opposite shoulder. It is incredible to see.

This deck is also very robust with tough spindles. On my first session (first cut of the season) I got the deck into a piece of 3/8 steel braided cable my son had coiled and left in the grass last fall. The grass had grown up around it and hid it from view. I cut over the cable on the left side of the deck. The left blade suction pulled the cable end into the deck and the blade caught the cable, wrapped it around the left spindle and pulled enough cable under the deck to wrap it around the middle spindle. There were 3 complete 360 deg wraps around the left and middle spindles stalling the engine. My son cut the cable away from the spindles using a hand held grinder with a cutting wheel. There was no visible damage to the spindles and only a small nick in the left blade near the center rotation of the blade. On startup and mower engagement no out of balance vibrations were experienced. I mowed a second 2 hour session experiencing no out of balance vibrations and no degradation in cutting ability. Plan to order replacement blades and have them on hand.

Cutting in reverse is easy to accomplish. After starting the engine you turn the key one detent counter clockwise and you are set as long as the engine is running. Engage it once and you are done.

2. Kawasaki engine: The 2 cylinder engine starts easily and has plenty of power. Fuel consumption seems reasonable to me compared to my single cylinder JD 265 Kawasaki. I think slow idle is too high, just my opinion. The single cylinder Kawasaki on my JD 265 idles slow. It sounds like a miniature version of the old JD thumpers. The governor has a wide rpm band at full throttle. Not sure whats going on or if it can be adjusted. My JD 265 single cylinder Kawasaki experiences essentially no variation in rpm at full throttle.

3. Steering: Smaller steering radius is much appreciated and comes in handy. Smaller wheel than the JD 265 coupled with no steering box as the JD 265 has results in more effort needed for steering on the LGT48. My 1265# RTV with big knobby tires steers with less effort. I am reminded of tk Toms comments in an earlier post. Not a complaint, just an observation.

4. Locking Differential: Have used the user engaged locking differential once while mowing a bank at my daughters house. Needed it to get up the bank while mowing. Glad I had it.

Bottom line glad I bought LGT48 and would buy it again.

 

[crazyal]

I looked at the the Husky, can't remember which model but it had the heavy duty welded 48" deck and diff lock. The deck really impressed me. I think Husky is on to something as it looks like it'll be running strong after the stamped steel decks have rusted away. The main decision on getting the X500 was for the stronger frame. In some spots on my lawn I can feel the frame twisting on my old cheap MTD mower. It twists enough so the go pedal would get hard to push. I wouldn't say the Husky couldn't handle it, I just went with overkill. It sounds like you have a good mower, congrats.

BrokeFarmerJohn, my MTD has that exact same engine. It seams to be a hit or miss engine. The only issue on my old (2006) MTD is the decompresser to start the engine broke. It's just a plastic tab and doesn't last very long. A coworker had his block split. You could actually see the crack opening and closing as the engine ran. I think by 2009 they fixed the problem but none the less I would make sure it always has plenty of oil. Here's a video someone posted with the same problem.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I looked at the the Husky, can't remember which model but it had the heavy duty welded 48" deck and diff lock. The deck really impressed me. I think Husky is on to something as it looks like it'll be running strong after the stamped steel decks have rusted away. The main decision on getting the X500 was for the stronger frame. In some spots on my lawn I can feel the frame twisting on my old cheap MTD mower. It twists enough so the go pedal would get hard to push. I wouldn't say the Husky couldn't handle it, I just went with overkill. It sounds like you have a good mower, congrats.

BrokeFarmerJohn, my MTD has that exact same engine. It seams to be a hit or miss engine. The only issue on my old (2006) MTD is the decompresser to start the engine broke. It's just a plastic tab and doesn't last very long. A coworker had his block split. You could actually see the crack opening and closing as the engine ran. I think by 2009 they fixed the problem but none the less I would make sure it always has plenty of oil. Here's a video someone posted with the same problem.

Wow that's a huge disappointment on the engine, mine was a bit low on oil and I topped it off this year. Mine is a 06 model and has 240h on the clock well 241.3 after I got done with it today.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I posted this on another thread but will here as well.

I had to use the manual today lmao. I got most of all my mowing done, just a little left on back by the pasture but a pulley idler bearing gave out on me. $15 a pop, I ordered 2 off Amazon along with a spare stationary idler.

Total $67 to the door for x2: 532 19 61-06 (Pully Idler), x1: 532 19 61-04 (Stationary Pully Idler). I'm just gonna replace all the non grease able pullys and have 2 used pullys as a spare.

I'll re pack what I can. Deck was super easy to take off, just 5 clips, needle nose pliers is all I needed. Less than 5 mins and it was out.

I still don't see where the grease zerk is for the steering gears, the gears on mine is exposed and I don't see where they can be greased.

I think I might repaint my deck since I have it off, it's got some paint peeling. She has 241.3 hours on her now.

I'm super happy with the availability of parts on this mower, so far I have bought everything off Amazon with free shipping. Parts are crazy cheap also. New blades ($32 shipped to the front door) cut like a dream, my grass is literally perfect lol, still super pleased with the husky.

But I believe I have the cheaper husky, I thought I saw a lowes sticker on it somewhere but I looked just now and didn't see one. But my deck discharge I would say is 4-5 feet, nothing that impressive, not like the guys who bought there's from a dealer has been saying.

I will say this also, I have yet to scalp the yard, I have all kinds of banks and hills on my property and this mower does a good job of not scalping.

 

[Smoothas]

X35 Select Series Lawn Tractor Mowing Comparision - YouTube

 

[s219]

I've been really impressed with the Accel Deep deck on my X380 -- it really makes fine clippings and moves a lot of air. In fact, last fall, I didn't have to rake or use my sweeper for leaves for the first time ever. Just ran the mower back and forth, in rows about 15' apart, and kept blowing the leaves towards one edge of my lawn until I finally had them all blown into the woods. All that just from the air coming out the side discharge chute! Fastest I have ever cleared leaves.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

X35 Select Series Lawn Tractor Mowing Comparision - YouTube

So for double the price the cut is 11% better?

 

[Smoothas]

So for double the price the cut is 11% better?

Actually 18 %better than Husky,. It was 11% better than Cub. And that doesn’t get into Consumer reports- that rate the Deere top pick and husky middle of the pack – and of course that is based on 1,000’s of respondents. Doesn’t take into consideration the John Deere will generally last longer and hold its resale value far better than husky. Hey the Husky might be answer for a lot of people – we have a few people in this thread that love their husky and nothing wrong with that

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Actually 18 %better than Husky,. It was 11% better than Cub. And that doesn’t get into Consumer reports- that rate the Deere top pick and husky middle of the pack – and of course that is based on 1,000’s of respondents. Doesn’t take into consideration the John Deere will generally last longer and hold its resale value far better than husky. Hey the Husky might be answer for a lot of people – we have a few people in this thread that love their husky and nothing wrong with that

Why do they only test 3 companies and 3 models in these vids? They should do the entire lineup and not pick and chose, I get that cub and husky are prob there biggest competition but there's toro and recently I found a Polan Pro rated higher than them all and came it at over 700lbs!, I can't say I like Polan pro but that got me thinking anyway.

 

[crazyal]

I had the same problem with one of the pulleys that connect to the blade spindle. Since it was a Sunday afternoon I just welded it up and forgot to order a replacement. It broke the same way.

As for the Courage engine I think it's hit or miss. I change the oil in the spring each year and never had a problem (other than the decompresser). The coworker who got a bad one always would say Kohler called it Courage because they had the courage to sell it. I personally think that Kohler was trying to make a US built engine that could compete with other economically priced engines.