EdB3
New member
I recently purchased a new x380 to replace my 87 318 due to an oil leak I couldn't find. While I won't yet admit it was a mistake as I only have 3 hours on the x380 but I'm unhappy with the uneven cut as well as how the tractor was delivered by the local JD dealer.
Tractor is a standard x380 with the 48 accel deep deck, manual mulch control and manual deck lift. No P/S or other bells and whistles. We moved to FL and I'm cutting a lawn of what looks like to me (a northerner) the healthiest crabgrass I've ever seen, it's called centipede grass, with some Bahia & Bermuda mixed in but basically centipede. Lawn is Florida flat, cut height is 3½ inches.
Leveling the 318 deck was always a bit of a challenge to me but I could get it right for a nice even cut. Adjusting the mowing height was part art and science but that too was successfully accomplished. JD did make leveling the new deck very easy.
I convinced myself to let the dealer find & repair the oil leak and a weak moment I bought the x380 but told myself how easy it would be to adjust the deck and simply dial the height! No more repairs and a 4-year warranty!
It was delivered with zero set-up, maybe that was an extra option, tire pressure was 26 & 18 on the rear and 14 & 10 on the front. No biggie as I have a compressor and there are a few great how to x380 videos as there was no manual, "it was left on the tractor by mistake and it rained overnight, new one is on order."
I've cut the lawn three times and have the three poorest cuts I think I've ever done. Tomorrow I'll remove the deck to check for a bent blade but was wondering of any other possibilities to check.
Apologies for the rant. :confused3:
Tractor is a standard x380 with the 48 accel deep deck, manual mulch control and manual deck lift. No P/S or other bells and whistles. We moved to FL and I'm cutting a lawn of what looks like to me (a northerner) the healthiest crabgrass I've ever seen, it's called centipede grass, with some Bahia & Bermuda mixed in but basically centipede. Lawn is Florida flat, cut height is 3½ inches.
Leveling the 318 deck was always a bit of a challenge to me but I could get it right for a nice even cut. Adjusting the mowing height was part art and science but that too was successfully accomplished. JD did make leveling the new deck very easy.
I convinced myself to let the dealer find & repair the oil leak and a weak moment I bought the x380 but told myself how easy it would be to adjust the deck and simply dial the height! No more repairs and a 4-year warranty!
It was delivered with zero set-up, maybe that was an extra option, tire pressure was 26 & 18 on the rear and 14 & 10 on the front. No biggie as I have a compressor and there are a few great how to x380 videos as there was no manual, "it was left on the tractor by mistake and it rained overnight, new one is on order."
I've cut the lawn three times and have the three poorest cuts I think I've ever done. Tomorrow I'll remove the deck to check for a bent blade but was wondering of any other possibilities to check.
Apologies for the rant. :confused3:
