1200 hours on a X485?

[Deere Dude]

I know you just got a tractor and it sounds like a nice one.

Just my own experience here; About twenty years ago I had an older JD 420 witch is similar to a 485 and a 60" deck. I had about 2+ acres to mow and it worked out alright.

I got a real good deal on a new 200 series with cab and 54" deck. It was like $3000 at the time. After using the smaller 200 series for a summer, even though it was new, I decided to sell it and just keep the 420 with bigger deck.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the 200 and sold it to a good friend and he still uses it today, but the difference in time it took to mow and the comfort it afforded I was much happier with the larger tractor.

Maybe the time spent was more psychological that reality, but it sure seemed a lot faster with an extra 6" of deck.

 

[ishiboo]

I know you just got a tractor and it sounds like a nice one.

Just my own experience here; About twenty years ago I had an older JD 420 witch is similar to a 485 and a 60" deck. I had about 2+ acres to mow and it worked out alright.

I got a real good deal on a new 200 series with cab and 54" deck. It was like $3000 at the time. After using the smaller 200 series for a summer, even though it was new, I decided to sell it and just keep the 420 with bigger deck.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the 200 and sold it to a good friend and he still uses it today, but the difference in time it took to mow and the comfort it afforded I was much happier with the larger tractor.

Maybe the time spent was more psychological that reality, but it sure seemed a lot faster with an extra 6" of deck.

That's definitely a consideration and one of the primary reasons for moving from a 42" to a 54". I was looking at everything from 54" to 72" decks as speed is definitely a concern for me. The GT235 is more of a "stop gap" for this year as I plan on building a house on this lot early next year and am trying to save money. That will add ANOTHER ~2 acres of grass.

Last year I hired someone to mow with my D130 so I didn't have to, I just didn't have the time. The eventuality is next year I will probably buy something like a new/newish 72" ZTR or subcompact with a big deck, and keep the GT235 just for doing the perimeter... the 54" deck is already a bit big for the ditches on the north and east sides of the property.

 

[beenthere]

ish

The Briggs 350777 engine was used in the Deere GT235 until 2003, serial number 090000.

From tractordata.com

Kawasaki after that date...

 

[ishiboo]

ish


From tractordata.com

Kawasaki after that date...

Yeah... I have to go take a look. I'm pretty sure the plastic cam issue was fixed by the time the 235 had the Kawasaki though.

 

[Richard001]

I actually purchased a GT235 with a 54" deck and power flow bagger today, put it through its paces mowing everything and it's a night and day improvement over the D130.

No hour meter which is somewhat scary, but it drives like new, starts and runs AWESOME with no smoke, etc... couldn't be happier thus far.

Thanks all!

You may want to buy one of these mini tach's. Price is right, see link:
Sierra Small Engine Tach/Hourmeter Sierra Part #56969P - Overton's

Richard