$3500 - $4000 to spend on mower

[LBrown59]

I think both of us should be man enough to drop it. David from jax

Suits Me.

 

[klh92]

Well, I seem to have caused a stir. I do thank you all for your comments. I checked this thread quite often after my original post and didn't see much action...seems it all came in the recent days.

I tried both the CC and the JDs....in the end, I chose the JD x340, got it for $4100. I've already mowed once with it and absolutely love it. The foot control and turning of the JD won me over for what I needed. The CC does look like it is a bit bulkier and heavier and I am sure I would have been more than satisfied with it. The only issue on the JD so far is using it on hills....one, wish it had soem better traction control and two if you have to rock it to get traction, it shuts off. I'm checking on some wheel weights or something to help out. I wish I would have been able to go up a series to the 500 to get the differential, but as we all know money was the issue. I'll try to get some pics and post back after more usage. Thanks again for all the feedback...hope to run into some of you fellows at a lawn near you soon.

 

[VABlue]

Congrats on the purchase! When you're looking for wheel weights, think about getting the 5 gal bucket holder on back and filling a couple of them with concrete. That might be easier and less expensive than wheel weights. Also look into disabling the seat safety switch for those rocking moments. Just be careful to not require its use if you do disable it!!

 

[LBrown59]

1*I tried both the CC and the JDs....in the end, I chose the JD x340, got it for $4100.
2* The CC does look like it is a bit bulkier and heavier and I am sure I would have been more than satisfied with it.
3*The only issue on the JD so far is using it on hills.
4*Wish it had some better traction control if you have to rock it to get traction, it shuts off.
5*I'm checking on some wheel weights or something to help out.
6*Yep when you get into that kind of money for a garden tractor you're ahead to go with a good new or used small sub compact tractor.
I can buy a used low hour Kubota BX1500 S-Cut with a 48'' mower for $6000.
It comes standard with 4x4 Power steering Roll BAR Differential lock and rear PTO and 3 point hitch, which solves all issues of traction on hills and no extra weight is needed.
Another advantage of the BX1500 is it's a diesel which means less fuel consumption than the gas hog V twin cylinder gasoline engines on the garden tractors.
It also means I can justify home fuel delivery at a lower price per gallon; and no more time wasting trips lugging back breaking 5 gallon cans to the service station throwing money away on the more expensive fuel.
I'm beginning to realize I made a mistake in buying the CC2554 not because it's not a great machine because it is.
The problem is It wasn't the right choice of equipment to meet my wants / needs.
If I had it to do over again I would have went with the BX1500 S-Cut instead of the CC 2554.
__________________

 

[LBrown59]

I tried both the CC and the JDs....in the end, I chose the JD x340 The only issue on the JD so far is using it on hills....one, wish it had soem better traction control and two if you have to rock it to get traction, it shuts off. I'm checking on some wheel weights or something to help out. quote]

Why didn't you notice the traction defferences between the JD and the CC when you tried them out on your hills?

 

[JSharp]

Well, I seem to have caused a stir. I do thank you all for your comments. I checked this thread quite often after my original post and didn't see much action...seems it all came in the recent days.

I tried both the CC and the JDs....in the end, I chose the JD x340, got it for $4100. I've already mowed once with it and absolutely love it. The foot control and turning of the JD won me over for what I needed. The CC does look like it is a bit bulkier and heavier and I am sure I would have been more than satisfied with it. The only issue on the JD so far is using it on hills....one, wish it had soem better traction control and two if you have to rock it to get traction, it shuts off. I'm checking on some wheel weights or something to help out. I wish I would have been able to go up a series to the 500 to get the differential, but as we all know money was the issue. I'll try to get some pics and post back after more usage. Thanks again for all the feedback...hope to run into some of you fellows at a lawn near you soon.

That mower has a rear weight bracket built in. Why not get some suitcase weights? That way you can remove them easily when desired.

 

[sandman2234]

Congradulations on your purchase. I am sure you will be happy with it.
David from jax

 

[scott_vt]

Scott VT: couple nice A's you got there What vintage are they

Mornin Patches,
The one on the left is a 1949 Super A, just rescently restored last fall, the one on the right is a 1942 A older restore, both great tractors ! Thanks for the hollar !

 

[daTeacha]

As an owner of a CC 109, made when CC was part of IH about 30 years ago, and also a JD 240 made about 15 years later, I am impressed with the differences. Whether it's the time of manufacture or the brand I don't know.

What I do know is that the JD has AG style tires, the Cadet has a block tread that looks like a turf but is deeper. The Cadet lets me adjust the height of the deck on the fly while the JD requires that I stop and turn a knob a great number of times, which is annoying when I come across a rock or root sticking up through the "lawn" at my place. The JD will give a much nicer quality cut on the lawn. The Cadet will chew up sticks and such that are so much a part of a lawn in the woods with much greater efficiency. The Cadet blades ride much closer to the bottom of the deck than the JD blades, so it tends to scalp things easier. The JD rides a lot better and is quieter. Due to the tires it will go up hills that leave the Cadet spinning. The JD turns tighter than the Cadet. The Cadet will mow a trail through the woods and I don't think I would ever try that with the JD. The Cadet seems to be heavier by about 150 lb or so. The frame is definitely bigger.

The brakes on both of them are marginal at best, although the pads on the Cadet are now pieces of hickory since I didn't think factory ones were worth $50 or so and made my own. They work as well as the originals did. Both hold the tractor in place, but I wouldn't trust them on a steepish hill -- the Cadet had an incident with a tree once after I did just that and walked away for about 10 minutes.

Oh yeah, I paid $1100 for the Cadet 30 years ago and have replaced the engine since for a total investment of around $2700 over that time. I gave 850 for the JD last spring seeking a better quality cut for the other person who lives in my house and likes a nice looking lawn. I just swapped out decks for one with a bagger, bringing the investment in the JD to $1050.

 

[klh92]

Well, i've had three complete mows with the x340 and really like it. It mows so well. Smooth ride, great cut. The engine just moves....never stutters. The 54 inch deck makes my life much easier. I absolutely love the maneuverability of the x340, both the steering (wow, who would need powersteering and zero turn) and the foot controls. I didnt' think it would be so easy to operate with one foot. One thing that is a bit awkward is that the brake is tall over the forward and reverse pedals...making it virtually impossible to hit hte brakes fast when you need to.

As I posted earlier, the only complaint is the traction. Of course, i expected it and think i may go with some of the recommendations for rear weights. Don't get me wrong, the only traction issue that I have is on very steep grade. For almost everything but the very steepest, it does great. I used to have to hang on the side of my old craftsman, but not with this one.

It is so well built, so great to use......saves me a ton of time. Would recommend it to anyone. If anyone has questions about it, feel free to email me at klh92@yahoo.com. I know buying a mower can be a real pain in the rear and reading all of the posts can be very confusing. I'm not an expert, just a regular old user of it. I'd be glad to offer any thoughts needed.