Bill tell me a little bit about your land- how much and how hilly? do you want to snow blow? Plow?
Deciding between a x500 with a 54 inch deck and a x530
- Thread starter Ryan03
- Start date
- Views: 8667
Bill tell me a little bit about your land- how much and how hilly? do you want to snow blow? Plow?
Bill Guenthner
Platinum Member
Strictly mowing, 4 acres around the house. I have a tractor and rotary cutter for the rest. I've been rough cutting it and after 6 years of digging out rocks and stumps it's somewhere between pasture and lawn. If it was flat the x300 would be enough. It's not remotely flat and without a diff lock I'm constantly shifting my weight to get one or other back wheel to grab.
Bill Guenthner
Platinum Member
That's true to a point. Is that point $5k, $7k, $12k? That's what we all struggle with, isn't it?
Garycw
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2014
- Messages
- 677
- Location
- Oh-Ky-Fla
- Tractor
- JD 1025R w/ fel, Farm Pro 2425, ford 841 & 851
Very true. I try to look at it as only using part of that cost and when ever sold you get part of that initial cost back.
I have a Very hilly and sometimes rough place to mow. Seriously looked at the JD758.$9800. Ultimately decided on JD1025R, 60" auto & H120 loader $17k
Put on wheel spacers & loaded tires. It's a weapon of grass destruction.
Depends on your budget Bill-- you could trade in your X300 and get a X530 or better yet a X590, either would handle the hill and 4 acres no problem. I really like the EFI- engine really purrs, fuel economy is much better than 530. ANd as you mentioned the Diff lock is great the HDAPS tires stick to hills like a billy goat
Bill Guenthner
Platinum Member
Well, I have a Kubota B3300 series and I have considered a 3 point finish mower. That's the cheapest route by far but I don't know if I want to drag that out every weekend full time to cut the grass. 60 is coming up fast and I think a smaller rider that can last 10 years or so is the ticket for cutting the grass. I also hate changing 3 point implements and usually leave the rough cutter on all summer.
CinderSchnauzer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2006
- Messages
- 1,397
AWS on slopes is fantastic. I have a fairly steep slope that I can drive long the top once. From there I drive straight up, make a "U" turn and straight back down. Add FWD and the HDAP tires and it is very stable. Never slips, slides or spins. I don't do this on wet grass, so no comment.
Bill Guenthner
Platinum Member
I believe you but why? Can someone explain how the the back wheels steering contributes to stability on slopes.
Garycw
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2014
- Messages
- 677
- Location
- Oh-Ky-Fla
- Tractor
- JD 1025R w/ fel, Farm Pro 2425, ford 841 & 851
Best thing I've found useful mowing across slopes is loaded tires and sitting out almost on the high side fender. Even then you need to know when to let it run down hill some.
CinderSchnauzer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2006
- Messages
- 1,397
I think it gives better traction while tracking the curve of the turn and therefore minimizes any chance for side slip. At the apex of the turn at the top, the rear wheels are still effectively driving the rear of the mower "up" the hill because of the way they turn in combination with the front wheels, which are pulling the front of the tractor "down" - but I'm not an engineer.
My previous mower was same (25) HP but 2WD only and turf style tires. The current x739 has 4x4 + AWS + HDAP tires. All of these features are full time, so I cannot turn off one or two at a time to experiment to determine if it is a particular feature or all three in combination. The old 2WD would often spin out before reaching the top of the slope and with it I never would have attempted a 180 turn to come back down frontwards.
