John Deere Dilemma

[montanaman]

I have no doubt you will love that tractor. The 140 I have is a 72 or 73 that I bought well used and at this point, it owes me nothing. We had moved to and needed something for mowing a large area and plowing and at the time, I didn't have any larger tractors. Found the 140 with a four way blade on the front to push snow and I've never regretted buying it.

Ken

 

[mike223]

Montanaman,
I already do. It was delivered this morning, and I cut about an acre and a half, in trees in a little over an hour. The hydrostat and power steering are great, and the little Yanmar diesel gives the tractor so much power it just cuts thick grass and weeds without any trouble. I found a 60" cutter manual on e bay, and hope to find a tractor manual as well. I looked on tech pubs for JD, and they have them in paper or CD for $135 or $65 respectively, but I hope I can find one for a little less. Anyway, so far it's great machine.

 

[jcmseven]

Ken,

I have had both a ZTR and an X series JD tractor (two actually). As you know the X series machines are the updated 400 series. I will say if I were only mowing and mowing professionally, I would get a ZTR. I will say I bought my dad a 757 JD and I myself had a Gravely P272Z. Both nice ZTR's that cut really fast. I would prefer the X series to either of them. I would prefer the 455 to either also, as for not much money you can get a tractor that can cut nearly as fast (I noted only minutes difference on my property, and I am decent with a ZTR also) and can till and plow snow etc. I will say that the X series tractors and older 455 are real workhorses and I think this is why I personally did not recommend a ZTR to Mike. He can get so much more for his money with a 455. ZTR's are nice, but to me (even though I still own one) they are not hugely better mowing than a top flight tractor such as an X (or 455).

John M

 

[Sumosized]

I looked at both about two weeks ago. Used GT235 with 183 hours (hand lift, not the foot lift) was going for $3,500, one with a foot lift was going $4,000 (68 hours). They are a garden tractor. Cast front end, heavier rear end. The 300 series is a Lawn Tractor.

I'd go with a GT 235 in a heart beat. They are great machines.