Comparison LA135 vs. X300

[sgoldste01]

OK, let me start by saying that I've read the threads trashing the X300 because is uses the same K46 tranny as the LA135. I understand that. But to say that the X300 might not be the perfect machine for my application simply because it has a K46 might be oversimplifying things. Let me give you some background info.

My property:

• 1 acre
• Mostly flat, with some small slopes
• Pretty bumpy.

How I will use the tractor:

• Side discharge
• Snowblower: No
• Snow blade: No
• Pulling a wagon: Probably not
• Using a bagger in the fall to collect leaves: Probably

My previous tractor, which just died last week, was an Ariens Sierra 1540H. If you're not familiar with this machine, it has a 15 HP Kohler Command engine and a 40" deck. In looking at this machine's build quality, I'd say it's similar to the JD LA Series of tractors. I don't know what hydro tranny is used on this tractor. I'd be curious to know if it's a K46.

I bought the Ariens new 14 years ago. It served me perfectly for the first 10 years. At 10 years old, I paid $400 to get the steering fixed (the gears wore out). I've also made numerous repairs to the deck over the last few years due to fatique. The nail in the coffin was the tranny dying last week. Engine still runs perfectly.

So you see, I got a fairly long life out of the Ariens, using that tractor as described above. The primary problems before the tranny failure were steering and deck wear. I changed the oil/filter and greased all fittings every year.

Unless the Ariens is better than the LA135, I should expect to get perfect service from an LA135 for 10 years, at which point it would probably start nickle and diming me until it died a few years later.

While the X300 has the same tranny as the LA135, it is more robust in other ways. The steering gears, which was my most expensive failure on the Ariens, are **way** sturdier than the LA135 or my old Ariens. I also think the deck on the X300 is more rugged than on my Ariens, but I could be wrong about that. Basically, I think my rough terrain caused most of my Ariens problems before the tranny failure finally killed it. The Ariens deck didn't have any grease fittings for the spindles. Do the LA135 or X300 decks have any grease fittings?

So I'm thinking that I would get approximately 14 years out of the tranny, regardless of whether it's installed in an LA135 or X300. But I'm thinking the X300 steering and deck might hold up better than on my Ariens or an LA135.

With the current JD sale, we're talking about $1800 for the LA135 vs. $2500 for an X300. Based upon my property and usage description, do you think the X300 is a good choice for my application?

 

[jenkinsph]

Couple of things to consider if you narrow it down to the x300 and bagging is important to you then look at a 300R. The 300R with rear integral blower is likely the best bagger setup Deere has. It willl have the same K46 transmission though. If I could have bought a slightly larger version of the 300R I would have had one last year. With no hoses protruding from either side you can trim from either side and the large throat short throat to the grass catcher really packs in the material.

I just moved from an L130 (similar to an LA165) to an X749, I figure I have been at each end of the lineup. If all I did was mow my own lawn I would have stayed with the L130 another year or so. I do custom work so needed more machine. A good machine for my own lawn would be an X320.
Bear in mind you can refurbish the K46 tranny through parts available directly from Tuff Torq(sp). This might also apply to your Ariens tranny too.

About the life of the K46 transmissions, you set up the 10 to 15 year scenario and made your case. I would add a little reality to this and say that over a 15 year time frame you might need to rebuild the tranny twice with about $150 to $300 in parts and 3 to 5 hours of work. That isn't the end of the world in my opinion and might be something to consider with the other advantages a 300 and 300R have. The rebuild isn't a difficult task to perform and the parts cost are spread over time if funds are an initial issue.

I should mention that I did have a basic standard collection setup for my L130 and wasn't real impressed with it. I wouldn't buy a 300 with the same bagger without testing it first and or checking eith the owners of these machines on this forum. I would think a 300R should cost about $800 more than a 300 with the collection system.

 

[sgoldste01]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the thorough reply. I'm inclined to not pay the extra $$ for an X300R because I would only be bagging a couple of times/year (maybe in the spring for an initial post-winter clean-up, and then again in the fall when the leaves come down). Most of the time, I would prefer to side discharge.

In fact, isn't the X300R set up to only bag? This would be a problem for me, since I don't want to bag all of the time.

I survived without using a bagger at all on my Ariens because I took advantage of the mower's side discharge and basically used the mower as a leaf blower. This worked quite will, and makes me wonder if I should bother paying ~$500 for a bagger on an X300 (or ~$400 on the LA135) at all. These prices include the high-lift bladed that the dealer recommends.

 

[jenkinsph]

I mulch most of the year and bought the mulch plug for the X749, I also purchased a landscape rake and a pine straw rake for needles. Didn't buy a collection system.

If you aren't concerned with the bagging/collection system then stick with the X320. If bagging is a major issue then consider the 300R. To answer your question yes you can remove the bagger from the 300R and have it blow out the rear.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[sgoldste01]

So can I deduce that you're not **that** opposed to the K46 tranny? Because if you are, then I would assume that you'd never recommend the X300R. A bad tranny would trump the nice bagging system of the X300R. Let's face it--a nice bagging system on a tractor with a dead tranny is useless.

 

[jenkinsph]

So can I deduce that you're not **that** opposed to the K46 tranny? Because if you are, then I would assume that you'd never recommend the X300R. A bad tranny would trump the nice bagging system of the X300R. Let's face it--a nice bagging system on a tractor with a dead tranny is useless.

Most likely you can rebuild the Ariens tranny for a few hundred bucks, you should read some of the threads on the Tuff Torq trannies and visit their website. Likewise you can rebuild the Deere the same way.

The 300R is a good purpose built rear bagger, if you need that design it is worth considering, just understand that it will need maintenance/rebuilding. Just guessing but I think one of the reasons you don't find the rear bagger model on the upscale models is the transmissiions are to large to make it fit.

 

[ctlguy]

I think the kawi motor is a better powerplant, plus the longer warranty. The decks are pretty much the same (different mount points is all). While the L series 48" decks did not offer a blower bagger (and imo where JUNK) all x series 48" offer a blower bagger. I personally have never been impressed with the non bagging perrformance of the r series units. They bag (poor term they actually collect), but when changing to mulch or discharge I thought they performed poorly, although I am basing this mostly on the previous LTR units that did have a different deck drive system. If looking only @ 42" deck unit the baggers between the L and X are about the same. Good luck

 

[V1Rotate]

This spring I bought a new X-300 and am very happy with its performance. The X-300 is built much better than any of the LA series machines. The engine is better, the front axle and mower deck are much heavier duty. Open the hoods and compare how the steering wheel and battery are mounted, LA series-flimsy plastic, X-300-mounted with steel. I use the 42 inch side discharge deck, I don't bag because the deck spreads out the clippings very evenly, even when the grass is tall. In the fall I installed the mulching kit and just drove over the leaves, mulching them to almost nothing. The really do disappear and it sure beats raking. My only concern is the the trans, so far it has been working fine (approx 40 hours) if it fails within the 4 year warranty the dealer should take care of it, after that if it fails I'll rebuild or replace it.

 

[dirt ditch]

According to the JD spec sheet for the LA1*5 series mowers, the LA135 has the Tuff Torq T40 transmission. Only the LA165 and LA175 have the K46 transmission.

 

[dirt ditch]

K7Ln, looks like you are right. A quick google of Touff Torq T40 brought up some web pages where they refer to it as a JD only version of the K46. Go figure.