Potential Deere Owner

   / Potential Deere Owner #11  
Adding some ballast to your tires can cure a lot of hillside problems. Better traction, lower center of gravity and no noticeable loss in power. My dad always used ballast on his 400 series. I can't remember exactly which one he had but it was an early model. My brother has a 420 and dad's came out before that mower did.

My LX172 was very good on hillsides. Being able to lean out on a fender is getting to be a lost art these days with the auto off switch if you get your weight off the seat. I eventually by-passed that switch because it was having problems and I wanted to have the ability to go around the side of a hill better. My new X324 has a much higher center of gravity and it will quit in a heartbeat if you get off the seat to counter-balance any tendency to tip. I'm going to be adding ballast myself pretty soon.
 
   / Potential Deere Owner #12  
I just sold a a 2005 symplicity legacy, and ordered a new 540 john deere. Needed to mow so JD dealer loaned me a 500 series to use. if the 540 is like the 500 I made a big mistake!

Thr 540 is just the top of the X500 series with power steering, hydraulic lift, etc. but it is basically the same tractor as the X500. To get anything better you have to move to the X700 for nearly twice the price. You will be moving down from your Simplicity in size, and weight. I also have a Simplicity Legacy though older than yours, and I am faced with the same hard choices.
 

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