Suggestions and do I need 4wd?

[beenthere]

dstig1
Too bad you didn't get to try out the AWS for that slope.. world of difference. Unfortunate that salesmen for JD do not know more about the advantages of AWS (all wheel steer) as steep slopes is one of the big plus's.

It's the physics of being able to turn on the slope when the rear wheels move down the slope a bit to get "under" the weight of the tractor wanting to slide downhill while the front wheels turn "up" the slope to hold position while mowing horizontal to the slope.
I was surprised at the improvement going from two-wheel steer older JD to the AWS newer Deere's.
Now mowing a steep slope that just could not be mowed before due to slippage going up and sliding down.

 

[Diggin It]

I can climb and descend my hills with both LTs in what I feel is a safe manner once I added tire chains. Without chains, I could slide down hill or one wheel would break loose and the machine would 'run away'. I have enough clear ground at the bottom so it doesn't really matter as far as hitting something. But it's very tough on the small hydro transaxles and I run the risk of overheating them, so I can only make a few passes at a time.


I got the SCUT late in the year, so I haven't done much mowing with it. What little I did told me very quickly that I needed to be in 4WD downhill. The MMM adds weight low to the ground which I feel helps stability.

 

[ruffdog]

dstig1
Too bad you didn't get to try out the AWS for that slope.. world of difference. Unfortunate that salesmen for JD do not know more about the advantages of AWS (all wheel steer) as steep slopes is one of the big plus's.

It's the physics of being able to turn on the slope when the rear wheels move down the slope a bit to get "under" the weight of the tractor wanting to slide downhill while the front wheels turn "up" the slope to hold position while mowing horizontal to the slope.
I was surprised at the improvement going from two-wheel steer older JD to the AWS newer Deere's.
Now mowing a steep slope that just could not be mowed before due to slippage going up and sliding down.

^^agree^^ At first, driving and turning a AWS on a steep grade is unnerving because it feels like the rear is slipping. Once you get past the "feeling", the AWS works quite good.

 

[dstig1]

dstig1
Too bad you didn't get to try out the AWS for that slope.. world of difference. Unfortunate that salesmen for JD do not know more about the advantages of AWS (all wheel steer) as steep slopes is one of the big plus's.

It's the physics of being able to turn on the slope when the rear wheels move down the slope a bit to get "under" the weight of the tractor wanting to slide downhill while the front wheels turn "up" the slope to hold position while mowing horizontal to the slope.
I was surprised at the improvement going from two-wheel steer older JD to the AWS newer Deere's.
Now mowing a steep slope that just could not be mowed before due to slippage going up and sliding down.

I had wondered about that, but he didn't have one and maybe doesn't know enough about it, as you say, as he never suggested it. They are a 2nd gen longtime Deere dealer in the area with a pretty good rep, but you don't know what you don't know... But I still think I needed 4wd, even though my wallet disagrees.

 

[DavidVT]

Great input continues.... thx all!

I ventured into reading up on the x7 series. Great sounding once past the pricing. If investing that much likely go for the diesel 4wd.

Curious about several complaints regarding the JD mowing deck scalping on less than perfect lawns and the guide wheels tearing up things??

At the price of those machines I would think the mower decks would be bulletproof regarding performance? Thoughts?

 

[ruffdog]

Great input continues.... thx all!

I ventured into reading up on the x7 series. Great sounding once past the pricing. If investing that much likely go for the diesel 4wd.

Curious about several complaints regarding the JD mowing deck scalping on less than perfect lawns and the guide wheels tearing up things??

At the price of those machines I would think the mower decks would be bulletproof regarding performance? Thoughts?

The only place my 62" deck tears up the sod is around a tree that the ground is heaved from tree growth. If the ground is flat next to the trunk...no problem. The uncut circle of the mower is something like 8". If I take the little push mower out and make one circle around the yard obstacles, then, no problem.

 

[beenthere]

Curious about several complaints regarding the JD mowing deck scalping on less than perfect lawns and the guide wheels tearing up things??

If the deck is not hanging on the tractor per the instructions, then this may happen. But if "leveled" per the instructions, then this will not happen. Cannot drop the deck onto the four deck wheels and expect a good JD cut.

 

[spitter]

That's the one good thing about simplicity mower decks it never scalps best tractor deck out there bar none. Rest of tractor is nothing special.:drink:

 

[Topcat14]

I’d wait till spring and grass is growing. Buy the X590 with HDAP tires. Without pictures of your slope hard to say, but if the craftsman did it the X590 will laugh at it. The 590 is much wider (more stable on hills) bigger tires and the locker. Personally I have a neighbor that had a hill he couldn’t do with his husky, refused to climb the hill, ran away going downhill, and slide like crazy trying to cut it sideways. So I said I’ll give it a try- with my X590 I could go up the hill, down the hill , across hill didn’t matter. Needless to say he now owns a john Deere. Anyhow I say wait till spring and grass is growing, buy the X590 – 95% chance it works fine, but if it doesn’t use John Deere promise and go with 4WD x7xx series tractor (a lot more money)

 

[DavidVT]

That's the one good thing about simplicity mower decks it never scalps best tractor deck out there bar none. Rest of tractor is nothing special.:drink:

I went looking at Simplicity Legacy options. Curious, I see no Diesels nor water cooled in new lineup. What engine do you prefer on your Simplicity?

I also briefly looked at small scut options. A low 20hp Kubota,Kioti,Mahindra comparison video was interesting. Stability on hills would still be my concern for those but the Mahindra did seem to have a wider footprint. However nobody singing any praises yet found for Mahindra mowing quality.

The scut options are all mighty little tractors. I can tell I will have to keep pulling myself back from them to stay focused on just mowing.....