X729 or X749

[turbo36]

Question jkadylak, how long will you keep the diesel or how many hours will you put on it before you maybe upgrade or will you keep it and never sell or trade it.

It might be worth the time to take a ride to a couple of dealers and do a cold engine start on one of these yanmars with 1500 or so hours.

The Kawasaki and yanmar should both be running good with that many hours, but I'll bet a shiny new dime that diesel will shake rattle and roll and you will need to clean that lil smoke bomb out, where that injected kaw will fire up instantly and idle smooth.

You won't hear the diesel guys talk to much about the glow plugs, fuel gelling and the different additives.

Rob

Really??? 14 years with the Deere diesels and I have never had an issue. 0 degree or colder days may require cycling the glow plugs twice before starting but I have never had a problem starting.

Also, when I had the 425 gasser and the 455 diesel at the same time the diesel was quieter at full throttle ( verified with a sound meter).

 

[s219]

Question jkadylak, how long will you keep the diesel or how many hours will you put on it before you maybe upgrade or will you keep it and never sell or trade it.

It might be worth the time to take a ride to a couple of dealers and do a cold engine start on one of these yanmars with 1500 or so hours.

The Kawasaki and yanmar should both be running good with that many hours, but I'll bet a shiny new dime that diesel will shake rattle and roll and you will need to clean that lil smoke bomb out, where that injected kaw will fire up instantly and idle smooth.

You won't hear the diesel guys talk to much about the glow plugs, fuel gelling and the different additives.

Rob

This is about helping jkadylak make the best choice for his needs. If you're happy with your gas engine, then great, but your paranoia/inferiority issue about the diesel is not helpful.

I would not worry one bit about the longevity or reliability of that Yanmar diesel. If price/budget is not a factor, then it makes sense to spend the extra money to get it. The diesel is a harder working engine and returns superior efficiency and fuel economy. Any downsides are minor.

There's a reason bigger tractors are almost exclusively diesels.

 

[jkadylak]

Question jkadylak, how long will you keep the diesel or how many hours will you put on it before you maybe upgrade or will you keep it and never sell or trade it.

It might be worth the time to take a ride to a couple of dealers and do a cold engine start on one of these yanmars with 1500 or so hours.

The Kawasaki and yanmar should both be running good with that many hours, but I'll bet a shiny new dime that diesel will shake rattle and roll and you will need to clean that lil smoke bomb out, where that injected kaw will fire up instantly and idle smooth.

You won't hear the diesel guys talk to much about the glow plugs, fuel gelling and the different additives.

Rob

If it does everything I hope it will do, I like to think I will keep it for awhile. I really like the AWS and the garden tractor size, so if it is a capable machine that can blow a lot of snow and handle my driveway, I think I will have it for years and probably put on 75 to 100 hours per year, with 70% of the time blowing and the rest mowing. It may pull a cart or other small tow behind accessories, but that is about it.

 

[jkadylak]

I blow a u-shaped drive total length about 325-350', the grade is 10% on the one side. The X749 is amazing, I don't use chains ( I do use 6 suitcase weights) and have great traction up and down the drive. My yard is very hilly and again the traction is the best of any tractor by far, especially when wet.
I use a lawn service at the cottage because I can't get up there on a regular basis, the X749 will cut the lawn almost as fast as the zero turns and there is less turf damage.

How long does it take you to clear your driveway after a 6-8 inch snowfall?

 

[beenthere]

Question ...............
The Kawasaki and yanmar should both be running good with that many hours, but I'll bet a shiny new dime that diesel will shake rattle and roll and you will need to clean that lil smoke bomb out, where that injected kaw will fire up instantly and idle smooth.

You won't hear the diesel guys talk to much about the glow plugs, fuel gelling and the different additives.

Rob

Rob
Don't know where you are getting these ideas? You claim you haven't owned a diesel so you don't know they don't have "glow" plugs, and the fuel doesn't gell and we don't have to add addatives. None of these for me, and have had two Yanmar diesels for 14 years (one of them, the other for three). Never had a gell problem, never an issue with starting, and never added "addatives" of any kind. Both fire up immediately on hitting the starter (except one has had a new battery that was needed to start).
That said, it only gets to 20 below zero F here, and maybe it is much colder where you are at.

Seems jkadylak is making his decision and regardless which way he goes, he will have a quality product in the end.

I have had the fuel injected 445 as well as still have the X485. They do run good but they suck up a lot of fuel compared to the diesel. I haven't measured acres per gallon, but my guess would be about half the diesel to get the same work done. Now I admit that is a guess, but the diesel is like the energizer bunny.

'nuff said from me. I try not to argue a point in the forum. But couldn't take the misinformation spewed out. And I'm glad you like your fuel injected. They are great, no doubt.

 

[rubadub]

This is about helping jkadylak make the best choice for his needs. If you're happy with your gas engine, then great, but your paranoia/inferiority issue about the diesel is not helpful.

I would not worry one bit about the longevity or reliability of that Yanmar diesel. If price/budget is not a factor, then it makes sense to spend the extra money to get it. The diesel is a harder working engine and returns superior efficiency and fuel economy. Any downsides are minor.

There's a reason bigger tractors are almost exclusively diesels.

Lets keep the paranoia/inferiority comments out of this, in other words no personal attacks only comments about the difference in the two tractors.

In case you didn't notice I did put pictures and a video and lots of things that I pointed out about the difference in the two.

So rather then a personal attack take the time and contribute some of your good experiences with your diesel, maybe a picture or two that would be nice.

If we nit pick each other they will close the thread, and all the man wants is information.

If you click on this. VIDEO LINKS

You will see 14 videos of snowblowing and 3 rototilling with the x728.

I also have hundreds of pictures on my website of the x728 cab and tiller and pto and blower and even a cover I made for it.

To say I like this little tractor is an understatement I flat out love it thats why I put all of it on my website, its all here check it out.

CHEVELLE

Rob

 

[rubadub]

I'm a little partial to John Deeres but I like the older wheelhorses also.

Rob

 

[rubadub]

Heres my 111 with a trailer for hauling leaves.

Rob

 

[rubadub]

Well men I'm going to stay off this thread you guys have a good one, I promise no more posts.:thumbsup:

Rob

 

[turbo36]

How long does it take you to clear your driveway after a 6-8 inch snowfall?

Big difference between 6" of wet heavy snow and 6" of the more fluffy stuff but generally I figure on 20-30 minutes with the side drive and clean up around the house. As they say in the car ads "your milage may vary":laughing: