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:

 

[rsewill]

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

I thought I'd repeat, once you go Diesel you'll never go back. I live in Minnesota and have added Power Service to one of my two Diesel cars once just as a preventative on a -40 morning. The fuel tank on my tractor is located right next to the back of the dash so it gets enough heat that I have never had to add any additive for winter use. I do keep it in my unheated garage and do plug it in but that's not because it won't start but because I like the engine warmed a bit just for my peace of mind.

 

[coobie]

Fuel prices in Traverse City today.

Gasoline $3.90 a gallon

Diesel $4.26 a gallon

Were 36 cents a gallon to start then add the different additives for the diesel, plus if you need a block heater, and keeping track of the summer and winter blends and when you can get it.

Then how long will it stay in your tank or can without gelling, then the higher cost to buy the diesel motor up front plus if you need it fixed you better hope you can find a good diesel mechanic that will work on it and that won't be cheap.

I know Auto Zone sells the diesel additives by the pallet loads, and it isn't cheap.

So their

Rob

Got to disagree with you on this one.I also live in michigan(55 years)I have a diesel tractor,Kubota RTV 900,JD 740,just sold my dodge diesel truck.NEVER had any gelling problems of any kind.I buy diesel additives for around $10-20 that will protect $350 gallons of diesel fuel from any gelling problems.My equipment stays in a unheated pole barn.I have a 1996 ingersoll 4020 with a gas 20hp onan motor that gobbles fuel like nobodys business on the other hand my JD 740 sips diesel fuel.coobie

 

[Tommyadvanced]

I have a 2011 X729 with a heated ROPS soft side. They are are tight on cold and windy nights. Two minor complaints with it. One is the vynil filler\panel between the hood and windsheild has a poor fit and limits visability some what. I made an acrylic panel retained with velcro. The other is I wanted a side window to open, so I bought a used set of hard side doors. I also remove the cab for the summer. Takes less than a half hour. Keep in mind it's about $1000.00 more for a hardside when new, and $3400.00 to convert a soft to hardside with new parts later.
The curtis heater has a fan like you would find in a PC. It only draws .75 amps on low speed and 1.9 amps on high. The wiper will draw 3.7 amps max. I mounted halogen worklights on my cab that draw 8.5 amps, so I installed the alternator upgrade.
Snow blowing is great. No additional weight, other than the cab. I do a large area and a good part of my back yard (yes, I snow blow the grass) in 35 minutes. We had a very wet slushy snow fall last year and I was concerned the blower would not handle it, so i brought my plow truck home. Silly me, the X took care of the slush no problem.
For mowing I have a 54c deck. The X holds the hillside like a mountain goat. I have a MC519 with power flow and I go up and down a steep hill to my dump site with no problem at all. For fun when I come up the hill I stand on the forward pedal and it rips up the hill.
I have a 45 loader. I am very carefull when turning. Works great.
Gas vs Deisel- I have more power than I need. I went to the deisel first thinking that it had more torque. But after comparing the specs it only has two or three more pounds of torque. Higher resale value yes, better fuel economy yes, longer lasting yes. One thing I dislike about the gas engine is that when it's cold it needs alot of fuel to start and run properly, so in the winter it stinks for the first few minutes untill it warms up. I would prefer the smell of burnt deisel over burnt gas any day.
You cant go wrong with either machine.
If you need any pics of anything let me know.

 

[jkadylak]

I have a 2011 X729 with a heated ROPS soft side. They are are tight on cold and windy nights. Two minor complaints with it. One is the vynil filler\panel between the hood and windsheild has a poor fit and limits visability some what. I made an acrylic panel retained with velcro. The other is I wanted a side window to open, so I bought a used set of hard side doors. I also remove the cab for the summer. Takes less than a half hour. Keep in mind it's about $1000.00 more for a hardside when new, and $3400.00 to convert a soft to hardside with new parts later.
The curtis heater has a fan like you would find in a PC. It only draws .75 amps on low speed and 1.9 amps on high. The wiper will draw 3.7 amps max. I mounted halogen worklights on my cab that draw 8.5 amps, so I installed the alternator upgrade.
Snow blowing is great. No additional weight, other than the cab. I do a large area and a good part of my back yard (yes, I snow blow the grass) in 35 minutes. We had a very wet slushy snow fall last year and I was concerned the blower would not handle it, so i brought my plow truck home. Silly me, the X took care of the slush no problem.
For mowing I have a 54c deck. The X holds the hillside like a mountain goat. I have a MC519 with power flow and I go up and down a steep hill to my dump site with no problem at all. For fun when I come up the hill I stand on the forward pedal and it rips up the hill.
I have a 45 loader. I am very carefull when turning. Works great.
Gas vs Deisel- I have more power than I need. I went to the deisel first thinking that it had more torque. But after comparing the specs it only has two or three more pounds of torque. Higher resale value yes, better fuel economy yes, longer lasting yes. One thing I dislike about the gas engine is that when it's cold it needs alot of fuel to start and run properly, so in the winter it stinks for the first few minutes untill it warms up. I would prefer the smell of burnt deisel over burnt gas any day.
You cant go wrong with either machine.
If you need any pics of anything let me know.

Do you also remove the front windshield of the cab in the summer? I want to be able to remover the entire cab in summer to allow me to mower under the trees, etc.

 

[LBrown59]

1*I just don't see a benefit in upgrading to a subcompact.
2*I realize the price is about the same.
3*I think the X700 series will be better for mowing and blowing snow than a subcompact.
I would love to hear everyones' thoughts on this too.

1*When you can be get more tractor for the same or less money it makes perfect sense.
2*I bought a new subcompact for several thousand dollars less than a JDx749 garden tractor.
3*No it wouldn't I've had 3 garden tractors and replaced all 3 of them .
I now have 3 Sub Compacts.
No way would I ever want to get back on the garden tractor treadmill.

 

[Tommyadvanced]

I remove the whole cab. When I wired the cab I made one connection to the starter to supply my aux fuse panel. I also installed dry breaks so I do not have to drain and fill the cooling system each time. Pull the doors, 12 bolts and its off. I leave the two lower bolts in the rear and use them as a pivot point to lower the cab on dolly. Not having glass windows on the back saves some time as I just pull off the side\rear plastic window.
Here's some pics.

 

[Tommyadvanced]

Lbrown is right, dollar for dollar, however I would never attempt to mow my slopes with a Scut. Higher CG would scare me.

 

[jenkinsph]

1*When you can be get more tractor for the same or less money it makes perfect sense.
2*I bought a new subcompact for several thousand dollars less than a JDx749 garden tractor.
3*No it wouldn't I've had 3 garden tractors and replaced all 3 of them .
I now have 3 Sub Compacts.
No way would I ever want to get back on the garden tractor treadmill.

LBrown just doesn't like the x700 series Deere and instead has to have three Kubota subcompacts instead. His setup has some advantages if your slopes aren't to steep and you have a separate garage to store them all in. For me I only want to have one machine this size to do everything I need to do.

 

[LBrown59]

Diesel all the way. Of course, you could also step up to something a little more substantial for the $$, like the 1026R.
The 749 is pricey and for the money I think a subcompact makes more sense.

When i realizedi could get away from garden tractors into real tractors for less money i made the switch over and haven't looked back since.

 

[Gittyup]

Buy a diesel because you want a diesel. Don't buy one just for fuel economy because you'll be 30+ years breaking even vs. the gasser when the initial cost difference is figured in. Both the diesel and the gasser will last for many many years.

One should easily get way more than 1000 hours out of a gasser. I have a 425 AWS. Original owner. Now at 1035 hours and still running strong. Plenty of power. My next one will be an X749.... just because I want to go diesel (no real well founded reason). I am tired of putting on chains every fall. That's hardly reason enough to spend all that money for an X749. But, I salivate everytime I go to the dealer for that shiny new AWD/AWS beauty!