X748 to replace IH Cub Lo-Boy

[tlj87]

Thanks, bp fick! The property truly is great. Aside from being my home, it is actually a weekend youth camp that I grew up maintaining and now own and operate. Website: http://www.zoominternet.net/~chickasaw

As om21braz stated, with the larger tractors, I would loose the capability to mow where I now use the JD/Sabre.

Of course, I could keep the JD/Sabre strictly for mowing those small areas and trimming...

The reservations I have about getting a larger 20 series tractor is 1) to a certain extent, cost, and 2) the fact that it would be too small to operate any of the 3pt implements I already have. Then, when I buy a new implement, do I get the 4' for the small tractor or the 6-7' for the Ford 3000?

A loader would be nice, but would it make sense to hold out and get a larger loader along with the larger tractor down the road when it is time to replace the Ford 3000? Something around the size of a 990/4005 seems to be a good match. I read about folks who aren't happy with the lift capacity of the smaller loaders.

 

[WH401]

I think the X748 would a perfect replacement for the two tractors you mention. I can completely understand your argument for replacing the cub. I cut 7 of my 10 acres for about 3 years with a "regular" height 72' Cub w/ the 59" Woods belly mower, and it was a less then pleasant experience. While yes, the tractor was a great little tractor that was paid for and simple to maintain, but it was showing it's age. The engine was still on the factory build and was becoming more worn with every use, and it was showing. On top of that, you had to keep the blades sharp and the deck free of clippings in order for it to even mow efficient with only an 11 hp engine. The tractor was very slow, when compared to today's machines, typically it would take me about 7 - 8 hours to cut the whole place. I was always replacing parts on it that were failing after almost 40 years. Over that 3 year period the tractor had more down time than cutting time. Simple put it was a PITA, so I decided to upgrade.

I contemplated a few different options, those being, a zero turn, a CUT with a loader and 6' finish mower, or an over sized lawn tractor, such as the x748. Ultimately the CUT won out because I really needed another loader tractor since my other one was spending so much time at my grandparents house. Being without a loader on a 10 acre farm is like bringing a knife to a gun fight, it's ridiculous. So far I have been happy with my decision. The only issue I have with cutting with the finish mower is that I unfortunately have to do more trimming around to obstacles than I did with the Cub, but it's still not that bad. My total cut time went from 7 - 8 hrs with the Cub, to 2.5 - 3 hrs with the 3320, which is absolutely awesome. Mowing isn't the only thing the tractor has been useful for though, it came in very, very handy in the few massive east coast snow storms that we had this year and last.

If I was able to just selected a dedicated mower and not the all-in-one CUT, I would be a hard decision between the zero turn or the lawn tractor. While the grass I cut is mostly open flat field, I do have one large hill that would really be the deciding factor in my decision. I could cut most of it with the zero turn, but the upper half I would definitely want the stability and traction of the x748 or the 3320. Who knows, maybe in the future I'll purchase a zero for my main cutting machine and keep the finish mower on the 3320 to cut the rest of the hill, (as I only cut that hill about once every 1 - 1.5 months during the season.)

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[jenkinsph]

First, your property sounds wonderful!!!

The choice is yours entirely, but be sure you take the time to get the right machine the first time. Not just the regret and the expense of re-trading, but life is too short to muscle around trying to do your chores with an under sized or wrongly applied tractor.

Is there a finer Super lawn tractor in the world than the X7xx JD? I don't think so. Saying it is the Porshe of lawn tractors doesn't even do it justice.

That said, too many of your tasks and those which WILL COME later are tractor oriented. FEL, dirt, gardening, and all those future implements you will collect and use, tells me you need to give serious consideration to the 2320.

It may seem too large in the showroom, but on your property doing work, you might even wish you'd bought the 2520 or the 2720. I am not a bigger is always better guy. Your land and the described tasks just point my thoughts, based on my life experiences here on our relatively recent relocation to our property, to the tractor in the 20 series.

In a year, I suddenly have a 3 pt tow bar, a cultivator, a middle buster plow, a rear blade, a FEL, a rear finish mower, and so forth. While I could see much of it going in, I could not see how much I would need all these things, and more.

BP,
The OP has a Ford 3000 for the 3pt work which is a small tractor already. On 100 acres I would think he could plan for a larger tractor in the future after buying the X748.

 

[Kansas Slim]

I've had the X748 for over a year now with the 7 Iron and the front blade. Works great! I nearly went with a Z-turn, but I have a 1/4 mile gravel lane to deal with as well. In SW Missouri, we don't get your snow, but last winter was pretty significant and the X748 didn't bat an eye. No weights, no chains. It just motored thru anything.

The drive-over 7 Iron is worth the extra expense. Cut is fantastic and I believe the extra blade speed really helps distribute long clippings well if you should wait too long between cuts. The ease of leaving the deck behind makes front blade work, or whatever else, less likely to be put off till later since it's no hassle and kinda fun to mount and dismount. It also makes it pretty easy to sharpen your blades more regularly, as long as you can lift it up from the front side after you have it off. It's a heavy duty mother!

I put on the 3 pt and the PTO with the intent of getting a tiller and a box blade. I have not done that yet. It is true. I believe they must use quite a bit of 24 karat gold in there somewhere. Therefore, I'm holding off for a good find on the implements.

Anybody have any idea how well this machine might handle a 4' Bush Hog (rotary cutter)? Of course the dealer says it wouldn't be a problem. Heck, how about a 5 footer? He says that would be too much.

 

[jcmseven]

I have had the 595, which is exactly the same machine as the new-numbered 748. I loved the machine. In all honesty, having used a ZTR for large volume mowing, there is not a HUGE difference in mowing speed between the two. I have posted in the past that my 757 ZTR JD (I now have a 950) was a faster mowing machine than my 595 was, but not by a tremendous amount and less if the terrain was rough or challenging. With the new 7-iron deck, this is likely even more the case. I love mowing with a ZTR and yes they are faster, but for someone who mows non-commercially a few acres and then mows a larger volume every two-three weeks with others tasks such as snow removal, the 748 is the better choice. It is a nice machine, a true Cadillac.

With regard to the 2305, unless one has a need to run a little loader, backhoe, or consistent three point implements, it is NOT a more capable machine than a 748. In fact, having used them both, the 748 is the far nicer machine to use for mowing and snow removal. It has a better ride, better ergonomics and a more-sophisticated frame design. The thought about the 2320 is a good one, and worth considering. I have a 2320 and just put a 62d mower deck on it for my dad to use when I cannot get to his yard. That is a really nice mowing set up. I personally think the 2320 mows BETTER than an X series with the 62D mower and can remove snow. They are a little more expensive, but not much, and come with some big tractor features in case you would want to add some smaller three point attachments in the future. This is generally a more capable machine than a 2305. My 2320 has no problem powering a 62D mower deck through about any type finished grass. I mow in A range, which is pretty fast and it is one smooth machine. One other small but notable advantage is the lack of a RIO switch. One can thusly mow in reverse without holding up a lever each time or disabling the safety device. To me the RIO is the single most-annoying safety devices ever devised. One caveat: if you look this direction, invest in the dedicated mower lift rather than the three point actuated lift. It makes it much easier to control deck height and such v. the other and is much more convenient.

John M

 

[KB9UDE]

Weight of a 5ft cutter is going to be the main problem. I would think with enough weight on the front end it would handle a 4ft great...

I've had the X748 for over a year now with the 7 Iron and the front blade. Works great! I nearly went with a Z-turn, but I have a 1/4 mile gravel lane to deal with as well. In SW Missouri, we don't get your snow, but last winter was pretty significant and the X748 didn't bat an eye. No weights, no chains. It just motored thru anything.

The drive-over 7 Iron is worth the extra expense. Cut is fantastic and I believe the extra blade speed really helps distribute long clippings well if you should wait too long between cuts. The ease of leaving the deck behind makes front blade work, or whatever else, less likely to be put off till later since it's no hassle and kinda fun to mount and dismount. It also makes it pretty easy to sharpen your blades more regularly, as long as you can lift it up from the front side after you have it off. It's a heavy duty mother!

I put on the 3 pt and the PTO with the intent of getting a tiller and a box blade. I have not done that yet. It is true. I believe they must use quite a bit of 24 karat gold in there somewhere. Therefore, I'm holding off for a good find on the implements.

Anybody have any idea how well this machine might handle a 4' Bush Hog (rotary cutter)? Of course the dealer says it wouldn't be a problem. Heck, how about a 5 footer? He says that would be too much.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Actually, the 42" rotary cutters made for the sub cuts would be the best. They are enough smaller to make a difference in weight. The state here uses many rotary cutters that are smaller than the width of their tractors, and they do miles, and miles of tough cutting. I often wish that is what I bought for size, weight, and the ability to trim a lot more places than I can squeeze my 48" cutter into........ between trees, etc.

 

[arrabil]

To me the RIO is the single most-annoying safety devices ever devised.

I jumpered two wires and never touched it again. I posted it here a few months ago.

 

[LBrown59]

Well there are similiar units in a couple different colors, but
1*no machine matches up to the x700 series exactly for a brand-to-brand comparison. .

1* But it's still just a garden tractor.

The only other GT that matches up to the X700 series is the Simplicity Legacy 2*I'd give JD the edge on ergonomics over the Simplicity built machines, but it isn't a huge difference.

2*Same here.

 

[arrabil]

1* But it's still just a garden tractor.

Did you forget the thread I made that showed it was in the same league as a BX (particularly the lower BXs like the BX15* and BX18*)? Or do you just not want to believe it?