John Deere for large lawn and garden(s).

[WillysWoodPile]

--- Can anybody suggest a decent priced combination of a John Deere larger-than-average lawn mower with a sturdy rear-tiller?
--- My one garden is about 60' x 125'. Then there is the "melon & squash" garden. Then there is the Church garden etc., etc.....
--- The lawn at the main farm takes about 5 hours to mow on an average lawn tractor.
--- Needless to say, my "Quality" Farm & Country mower is a money-pit and I will not put another dime into it. I am currently using a 14.5 horse MTD that was given to me by my neighbors when they moved to Vegas. Our large lawn is just too much for that tractor and nobody wants to sit for 5 hours mowing a lawn.
--- I have a Husqvarna 650 CRT Tiller but it's worse on my back than the 17" Sears front-tine tiller, and whoever designed the Husqvarna tiller was smoking some wacky tobaccy.
--- I need a combination larger than average mower deck and tiller. Easy on, Easy off, Easy maintenance, and the [for sure] possibility] of future attachments. So no brands that I would have trouble getting parts for. Although I am not opposed to having to search for parts, if they can be found.
--- My back cannot take horsing around a tiller anymore, and I need to be able to mow our lawn at any time. At night with dew on the grass included [so obviously I need lights].
--- And I do not think spending all that money on a new set-up will happen. So a good used set-up will suffice. That is where all you guys come in. I have been stuck in limbo for the past 20 years using "off-brand" stuff and am in need of rehabilitation. [I used to mow with a John Deere 212] when younger.
--- How about recommendations on a "ready-to-go/turnkey" set-up, and maybe a buy for thousand and a thousand worth of work set-up.
--- Either "The Farm" is paying for this, or granny is. Either way I am the one who has to do everything and give my uncle information for his approval.

Thank you everyone.

 

[jenkinsph]

Look for a good used tiller for the 4320 listed in your signature

Tell us more about your lawn, wide open or conjested, how many acres ?
Flat or hilly? All makes a big difference as to what I would recommend.

 

[WillysWoodPile]

Look for a good used tiller for the 4320 listed in your signature

--- The large lawn tractor is a little easier to move around. Although I must brag that I have never taken out any mailboxes with the duals on the 4320. That baby can sure sling some mud.
--- And I may want to use the tiller to weed throughout the year to save my back. I may have to have a larger space in between rows but I want everything to work to take the pressure off of my back.

Tell us more about your lawn, wide open or conjested, how many acres ?
Flat or hilly? All makes a big difference as to what I would recommend.

It's about 3 acres. Basically open except for 10 walnut trees, 4 or 5 50 foot pine trees [No branches up to 12 feet], and some 20 foot pines that the branches are down to the ground. And a few scattered bushes. And there is some slightly tight spaces around the bins.
So a good 95+% of the mowing will be done by the new larger mower. The rest by a smaller average MTD given to me by my neighbors [in town]. And the MTD will be used in the places that are prone to having rocks/gravel and things that "the good mower" won't be used for. I have removed some rocks that have been chipping blades for the last 30 years, so I can mow now without harming the blades.
As much as it pains me to say this I didn't really treat equipment with much respect when I was a kid, even though I did perform detailed maintenance.
--- If I ever get married and have kids, one of the lessons I will teach my kid is to respect equipment. We tend not to respect something we did not pay for.
--- So in summary, the average lawn tractor is too small for mowing our large lawn(s) and a zero-turn only has one purpose. Anything larger than the Allis Chalmers CA [we have, somewhere] would be too large for my purposes.
--- In short, I need the perfect-sized lawn tractor for mowing large lawns, tilling large gardens, able to till in-between rows to take the brunt of weeding off of my back. And a snow-blower attachment to be added soon. I need to be able to get parts and attachments without trouble. And I have to get a decent deal because either the farm, or grandma, is going to pay for it.

 

[hoddykubody]

What Willy is refering too is there is a compact tractor model 4320 as well as a regular 4320 full size farm tractor . I would recommend a jd 345 355 model for a 54" deck but they also have some smaller sizes as well to "conform" to your yardscapes . They have a tiller option - check your local deere dealer as they have good used trades come in . Yes they have lighter cheaper models with tillers but that is your decision how much you value your work on your tractor. Hoddykubody

 

[WillysWoodPile]

I found a John Deere 316 with an 18 horse Kohler, snow blower, rear tiller, 46'' mower deck, wheel weights and tire chains. Runs great. Everything in well working condition. And it's only a half hour away from me. All for $2,500. Any advice before I call the person?

 

[jenkinsph]

I found a John Deere 316 with an 18 horse Kohler, snow blower, rear tiller, 46'' mower deck, wheel weights and tire chains. Runs great. Everything in well working condition. And it's only a half hour away from me. All for $2,500. Any advice before I call the person?

Willy,
I should have looked more closely at your picture, I was thinking you had a newer 4320 CUT.

I would make the call about the 316, it may be a good solution for you and I guarantee you that is alot cheaper than buying a new X7XX garden tractor.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

my brother-in-law has a 4320 on his dairy farm. It's quite a machine. It has a Heineker (SP?) cab on it. They use it for harrowing and corn chopping mostly.

Personally, I'd rather have a used JD lawn and garden tractor than a new one. Keep your eyes peeled and you can probably find a nice GX325, 335 or 345 reasonably priced with a 54" deck. I have the 30" mechanical tiller for my 1994 325 and I can switch from mow to till and back to mow in about 15 minutes. It has ag tires and hydraulic lift and cruise control. I love it.

 

[WillysWoodPile]

my brother-in-law has a 4320 on his dairy farm. It's quite a machine. It has a Heineker (SP?) cab on it. They use it for harrowing and corn chopping mostly.

Personally, I'd rather have a used JD lawn and garden tractor than a new one. Keep your eyes peeled and you can probably find a nice GX325, 335 or 345 reasonably priced with a 54" deck. I have the 30" mechanical tiller for my 1994 325 and I can switch from mow to till and back to mow in about 15 minutes. It has ag tires and hydraulic lift and cruise control. I love it.

--- As far as I am concerned the 4320 is the ultimate [all-around] tractor, or the 20 series if you will.

--- I'll take under advisement your recommendation. I really appreciate it.
--- I tried to tell my uncle about the JD 316 but he was shelling corn at the time. So I am just going to be patient. I'd rather have the 54" deck than the 46" one on the 316.
--- How are the 325, 335, and the 345 at powering through heavy wet morning grass, because average mowers seem to have a limit and you have to slow them down to a snail's pace.
--- And it is important to me how a deck moves grass through it's guts and slings it out the chute. I've seen some terrible designs that must have been thought up at the same time as the person who thought up reverse tines on a rototiller bottle-necking everything with the tires. Effectively stopping all operation. Buts that's for another thread.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

my 325 is an older one and has the 17HP single lung Kawasaki. The newer one came with a twin cylinder 18 HP. Honestly, I never mow wet because I need to bag for my compost pile. wet grass plugs the chute. I think it would depend upon how thick the grass and the width of the mower. The Edge decks seem to have a nice distribution out the side.

 

[WillysWoodPile]

my 325 is an older one and has the 17HP single lung Kawasaki. The newer one came with a twin cylinder 18 HP. Honestly, I never mow wet because I need to bag for my compost pile. wet grass plugs the chute. I think it would depend upon how thick the grass and the width of the mower. The Edge decks seem to have a nice distribution out the side.

--- Our "Quality" Farm and Country lawn tractor has a 18.5 Briggs but it does not seem to cut the mustard. Even though I won't put another dime into this tractor I am already thinking about using the motor somewhere else.

--- I frequently get the urge to mow at night {another benefit of living in the Country}, and when I worked on a golf course we had to mow before the first tee time, which means there was always dew on the grass. I used an old zero-turn Jacobsen but I can't remember what size engine it had.
--- A buddy of mine has one of these at his farm and it will power through heavy grass at [too] high speed. We were taking turns mowing and got a little carried away but she held up just fine.
--- Both my uncles have zero-turns but a zero-turn can't till a garden, blade a pile of dirt, or snow-blow half the County. Nor is a zero-turn fun to ride down to the Amish neighbors and get eggs. Or ride down to the local creek and catch shiners and chubs for Pike bait.
--- One time I had my step-dads John Deere 110 and drove it 6 miles to my buddies house and helped him mow his lawn.
--- I will look into and for a JD 325, 35 or 45. And from what I have read just in the last few days it seems that finding one with the Kawasaki motor is the way to go.
--- If I remember right, back in the day, a Kawasaki 1100 was the king motor on a motorcycle.

 

[WillysWoodPile]

my brother-in-law has a 4320 on his dairy farm. It's quite a machine. It has a Heineker (SP?) cab on it. They use it for harrowing and corn chopping mostly.

Personally, I'd rather have a used JD lawn and garden tractor than a new one. Keep your eyes peeled and you can probably find a nice GX325, 335 or 345 reasonably priced with a 54" deck. I have the 30" mechanical tiller for my 1994 325 and I can switch from mow to till and back to mow in about 15 minutes. It has ag tires and hydraulic lift and cruise control. I love it.

Mechanical tiller or the hydraulic tiller? I see you have the mechanical and like it. And I noticed the hydraulic tiller [as advertised] only goes 6 inches deep.

 

[jenkinsph]

Woody,
I think the better choice in tillers for this size equipment is the Deere 647 or comparable unit, these will till about 7" deep. To till much deeper most of the tillers would be designed for larger tractors. An alternative solution might be to use a larger tractor each year at the beginning to till the garden plot then use the smaller unit to cultivate (till as you mentioned) between the rows.

I ordered a new X749 and plan to purchase the 647 tiller for it this spring but this is for lawn use planting new grass. My focus here was for something to get into the tight spots where the larger tractors won't fit.

 

[jcmseven]

I would recommend looking into a used 500 series (the equivalent of the 700 series now) if you can find one at a good price. The older 400 series (425, 445, 455 diesel) are really nice also. The problem here is that in "not brand new" equipment, often the prices are similar but the machines may be vastly different. While the 300 series machines are really nice, I would consider a 400 or 500 series machine at a couple thousands dollars more to be a worthwhile deal if they are in similar shape. They are just much more efficient machines.

John M

 

[LBrown59]

This is what I use.:laughing:

--- Can anybody suggest a decent priced combination of a John Deere larger-than-average lawn mower with a sturdy rear-tiller?
---.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

the mechanical tiller I have works great although sometimes, when breaking new ground, it turns the tractor into a rocket...

 

[iowacorn]

gentlemen:
i have a john deere xuv 850d that i was using in the cornfield, after the corn was picked, apparently a cornstalk pierced the rubber boot that covers the u-joint to the front wheel drive.. that u-joint is now exposed to the dirt and everything else on the ground. i can't have it exposed, but it looks like a all day job to take that old boot off and put on another one... i don't use that drive shaft often, but it turns weather it's being used or not..
has anyone else had a problem with this? appreciate any and all the help i can get. thank you for the help .

 

[Gator6x4]

gentlemen:
i have a john deere xuv 850d that i was using in the cornfield, after the corn was picked, apparently a cornstalk pierced the rubber boot that covers the u-joint to the front wheel drive.. that u-joint is now exposed to the dirt and everything else on the ground. i can't have it exposed, but it looks like a all day job to take that old boot off and put on another one... i don't use that drive shaft often, but it turns weather it's being used or not..
has anyone else had a problem with this? appreciate any and all the help i can get. thank you for the help .

I have seen farmers split an inner tube place it around the shaft and use tire cememt to seal the tube and then place hose clamps on the ends. This was a field repair I do not know if they left everything in place when the harvesting was done or not.

 

[WillysWoodPile]

This is what I use.:laughing:

--)> I used a Kubota when I worked on a golf course.

-- You have a nice machine. How well does that tiller work?

 

[KB9UDE]

If you are looking for a garden tractor I have owned and loved the following: 285 with 30" tiller, 445, x485, x720 mower and front blade. Each of these has been reliable and done more than expected.

If you want a slightly larger tractor (CUT) I have owned a JD 2320 and 2520. On our farm we currently have a 2520 running a 5ft tiller and 62" drive over MMM. It works wonderful. We use this for mowing around fields in the summer and tilling gardens and food plots for hunting deer.

 

[jenkinsph]

If you are looking for a garden tractor I have owned and loved the following: 285 with 30" tiller, 445, x485, x720 mower and front blade. Each of these has been reliable and done more than expected.

If you want a slightly larger tractor (CUT) I have owned a JD 2320 and 2520. On our farm we currently have a 2520 running a 5ft tiller and 62" drive over MMM. It works wonderful. We use this for mowing around fields in the summer and tilling gardens and food plots for hunting deer.

We are both setup similarly and I likewise have been impressed with the abilities of the 749. As far as tilling goes there shouldn't be much difference between the X7xx mowers and a 2320 or even 2520. By that I am referring to tilling depth, most of these max out about 6 or 7 inches. That is the limit of these rotor diameters but some of the large ag tillers can till about a ft deep.