Help with choosing new rider mower

[Oaktree]

Like the title said, I'm in the market for a new rider mower. Currently have an old Ariens that my father bought back in the mid 90s and I kind of inherited a few years ago. It still runs, but it's got issues...steering is really sloppy, I've had to re-weld one of the mower deck hangers a couple times now, and a few other assorted problems. Plus it's a bit of a gas hog.

I've narrowed down my choices to either a JD X-300 series and a Husqvarna TS242SD. I'm leaning a bit toward the JD, but the nearest dealer's an hour or so away, several places much closer carry the Husq. Any experiences or advice that would tip the scales one way or another (or maybe another brand I haven't thus far considered)? Also, from what the salesman told me the only difference between the JD X330 and the X350 is that the 330 has a B&S engine while the 350 has a Kawasaki. Is the Kawasaki worth the extra $200?

Roughly 1.5 acre lawn, hilly and rough so I need something that'll stand up to that kind of terrain.

 

[oldnslo]

The Kawasaki engines are very good engines so wouldn’t hesitate at $200 difference. The X500 series Deere have a heavier duty transaxle vs X300 series and have far less reports of transmission problems but are also more expensive.

Not sure on Husqvarna but believe have same or similar transaxle as the X330 or X350.

 

[anomad]

I got a lightly used Husky for my sister last year, don't know the model number, but it has a 42 inch deck and a little 17 horsepower Kawasaki. It is fantastic. It is dealer stuff, not box store stuff. My neighbor works at the equipment dealer for it in town - key factor in my decision making. It has an automatically locking rear differential and handles our mountainside mowed areas just fine. We're just knocking the weeds down. No manicured yards here. I mow a little more than you, so we have other options too.

Have you thought about a rear finish mower for your little Kioti listed in your profile? A 6 foot rear finish mower behind my little Kubota is my favorite mowing rig.

 

[dadohead]

Roughly 1.5 acre lawn, hilly and rough so I need something that'll stand up to that kind of terrain.

Focus on the transaxle, not the engine. The transaxle sets the duty cycle on these machines.

I'm a retired JD engineer and worked on these products. The tractors you are looking at have K46 transaxles. As soon as you stated "hilly and rough"... it was clear: bump up to the K58 (engine doesn't matter). The K58 has a 1" axle and an internal charge pump that keeps the efficiency high in the main piston pump/motor. A X380 is more money but it will hold up to your conditions. The K58 has a much higher service life and the new "deep" decks are AWESOME cutters! Hope this helps.

 

[Oaktree]

Have you thought about a rear finish mower for your little Kioti listed in your profile? A 6 foot rear finish mower behind my little Kubota is my favorite mowing rig.

Not sure I'd call my LK3054 "little" (though I guess compared to an AG tractor it is). Way too many places it wouldn't fit...anything wider than a 42" isn't gonna fit in some of the places I have to go. Not looking for more places to hand mow!

Don't want to give my wife any ideas with a finish mower. We have some open field just beyond what I mow as lawn that I'll bushhog a couple times a year to keep the brush down. She complains about how ratty it looks afterwards, keep trying to tell her it's a bushhog, not a finish mower.

Focus on the transaxle, not the engine. The transaxle sets the duty cycle on these machines.

I'm a retired JD engineer and worked on these products. The tractors you are looking at have K46 transaxles. As soon as you stated "hilly and rough"... it was clear: bump up to the K58 (engine doesn't matter). The K58 has a 1" axle and an internal charge pump that keeps the efficiency high in the main piston pump/motor. A X380 is more money but it will hold up to your conditions. The K58 has a much higher service life and the new "deep" decks are AWESOME cutters! Hope this helps.

Am I safe in assuming the X370 is the 42" equivalent of the 380? Quite the price leap from the 350!

I'm 75, so I don't need another mower that'll last 30 years. Just looking for a good quality one that isn't overkill and won't break the bank. I'll take a look at those, but the price scares me off a bit.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'm 75, so I don't need another mower that'll last 30 years.

There's that Oaktree optimism!

I'm going to be the old man who really shouldn't be mowing anymore, but everyone is afraid to tell him to stop.

 

[dadohead]

Am I safe in assuming the X370 is the 42" equivalent of the 380? Quite the price leap from the 350!

From memory, the X370 has a K57. A "tweener". It has the final drive of a K46 (3/4" axle / 20" rear tires) with the charge pump of the K58. It has external hydraulics! The X370 is a lawn tractor with power steering / power lift for super low effort inputs. The internal charge pump really boosts the efficiency / life of the transmission too. It would be a good choice as well if you just mow (no ground engagement).

 

[JeepHead]

Not sure I'd call my LK3054 "little" (though I guess compared to an AG tractor it is). Way too many places it wouldn't fit...anything wider than a 42" isn't gonna fit in some of the places I have to go. Not looking for more places to hand mow!

Don't want to give my wife any ideas with a finish mower. We have some open field just beyond what I mow as lawn that I'll bushhog a couple times a year to keep the brush down. She complains about how ratty it looks afterwards, keep trying to tell her it's a bushhog, not a finish mower.

Am I safe in assuming the X370 is the 42" equivalent of the 380? Quite the price leap from the 350!

I'm 75, so I don't need another mower that'll last 30 years. Just looking for a good quality one that isn't overkill and won't break the bank. I'll take a look at those, but the price scares me off a bit.

The 370 has the K57 while the 380 has the K58 that he talks about above.

IHT Transaxle series K (K46, K57, K58, K62, K66, K72)｜Hydraulic Equipments,Transmissions and Marine Gears｜Products｜Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.

This is the introduction of IHT Transaxle series K (K46, K57, K58, K62, K66, K72).In the field of gears, hydraulic equipments, transmissions, marine gears and mashine tools ,Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd. tries to solve the problems of our customers globally.

www.kanzaki.co.jp

 

[hslogger]

Like the title said, I'm in the market for a new rider mower. Currently have an old Ariens that my father bought back in the mid 90s and I kind of inherited a few years ago. It still runs, but it's got issues...steering is really sloppy, I've had to re-weld one of the mower deck hangers a couple times now, and a few other assorted problems. Plus it's a bit of a gas hog.

I've narrowed down my choices to either a JD X-300 series and a Husqvarna TS242SD. I'm leaning a bit toward the JD, but the nearest dealer's an hour or so away, several places much closer carry the Husq. Any experiences or advice that would tip the scales one way or another (or maybe another brand I haven't thus far considered)? Also, from what the salesman told me the only difference between the JD X330 and the X350 is that the 330 has a B&S engine while the 350 has a Kawasaki. Is the Kawasaki worth the extra $200?

Roughly 1.5 acre lawn, hilly and rough so I need something that'll stand up to that kind of terrain.

I don't have hilly, ie steep ground to mow. I have rolling fields and orchard that I use my X370 on for mowing close to my electric fences in pastures. This is my first NEW Deere mower after having three used ones. I sprung close to 5K for it. This mower has 110 hours on it. Power steering and hydraulic deck lift are just great. The mower gets a work out in the spring with wet ground and it has worked well. I have replaced one tower and one idler. I can't complain a bit about the performance.All of the five Kawasaki i engines I have experience with are flat out terrific. I do not have a bagger. I would buy this machine again

 

[rogbn]

The nice thing about the x370 is that the transmission is serviceable. Have 90 hours on mine and love it - except that Kawasaki engine is a gas hog for sure.