1998 Toro 522xi vs 2005 CC LT1042

[JASinPA]

Hello. Thank you for this great resource! I'm new here, but I'll try to make this interesting.

I am in the process of replacing my CC LT1042 with something a little more powerful and versatile. I chose a used Toro 522xi that was listed locally because it was the best I could find that didn't kill the budget. My basic questions are:

I think I made a pretty substantial upgrade, did I?

Is the 1998 522xi (~300 hrs) going to die because it is 10 yrs old?

Is the 522xi worth the $1500 I spent on it?

How much is the CC LT1042 worth? (No jokes!)

Thanks for the help! Have a great day!

 

[arthurb]

JASinPA,

Welcome to TBN. You should have posted your question in the Lawn and Garden tractor forum. The 522xi is a shaft driven garden tractor that will use ground engaging attachments. The CC LT1042 is a belt driven lawn tractor that isn't capable to use ground engaging attachments. I don't know how much the CC LT1042 is worth.

I own a 2004 520xi with 250 hours on it. Depending on the 522xi's mechanical and physical condition, I would say that you received a good deal for $1500.00. What size mower deck came with it? With proper scheduled maintenance your 522xi should last well past 1000 hours and longer.

I have had no problems with my 520xi. Here are the following attachments that I use with my 520xi: 60" mower deck, 10" moldboard plow, 36" disc, 40" cultivator, 48" front blade and a 48" areator/drop spreader. You'll need to buy a rear clevis hitch to use ground engaging attachments.

Also, I use rear Ag tires with chains and wheel weights when using the front blade and ground engaging attachments. They give you better traction then the standard turf tires. You might have no problems with just using the turf tires with chains and wheel weights. I perfer the Ag tires instead myself.

 

[JASinPA]

arthurb,

Thank you for replying. The machine runs very well. It has a slow leak in one front tire and the deck (48 inches) has a rust spot on it, but nothing major. I do not have any attachments at all for it. Just the tractor and mowing deck. I don't think it has the rear attachment hitch, either.

Moving forward, though...

Some of the attachments you listed aren't sold by Toro. How do I find out what can work with this machine and where to find them? I am looking for wheel weights, chains, a front plow (for snow and dirt), and maybe a cultivator.

Did you disable the smart steer feature? I don't know if I like it or not.

Should I repost this thread in the other forum or just let it sit here?

Thank you!

 

[arthurb]

JASinPA,

I don't know for sure on how you move a thread for one forum to the next. I would just post my future 522xi questions in the Lawn and Garden forum. The Toro clevis hitch is a sleeve hitch. It will accept all different makes and models of sleeve hitch attachments. Toro just calls their sleeve hitch a clevis hitch.

These different sleeve hitch attachments can be found at all different garden tractors retailers: Sears, TSC, Home Depot, Lowes, Ebay, etc. I would buy my clevis hitch, wheel weights, chains and front blade from your local Toro WH dealer. Or, from someone who has the same GT, (522xi), that you have.

The 315-8, and older 300, 400, and 500 series Toro WH GT front blades won't fit to your 522xi. The xi series GT's have a longer wheel base then the other models. I'm not sure if the same goes for the clevis hitch also. As mentioned above, I would buy all the other attachments from the other listed retailers. They probably will have a less expensive price then a dealer would. I'm basing this on my own experience.

 

[arthurb]

JASinPA,

If you want, you can also send me a pm if you have any other questions.

 

[Rick_CT]

JASinPA,

Great deal on the 522xi. Arthurb was right on with his comments. These things are built like tanks, you cannot compare them to the average lawn and garden tractor. I also own a '98 522xi that I purchased last year with about 200 hours on it. This was to replace my 1973 wheel horse that I was the original owner of. It wasn't even worn out yet after 32 years of use, but I needed something a little larger. I sold the '73 for more than I paid for a used blower for the 522xi. I have a 52" deck, dirt/snow blade, power vac for deck with double bagger, and a 44" two stage blower.

Look for used attachments if you need them. I paid $150 for the blade, and $350 for the blower. The blower new goes for 2 grand right now. They needed paint and a few parts, but again, they are so overbuilt that a little rust is nothing to worry about most of the time.

If you hate raking leaves, the power vac for the deck with gator blades on the deck make rakes obsolete.

I don't have that rear hitch, but I think I'm going to look into it. Another thing that is great about these if you need parts, go to the Toro web site, have your model number and serial number in hand, and you can click on "homeowner, then click on "customer care", then click on "product center" and you can download all of the parts manuals, and even the original manuals for your machine. I found this to be an excellent resource.

I have attached a couple of pics of my machine with the used attachements put back into like new condition. I have 550 feet of driveway to clear in the winter and this machine makes it fun. My 15 year old daughter enjoyed doing some snow plowing this winter. The hydro and power steering really make it nice.

Like arthurb said, if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck

Rick

 

[arthurb]

Here's my 520xi in the snow!!!

 

[arthurb]

Here's the rear clevis hitch with a plow and cultivator.

 

[Rick_CT]

Arthurb,

Thanks for the action shots. The dirt working attachments look like they really work, I always wondered how effective they would be with this size machine. I'm going to have to start looking for some.

Now that the Noreaster is about done here, I think this weekend may be safe for me to pull the plow and chains and put the deck back on, but I think it may be a couple of weeks before the ground dries out enough to go out onto the lawn without making a mess.

Rick

 

[JASinPA]

Rick and Arthur,

Thank you for the help! I was a little upset when I got the tractor home on Good Friday. The gentleman selling it (private sale) told me it was a 2002 model but the serial number showed it to be a 1998. I called Toro to ask if there are any major differences between the models and they couldn't find any. After hearing from you guys that the machine will hold up for years and will work hard, I am confident that this was a good investment.

Should I buy and install the clevis hitch and rear attach-a-matic myself or have the dealer do it? What is entailed with these projects?

Arthur, do you use the Ag tires when you cut grass? If so, do they tear up the yard?

Any suggestions on where to look for used attachments?

My gator blades are in the mail and I hope they will help tame the grass over the septic.

Thanks again!