$3500 - $4000 to spend on mower

[LBrown59]

It is also amazing that you didn't blast daTeacha with his statement about the same tractors I was refering to in the second post of this thread.
David from jax

He made it pretty clear that he was refering to Box Store models but CC also builds upper level models.
Also he didn't Imply that CC was the only brand to be wary of because they sell some models through the BIG BOX Stores.

 

[Patches]

Scott VT: couple nice A's you got there What vintage are they

 

[sandman2234]

I stand by my original post, and as far as bashing is concerned, maybe you should actually see what I say when I am bashing something. Making assumptions about other peoples posts is wrong, and you did that with mine. It is obvious you have something against me, or you are just standing up for what I consider a mower on the same scale as a Craftsman, which is what I said in the first place. You can have your yellow machines, I will stick with what I have. As far as the original poster, he probably knows better than to buy a CC.
David from jax

 

[VABlue]

"So can I with the BX23 But it still has a safety switch on the seat that stops the mower doesn't your 2305 have that also?
"

It does, but I disabled it. I killed the engine too often when disconnecting the loader - the seat comes up when I bend forward to lift the locks. Sometimes being short works against me...

 

[lawn_king]

Hello klh92, you may want to post this same thread over at www.lawnsite.com Im sure you will get some decent feedback. Good luck,Scott.

 

[sandman2234]

Most of the commercial companies in this area are using Dixie Choppers, a zero turn mower. We don't have the hills or rocks, and somebody already mentioned a zero turn wouldn't be best, but they do appear to be good mowers.
David from jax

 

[LBrown59]

***************
1*Making assumptions about other peoples posts is wrong, and you did that with mine.
2*It is obvious you have something against me, or you are just standing up for what I consider a mower on the same scale as a Craftsman
You can have your yellow machines, I will stick with what I have.
As far as the original poster, he probably knows better than to buy a CC.
David from jax
***************

1*And this is exactly what you've done here in this statement of yours.
(It is obvious you have something against me, or you are just standing up for what I consider a mower on the same scale as a Craftsman.)
2*I am not standing up for the 1500 in particular but I am standing up for CC in general because this statement warns the op to avoid all CC tractors.
(You can have your yellow machines, I will stick with what I have.
As far as the original poster, he probably knows better than to buy a CC.)

 

[LBrown59]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1*just standing up for what I consider a mower on the same scale as a Craftsman.
2*As far as the original poster, he probably knows better than to buy a CC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1*I agree with you the CC 1500 tractor is on the same scale as the craftsman but so are all the other BIG BOX STORE multitudes of labels found there including John Deere.
To single out CC when they are no different than the others just isn't right or fair to CC especially when the problem was the fault of the operator and not the tractors fault.
Had it been a JD or any of the others and you didn't understand the operation of it you would have had the same frustrations.
My question to you is why blame or condemn the manufacturer for what was certainly operator error.
Seems to me according to your logic all Box Store tractors not just CC should be avoided since they are all on the same scale.
2*He may not know to stay away from all the other Box store same scale Tractors cause you never tipped him off about them.

 

[sandman2234]

I can't tip him off about the other models, because I don't make it a habit of buying box store machines. A good friend bought one and I used it, so that is the experience that I posted.I have experience with the CC that I mentioned, but to tip him off concerning the others, would require me having to have experience with them. I will leave that to you, or others who may have had experience with them. I stated my experience, and only included the single CC model that I have experience with. I never mentioned anything other than what I operated. I think you are just trying to start a flame war, and ruin this new posters question. I think both of us should be man enough to drop it. You have made your point. If you want to have a flame war, start your own topic.
David from jax

 

[jsborn]

If I was here with 5 posts like the original poster and got this started I would be very leary about asking a controversial question like what kind of oil to use or the like.

Quote:
"I think both of us should be man enough to drop it. "

A difference of opinion is Great but be willing to allow other to have their opinions too.

Wow I am a great one to talk here since I am the worlds worst at believe as I do or you must be a moron.

I will stop and return the soap box the yall.

 

[LBrown59]

I think both of us should be man enough to drop it. David from jax

Suits Me.

 

[klh92]

Well, I seem to have caused a stir. I do thank you all for your comments. I checked this thread quite often after my original post and didn't see much action...seems it all came in the recent days.

I tried both the CC and the JDs....in the end, I chose the JD x340, got it for $4100. I've already mowed once with it and absolutely love it. The foot control and turning of the JD won me over for what I needed. The CC does look like it is a bit bulkier and heavier and I am sure I would have been more than satisfied with it. The only issue on the JD so far is using it on hills....one, wish it had soem better traction control and two if you have to rock it to get traction, it shuts off. I'm checking on some wheel weights or something to help out. I wish I would have been able to go up a series to the 500 to get the differential, but as we all know money was the issue. I'll try to get some pics and post back after more usage. Thanks again for all the feedback...hope to run into some of you fellows at a lawn near you soon.

 

[VABlue]

Congrats on the purchase! When you're looking for wheel weights, think about getting the 5 gal bucket holder on back and filling a couple of them with concrete. That might be easier and less expensive than wheel weights. Also look into disabling the seat safety switch for those rocking moments. Just be careful to not require its use if you do disable it!!

 

[LBrown59]

1*I tried both the CC and the JDs....in the end, I chose the JD x340, got it for $4100.
2* The CC does look like it is a bit bulkier and heavier and I am sure I would have been more than satisfied with it.
3*The only issue on the JD so far is using it on hills.
4*Wish it had some better traction control if you have to rock it to get traction, it shuts off.
5*I'm checking on some wheel weights or something to help out.
6*Yep when you get into that kind of money for a garden tractor you're ahead to go with a good new or used small sub compact tractor.
I can buy a used low hour Kubota BX1500 S-Cut with a 48'' mower for $6000.
It comes standard with 4x4 Power steering Roll BAR Differential lock and rear PTO and 3 point hitch, which solves all issues of traction on hills and no extra weight is needed.
Another advantage of the BX1500 is it's a diesel which means less fuel consumption than the gas hog V twin cylinder gasoline engines on the garden tractors.
It also means I can justify home fuel delivery at a lower price per gallon; and no more time wasting trips lugging back breaking 5 gallon cans to the service station throwing money away on the more expensive fuel.
I'm beginning to realize I made a mistake in buying the CC2554 not because it's not a great machine because it is.
The problem is It wasn't the right choice of equipment to meet my wants / needs.
If I had it to do over again I would have went with the BX1500 S-Cut instead of the CC 2554.
__________________

 

[LBrown59]

I tried both the CC and the JDs....in the end, I chose the JD x340 The only issue on the JD so far is using it on hills....one, wish it had soem better traction control and two if you have to rock it to get traction, it shuts off. I'm checking on some wheel weights or something to help out. quote]

Why didn't you notice the traction defferences between the JD and the CC when you tried them out on your hills?

 

[JSharp]

Well, I seem to have caused a stir. I do thank you all for your comments. I checked this thread quite often after my original post and didn't see much action...seems it all came in the recent days.

I tried both the CC and the JDs....in the end, I chose the JD x340, got it for $4100. I've already mowed once with it and absolutely love it. The foot control and turning of the JD won me over for what I needed. The CC does look like it is a bit bulkier and heavier and I am sure I would have been more than satisfied with it. The only issue on the JD so far is using it on hills....one, wish it had soem better traction control and two if you have to rock it to get traction, it shuts off. I'm checking on some wheel weights or something to help out. I wish I would have been able to go up a series to the 500 to get the differential, but as we all know money was the issue. I'll try to get some pics and post back after more usage. Thanks again for all the feedback...hope to run into some of you fellows at a lawn near you soon.

That mower has a rear weight bracket built in. Why not get some suitcase weights? That way you can remove them easily when desired.

 

[sandman2234]

Congradulations on your purchase. I am sure you will be happy with it.
David from jax

 

[scott_vt]

Scott VT: couple nice A's you got there What vintage are they

Mornin Patches,
The one on the left is a 1949 Super A, just rescently restored last fall, the one on the right is a 1942 A older restore, both great tractors ! Thanks for the hollar !

 

[daTeacha]

As an owner of a CC 109, made when CC was part of IH about 30 years ago, and also a JD 240 made about 15 years later, I am impressed with the differences. Whether it's the time of manufacture or the brand I don't know.

What I do know is that the JD has AG style tires, the Cadet has a block tread that looks like a turf but is deeper. The Cadet lets me adjust the height of the deck on the fly while the JD requires that I stop and turn a knob a great number of times, which is annoying when I come across a rock or root sticking up through the "lawn" at my place. The JD will give a much nicer quality cut on the lawn. The Cadet will chew up sticks and such that are so much a part of a lawn in the woods with much greater efficiency. The Cadet blades ride much closer to the bottom of the deck than the JD blades, so it tends to scalp things easier. The JD rides a lot better and is quieter. Due to the tires it will go up hills that leave the Cadet spinning. The JD turns tighter than the Cadet. The Cadet will mow a trail through the woods and I don't think I would ever try that with the JD. The Cadet seems to be heavier by about 150 lb or so. The frame is definitely bigger.

The brakes on both of them are marginal at best, although the pads on the Cadet are now pieces of hickory since I didn't think factory ones were worth $50 or so and made my own. They work as well as the originals did. Both hold the tractor in place, but I wouldn't trust them on a steepish hill -- the Cadet had an incident with a tree once after I did just that and walked away for about 10 minutes.

Oh yeah, I paid $1100 for the Cadet 30 years ago and have replaced the engine since for a total investment of around $2700 over that time. I gave 850 for the JD last spring seeking a better quality cut for the other person who lives in my house and likes a nice looking lawn. I just swapped out decks for one with a bagger, bringing the investment in the JD to $1050.

 

[klh92]

Well, i've had three complete mows with the x340 and really like it. It mows so well. Smooth ride, great cut. The engine just moves....never stutters. The 54 inch deck makes my life much easier. I absolutely love the maneuverability of the x340, both the steering (wow, who would need powersteering and zero turn) and the foot controls. I didnt' think it would be so easy to operate with one foot. One thing that is a bit awkward is that the brake is tall over the forward and reverse pedals...making it virtually impossible to hit hte brakes fast when you need to.

As I posted earlier, the only complaint is the traction. Of course, i expected it and think i may go with some of the recommendations for rear weights. Don't get me wrong, the only traction issue that I have is on very steep grade. For almost everything but the very steepest, it does great. I used to have to hang on the side of my old craftsman, but not with this one.

It is so well built, so great to use......saves me a ton of time. Would recommend it to anyone. If anyone has questions about it, feel free to email me at klh92@yahoo.com. I know buying a mower can be a real pain in the rear and reading all of the posts can be very confusing. I'm not an expert, just a regular old user of it. I'd be glad to offer any thoughts needed.