GT225 or X304??

[hunt4570]

So I'm still looking for a decent mower, the 425 I was looking at seemed too much of a gamble , so I have 2 different ones I'm looking at. A GT225 with a bagger for $1700 (waiting to hear what year and hours), and a X304 without bagger for $1800. The X304 is a 2014 with 316 hours.
I mow maybe 3-4 acres and both of these are a little smaller than I would like, but they are better in my price range. Also I have a in-ground pool that always collects leaves and such, hence my desire for a bagger but I guess I can always add one later.
So what do you think? and are there things I need to look out for in these guys?

Thanks Scott

 

[beenthere]

For my money, it would be one of the 400 (425, 445, 455) series. No question about it. Sorry for being insistent..

 

[hunt4570]

For my money, it would be one of the 400 (425, 445, 455) series. No question about it. Sorry for being insistent..

Me too if there were one around anywhere manufactured after 1998 and priced reasonably... but there's not.

 

[beenthere]

john deere 445 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

John Deere Riding mower - farm & garden - by owner - sale

And more at Greensboro.. don't give up..

 

[hunt4570]

Both still out of my price range...

Any thoughts on the 225 or 304? that was my question...

 

[Smoothas]

Unless you have a flat lot , be careful with X304- for some reason ( price I'm sure) Deere went from a K58 to K46 in X304 ( I believe 2011 was 1st year with K46) So the X304 is not a heavy duty machine

 

[Smoothas]

Here is a LX 277 ( K63 tranny)

Lx 277 John Deere - farm & garden - by owner - sale

GT 235
John Deere GT235 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

X324

John Deere X324 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[hunt4570]

Unless you have a flat lot , be careful with X304- for some reason ( price I'm sure) Deere went from a K58 to K46 in X304 ( I believe 2011 was 1st year with K46) So the X304 is not a heavy duty machine

According to "tractordata.com" the 304 has the K58 which is what a lot of my thinking is based on, why do you say they went with the k46?
I know the tranny is the problem with the "big box store" machines which is why I've been avoiding them.. along with the huskys..

 

[hunt4570]

Here is a LX 277 ( K63 tranny)

Lx 277 John Deere - farm & garden - by owner - sale

GT 235
John Deere GT235 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

X324

John Deere X324 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

Thanks.. the top one is not too far, but the bottom 2 are 3 hours away.. might drive that far for a 400 series, but other than that I'm not sure.

 

[Smoothas]

According to "tractordata.com" the 304 has the K58 which is what a lot of my thinking is based on, why do you say they went with the k46?
I know the tranny is the problem with the "big box store" machines which is why I've been avoiding them.. along with the huskys..

2 nd line down on tractor data will say model years- from 2006 till 2010, hit the drop down menu and select 2011 to 2015 and you will see X304 has K46- the X304 had a K58 when introduced and in 2011 Deere went to K46 in X304

 

[hunt4570]

I wish I'd get notification when a post comes up here..

 

[hunt4570]

2 nd line down on tractor data will say model years- from 2006 till 2010, hit the drop down menu and select 2011 to 2015 and you will see X304 has K46- the X304 had a K58 when introduced and in 2011 Deere went to K46 in X304

AH HA!! thank you very much!! Never saw that before..

 

[Smoothas]

here is a nice LX280-- its in Ga-- but I'm sure Ag-Pro will ship to SC for you

25 John Deere LX28 - Lawn & Garden Tractors - John Deere MachineFinder

a X320 also in Ga- same deal dealer would tune it up and put new seat on

27 John Deere X32 - Lawn & Garden Tractors - John Deere MachineFinder

 

[hunt4570]

So what about this guy? High hours?

24 John Deere LX 28 Riding Lawn Mower - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[Smoothas]

Not a bad deal- tad too much for 13 year old tractor with high hours, if you can get him under 1500, very good deal- check it out, and if tractor is sound, offer him 1200 bucks cash , most he can do is say no

 

[hunt4570]

Here's another, he says 400 hrs is all..

john deere gx345 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[Smoothas]

I like the Gx345- excellent machine- but that tractor looks beat.. hard to beleive 400 hours

 

[Smoothas]

what about this one- more than you wanted to spend but in excellent condition - might be able to get him down to 3K

John Deere X5 Riding Lawnmower - farm & garden - by owner - sale
Or this one maybe get for 2500

John Deer X32 Lawn Tractorl 54 Inch Cut; 54 Hrs - farm & garden - by owner - sale
\
How far away is this- a real nice 345

John Deere Lawn Tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[hunt4570]

what about this one- more than you wanted to spend but in excellent condition - might be able to get him down to 3K

John Deere X5 Riding Lawnmower - farm & garden - by owner - sale
Or this one maybe get for 2500

John Deer X32 Lawn Tractorl 54 Inch Cut; 54 Hrs - farm & garden - by owner - sale
\
How far away is this- a real nice 345

John Deere Lawn Tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale

The bottom one is close and 491 hours. probably go look at it tomorrow.

 

[Amvcane]

Pretty sure the 345 came with a plastic cam gear. Might want to ask if it was changed out. Also not sure, but remember reading that they had a fuel pump problem which would need to be modified to avoid engine fire. I might be wrong about these items, maybe other could chime in. I like the water cooled machines and recently almost bought a gx345.