Hatred for the JD X720 and mower deck

[kevin45]

I really hate to say, but a couple of years ago we bought a low hour X720 with the 56" drive over deck. I have to say that ever since we have owned this tractor our yard has looked like crap. If you go around a tree, the deck will cut lower on one side. The scalping wheels adjustment release hang out past the deck. If a scalping wheel happens to hit the ground while turning it will dig in. If you don't mow exactly square to a hill, the deck wheels will either dig in or the deck will scalp on one side. It's been to the dealer, the deck and wheels properly set and leveled, all to no avail. We also have a 345 and it mows beautifully, but sadly the wife overheated it and I think it cracked the block, so that is this winters project. John Deere screwed up when they wouldn't let the deck float on the X720. As long as you mow in one continuous straight path it's fine, but turn a corner and it's a whole new ballgame. Am I the only one with this problem? Unfortunately I don't have a perfectly level lawn, and we mow around 4 acres with it.

 

[beenthere]

First, I would suspect that it was not set up correctly. Do you have the operators manual for that drive-over deck?

 

[Amvcane]

How wide was the deck on the 345?
I switched from a 46" to a 50" deck and the cut was very different on the hilly and undulating areas. Cutting short at the edges of the deck and leaving the grass long in any depressions. No issues on the flats. The 46" deck did the same, but it was minimal and acceptable.
I would like to move to a 54" deck to shorten mowing time, though I feel it would be to wide for the amount of undulations in the ground and leave an unacceptable cut.

 

[Gator6x4]

I really hate to say, but a couple of years ago we bought a low hour X720 with the 56" drive over deck. I have to say that ever since we have owned this tractor our yard has looked like crap. If you go around a tree, the deck will cut lower on one side. The scalping wheels adjustment release hang out past the deck. If a scalping wheel happens to hit the ground while turning it will dig in. If you don't mow exactly square to a hill, the deck wheels will either dig in or the deck will scalp on one side. It's been to the dealer, the deck and wheels properly set and leveled, all to no avail. We also have a 345 and it mows beautifully, but sadly the wife overheated it and I think it cracked the block, so that is this winters project. John Deere screwed up when they wouldn't let the deck float on the X720. As long as you mow in one continuous straight path it's fine, but turn a corner and it's a whole new ballgame. Am I the only one with this problem? Unfortunately I don't have a perfectly level lawn, and we mow around 4 acres with it.

I really hate to say, but a couple of years ago we bought a low hour X720 with the 56" drive over deck. I have to say that ever since we have owned this tractor our yard has looked like crap. If you go around a tree, the deck will cut lower on one side. The scalping wheels adjustment release hang out past the deck. If a scalping wheel happens to hit the ground while turning it will dig in. If you don't mow exactly square to a hill, the deck wheels will either dig in or the deck will scalp on one side. It's been to the dealer, the deck and wheels properly set and leveled, all to no avail. We also have a 345 and it mows beautifully, but sadly the wife overheated it and I think it cracked the block, so that is this winters project. John Deere screwed up when they wouldn't let the deck float on the X720. As long as you mow in one continuous straight path it's fine, but turn a corner and it's a whole new ballgame. Am I the only one with this problem? Unfortunately I don't have a perfectly level lawn, and we mow around 4 acres with it.

Is this a Lawn Tractor or Zero Turn? I didn’t think JD made a 720 Lawn Tractor. JD lists the x720 as a zero turn.

John Deere Z720E ZTrak™ Mower

Shop the rugged and versatile John Deere Z720E Zero-Turn Mower at Van Wall Equipment, the Midwest's clear first choice for over 70 years.

vanwall.com

 

[oldnslo]

On my X540 with 54” deck I found that setting the front gauge wheels one hole higher than the rear virtually eliminated the ring around the tree issue. Yes while turning or side hill suspended deck will tilt. I think Simplicity is one of the few companies that run the deck on the ground.

 

[bigtiller]

Is this a Lawn Tractor or Zero Turn? I didn’t think JD made a 720 Lawn Tractor. JD lists the x720 as a zero turn.

Tractor data says garden tractor.

TractorData.com John Deere X720 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

 

[ruffdog]

I have a x744 w/62c, dad has a x749 w/62c, and neighbor has a x700 with a narrower deck. I set up the deck on ours and dads and have not had an issue and I don't ever see the neighbor digging sod. With the deck set at cutting height can you lift a side by hand? I know it won't float as much as the CC 982 but for normal mowing it seems fine?

 

[kevin45]

I have to clarify something......I thought I had the 54" deck, but I have the 60" 7-iron deck. I can lift up on side when it's down but not much. The 345 has the 54" deck. It was my understanding that the wheels are anti-scalping wheels and not gage wheels. If I raise the front wheels up one hole, that would allow the deck to dig in more on a corner. My Cub with a 72" deck has wheels that run on the ground at all times. It rolls over smaller hills. John Deere doesn't set their deck up that way.

 

[beenthere]

You can set it to run on the ground on the gauge wheels if you want to do it that way.

 

[Gator6x4]

You can set it to run on the ground on the gauge wheels if you want to do it that way.

He will probably go through several sets of anti scalp wheels during a mowing season if he does. The wheels are designed to be set 1/8th to 1/2 inch above the mowing surface When in use.

Kubota makes ground contact mowing decks for some of there units. This units have wheels designed to support the weight of the deck when in use. The 7 iron from JD is a float mower and not a ground contact mower Unless I am mistaken which I have been before.