JD SST JD LX ??

[NIXON]

A long while back I posted about a new lawn tractor . I was looking at the Huqvarna 1842 . I still have my Craftsman (that I hate but won't quite die ) . So I'm still in the market .
The JD SST get's some rave reviews from consumer reports . But I have some pretty decent slopes to mow . According to the JD web site the Lx 277 would be a better match to my needs . Do any of you own one ? Opinions ?? Thanks, John

 

[DAP]

I own a JD LX288 ... 18HP VTwin Kawasaki Gas with a 48C (4ft) deck ... three blades and weighs a ton

I use it to cut 3 acres of finish lawn and 3 acres of an old bumpy hay field. I aerate, drag, leaf vacuum, and pull a 1/2 ton wagon full ot split wood with it too.

Its the goods for mowing.
It twasn't cheap either.

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[NIXON]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(

Its the goods for mowing.
It twasn't cheap either.
)</font>

Doug , Thanks for the post ! I did the cheap route . Been regretting it since . I don't have near 3 acres to mow . But thanks to my Bush hog ,fel and blade the area is getting a bit tamer ,and bigger . The 277 seems like it'll fit my needs very well .
John

 

[timb]

Before I bought my used JD 318 I was looking at the LX277 very closely. There are a LOT of very happy owners out there, it seems like a good unit. The biggest problem I saw was the price - for not all that much additional money (around $400 more) you could slide into the GT235. 1 extra hp, bigger tires, the same or very similar control layout and if I remember it had a slightly heavier-duty transaxle, and maybe a tick heavier frame.

Stoneham's site has some great detailed info if you want to compare.

JD Consumer Info

Tim

 

[NIXON]

Tim . Thanks for the post ! Lots of good info on the various JD machines . For me the upper end of what I need V what I want is the 277 . I could get by and be happy with an LT except for fuel capacity . I keep looking at various machines . But I keep coming back to the JD's . A Gt is just a bit too much for what I need . Just want a solid Mower with hst,and 42-48"deck .
There's a Deere dealer about 10 miles from me that pretty much handles lawn and garden machines exclusively . I'll stop[ by and see what we can work out . John

 

[Bellville]

John, I have had an LX 277 now for the last two years, I use it to mow roughly 3 acres, I pull a commercial cyclone rake in the fall and drag a 17 cubic foot cart when needed.

The unit has performed flawlessly, I does a great job on the grass, is easy to operate and my wife seems to like riding around on it, which leaves me free to play, (err I mean work) on my 790.

Anyway, if your experience is anything like mine you will be extreamly pleased with the LX.

Best of luck in your decision.

 

[NIXON]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( and my wife seems to like riding around on it, which leaves me free to play, (err I mean work) on my 790.

Anyway, if your experience is anything like mine you will be extreamly pleased with the LX.


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Thanks for the post . The 277 does seem like the machine I'd really like . Especially if it keeps my wife off my tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
She won't go any where near my current lawn machine . Can't blame her for that though . I wouldn't either if I didn't have to mow . I will say to Sears credit ,that they've always come through quickly on parts . But , it seems like i should have my own hot line to them ,or at least get an XMas card for the amount of things I've had to buy to keep it going /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif John

 

[timb]

John, it's a slippery slope indeed when you keep peaking at what comes next in the lineup! And as Jack confirmed - when I was looking into the LX277 I found a large amount of very positive feedback from very pleased owners. When you get the chance though, do take a glance at the GT235 (especially if, as in my case they were parked side by each!). I checked the Stoneham's info - and the GT's do get the next model up tranny (K71 vs K60-something). I was also worried about the smaller LX tires on my rough lawn. Since the prices were so close it made me lean toward the GT. (While of course glancing over to the next row where the GX's were parked!) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tim

 

[NIXON]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( John, it's a slippery slope indeed when you keep peaking at what comes next in the lineup! And as Jack confirmed - when I was looking into the LX277 I found a large amount of very positive feedback from very pleased owners. When you get the chance though, do take a glance at the GT235 (especially if, as in my case they were parked side by each!). I checked the Stoneham's info - and the GT's do get the next model up tranny (K71 vs K60-something). I was also worried about the smaller LX tires on my rough lawn. Since the prices were so close it made me lean toward the GT. (While of course glancing over to the next row where the GX's were parked!) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tim )</font>
Tim I've been down the buy cheap, buy twice road .
But when selecting a tractor I went down the other road . I had my heart set on a 2910 . But right next to it was a 3130 . The wife looked at both and gave the nod to the 3130 . Saying "You'll be back for that in two years " .
So maybe lighting will strike twice . But, if it doesn't ,I think the 277 will make me very happy indeed ! John

 

[DAP]

Tim.. the major diff between the LX and the GT seems to be the latter has hyd. power steering.

For finish mowing, in my opin., this is a bell and whistle option and another level of maintenance complexity perhaps.

For machines this size, with no loader, no 3ph work, it's hard to see the value add for power steering. My LX turns with 2 fingers most of the time BECAUSE of the smaller wheels. I have a 4 foot deck - a very proficient size for a 18hp gas 2wd hydro mower.

BTW, my deck is the 48C where C means "Convertible". Does anyone know what it "converts" to? Never was able to figure this one out.

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[Bellville]

Doug, it is called a convertible because it can either be used as a side discharge or as a mulcher with the mulch plug installed. I have only used mine as a side discharge but have been extremely happy with the ruggedness of the deck and the quality of cut it produces.

 

[DAP]

Jack ... mulch plug ... is that a piece to block the side chute and used with mulching blades?

My best guess as I don't mulch. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

And you're right ... my 48C is a TANK ... and no fun to detach and clean.

 

[timb]

Your 'convertible' deck converts from side discharge to mulching to power-flow (bagger) with the optional kits.

Glancing at the Stoneham's site info, the LX and GT series are very similar - in fact they appear more closely related to each other than do the GT and GX series garden tractor lines. Both LX and GT look like they use the exact same frame, front axle, spindles, front tire size, both have manual steering. (The upscale GX series gets into power steering.) Same exact 18hp Kawaski engine in the LX280 and GT235 (is the LX277 no more?). Both can take the same mower decks. The overall dimensions are amost identical although the GT may have a slightly wider track? Turning radii are the same.

The biggest difference in the spec lists appears to be that the GT series uses the (Kanzaki) "K71B" transaxle (theoretically a heavier-duty unit than the "K62" model used in the LX series), and has bigger rear tires (24x12-12 vs 22x11-10). Oddly there is a slightly smaller gas tank on the GT (2.75 vs. 3 gallons).

Without fluids or mower deck the GT weighs about 10% (50 lbs.) more. Except for the transaxle, not sure where that extra weight comes from.

The GT can use all the implements that the LX takes and adds a few more in the 'ground engagement' area. Examples - the GT is rated for the larger (and heaver) "10" cart instead of the "7", a tiller, bigger front blade, bigger power-flow bagger unit, and the like.

As I said, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong at all with the LX series, lots of happy owner reports out there, but for 'just' a few hundred more I had to think about going to the GT. On the other hand the GX is a very different animal and the price jumps significantly.

Tim