JD X729 alternatives???

[Gittyup]

Good point - maybe go to HDAP tires and more weight on your 445? I run front and rear wheel weights year 'round on my 455, just to reduce the pucker factor on a sidehill mow I have.

I think you can put wheel weights on an AWS 4x5, you just need to be careful the bolts don't stick out the back and interfere with the steering mechanism. Or you could get the tires filled.

Might be worth a try, vs. over $10K for a new tractor.

Tim

I don't think you can put wheel weights AND chains on the 400 series AWS's. When the wheel spacers are added for chain clearance, I think the rims are reversed. Thus, wheel weights can't be attached, at least that is what the dealer told me when I bought my 425 in 1994. The wheels may be bigger on the 445 AWS, and therefor might be different. I like the suitcase weights better anyhow.

Use heavy duty bungies to keep your chains tight to the outside. You don't want them getting loose in there around the AWS u-joints. They could tear something up.

Chains won't tear your grass, if it's healthy and you avoid stationary turning when wet.

While I love the X700 series with 4WD, I think you might need to add front weights to fully take advantage of the front drive on steep hills, especially when turning. And I felt like the X700 sat higher than my 425. Could have been the wheels. But, my 425 actually felt more stable. No matter, both are very very stable. It'd be real hard to turn one over. They tend to slide first.

 

[LBrown59]

Are there any good alternatives out there? Dan

These are the alternatives I chose.
Got Both of these with the attachments shown for about the same money as 1 x749 with just a mower on it.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/100_2313.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/100_2316.jpg
Not shown is another mower that was also included.

 

[LBrown59]

Simplicity offers 4wd in both the Prestige, and Legacy lines though you won't find msrp on the Legacies much different than the JD X700 series. Actual price at the dealers may be better.

I don't know how they compare now but when I bought my BX23 the Legacy ran about $5000 more than my BX23.
http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/storycty/chev6001a.JPG

 

[LBrown59]

1*consider the following: Kubota BX series (1850, 2350)
2*2350 can feel a bit tippy.
3*you might check out the kubota GR2110

1*The 1850 is my choice over the 2350 and the gr2110.
2*I have a BX1500 to take on places that I won't go with the BX23.
3*if the GR2110 is about the same money as the BX1850 then the BX1850 is a no brainer.

 

[ddodge68]

These are the alternatives I chose.
Got Both of these with the attachments shown for about the same money as 1 x749 with just a mower on it.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/100_2313.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/100_2316.jpg
Not shown is another mower that was also included.

Since mowing is the primary job that I need to achieve, I'm not terribly concerned about attachments...except maybe a snow blower. What is the approximate uncut circle diameter with your Kubotas? Again, that's the big thing that attracts me to the Deere. The 6" uncut diameter with the AWS. That will save me a ton of time with all of these oak trees. If the Kubota has a fairly small uncut circle, I may be interested there too.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[locknut]

Not necessarily so...

Like I posted in another thread (see below), many models uncut circle radius is larger than the turn radius (i.e. 10 out of the 14 models listed below). Some are larger, some are smaller. This is because the mower deck is typically forward of the rear axle, so the theory that the Uncut circle radius is simply the additional deck width greater than the track width doesn't hold water. There are other factors as well that determine uncut circle....

Model TR UCCR
X540 22 24
X520 22 24
X340 16 18
X740 25 22
LA100 18 20
LA110 18 20
LA120 18 20
LA130 18 25
LA140 18 25
LA150 18 25

X534 27 13


X748 2WD 28 33
X748 4WD 48.5 43

X749 AWD 21 6

This radius thing has me confused,as I think of a radius being half of a diameter of a circle.In this context,is uncut circle the same as UCCR,or should one double the UCCR to find the the true "uncut circle"?

 

[LBrown59]

1*This radius thing has me confused,as I think of a radius being half of a diameter of a circle.
2*In this context,is uncut circle the same as UCCR,or should one double the UCCR to find the the true "uncut circle"?

1*Don't make sense to me either.
2*Good question.
It wood be to have an answer.

 

[KentT]

Not necessarily so...

Like I posted in another thread (see below), many models uncut circle radius is larger than the turn radius (i.e. 10 out of the 14 models listed below). Some are larger, some are smaller. This is because the mower deck is typically forward of the rear axle, so the theory that the Uncut circle radius is simply the additional deck width greater than the track width doesn't hold water. There are other factors as well that determine uncut circle....

Model TR UCCR
X540 22 24
X520 22 24
X340 16 18
X740 25 22
LA100 18 20
LA110 18 20
LA120 18 20
LA130 18 25
LA140 18 25
LA150 18 25

X534 27 13


X748 2WD 28 33
X748 4WD 48.5 43

X749 AWD 21 6

I wasn't speaking to other manufacturers such as John Deere. I was speaking specifically to the Simplicity line. Here's an old illustration that shows the turning radius of an earlier model, the predecessor to the Legacy. See how the mower deck overlaps and is smaller than the turning radius. The uncut circle may not be exactly the 8" less, but it certainly isn't larger.

 

[LBrown59]

Since mowing is the primary job that I need to achieve, I'm not terribly concerned about attachments...except maybe a snow blower.
Thanks,
Dan

This one was $6300 tractor only.
48'' mower $1450.
54'' mower S1650.
I went with the 48'' mower.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/100_2313.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/100_2316.jpg
This one with a 48'' mower was $4525 tractor only .
48'' mower $.725.
This does not include the tiller and front blade.

I will have to check out the uncut circle.

 

[LBrown59]

Wouldn't chains tear the @#$% our of my lawn?

I ran chains on my old Bolens for over 35 years.
Tearing up the yard was never an issue.

 

[LBrown59]

Correct me if I'm wrong, the only difference between the x729 and the x749 is that the 749 is diesel, correct?
I'd love to have the diesel, but
*I don't have the extra 2 grand to spend.

The 2 BX1500s and my BX23 are all diesels.
*I didn't have to spend anything extra to get a diesel as diesels are standard on these tractors.

 

[LBrown59]

I think that I'd steer clear of the Kubota units that you mentioned. "a bit tippy" would be VERY bad on this hill.

Originally Posted by bx24d
1*consider the following: Kubota BX series (1850, 2350)
2*2350 can feel a bit tippy.
3*you might check out the kubota GR2110
He didn't say the BX1850 BX1500 or GR2110 could feel a bit tippy here.

 

[ddodge68]

This radius thing has me confused,as I think of a radius being half of a diameter of a circle.In this context,is uncut circle the same as UCCR,or should one double the UCCR to find the the true "uncut circle"?

If I am not mistaken, UCCR is the diameter, not radius of the uncut circle. I know that with my current JD 445 AWS, with a 60" deck, the uncut circle diameter is somewhere around 9" or so. I have not done an actual measurement, but I'm sure that is close. I will try to measure it this week.

 

[LBrown59]

I just ordered a Legacy XL Diesel

Didn't you have A Kubota BX24.
If so why did you replace it with A Legacy XL ?

 

[ddodge68]

Originally Posted by bx24d
1*consider the following: Kubota BX series (1850, 2350)
2*2350 can feel a bit tippy.
3*you might check out the kubota GR2110
He didn't say the BX1850 BX1500 or GR2110 could feel a bit tippy here.

I will be the first to admit that I am a quite un-knowledgeable when it comes to this stuff, but this is what I have found. If the 2350 is "a bit tippy", I'd prefer to steer clear of it. This leaves the GR2110, BX1850 and the BX1500. I'm gonna have to throw out the BX1500, and the GR2110 as they don't seem to be listed on Kubota's website??? So I'm down to the BX1850. Does this really compare to the JD X729? We are comparing a 18 horse diesel to a 27 horse gas. I don't know how the gas vs diesel comparison works, but his seems like a HUGE difference. Also, the BX only comes with a 54" deck, where the X729 comes with a 62" deck. And according to web sites, the list price of the Kubota BX1850, with 54" deck is $9,933. The Deere X729 with 62" deck is $12,400. This is a grand total of $2500 difference. So which is the better deal?

 

[bx24d]

You should be able to find the GR2110 listed on the Kubota website under mowers instead of tractors.

 

[bx24d]

Didn't you have A Kubota BX24.
If so why did you replace it with A Legacy XL ?

I bought a bx24 in 07 and I bought too small for my property. Otherwise I love it. It is a little too big to mow everywhere I need it to mow and I hate taking the MMM on and off every week during the Summer growing season. I just bought a legacy xl which I plan to use exclusively for mowing (60" deck). Next year, I hopefully will trade up from the bx24 to a b26 or b3030...that's my plan anyway.

 

[KentT]

I bought a bx24 in 07 and I bought too small for my property. Otherwise I love it. It is a little too big to mow everywhere I need it to mow and I hate taking the MMM on and off every week during the Summer growing season. I just bought a legacy xl which I plan to use exclusively for mowing (60" deck). Next year, I hopefully will trade up from the bx24 to a b26 or b3030...that's my plan anyway.

Once you've mowed with the Legacy, please come back and give us your feedback...

There's not a whole lot of owner feedback on them around here...

 

[ddodge68]

You should be able to find the GR2110 listed on the Kubota website under mowers instead of tractors.

Got it. Looks like a pretty good machine. Wish there were a 60" deck option, but I suppose that's not huge. I wonder how much difference in mowing time I would be looking at between the GR2110 and the X729, on about 6 acres of wooded land. Any ideas?

 

[TimS]

Got it. Looks like a pretty good machine. Wish there were a 60" deck option, but I suppose that's not huge. I wonder how much difference in mowing time I would be looking at between the GR2110 and the X729, on about 6 acres of wooded land. Any ideas?

My experience is that a bigger deck allows you to cover more ground (of course) but the reduction in time is affected more by the smaller uncut circle (fewer K-turns) and the fact that the larger deck sticks out more, so can trim into areas in which you might otherwise have to use a trimmer or a push mower. Of course, that can work in reverse too if the 60" deck won't fit between trees or other obstacles.

Point is, your time savings (or increase!) will depend on your particular mowing situation.

Tim