sriddle1
Silver Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2014
- Messages
- 212
- Location
- SW New Hampshire
- Tractor
- ACTIVE: JDX730 DAYS GONE BY: JD3010, JD790, JD425
After chasing engine issues over the past 4 months and spending > $3K, I'm throwing in the towel and searching for a reliable replacement. Since my purchase in 2000, the '93 425 with its 60-inch mower deck and Front Mount 47" Blower has remained reliable companion over the years and has met the rigors of cutting 7 acres and blowing snow here in New Hampshire.
I want something reliable for the next 15 years, that's all I ask. I've always been a JD supporter but these days many tell me the quality and the heftiness of the new Garden Tractors vs. the 425 it not what it used to be. I suspect these days of trying to control pricing, less structural design and lower grade materials may be used. In short, the old saying applies, "I don't know what I don't know". I do have one concern after my recent experiences, does JD have the support staff to maintain their products, I would hope a late year X730 series Tractor would be simple to maintain and test, perhaps an ODB like testing capability, something. It seems like there's a shortage of qualified & seasoned technicians in this industry like so many others, hope those design engineers @ John Deere are ahead of the curve.
My search keeps circling me back to a X730 series, 2WD, Gas and external hydraulic couplings, simple enough. I need some muscle so the 25 HP should meet my needs. I have a 47" blower I used with a quick connect on the 425, it was connected via a rear PTO, wondering if I could use that with an attaching kit for a X730, more research I see. From a year/hours standpoint I see the magical warranty numbers are 4 years or 700 hours, any thoughts on that would be appreciated. To maintain the warranty does it require the owner to take the tractor to a JD Dealership for service, at least that would assure maintenance was performed properly and on-time. I would think I'd want to obtain a 20-22 used machine with no more than say 200 hours. Wondering about any inherent design issues, the 425 had the infamous vinyl cam shaft.
Thanks again for any thoughts on this, I'm focused on making a purchase before October, one last thing, I see allot of reasonably priced X730's out in the Midwest from JD Dealerships, has anyone had any experience in shipping these across country. Just a few years ago I would have thought about driving out and hauling it back, not anymore.
I want something reliable for the next 15 years, that's all I ask. I've always been a JD supporter but these days many tell me the quality and the heftiness of the new Garden Tractors vs. the 425 it not what it used to be. I suspect these days of trying to control pricing, less structural design and lower grade materials may be used. In short, the old saying applies, "I don't know what I don't know". I do have one concern after my recent experiences, does JD have the support staff to maintain their products, I would hope a late year X730 series Tractor would be simple to maintain and test, perhaps an ODB like testing capability, something. It seems like there's a shortage of qualified & seasoned technicians in this industry like so many others, hope those design engineers @ John Deere are ahead of the curve.
My search keeps circling me back to a X730 series, 2WD, Gas and external hydraulic couplings, simple enough. I need some muscle so the 25 HP should meet my needs. I have a 47" blower I used with a quick connect on the 425, it was connected via a rear PTO, wondering if I could use that with an attaching kit for a X730, more research I see. From a year/hours standpoint I see the magical warranty numbers are 4 years or 700 hours, any thoughts on that would be appreciated. To maintain the warranty does it require the owner to take the tractor to a JD Dealership for service, at least that would assure maintenance was performed properly and on-time. I would think I'd want to obtain a 20-22 used machine with no more than say 200 hours. Wondering about any inherent design issues, the 425 had the infamous vinyl cam shaft.
Thanks again for any thoughts on this, I'm focused on making a purchase before October, one last thing, I see allot of reasonably priced X730's out in the Midwest from JD Dealerships, has anyone had any experience in shipping these across country. Just a few years ago I would have thought about driving out and hauling it back, not anymore.