What were the best years of the X500?

[Vigilant]

I have read several statements that the older models were better because the bean counters got involved and started looking into shortcuts to increase profit margin. Someone else claims the newer models were better. So, which model years were the best?

Thanks in advance.

 

[beenthere]

IMO, the best were the 400 series.. 425, 445, and 455. Before the one piece hood came out with the X series, and the deck shape changed to look more "boxy" and with that came poorer air flow (grass flow).
The hood change to one piece changed the air filtering that allowed more debris, dust, and clippings to make their way to the radiator and air cleaner.. causing associated problems.
Just my opinion..

Bean counters?? don't know, but think the design folk got involved wanting to duplicate style with the big tractors.. same happened when the 4000 compact utility tractors dropped to the one-piece hood when going to the twenty series.. lost a lot of ground IMO for the sake of style.

 

[Vigilant]

Thanks. Maybe I missed something, but in all the posts and info I have read on the X500, I have never seen this mentioned. I have an X500, but it has a lot of hours on it. I'm kicking a few tires and beginning to look around for another one with lower hours. I'm 62 now, and I am planning on this next one being the last mower I buy. I will probably keep this house for another 25 years, maybe longer. At less than 50 hours per year, I'll probably log somewhere around 1250 hours between now and then. If I buy one more with 400 hours or less, I doubt that I would ever wear it out. I believe with 200 hour transmission service intervals and an oil change each spring with Mobil 1 Extended Performance full synthetic oil, it should run at least 2000 hours before the engine or trans goes. At that point, even after all those years, I suspect that X500 would be worth fixing.

 

[Vigilant]

I thought long and hard about a 325 or a 445 before I settled on the X500. Sure, a liquid cooled engine should last even longer, but I'm not sure the extra maintenance cost would be worth it for me.

 

[Vigilant]

Not sure on the hours. I bought it on the cheap with a new instrument cluster at zero hours. Just by looking at it, It looks like a million bucks. it would easily pass for a very low hour machine until you go around back and look at the transmission fluid reservoir. When I bought the mower, the reservoir was covered with crud. I went at it with an old toothbrush, some foam bike cleaner and a garden hose. After I scrubbed it the second time, I got rid of all the crud, but the opaque plastic reservoir is still somewhat dark. The oil looks like it has never been changed. With all that crud on the reservoir, I suspect that it has a lot of hours on it. How many, I don't know. The trans works flawlessly, other than the internal brake, or whatever it is that stops the mower when you take your foot off the drive pedal. Not that big a deal for me. Engine runs fine, but I'm concerned about the hours it probably has on it. I suspect they changed the engine oil each spring. Even so, I doubt that the engine, and even more so the trans, will make it to 2000 hours. I have come to really appreciate the X500. I just want to shell out a little more money and find a nice one that should last me the rest of my life.

 

[jgayman]

I have read several statements that the older models were better because the bean counters got involved and started looking into shortcuts to increase profit margin. Someone else claims the newer models were better. So, which model years were the best?

Thanks in advance.

Keep in kind that when discussing X500-series tractors there are two distinct generations. You have the OLDER generation (X495, X575, X585, etc.) which were very heavy duty and comparable to current X700-series tractors. They came with both Kawasaki gasoline engines and Yanmar diesel engines. Then you have the NEWER generation which share the same chassis with the X300 lawn tractors (X500, X530, X570, etc.) They all have Kawasaki gasoline engines.

While the newer X500-series tractors are decent machines they don't hold a candle to the older generation of X500's.

 

[Vigilant]

I also have a GT275, which is probably about 20 years old. I bought it back in 2007, and I bought it cheap. No hour meter, but it showed very little wear and tear, and was obviously garage kept, as was this X500. Since I have had it, other than annual PMs, I have had to put a solenoid on it, and replace one belt. Both hood hinges are broken, but I can still snap the hood back in place after service. Other than that, it's still a fine looking tractor, still in pristine condition after 20 years or so. Even though it's 100 percent mechanically, with that bad hood it's probably not worth much. I just service it every spring, crank it up every other time I mow, and keep it in the garage with the other one as a spare.

 

[crazyal]

From what i understand, stricktly speaking of the X500 model, not series, there was a change about (if not the same time) the time they changed the front headlights. The newer version has a much more modern look to it. The older version had more of a heavy duty frame. Not that the later version is thin and will flex. It's just Deere probably assumed customers weren't buying the X500 to do what some of the other models listed above were being used for. I know you can get things like a snow plow, tiller, and such but I suspect that the dealers would try to steer you towards a X700 series or even a 1 series. As for which one is best, I think it's just more in people's minds.