Which to buy?- X534-X724

[Gonerafting]

First of all, I was pretty sold on a X534 with 48 inch deck, but things have become a little more confusing for me. While I only have 1/2 acre to mow with lots of obstacles and maybe 200 feet of snow to move in front of my house frequently in the winter time, I'm thinking the X724 with a 52 inch deck might be a better choice with fewer attachments for now. I like the idea of water cooled, a bit more substantial frame and I would assume longer life expectancy. Would I be over buying for my situation? I was considering the X534 with a blade and snow thrower, but could get by with just a blade. And, are the Extended Warranties worthwhile??? Any thoughts or input is appreciated. Thanks, Jim

 

[ChuckinNH]

It's hard to say what is the best choice for someone else, but my gut feeling is that most folks will want a "new" mower long before you would wear out the X724 if you took good care of it so it is a bit questionable in my mind if the difference in price is worth it for you. It is a bit of overkill for your lot, but if you want it, and can afford it the pleasure you get when you use it makes it worthwile, and not the 20 years that it could last.

I doubt that you would ever put the hours on a mower to exceed the 4 year standard warranty, so I would only consider an extended warranty if they gave me lots more years. I mow over 3 acres weekly, and I wouldn't use the hours on an X700 warranty unless I really used it a lot in the winter. I generally average 100 hours per year, or so on my garden tractor. Usually extended warranties work better for the company giving them than for the buyer......... and that's why they like them so much. If it were transferable, and you sold somethiing like the X724 it could make a difference in sale price, and it certainly would sell better than one without a warranty. JD knows you will probably move on to something new before the extended warranty runs out, and I sure wouldn't be surprised if it were not transferable.

 

[Gonerafting]

Thank you for your response, I tried to figure out how many hours I would use it in a year and never approached a figure of 700 hours, I suspect the Warranty would expire by the 4 Standard years. I must admit, it gets cold here and my concern is more how easily the Air Cooled would start and pushing at times large amounts of snow. The 700 series has shaft drive on the mower deck and hydraulics's. I just do not know if the added expense adds up, but it is no always logic that prevails. :ashamed:

 

[Markcuda]

Yes, you would be over buying for a 1/2 acreOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOOL
You could do all that with a X300.
But, it is your money and the economy is not in very good shape, so yes, get the bigger is better mower.

 

[Gonerafting]

Frankly, it's not the mowing part, I know very well a 300 series or even a smaller model would handle it, I mow it with a self propelled mower now. The problem lies in snow removal with an up hill gravel driveway. Last year my snowblower threw a rock from my snow blowing activities breaking a large front window in my house. So, yes it is overkill. A blade probably be a better way to remove the snow. I get alot of snow in a year. But, I've also seen folks with a X534 wanting to swap out the motor for a liquid cooled or add AWS to an X540. I'm trying to avoid the urge to buy bigger in the future and be reasonable about my needs.

 

[ChuckinNH]

I've never had one, so what are the advantages of a liquid cooled mower engine? I'm not being critical at all, just curious. i mentioned in another thread that I got almost 1500 hours of good service from a "splash, and paddle' B&S engine, that always started.

By the way, I think the OP has a pretty good handle on reality here, so it is easy for me to say that he should get the one he is most comfortable with. Shaft drive is good, but some of those shafts look like they would be a son of a gun to install, etc. because of where they are.

 

[Gonerafting]

To be honest, I've been looking at these things for over 4 years now and wanted to buy an X304. But, the John Deere Site " Product Selection Tool" kept defaulting to either the X524 or the X724. After playing around with it for awhile, it all had to do with how frequently I plow or push snow. Also, it is not as flat as a pancake here. Anyway, it seems to be more about drive train for winter. I subconsciously keep wanting to say, but "it's only 1/2 acre" that takes 4 hours to mow due to the thirty specimen trees I planted. I do think the X724 is overkill though, expensive overkill, in my case. My driveway goes up hill immediately after leaving the house and numerous falls leads me to believe an appropriate tractor might be less expensive than a hip replacement. It is obvious the X724 is a much nicer Garden tractor. As far as the issue of Air Cooled vs Liquid cooled, I'm more concerned with starting ability at -20, should I be?

And yes, I want to buy American and stimulate the dismal economy:thumbsup:

 

[ChuckinNH]

Honestly, I don't know if air, or water cooled engines start better in the winter. Walk behind snowblowers are air cooled, but I never thought about it. I haven't run my air cooled garden tractors much in the winter...... only to circulate the oil once in a while, so I can't speak to that other than to say my snowblower usually starts pretty well, and it can get cold here in NH too.

 

[Gonerafting]

I agree, I have no problem starting my snowblower.

 

[XSKIER]

At -20F. It sure would be nice to have a block heater. There are add on ones that go in the lower coolant hose. Not an option on the air cooled sleigh.