X729 or X749

[rubadub]

Sorry Rob. Don't buy it for a second.
Wisconsin winters and I've yet to add anything to the diesel fuel, nor plugged in a heater.

Buy from the local pump and the summer winter fuel is taken care of there. About 10-15 cents difference on price.

But it is really ok for you to have what you want, and enjoy it for all those good reasons.

No doubt our original poster knows what he is doing by asking the questions first before he buys one, thats the intelligent way to do it.

I didn't do a lot of research before I bought the x728, but as it turns out I got lucky, but I know I wouldn't have bought a diesel.
I have bird and squirrel and humming bird feeders, and having a diesel in the vicinity wouldn't work out, especially warming one up, the part where the tractor shakes and then you clean her out

 

[jenkinsph]

I should add that diesel stores much better than gasoline/ethanol blends do today.

 

[RollTideRam]

My brother mows 4 acres on a tank with his x485. I mowed 7 acres on a tank with my X744. I traded it for a x748 this year, but it should do about the same. All without killing one animal. JC

 

[turbo36]

I am currenlty looking at purchasing a X729 or a X749. I will primarily be using this garden tractor for mowing and blowing snow, so I don't see any need to go with a 2305. I have appoximately 5 acres of land and will be mowing about 1 acre of it. There are a lot of trees, hills and obstacles so I know I want the AWS. Also, the driveway is a little over 500 feet long with a lot of bends & turns and a steep hill. Could anyone tell me if the diesel is worth the extra money? I am mostly concerned about blowing snow. I live in Niorthern Michigan and we get a lot of snow. Does the torque offered by the diesel engine make a big difference? Also, does the diesel have a much better resale value when compared to the gas engine. The gas engine is rated at a higher horsepower (27 hp for the gas vs 24 hp for the diesel) and the gas engine is $1000 less than the diesel engine. Any input or experience with these would be greatly appreciated.

Hey neighbor, I'm a little north of you on Elk Lake. I have the X749 at my place in Grand Rapids and a 455 AWS here at the lake. I have owned the gas versions also so I speak from experience; the diesel will out perform the gas in any situation and there is very little smell. Go for the diesel and you will be happy.

Where are you shopping? Classic or Work and Play?

 

[jkadylak]

Hey neighbor, I'm a little north of you on Elk Lake. I have the X749 at my place in Grand Rapids and a 455 AWS here at the lake. I have owned the gas versions also so I speak from experience; the diesel will out perform the gas in any situation and there is very little smell. Go for the diesel and you will be happy.

Where are you shopping? Classic or Work and Play?

I went to classic, but then called work and play as well as Voelker implement. Voelker quoted the best price so I think I will order it from them. What do you use the 749 for? Clearing snow with a blower? If so, what do you think? I have some friends telling me it will take a long time to snowblow the driveway.

 

[LBrown59]

1* The gas engine is rated at a higher horsepower (27 hp for the gas vs 24 hp for the diesel) and the gas engine is $1000 less than the diesel engine. Any input or experience with these would be greatly appreciated.

The X749 Diesal will work circles around the Gas X729.
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[CAgnoli]

I've been using an x748 for three years and it is hands down the best lawn mower I've ever had. (I'm going larger this month with a Kubota L3940 because I wanted more utility, not because the x748 wasn't a good machine)

I mow 6 acres on 2.5 gallons of diesel. Trust me, you'll only small diesel when you fill the tank, and it runs so smooth. It's also quieter than the gas mowers.

They are fantastic machines, go with the diesel. You won't regret it.

 

[jkadylak]

Currently, my main tractors in my lawn maintence business is a Deere X744 AWS & a 2006 John Deere 2305 subcompact.

Both my X744 & 2305 have the same Yanmar Diesel engine rated at the same hp. I love the MFWD on my 2305 for blowing snow, and like the fact that for road travel, I can put it out of 4WD when not needed, unlike the X749 that is always in 4WD. I agree that 4X4 is a must have, but there are some jobs out their that don't require 4X4, such as mowing flat areas or pulling a small utlity cart. Actually wish Deere would offer the option of turning off and on the 4WD on the X700 series, like they once offered on the X595.

Now, my X744 AWS will cut a lot closer around objects then the 2305, and is much more stable on slopes then my 2305, even though the 2305 has ROPS and the X744 doesn't, the X744 seems more stable.
I mainly use the 2305 for snow removal now, as I just put a Curtis soft side cab on, this past winter, and removing it on and off has become too much of a pain, on top of that the cab rubs against a lot of tree branches.
Certainly, a subcompact has a lot of benifits, especially if want to put a loader on. You can't get a loader for a X749AWS, only the 2wd versions: X728, X720, X748.
If you need a loader, then its best to move up to a subcompact, but its hard to beat the AWS for manuverablity. I doubt I would buy another Garden tractor without AWS, seeing as they are so manuverable compared to a 2wd garden tractor, just my two cents though.

Jason B

I was told you could add the FEL to the AWS models, however, JD does not recommend it because if it is loaded and in the up position, it would be tipsy if your turn the wheel sharply. Either way, I am sure the capabilities of the FEL are limited on this model in comparison the that of a SCUT, especially for the additional $4k that I was quoted.

 

[rubadub]

Question jkadylak, how long will you keep the diesel or how many hours will you put on it before you maybe upgrade or will you keep it and never sell or trade it.

It might be worth the time to take a ride to a couple of dealers and do a cold engine start on one of these yanmars with 1500 or so hours.

The Kawasaki and yanmar should both be running good with that many hours, but I'll bet a shiny new dime that diesel will shake rattle and roll and you will need to clean that lil smoke bomb out, where that injected kaw will fire up instantly and idle smooth.

You won't hear the diesel guys talk to much about the glow plugs, fuel gelling and the different additives.

Rob

 

[turbo36]

I went to classic, but then called work and play as well as Voelker implement. Voelker quoted the best price so I think I will order it from them. What do you use the 749 for? Clearing snow with a blower? If so, what do you think? I have some friends telling me it will take a long time to snowblow the driveway.

I blow a u-shaped drive total length about 325-350', the grade is 10% on the one side. The X749 is amazing, I don't use chains ( I do use 6 suitcase weights) and have great traction up and down the drive. My yard is very hilly and again the traction is the best of any tractor by far, especially when wet.
I use a lawn service at the cottage because I can't get up there on a regular basis, the X749 will cut the lawn almost as fast as the zero turns and there is less turf damage.