Tractor advice

[SteveH]

Since we are getting up there in age. I'm looking at getting away from push mowing. And walk behind snow blowers. So, along with RV shopping. I'm looking at John Deere tractors. I know back in the day they were bullet proof. How are they now?
I'm looking at the X330 tractor and the 44"snow blower attachment. And. Of course. Chains and weights. Not looking into a cab yet.
22 HP twin. B&S motor. When did they switch from Kawasaki?
Opinions please.

Or. The Cub Cadet XT2 LX46 with the 23 HP Kohler with hydrostatic tranny.

Not liking the snow blower for this. But like the Kohler engined.

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[BS67]

My Boss has Hastings Outdoor Power and sells Hustler. When I was president of the Gun Club here we got a Hustler. That was close to 15 years ago and it mows about 6 acres every week. Still going strong!

 

[deleriumtremor]

I have a Walker ride on that gets a pretty good workout. Incredibly well built. Mine has the fuel injected Koehler which has been flawless in performance.

I do an annual maintenance on it and it is a chore. There has to be 50 zerks on the damn thing. But I do love the flip up and removal blade deck, makes keeping the blades sharp a breeze.

I also love the catcher setup, tilt up dump, nice for old guys.

 

[samsd]

How much do you mow, how long is your driveway? I mow a little over an acre with a Cub zero turn and have a 300 foot driveway that I plow with a Polaris Ranger, I don't know how well the weights and chains setup would work but my Polaris handled a 10 inch snow with no problems and I even plowed the road in our rural subdivision. I have heard that what JD sells in the big box stores is not the quality that the dealer sells.

 

[SteveH]

How much do you mow, how long is your driveway? I mow a little over an acre with a Cub zero turn and have a 300 foot driveway that I plow with a Polaris Ranger, I don't know how well the weights and chains setup would work but my Polaris handled a 10 inch snow with no problems and I even plowed the road in our rural subdivision. I have heard that what JD sells in the big box stores is not the quality that the dealer sells.

Just shy of 3/4 acre. I'm sizing big on the tractor because of the winters here. Driveway is 125'. 50'of it double wide. And 150 of sidewalk.

I would love to get a polaris or similar. But there is no place to push the snow if we get a lot of snow.

 

[SteveH]

I know people that use there garden tractor with the blowers. And as long as there's no ice. And you take it slow. Then they work very well. And my fat ass should give it great ballast too!

 

[SigOris]

consider a compact tractor as well

we went with a 22 HP Branson. I don’t need a mower deck but it’s available. for winter I mount a 48 inch Breco Snowblower that’s PTO driven and it has a heated cab. you won’t regret getting a cab, trust me

we also have the bucket as we bought a new home with no landscaping and did it ourselves. The quotes we received in our mindset helped offset the cost of the tractor doing the landscaping ourselves

please do some research on the belt driven snowblowers for those kind of lawn tractors.

I don’t regret the purchase at all. Took my snowblowing from two hours to forty five mintues. That includes warming up the diesel and hydraulic fluids and prep to put away.

 

[CB750F]

As long as you have a cup holder, I figure your good to go ?

 

[Bob902]

Just don't get the ones they sell at home improvement stores. They aren't the same as the ones from the actual John Deere dealers. I would look at moving up to the 500 series of you are going to be doing anything other than mowing. Their one series compact tractors are little beasts, too.

 

[deleriumtremor]

consider a compact tractor as well

we went with a 22 HP Branson. I don’t need a mower deck but it’s available. for winter I mount a 48 inch Breco Snowblower that’s PTO driven and it has a heated cab. you won’t regret getting a cab, trust me

we also have the bucket as we bought a new home with no landscaping and did it ourselves. The quotes we received in our mindset helped offset the cost of the tractor doing the landscaping ourselves

please do some research on the belt driven snowblowers for those kind of lawn tractors.

I don’t regret the purchase at all. Took my snowblowing from two hours to forty five mintues. That includes warming up the diesel and hydraulic fluids and prep to put away.

I second the cab idea.

I only have about 60' of driveway and a turn around cut out. I use a two stage Husqvarna snow blower and it works fine for clearing that space, BUT, I will say, it takes me a good long while to clear it, maybe an hour or two to do it right (we only get heavy snow occasionally, so not a major deal), but if there is any wind blowing, while I am clearing, I come in looking like frosty the snow man.

If I had a lot more driveway and/or lived in a heavier snow belt, an enclosed cab would be a spectacular upgrade. I mean, from "oh crud, more snow", to, "bring it!"

 

[Bob902]

The cabs are nice, but dang, they are proud of them!

 

[deleriumtremor]

The cabs are nice, but dang, they are proud of them!

Yeah, that is why I didn't even buy the blower or sweeper attachment for my Walker (which does have a cab option, but I bet they sell like 2 a year, nutty expensive).

But dang, ask me the next snowmeggeddon winter we have and I will like, "how much is expedited shipping?"

 

[dmeyer302]

The next model up, X350, has a Kawasaki. That’s worth getting if you intend to keep this mower for a long time.

 

[SigOris]

I second the cab idea.

I only have about 60' of driveway and a turn around cut out. I use a two stage Husqvarna snow blower and it works fine for clearing that space, BUT, I will say, it takes me a good long while to clear it, maybe an hour or two to do it right (we only get heavy snow occasionally, so not a major deal), but if there is any wind blowing, while I am clearing, I come in looking like frosty the snow man.

If I had a lot more driveway and/or lived in a heavier snow belt, an enclosed cab would be a spectacular upgrade. I mean, from "oh crud, more snow", to, "bring it!"

The tractor has a Yanmar diesel, I thought I’d get minimal heat in the cab. I was pleasantly surprised. its got a hydrostatic transmission and shares the oil with lift system. They recommend certain warm up times based on outside temps. After a 10 minute warm up I’m in the cab with a flannel shirt and having more fun than I deserve.

 

[deleriumtremor]

The tractor has a Yanmar diesel, I thought I’d get minimal heat in the cab. I was pleasantly surprised. its got a hydrostatic transmission and shares the oil with lift system. They recommend certain warm up times based on outside temps. After a 10 minute warm up I’m in the cab with a flannel shirt and having more fun than I deserve.

I had a Yanmar diesel in two different sailboats I have owned down through the years. Absolutely the best small diesel money can buy, IMO. Bulletproof.

I have pics of them here somewhere.

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