Export thread

The X350 is at the upper range of what I can afford but I a concerned about the stories concerning the transmission. How do you know if your property is too hilly for the K46? I hadn't anticipated buying a new mower at all but my old one quit so rather than fix a 20 year old mower made by a company that's out of business I am getting a new one. Is the K46 really that bad that I should be spending another $600 or so for the 370? Thanks in advance.

Don't think the X370 is that much of an upgrade to the 350. Same basic transmission design with a few upgrade components. For an average yard with no extra utility use either mower would do the job for years. The Kanzaki Tuff Torq K46 is just a flawed design with the hydraulic pump and motor running in the same oil as the powdered metal differential gears. Completely different fluid requirements. But just not much else to choose from these days, Price vs Quallity, and price has won out.

Thanks

tom3 said:

Don't think the X370 is that much of an upgrade to the 350. Same basic transmission design with a few upgrade components. For an average yard with no extra utility use either mower would do the job for years. The Kanzaki Tuff Torq K46 is just a flawed design with the hydraulic pump and motor running in the same oil as the powdered metal differential gears. Completely different fluid requirements. But just not much else to choose from these days, Price vs Quallity, and price has won out.

Click to expand...

While the X350 is an excellent mower, there are certainly more "capable" machines in your price range. You can have both a Husqvarna or Cub Cadet with a K58 transmission for $3000-3300. While you are stuck with the K46 in the Deere, you do get a longer warranty, a more premium engine, a more robust frame and just an all around better machine. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with the Husqvarna or Cub Cadet, but considering that you are willing to stretch your dollar as far as it can go, you should get the Deere and be sure to use it as it was intended. If you are still not at ease about the transmission, look at other makes or try to finance a more capable machine.

The steering will wear out first because none have a method of lubricating the pinion gear bearing nor the pinion / sector gear teeth.

cruzenmike said:

While the X350 is an excellent mower, there are certainly more "capable" machines in your price range. You can have both a Husqvarna or Cub Cadet with a K58 transmission for $3000-3300. While you are stuck with the K46 in the Deere, you do get a longer warranty, a more premium engine, a more robust frame and just an all around better machine. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with the Husqvarna or Cub Cadet, but considering that you are willing to stretch your dollar as far as it can go, you should get the Deere and be sure to use it as it was intended. If you are still not at ease about the transmission, look at other makes or try to finance a more capable machine.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I am taking your advice and looking at other brands although those two are not on my short-list. Lawn care is not a hobby of mine. I want to get the job done as quickly and painlessly as I can without having to baby the mower for fear of overworking the trans. My current hydro is still going strong after 20 years of not babying it. If it wasn't for the Briggs engine I would be using it today.

IMHO if you get a Husqvarna or Cub you will have to baby the entire mower. They don't cut, bag, mulch, as well as the Deere. Get ready for belt slap, spindle replacement and warped decks. Not even close.

Maybe it would help for you to give additional information on your property. How big? More info on the hills? Do you need differential lock? Is traction the issue? Possibly a lightly used X500 series could be a answer.

bkeller500 said:

Maybe it would help for you to give additional information on your property. How big? More info on the hills? Do you need differential lock? Is traction the issue? Possibly a lightly used X500 series could be a answer.

Click to expand...

3 Acre property but less than 1/3 of that is lawn. Not completely level but gentle slope. Two very small steep slopes about 500 sq. ft. Takes about an hour to cut with a 12hp 36" deck tractor. Diff. lock never needed. If a wheel spun I just leaned into that side. Never had a problem with my Eaton transaxle in 18 years. Can't go larger than 42" deck.
Thanks

I'm on approx. 7/8 acre. Front is flat back yard is gently sloped probably 8-10 degrees of slope which I mow side to side although around a ground cover treed area I do go up a sloped area 10-12 degrees but it's very minor. If you are concerned about your lot and the hills do yourself a favor and take some pics over to your JD dealer and share your concerns.
I probably would have looked into a used 500 series but I have a lot of trees and didn't want to mess with a power bagger so I stuck with a 42" deck which bags everything to perfection.
My sister and brother in law mow 2.5 acres and have used a JD 540 and JD 135. Recently they had the 135 in for service and noticed a gently used x540 had been taken in for trade. At just 350 hours and $2700 they jumped at it and now have his and hers 540's. The 135 just need something minor so they still have that also.

I don't think that you will find a mower with BOTH a 42" deck and a truly "durable" transmission unless.

If you are limited to the 42" deck because of storage requirements or clearances, then maybe get a John Deere X370. While the K57 is barely an upgrade over the K46, you at least have a serviceable filter in the transmission and can change the fluid evey 50 hours or so which I would recommend based on the terrain which you have pictured. This might in fact be overkill, but with this mower and performing the transmission service periodically, you have less of a chance of a transmission failure. All of this assumes you are just mowing. If you ever decided to pull any attachments up that grade, such as a loaded cart, dethatcher or aerator, then all bets are off and you need something with a K62-72. I do not know where the Cub Cadet XT3 falls in comparison to the John Deere but it is shaft driven hydraulic pump mated to a gearcase of some sort in the read end. Cannot find any specs on it but supposed to be between a K58 and K66 in terms of torque. I think you might be able to fit a 42" deck on the XT3 as well since the deck for these models are sold as an accessory.

It's a shame that you cannot have a 54" deck because the Cub Cadet XT2 GX54 has a K62D with steel cut gears and manual diff lock. There is a Husqvarna out there with K66 and electronic diff lock with a 48" deck. Obviously you have to look at what fits your situation best.

Just about every range of commercial mowers has a 30" to 36" deck available.
Reason being to allow the mower to go through a standard side gate.
Walker do , there a 2 of them in my customer list.
Toro sell the Time Master with a 42" deck , got 4 customers with them as well.
Gravely do standers in that size as do JD so thre are lots of quality mowers with small decks
So small decks are available but people are too cheap to pay a fair price for a well made mower.

bertsmobile1 said:

Just about every range of commercial mowers has a 30" to 36" deck available.
Reason being to allow the mower to go through a standard side gate.
Walker do , there a 2 of them in my customer list.
Toro sell the Time Master with a 42" deck , got 4 customers with them as well.
Gravely do standers in that size as do JD so thre are lots of quality mowers with small decks
So small decks are available but people are too cheap to pay a fair price for a well made mower.

Click to expand...

If I am correct, most of the commercial stand-on mowers are priced over the X350 by a few thousand dollars. The least expensive option is the Bradley at $4199. If mowing is the primary and sole task of this machine, then a stand-on would be good choice, especially with ZT-3100 transmissions. Maybe the OP can chime in and let us know if a stand-on is an option or if the mower is to have other tasks.

cruzenmike said:

If I am correct, most of the commercial stand-on mowers are priced over the X350 by a few thousand dollars. The least expensive option is the Bradley at $4199. If mowing is the primary and sole task of this machine, then a stand-on would be good choice, especially with ZT-3100 transmissions. Maybe the OP can chime in and let us know if a stand-on is an option or if the mower is to have other tasks.

Click to expand...

No, needs to be a rider, due to terrain plus i am not standing up for an hour to cut my lawn. Looked at Kubota today. Nice build but too tall to climb onto. Uncomfortable riding position, Mower lift too difficult and poor seat mechanism. I was disappointed.
So now I'm back to the 370 or poss. 380 if I can sell another piece of equipment.

PAMedic said:

No, needs to be a rider, due to terrain plus i am not standing up for an hour to cut my lawn. Looked at Kubota today. Nice build but too tall to climb onto. Uncomfortable riding position, Mower lift too difficult and poor seat mechanism. I was disappointed.
So now I'm back to the 370 or poss. 380 if I can sell another piece of equipment.

Click to expand...

Keep in mind that while the X380 has a K58 hydrostatic which has a slight torque advantage and comes standard with heat treated steel gears, the specific transaxle in the X380 is not "serviceable." Also, the X380 only comes with a 48"or 54" deck. If you want the K58 that is serviceable you have to go with the X390. I ABSOLUTELY HATE that John Deere did this with the X300 lineup. If I am correct, all of the K58's in the older X300 series were serviceable. The fact that you have to "upgrade" to power steering to get the serviceable transmission is a bit foolish, but I guess they find their way to make money.

cruzenmike said:

Keep in mind that while the X380 has a K58 hydrostatic which has a slight torque advantage and comes standard with heat treated steel gears, the specific transaxle in the X380 is not "serviceable." Also, the X380 only comes with a 48"or 54" deck. If you want the K58 that is serviceable you have to go with the X390. I ABSOLUTELY HATE that John Deere did this with the X300 lineup. If I am correct, all of the K58's in the older X300 series were serviceable. The fact that you have to "upgrade" to power steering to get the serviceable transmission is a bit foolish, but I guess they find their way to make money.

Click to expand...

Yes, I saw this after I made my comment. It's looking like the X370. It's a compromise. Four year warranty, No way i'll have 300 hrs by then. Worse thing happens, it breaks, dealer is real close, warranty repair. Does this model need to have the axle removed to change the trans?

PAMedic said:

Yes, I saw this after I made my comment. It's looking like the X370. It's a compromise. Four year warranty, No way i'll have 300 hrs by then. Worse thing happens, it breaks, dealer is real close, warranty repair. Does this model need to have the axle removed to change the trans?

Click to expand...

No.

Here are the directions for the filter and fluid change:

http://manuals.deere.com/omview/OMM174378_19/MX52301,0000B35_19_20150720.html