jimbee
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2010
- Messages
- 1,229
John Deere 100 series and S240 tractors are built in Tennessee. The X300/500/700 series are built in Wisconsin.
I have a zero turn Farris it has shocks all 4 corners, great ride. My compact tractor bounces me out of the seat mowing.How well do the ZTR mowers handle rough terrain? I have a Craftsman 48” garden tractor now.
When I was in the Oil Patch with the Megacorp we hired an Engineer from John Deere . his claim to fame and he let us all know was that he took John Deere to China . Now we never questioned him but I think it was the mowers from the Big box stores or the residential mowers . Now I am hearing MTD is making JD mowers to JD specs. The supply chain includes the whole world.
It gets touchy and a grey area when you talk country of origin . I have been to the JD dealer here in Navasota and they admit what HD and Lowes sells is made in China . They had to do it to compete.
I decided on a Toro zero turn mower. Toro has different grades and the transmission seems to be the weak spot in any ZT mower. I went up a notch from the basic consumer grade but not to a commercial mower. The one I chose is an MX model.Beginning to think it's time to trade my jd f725 for a zero turn. Any recommendations? I think the f725 is 50 inch. Wouldn't want to go any smaller.
Does anyone keep their ROPS up anymore?My riding lawn mower, a JD 4120 with rotary cutter. Will cut anything, even scrub oak up to 1" diameter. Just make sure the pets are indoors
I bought the Toro MX5050 from Mowers Direct; price was $3,950 (no sales tax/delivered) two years ago. No issues and no regrets. I think you will find many similar models from various manufacturers. Toro got good reviews and offered the most value for the money. I also liked the Kohler engine option.Beginning to think it's time to trade my jd f725 for a zero turn. Any recommendations? I think the f725 is 50 inch. Wouldn't want to go any smaller.
You might be surprised about the acreage you can mow on a Z. Also consider the weight of the machine, it's really important for traction and mowing conditions!Beginning to think it's time to trade my jd f725 for a zero turn. Any recommendations? I think the f725 is 50 inch. Wouldn't want to go any smaller.
One thing I do know , there is no difference from the JD at HD or Lowes then the ones at the JD dealer . The residential models are all built in China to JD specs. I worked with an Ex JD engineer . Now the largest seller of mowers is MTD , they sell under so many names from the Walmart brand to the Cub Cadet . MTD is like a disease to the folks I know . So I will have the Ariens rebuilt and see where it goes .
Does anyone keep their ROPS up anymore?
Yes mostly, but that day I had to lower it to work under some low hanging pine branches.
If I'm on anything with a slope that ROP is up, period.
Wow.I'd agree that a ROPS can be a good safety feature but since I don't wear a seatbelt while I'm on the tractor, I don't think the ROPS is going to help me in most rollover cases anyway. I have a lot of tress on my property so the ROPS gets in the way a lot. For slopes I try to only go straight up or straight down. For anything else, my pucker meter seems to work really well when I'm on slopping terrain.
When I see other folks around here on their tractors, nobody has their ROPS up anymore. YMMV
I just upgraded to a John Deere X500(2012 model purchased used) for 2400 after selling my old tractor for 500. I cut about 1.5 acres in 2 yards and it was getting to be a little too much for my old 38 inch deck tractor. This one has a 48 inch deck and mulches which is nice(no clumping grass clippings).