streetbully

Well, I traded the 18 HP X300 John Deere and ordered a X320, drove home, picked up the phone and said cancel the X320 and get me the X360. I just got thinking about the transmissions and not being able to service them on the 300 & 320. The X360 has a K58H trans with drain plug and filter which made much more since. I'm not sure I need the tilt/power steering or hydraulic deck but I'm sure they will grow on me. The 320 & 360 also give you  22HP, 3 blade 48 deck, bigger back tires and bigger price. All I'm doing is knocking off about 2 acres so the thing should last a while. I'm a real freak when it comes to looking after them. I'll keep the 91 Gilson built Ford garden tractor around to do all the GRUNT work. Oh by the way, I've got a chance to use the new JD walk behind 1338pe snow blower and I love it. Bought a JD snow cab for it to keep me dry, the cab fits real nice and looks great. Thanks to everyone for their input on my new got to have toys :)

Paul

I traded up the new X300 for the X320, bigger transmission (k-58)  bigger deck (48") bigger motor (22hp) bigger tires should be fine for just cutting 2.5 acres of lawn. I'll keep the old garden tractor as the work horse. Found a complete 1991 Ford/Gillson garden tractor out in the shop I forgot I had bought in pieces so I may part that out. Everything from the Ford fits my old 91 Lawn-Boy/Gillson garden tractor so I'm good to go for now if I need parts.

Paul

Well after reading about all the transmission problems on the X300 I am going to return it to JD this week. Looks like the transmissions like to start slipping just past the 200 hour mark. A lot of folks have upgraded to a K66 transmission for about 1500-1700 dollars plus install. John Deere says you have 30 days to return for all your money back, I have not even driven it out of the garage since they brought it over yesterday so their better be no problems with the return. Guess I will just fix up my old work horse and use it.

Thanks guys,

Paul

trouts2 wrote:
Thanks Trouts2,

So it should last for many years then. Everyone that has looked at it is quite impressed with the way it's built.

Paul

I went out yesterday and bought a 2011 X300 42" JD lawn tractor, just want it for cutting grass (about 2 acres) and nothing else. I have a 1991 garden tractor I bought new which was a Lawn-Boy. I figured being 20 years old and 700 hours on it anything could let go now so I better pick up something new.  The Lawn-Boy was exactly the same as the 1991 Ford models just painted green and Lawn-Boy decals added. I have been told many times these were built by Gillson and some went to Ford and others to Lawn-Boy. Has a Kohler Magnum horizontal shaft engine with hydro transmission and 2 speed rear end. This has been a real work horse for me over the years, cutting grass, blowing snow, ripping soil and hauling/towing ridiculous amounts of weight when we had the hobby farm. I sold off the rear PTO tiller from it, but I will keep the 2 stage Ber Vac blower. Tractor needs a new electric PTO clutch, still trying to find one of those. Even though we no longer have the hobby farm I'll keep this tractor around for hauling. The X300 Deere I got yesterday is a MUCH lighter built tractor then the Lawn-Boy so I'll just keep the JD for the cutting grass. I hope the Deere lasts for a few years. I have 30 days to take it back or exchange it for another model. Any thoughts out there? Should I move up to a 500 series just to cut grass or am I ok? I'm new on here so if I ramble on too much please let me know.

Thanks,

Paul