quote:

I may just run the thirsty X700 with the 7-Iron deck and keep my money in the bank.

With the cost of diesel and the new tractor price plus deck, it would allow you to use lot of gallons of gas before equaling the cost difference...

I traded my thirsty X700 tractor today.
The lack of forward compatibility for the 7-Iron deck really pissed me off.
I will be canceling the 2022 X750 diesel tractor deal in the morning.
Today I bought a X720 tractor that is five years newer, and 300 hours less on the meter vs the X700. It also comes with a 54" deck. I'll have to store the 54" deck or sell it.
The X720 is fully compatible with the 60" 7-Iron deck which will be getting installed as soon as I get it home.
Essentially the X720 and X700 are same tractors. Both are rear wheel drive, and front wheel steer. The X700 is carbureted while the X720 is (gasoline) digital electronic fuel injection.
I should be getting noticeably better fuel economy.
I do the swap on Saturday.
It was likely the most cost effective way to use less mowing gas and not break the bank. My trade plus some cash.

quote:

Originally posted by cee_Kamp:
I've used zero turn mowers, just not a fan of them. Mowing speed is of zero concern to me. I like to mow, especially with a pair of high quality wireless headphones and the iPod.
I have just enough slope in the field at the cabin, a zero turn is a NO GO, at least for me.
I guess I'm just a tractor guy. Part of my decision is based on the overall higher complexity of a zero turn vs a tractor. I do my own service and repairs.....

I guess if you don't care how long it takes. But I wouldn't be put off by a slope unless it's really steep. ZTR's are wide and have a low COG and work best mowing across, rather than up and down hills. I have a Ferris ZTR and don't find it any more difficult to work on than my Deere X500 with 54" deck, but there are two hydro's to drain every couple hundred hours. The X500 does a pretty good job mowing but just doesn't mow as well, nor nearly as fast as the Ferris. Even though the Ferris with its 61" deck weighs 1,200# (vs 800# for the X500 w/54" deck) it handles like a sports car, the thing's a hoot to fly around the yard on.

I know they're expensive but when it comes to equipment like mowers and tractors I feel it's wise to buy good quality stuff because they just work better, hold up longer, and hold their value better. This is especially true with ZTR's. You have two nice pieces there with the BX sub compact and X720 garden tractor.

My oldest brother (87) bought a zero turn a couple of years back for his 2+ acres of grass on the farm.

I played with it for a half-hour or so, couldn't get the hang of making it go where I wanted with any degree of precision.

Probably could with more practice, but I'll keep my ancient LX178 for my little patch and I have the 6' finish mower for the fields.

Paul you *definitely* would get the hang of it. I would say after one mow which took a couple hours I was very comfortable trimming close around trees etc and running nice, straight, tracks. But for a relatively small lawn a ZTR doesn't offer much advantage.

I did pick up the X720 today.
Mowed the yard at home with the included 54" deck.
It did a nice job!
The X720 weighs about 1000 pounds dry, no fluids or deck.
The 7-Iron commercial deck weighs just over 300 pounds.
I need to get some maintenance done on the X720 and swap out the decks.
I will get some pictures up soon.
It is a nice tractor, I like it.
I had just installed a new $275 seat on the X700 that I traded.
That new seat got removed and will be going on the X720!

We need pics!

Excuse the ratty looking seat, I haven't had time to switch it yet.

IMG_20220430_123637894_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

IMG_20220430_123607386_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

IMG_20220430_123623037_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

IMG_20220430_123652350_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Looks pretty good. Do you have record of when oil and hydro fluid was last changed?

Yes, I have the complete maintenance history.
It was a one owner machine.
I'm going to do all the maintenance soon.
I want to get the 7-Iron 60" deck mounted first and get some hours on it. I swapped the seat yesterday, and removed the front wheels.
I'm changing the front tires from turf to a five rib.
It's sitting on jack stands now and doesn't move very well.
Wheels with new tires should be back on in a few days.
Tomorrow looks like a good day for the random orbital polisher.

Looks good, might get a front bumper for that, replacing the green parts can be expensive....

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Looks good, might get a front bumper for that, replacing the green parts can be expensive....

Probably a good idea. I replaced the black, sort of bumper on mine with a similar piece that serves as the carrier for front weights and it projects out a bit further. But if I run into something higher it's going to be $$$, Deere's plastic hoods are very expensive.

I just finished mowing with the X500 and one advantage of it has over my ZTR is it's much quieter, in fact I didn't even need ear plugs. I guess it's because the engine's enclosed, and the blades don't seem to turn as fast either.

It rained here today.
So I couldn't mow grass.
We picked up an electric random orbital polisher at Walmart the other day. For some spring cleanup on the better half's truck.
Why the Walmart brand?
Because that's the only polisher they stock the removeable/washable/consumable polishing pads for.

Several hours of effort, and the X720 almost looks new.

IMG_20220504_145011855_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

IMG_20220504_144959812_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

We've had the fiber optic internet at the cabin since October, 2021. The key word here is "had."
I went to the rural recreational property on Monday to do some spring cleanup with my son.
He has been out of the area for a number of years and hadn't seen the cabin ever, or the rural property for quite a while.
We brought the X720 so we could mow the 1.5 acre field.
We also brought the Stihl 19" electric/battery rotary lawnmower for edging and trimming around the cabin and under the shrubs and blueberry bushes in the field.

We had a late April snowstorm here at my location that took out the grid power and internet for multiple days. And lots of tree damage at the house and locally/regionally.
So we brought the small Stihl battery chainsaw because I was certain tree branches would be broken and/or hanging in the field and would be in the way for mowing.

I guessed correctly, and it took at least an hour of chainsaw work to get the field cleaned up prior to mowing.
We walked the fiber optic right-of-way from the cabin back to the road intersection source and at the point where the fiber optic line crosses the road, the line was hanging down from the tops of
the telephone poles and snapped. Both poles were leaning at an approximate 20 to 25 degree angle. It appears at first glance that another high profile vehicle (likely a logging truck) tore down
the fiber optic line and angled the telephone poles.

I called the internet provider and explained to them that the repair would take significant manpower and equipment.
They issued a repair ticket number.
It's a good thing I am retired, because it's a full time job keeping after the properties and utilities!

The John Deere X720 seemed much better on fuel consumption for mowing the rural recreational 1.5 acre field compared to the X700 it replaced.
We are still a month or more away from peak grass growing rate, time will tell when the grass is going full bore.
The X700 (carburetor) would use six gallons of gas to mow the field.
The X720 (fuel injected, gasoline) used less than 2.5 gallons for the same mowing job.
Overall, I am pleased with the X720 and the 7-Iron commercial deck!