SIGforum
Lawn Tractor Shopping - Final Update 6/21
June 18, 2019, 07:19 PM
BDA220Lawn Tractor Shopping - Final Update 6/21
We have a 15 year old Kubota diesel riding lawn mower, 54" deck, not a tractor. We mow a lot, with heavy grass in the spring.
This thing is beast the way it is constructed, and the diesel sips fuel.
Not cheap to buy, but this one is a tough machine!
"Strange days have found us, strange days have tracked us down." JM
June 19, 2019, 07:26 AM
ridewvThat T2290 with the heavier built 48" deck and the better serviceable hydro is the way I'd probably go. I had a JD X310 which had a K58 serviceable transmission (avoid ANY with the K46), Kawasaki V2, and 42" deck because I had a relatively small lawn. I liked it but I wished I'd gone with a 48" because for only an additional 6" total width the extra 3" sticking out on each side makes it easier to trim up to things, plus it had 4 anti scalp wheels (front and back) while the 42" only had two.
It'll match your B2650 too.
quote:
Originally posted by dusty3030:
Kubota has one that is real close to your specs and in budget.
T2290KW-42 has a Kawasaki engine (air cooled), fabricated heavy duty 42" deck but has Hydro Gear T3HD transmission. A little north of 4,000 msrp.
T2290KWT-48 same mower with 48" deck - has heavier duty serviceable Hydro Gear G730 and is around 5,000 msrp.
Heavy duty front axle and frame. Two pedal HST. Good solid mowers.
Both have front blade and snowblower options as well.
https://www.kubotausa.com/prod...t2290#specifications
No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride.
June 19, 2019, 09:05 AM
lymanI have my father's x340, (inherited it)
he bought it in 2007(?) or so, and it had 37hrs on it when I brought it home 5 yrs ago
other than oil changes, and belts, and a new set of blades and a new battery this year, I have done nothing to it but run it,
starts, runs, cuts, all with no drama
the hood did split, about a 4" crack right in the center , but it has not spread, (reminds me I need to fix that in some way)
3 blade 54" deck,
easy to take off if needed
https://chandlersfirearms.com/chesterfield-armament/
June 20, 2019, 12:14 PM
PHPaulI doublechecked the pilot jet based on the link provided (thanks for that, BTW). Squirted carb cleaner through it, got carb cleaner out of all the orifices in it. Reinstalled, no change. May still be a plugged passage inside the carb somewhere.
Decided I'd just quit messing with it and spring for a new carb. JD's internet parts page is squirrely today and I wanted to check out new mowers just in case, so I drove to the local dealer.
Genuine JD/Kawasaki carb: $133.62 plus the Governor's share. Same part number on Amazon: $75-ish. Guess which way I went...
Looked at X300 series mowers.
X330, $2999, Briggs and Scrapiron engine, K46 throwaway transaxle - uh....NO!
X350, $3299, Kawasaki engine (mo bettah), still with the K46 - Nope.
X380, Kawaski, K57, 48 inch deck - $4499. They have a used one with 3 hours on it, guy decided it was too big. They'll give me $250 off (damn generous of them...). That one's a maybe, if the new carb doesn't fix the LX178. They'll throw in a free lawn cart - wheeeeee!
This dealer (and I suspect JD Dealers in general) is a complete dick about pricing. No bargaining - take it or leave it. They MIGHT deal a little on the used one if I flap a roll of Benjamins in their face.
Hopefully the <$100 carb will fix it and they can pound sand.
Looked at Kubota stuff, to get a decent engine and the minimum features I want gets North of $5000
real quick.
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
June 20, 2019, 12:46 PM
Oz_ShadowYou could buy the x350 plus two backup new transaxles for the x380 price. I read that transaxle really just needs a drain plug and regular fluid maintenance to perform well.
At that $5k+ mark, its hard not to just go with a commercial type mower.
Those old LX mowers are hard to beat. I do however think my fuel pump is starting to get weak. Something I get to research. Tank seems to have a clean vent but filter only has a little in it at a time. I guess some hoses could be replaced.
June 20, 2019, 02:21 PM
PHPaulquote:
Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Those old LX mowers are hard to beat. I do however think my fuel pump is starting to get weak. Something I get to research. Tank seems to have a clean vent but filter only has a little in it at a time. I guess some hoses could be replaced.
I had the same symptom (partially filled filter) and put a new after-market pump on it. Runs full now. Didn't help my surging issue tho.
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
June 20, 2019, 02:54 PM
mutedbladequote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
Genuine JD/Kawasaki carb: $133.62 plus the Governor's share. Same part number on Amazon: $75-ish. Guess which way I went...
WHAT? Wait for all of those clamoring fools telling you it was downright un-American to purchase stuff on Amazon for half price of the dealer and not support your local community with the taxes you didn't pay
overhead baby!!!!gotta keep those lights on
___________________________
No thanks, I've already got a penguin.
June 20, 2019, 03:05 PM
ShouldBFishinquote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
I doublechecked the pilot jet based on the link provided (thanks for that, BTW). Squirted carb cleaner through it, got carb cleaner out of all the orifices in it. Reinstalled, no change. May still be a plugged passage inside the carb somewhere.
Decided I'd just quit messing with it and spring for a new carb. JD's internet parts page is squirrely today and I wanted to check out new mowers just in case, so I drove to the local dealer.
Genuine JD/Kawasaki carb: $133.62 plus the Governor's share. Same part number on Amazon: $75-ish. Guess which way I went...
Looked at X300 series mowers.
X330, $2999, Briggs and Scrapiron engine, K46 throwaway transaxle - uh....NO!
X350, $3299, Kawasaki engine (mo bettah), still with the K46 - Nope.
X380, Kawaski, K57, 48 inch deck - $4499. They have a used one with 3 hours on it, guy decided it was too big. They'll give me $250 off (damn generous of them...). That one's a maybe, if the new carb doesn't fix the LX178. They'll throw in a free lawn cart - wheeeeee!
This dealer (and I suspect JD Dealers in general) is a complete dick about pricing. No bargaining - take it or leave it. They MIGHT deal a little on the used one if I flap a roll of Benjamins in their face.
Hopefully the <$100 carb will fix it and they can pound sand.
Looked at Kubota stuff, to get a decent engine and the minimum features I want gets North of $5000
real quick.
I'd be really surprised if the new carb didn't fix your surging issue. Hope that does it.
I've read that some people have taken their K46's apart and fixed them (and/or changed fluid) - but it looked like a real PITA and who wants to mess with that if they weren't designed to have the fluid changed to begin with.
The non-serviceable transmission was what pushed me up to the x310 a few years ago. Dealer didn't move on price, but did throw in a free bumper
. I did take advantage of a 2 year no interest they had going on at the time.
June 20, 2019, 03:30 PM
Oz_ShadowI wish I could test the seat on these. My 26 year old mower seat rides like a 5 gallon bucket strapped to a skateboard in my bumpy yard.
June 20, 2019, 06:17 PM
RustpotThanks for the interesting read.
I have a used LX178 I got from a coworkers' brother who was moving out of state. Got the 38" deck and snow thrower with it.
My issue right now is I need to jump it for every start and warm it up. When I got it it would fire right up and purr enough to move it around while it warmed up, now it stalls right out if I don't give it a good couple minutes.
Well, that, and it takes me 4+ hours to mow my yard with the small deck. As long as she's got traction I haven't found something she can't pull or push. I'm debating going with something bigger and dedicating this one to trailering in the summer and winter snow duty since that snowblower will chew through 10" of wet, thick snow like it's not there.
June 21, 2019, 11:42 AM
PHPaulEUREKA!
That $75 carb from Amazon (which I got in 24 hours!!!, and I live 20 miles from the nearest McDonald's) fixed the issue.
Saved me about $5000...
How the hell does Amazon do it? 24 hours from wherever their nearest warehouse is (New Jersey? Or Massivetushies?) to East Overshoe Maine and that was no-charge Prime shipping.
Mother Deere wanted $134 and a week or 10 days.
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
June 21, 2019, 12:09 PM
wolfe 21Glad it worked out. Hate to see an old Deere put down.
A Perpetual Disappointment...
June 21, 2019, 09:15 PM
Oldriderquote:
Originally posted by ShouldBFishin:
I've read that some people have taken their K46's apart and fixed them (and/or changed fluid) - but it looked like a real PITA and who wants to mess with that if they weren't designed to have the fluid changed to begin with.
I don't know...I grew up on a farm and if it broke you fixed it. I've got the K46 tranny in mine, and have already accumulated most of the parts for this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL0B_1pqADoAlready have all the tools.
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Your right to swing your fist stops just short of the other person's nose...
June 21, 2019, 09:24 PM
lunchboxI have a k46 transmission in a X300 mower that’s 10 years old and still running perfectly. I mow 2 acres of grass on a slope. I simply remove the transmission from the tractor once a year and change the oil, it’s simple and I can do it in about an hour. Just saying.
June 21, 2019, 10:03 PM
ridewvquote:
Originally posted by lunchbox:
I have a k46 transmission in a X300 mower that’s 10 years old and still running perfectly.... I simply remove the transmission from the tractor once a year and change the oil....
That's probably why your K46 is still operational.
No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride.
June 22, 2019, 07:30 AM
petrGlad to hear you fixed it.
June 22, 2019, 08:06 AM
bendableits saturday , so I guess we'll see you down town tomorrow tonight ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N_Eu8sfaN0Sunday ! sunday ! sunday !
Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency.
Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first
June 22, 2019, 08:20 AM
f2this thread reminds me of S3 E6 of Mad Men and the runaway John Deere...
there's a tourniquet in the first aid kit.
June 22, 2019, 09:30 AM
PHPaulquote:
Originally posted by bendable:
its saturday , so I guess we'll see you down town tomorrow tonight ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N_Eu8sfaN0Sunday ! sunday ! sunday !
Yeeaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh....uh....NO! As quick as the steering is on those things, I think not!
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.