John Deere X740

[Bill Stockard]

Back in the day, when America made it's own equipment, I believe the traditional rider mower were good but anymore, I look at them as throw aways.

Yep, the riding mowers sold at the big box stores is throw away stuff. We refer to the JD riders at the box stores as "Johnnie Junk" If you want a real lawn tractor go to the JD dealer. Better quality equipment, better warranties, and better service. By the way, JD lawn tractors and turf equipment are made in Horicon, WI.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I can tell you one thing if anyone is looking for a string trimmer on steroids look at the DR line. I got one and its ALMOST TO MUCH MACHINE. Built like a tank it should last a good many years.



BIG

I've used and abused a commercial model DR trimmer for the past 6 years. This spring, I finally replaced the belt and a couple of the belt idlers. It has mowed thick waist high grass with tangled green briars and black berry vines mixed in. I use the largest size plastic "string" available in it. Just last week I mowed/trimmed under 1,200' of our front fence on both sides. The grass on the road side was almost waist high. I also use it to mow the grass down next to the water line and the sides of the dam on our pond. In the winter I use it with the saw blade attachment to cleqr underbrush from my fence rows. I've never had a minute's trouble with it.



Bill

 

[BIGNASTY]

BILL



Good to know Bill im really happy with our DR the wife and I were out doing our yard work today and she was pulling a disk around the front pasture to turn over the dirt. I was using the DR when we took a break she wanted to give it a try and let me drive the tractor for awhile. She fired that DR up and I could tell it was to much for her!!! just a couple of steps and she wanted no more and this is from a gal that ain't afraid of much!!! I trim both sides of the drive and around the trees in the fields in no time flat.



Our Daughter lives in Greenwood IN. She has sent some pic's of her place and ive never been there but it looks like they have some pretty big lawns also. Her neighbor said that if I want a mower to look at Ferris he mows her lawn for a while until she gets settled in. She said its a pretty beefy machine. Ill have to look them up also there's just so many to look at its hard to figure.



BIG

 

[BIGNASTY]

Sat down and really took a look at JD tractors Kubota and some others. WOW told the wife she had better be DAMN serious about her gardening at those prices. I can get some attachments for the boys to pull around and let them earn their keep. And just get a good Z turn mower.

 

[Bill Stockard]

BIG,



When looking for a ZT, check the selling dealer first for a full service department, if they stock parts, and can perform all the warranty work in house including the engine. After checking out the dealers, then decide which one to buy from those dealers you have checked.



With all mechanical equipment, you will eventually need service parts and/or service whether it is during the warranty or after. A long term warranty isn't worth much if the dealer doesn't service the complete machine locally and you have to haul it 100+ miles ($$) for service to some generic service center that didn't sell the machine to you and has no concern how soon and/or how well they repair your machine.



Bill

 

[BIGNASTY]

Bill

Thanks for the thoughts and great ones they are. No matter what I buy it's going to be a drive to get it worked on. Missoula is the closest big town and thats 65 miles away they do have a Great JD dealership my BIL and one of the other SIL's own BIG tractors for farming and recommended the JD in town. Also the Kubota/Case dealer where I met the wife many years ago has a great dealership. Its just so much money for a LAWN MOWER I know its a very good one but its a lawn mower!!! The Toro that we have has been a great mower we got it in Ca and thats what all the Pro Gardeners used but its just mowed to much and Toro said parts are non existent or really hard to find haven't you got your use out of it? I think I have the wife convinced that all we need is some farm implements for the mules to pull for her garden. Really how much do you need to turn the soil a few times a year? And just get a mower like yours or something comparable.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I have accumulated 8 hours engine running time on my JD 655 z-turn and time for the required 8-hour drain of the break-in oil and replacement of the oil filter. The engine oil filter was installed at the factory by the twin brother to the gorilla that installs engine oil filters at the Cummins factory! :-laf



I finally got the filter loose with a pair of large channel-locks, but it was close to crushing the filter can which would have made it air chisel time.



Bill

 

[mwilson]

I have accumulated 8 hours engine running time on my JD 655 z-turn and time for the required 8-hour drain of the break-in oil and replacement of the oil filter. The engine oil filter was installed at the factory by the twin brother to the gorilla that installs engine oil filters at the Cummins factory! :-laf



I finally got the filter loose with a pair of large channel-locks, but it was close to crushing the filter can which would have made it air chisel time.



Bill

8 hours... ... ????



Figured that you would have 50 on it by now... ... are you having a drought or something down there????



Mike.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Mike,



Thankfully, no dorught/heat wave so far this year (knock on wood). Unlike last year, it has been average rainfall and average temperatures. It only takes 2 hours to mow the nearly 5 acre yard and I have mowed it once a week.



I maintain a total of about 15 acres mowed yard style ground, but the other 10 acres, I mow with my Kubota utility tractor and a Bush-Hog 6' finish mower. The balance of the place is left in hay for a neighbor rancher to mow and bale. The hay meadow grass is waist high and he's scheduled to mow and bale for his second cutting next week.



Bill