I bought an x380 with the 54” deck in 2022 for my 3 acres. Could not be happier with it. I’ve never enjoyed cutting grass until I bought this. Very helpful videos for better understanding and servicing my tractor.
@@eg6199 a neighbour asked my daughter to cut his grass while he’s away. She’s 12 so I helped a bit. This guy has a tiny little cub cadet. Any whiff of doubt I had about my x380 just being green pride blew away like a fart in the wind. What a great machine. Better than my dads kubota and a million times better than that yellow monstrosity.
got a s120 and it has been flawless in the last 6 years mowing two acres and we bought it used with 70 hours it. I am over weight and can easily fit in the seat.
As a former mechanic at a JD dealer I can tell you first hand to only buy X series or higher end Z series. I spent more time fixing the E, D, and S series than anything else. Unfortunately, the Briggs engines have gone down in recent years and I highly recommend staying away from them.
We just purchased an S100 the baby of them all and with 20 hrs on it now I love it it's perfect for a little over our 1/2 acre lawn and the bag system picks up everything nicely !!
I put 1156 LED bulbs in the Headlights they are much brighter and I put a little 6 inch LED bar on the grill it looks awesome thanks for the great video
I just want to add this comment to help, if it does at all. I bought a brand new 2021 John Deere S170 from Lowes last month and it's a GREAT mower so far. It has the 24HP B&S motor as he said BUT when you lookup the model number on it from Briggs and Stratton, they said it's actually a 'Professional series' motor which is an upgraded quality motor over their base model Intek engines. The professional series motors add a dynamically balanced crankshaft, fully pressurized oiling system, and so on. So, JD actually put forth the extra cash to add the premium B&S engines on their biggest S100 series mowers. Key word to look for is 'Extended Life Series' or 'ELS'. It's a fancy way of saying B&S Professional. It also has the better K46 tuff-torq transmission over the TLT's. It's a nice upgrade over the lower end S100's and, as far as I know, only the S170 and S180 has the same setup minus the deck sizes. S160 and below start losing some of these niceties. So in my opinion, the only real difference between the S170 and the S240 is that the S240 has the better deeper deck, a Kawasaki engine but only 21.5HP by comparison to the B&S 24HP, a little nicer seat, and a mulch control feature. The seat on the S170 does have a lumbar adjustment though to make up for it. The S170 also has bigger upgraded tires than the S240 so the ride is smoother, at least, by the tires. Otherwise the S170 and S240 are almost the same mower so I went with the S170 for that reason. It's cheaper and got more HP without sacrificing too much in the quality department. The S200's do come with a 3 year warranty vs the 2 year from the box store models though so that's something to consider as well. It's up to the buyer to decide if it's worth an extra $400 to move into the S240 from the S170. Lowes also has that nice MIL discount that works on mowers too so there's a potential for a bigger gap than that. ;) Great video as always!
I just ordered a John Deer x380 to replace my 14 year old John Deer 100cc mower. John deer mowers are, by far the best in class. Can't wait Until I get it home.
Get an X370. It has a fully serviceable hydrostatic transaxle. Change the fluid before the 50 hour recommendation and fill with full synthetic 5w-50 or the Tuff Torq propietary fluid.
The higher end machines have transmissions that you can actually service instead of junking when the sealed tranny gives out. So he means transmission fluid.@@DONALD1951
I'm a 56 yr old chick that does 99.99% of her 4 acre yard work. The chickens do the other point 01% 😂 Anyway, I bought my JD 350 on y'all's recommendations in 2020. Yes they actually built mine during the COVID. I absolutely love my lawn mower and have just a little over a hundred hours on it. Thought I'd come back and check because I remembered where you gave a discount on the home maintenance kits. Thanks for the recommendation
Also, wanted to add that I am on the last ridge of the Appalachian. It is very rocky and hilly. The John Deere has no problem getting up and down hills even with the full,lawn cart attached
Well done. Sold my LX 277 in 2017 and picked up a 48” X390. Never going back to a John Deere without power steering again. You don’t realize how great it is until you have it . Spend the money. It’s a worthwhile investment. 😉
is it that noticeable for the price? its a $1000 upgrade. Im looking at the X350 vs X370 VS X354 I almost wonder if the 4 wheel steer is of more value. I definitely feel the upgraded seat is a big improvement.
@@aaroncross8063 X370 has upgraded K57 transaxle and power steering. Unless you need AWS, the X370 is a better choice as there is only $100 difference in price over the X354.
I bought a x394 all wheel steering back in 2018. I cut 3 acres with it never had any issue at all. Well worth the money I would highly recommend this machine.
We just purchased an 394 x. Good to hear its been good for you. We were torn between that or zero turn. We like the choice for a snow blower attachment and power steering and 4wheel steering. Thanks.
I just experienced my first mow with my brand new John Deer 380 series. Can you say sweeeet. Wow! what a experience. Now I know why I continue to own John Deer. Keep up the great work John Deer.
Thanks bunches for all the information and your help. I ordered the S120 for my Husband's anniversary present. I couldn't have done it without all the videos you all posted. Thanks again!
Very good presentation. Thanks. I have an older style 2004 Toro wheelhorse with the 17 hp Kawasaki. The engine has about 580 hours and so far has been reliable. I had to replace one coil, along with routing oil and filter changes plus batteries about every 3 years. The engine starts and runs perfectly every time and shows no sign of any oil consumption between changes. I would definitely recommend going to the Kawasaki over a Briggs or Kohler.
I own a model LX266 from 2003. About 490 hours. Looks and runs like new, all due to preventative maintenance. Take care of your JD and it will take care of you!!!
you know that I watch your videos at 0.75 speed, your voice is more zen, it's going very well to follow the French translation. Thanks again for showing us these John Deere tractors.
Love the video's. I have watched many hours of the riding mower reviews over the last year and I found the S240 was the best of both worlds...Kaw Engine, XSeries low end trans, Accel Deck, Smaller size, price.....So happy with the JD product.
Excellent presentation. I've been operating a JD X390 for a number of years cutting an acre of lawn and some flat pasture. It's operated flawlessly since I've owned it. Great machine. Nothing runs like a Deere. :)
I'm currently building a house on 1.5 acres and I'm leaning towards an x390. Still trying to decide weather to get a snowblower for it or just buy a stand alone snowblower.
Great review. I would have liked to hear more about how one has a better cut than the other. Or a better deck system. Too much about creature comforts and not enough about mow quality and durability.
I’m moving up from the L series to the S series. The L series was my very first John Deere. Bought it used but I just bought the S110 brand new at my local John Deere dealership. Looking forward to use once mower season starts.
Outstanding video! I just went from an X580 to a 2021 X370, what an outstanding machine! Strong, smooth and a great cut. The X580 is definitely more stout, but if not necessary, save the cash and have an awesome lawn tractor, love it!
never buy a new mower,,,buy used,,,buy bigger than you really need,,,,at sales time you will have more interested customers,,,,it will mow in fewer hours, less engine time,,,buy one with the idea of selling it 3 yrs later for a profit,,,,ive done that for 35 years. Repaint, strip body and hood and tires and deck,,,new seat if needed, new decals, keep it in good condition, sell in the fall of the year at your last mowing,,,,buy a 3 yr old low hr unit in the coldest of jan at a low price and go again. Ive always made 2000-2500 more than i had in them,,,,mow free with JD
I bought a JD X300 with the 17hp Kawasaki engine in June 2007. It'll be 14 years old in June 2021 and I have been very pleased with it's performance. It now has little over 400 hrs with no major trouble. Just yearly routine maintenance is pretty much all I've had to do to it using the JD Turf Guard 10w-30 oil. I guess the only thing that would be considered major repair was the hood split down the middle about 18 inches about 4 years ago. I fixed that by doing a X stich pattern repair with small 4 inch green colored zip ties. Turn out good and has held together well.
Glad to hear you've had a great experience with your mower. This is proof that with proper maintenance these machines can go a long ways. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!
@JEFFQUICKLE9 That plastic just gets brittle over the years, or a least mine did. My JD X300 has always been shop kept too, so no outside weather exposure other than mowing. Since I last posted the plastic hood has gotten a lot worse, and I've resorted to using hot staples and fiberglass to keep it together so far.
My neighbor sold me his 2020 John Deer E100 for $500.00 and he used it once, I only have a 1/2 acre to mow so am happy so far! I'd like to put a mulching kit on it!
I would really like to see JD, and all of the mower manufacturers equip their machines with serviceable transmissions. When mower shopping last year, I noticed several used mowers with failed hydrostatic transmissions in the 200-300 hour range. The engine, frame and decks were still in perfect shape, but the transmission was junk. The common thread between all of the machines was the K46 trans. There were even some nice X300 series machines that I passed on because of this transmission. I ended up buying an X540 since it more closely matched the capabilities of the JD 322 it replaced. I made sure the transmission was user serviceable before making the purchase. Changing your transmission oil and filter every 200 hours is vital to the longevity of your machine!
I don't think the k46 really is as bad as the internet makes it out to be. Very common trans but unfortunately the ones who have issues are the ones who squawk. In reality many of the k46 will last you a long time as long as you don't push them too hard or force them to climb extreme slopes(which you shouldn't anyways with any riding mower or tractor as it will tip.)
my issue is I added a grass clipper collector on the back and I need to change the blade now for the updraft blade because it won’t pick up anything. I got it to try and stop some of the sand spurs in the yard. I dug them out all summer. I’m 63 years old and this is a little bit much for me.
Did it have a burnt rubber sme when you first drove it? Mine does. Just bought it this afternoon. It only does it when it is moving, or so it seems. Just curious if this is normalnor not. Dealer is no help.
2017 Purchased a X380 and love it . According to the manual , models X330 , X350 , X354 , X380 , X384 ALL have a sealed transmission . That’s my biggest worry .
They are sealed but most lawn mower transaxles are this way and most have very good luck with them. They are designed this way to be low maintenance for customers. Thanks for watching!
As a former JD small engine tec STAY AWAY from the ez oil change system. Saw at least 3 engines killed by the thing and NOT covered by warranty. That filter had to be installed just right or the engine looses all its oil while running and dies.
Once you have 12 11 10 gage steel on down your in commercial grade steel..also I did a lot of research from internet and talking with lawn and garden tractor dealers.. it's said that that the Kohler and Honda engines are most preferred in tractors and Zero turn mowers its not kawasaki even though kawasaki got good ratings most prefer the Kohler or Honda engines
Hello for winter there’s a little pool of gas I can’t siphon out, anything I can put in there to evaporate it so the carburetor doesn’t get gummed up? Thanks so much
My recommendation here would be to invest in a small bottle of fuel stabilizer and then mix it with a small amount of gasoline. Then run it in your mower for a while to get everything clean in your fuel system (lines, carburetor, etc.). Then turn the fuel off on your mower if you have a valve and if not then let your mower run completely dry. Or you could completely fill your tank with the fuel stabilizer and fresh gasoline mixture, run the stabilized fuel through the system, and then it should be fine to let sit over winter. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
I bought the x150 36' back like 20 years ago. Wasn't too too bad, actually ran pretty well while I had it. Easily able to adjust the height of the cut and lots of helpful information included with the purchase. I may look into the X300 for this summer, we will see. Seems reliable enough. 🤭Best of luck to all future mowers.
Excellent video. The narrator manages to cover a lot of information while not making the viewer feel overwhelmed with information. One thing missing was a price comparison which would have been useful at the end after comparing the features. I own a X300 and the battery monitor offered now would have been very useful but was not available when I bought mine. One thing that is annoying is how to access the underside of the mower deck to clean it. I use a lawn tractor jack which makes it a much easier process than trying to get the deck out. You may want to consider comparing the deck options (I use a mulching deck) and how to get the decks on and off of the mower
I have an x304 and its ok. Deck wheels only on the front of the deck. It has a Kawa engine but it's very hard to start after it is hot and has been running a while already. Will blow out black smoke after starting warm. Has done this since it was a few months old. About 150 hrs on it now. Spindles went out on the deck around 100hrs.
Well I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. For the hard start and black smoke you may need to have the carb adjusted and for the spindles that seems too soon for them to go out so I hate to hear that. Are you using good grease in them and doing it regularly?
@@WesternEquipment Well that's what I thought on the carb. Took to dealer and they couldn't replicate. Probably because it has to come up to temp after mowing a while. Sit a few mins and then try to start. It doesn't even try to start sometimes when it is hot, like a vapor lock. They said it's set fine and no build up. I run ethanol free gas all the time. I also replaced the fuel filter once and that didn't help. On the spindles, yes I grease them regularly with JD grease as per the manual. To be fair, only one failed but while I had the deck dropped, I went ahead and replaced them both and the belt.
I live on a half acre with lots of trees and azaleas, so I need maneuverability. My Deere Z345R is a great choice for cutting in confined spaces and getting out safely. However, if I had a wide open lawn that needed to look like a golf fairway (i.e. perfect), either of these lawn tractors would work well for me. We Ztrak guys may not want to admit it, but a mini tractor will usually deliver a higher degree of perfection than a Z. Thanks for sharing!
I’m sorry, but I can’t stand our John Deere mower. It’s from 04 and every single week it breaks somehow between the belt or the starter gear. Please give tips if you know how to fix that problem.
@@MikeM-wz2mh I’m not joking. It’s from 04. It’s been down for a week because of the starter and then it’s the deck shredding belts too. It gets really irritating.
I mow three acres. I have a LA 175 and it has a 26 hp briggs and stratton. Had to replace the oil pan gasket but other than that it's been great for a 54 "yard lawn tractor. i much prefer my 54" husqvarna 24 hp zero turn. Pulls the lawn sweeper much better too.
FYI - At 6:31 it is stated that the S series come with both an hour meter and electronic fuel gauge. I bought a new 2024 S140 in April and it only has an hour meter. It would be great if it had both.
Nice video! My 2010 X300 didn't come with a seat that nice, but even so, those suspension springs are a joke. I got the aftermarket suspension seat...one that sits on a spring mounted spine. It is much better and saved my back. On the X300, I had to do a lot of modifications though to enable the seat to go far back enough for my legs. Also, the deck wash system is a joke...just gets the grass clipping wet and can rust the deck out...just pull up on ramps after a cutting and scrape the clippings off with a spackle knife or grill scraper which has a nice long handle. I also removed the plastic pulley guards as they just pack grass in. This way I am able to clear the top of the deck off with a leaf blower. Other than that, it's a solid running tractor and gets the job done.
I've owned an X354 since the start of winter 2019, running both a Snowblower and 54" mower deck on a 7-acre property with 3_acres of mixed natural grasses and have just passed 100 hours, so far it has been a great tractor but there have been some issues I've noticed. The first problem I had was the outlet of the tank-mounted fuel pump snapped off because it came into contact with the main platform, this was during snow operations and I suspect some ice had built up and was caught by the wheel chains and pushed the tank into the platform. I did the repair myself with free parts supplied by the dealer since there was at least a 5-week wait for the dealer to make the repair. Another issue is the engine cooling exits out the front of the tractor and turns the snow into slush that piles up over the drive belt and causes it to slip, I've made a shield to deflect the hot air to the side and that helps. The mower works great, I've just finished lawnmower seeding 2 acres that had grown to about 3 feet tall before going to seed, whatever belt issues I've heard about the belts are fine and the mower will actually kill the engine if it becomes plugged or I push it too hard.
Great vid! I had an L110 put 1200 hrs and was still in good shape when I passed it on to a friend. Bought an D130 cause I liked the big rear tires. They got me out of a couple bad situations. I now have 383 hours on it and its doing great. Both mowers use about 1 gallon per hour. I dont know anyone doing proper maint. Wearing out the B&S engines!
I think that one more advantage to the K56 transaxle over the other lower number ones, which my 9 year old X310 has, is that is does allow for changing the hydro fluid.
@@WesternEquipment I am following the maintenance schedule by hours and so I have changed it three times. I previously had a 125 but wanted to be able to push some dirt and snow with blade. There are a couple of things that I don't like as much on the X310: Due to the hydro blade engagement, it is difficult to reinstall the deck belt when replacing the deck. The tension spring has some serious tension on it. Also, changing the cut height requires stopping, raising the deck, changing the height, then lowering the deck back.
The x5xx series is substantial, heavier frame, battery, K72 transaxle, etc...overkill for most people. I had an X580 for four years, traded for an X370 and some goodies and couldn’t be happier! The X580 was stronger but the X370 is a great machine.
Get a question my John Deere mower sounds like it’s miss or not idling I have to run it with the chock about 3/4 open and it stalls the minute I try to engage the blades any idea what is going on any information would be a great help. Thank you
Sounds like you may have a couple different issues. One may be the carburetor or your throttle and choke cables may be bad or it could be both. I would start here and see what you find.
Can I tow a small disc harrow with a X300 or will that require too much torque. Also, what attachement can i use to clear brush that would be available for the X300?
The max towing capacity on the X300 series mowers is 600 lbs and that is not going to count any ground resistance you get so a disk would probably not be a good idea on these mowers and as far as a brush cutter, you would have to look for something with an engine on it to turn the blades. Once again just keep in mind the 600 lb tow limit. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
Great video, wish y’all were around north Arkansas. We were going to buy the S240 with the 48” deck but our local Home Depot had some drastically marked down E180’s left over from last season and we went with that.
Excellent video. Just starting the research of what model of JD to purchase. This was very helpful as I now know that I need to move up to the X300 Series.
First, I'd read the Owner's Manual to see if all components - including the hydrostatic transmission - are serviceable BY THE OWNER/USER. You may be able to change the engine oil, but if you can't change the hydrostatic transmission oil, then the transmission is eventually going to croak. When that happens, you're done. Also check to see how many belts there are - if you have one belt from the motor that drives all the spindles on a wide deck (42, 48, or 54), you're going to get a lot of vibration. I'm still running with my GT235, 2 cyl 18 HP Kawasaki with a 54" deck that I bought 20 years ago. Still running like a Swiss watch with over 700 hours on the meter.
Where did you get that work bench in the background? That things a beast. Nice video I just bought the S160 but honestly thinking the 300 series would have been better. Darn
Do you suggest changing the oil at the end of mowing season or right before the beginning of each mowing season? I have a x590 and will put around 25 hours annually on it. Happy Easter! Thanks.
Great video as always! I would like to have a video on how to clean your mower after a cut so she stays nice and pretty. I have swirls all over my current JD
Nice video thank you. I bought a 120 , 42 inch cut about 6 years ago and have about 300 hours on it. The only problems I've had are with the deck. One of the brackets for the front bogie had to be reinforced and most recently the right lift bracket had to be rewelded.
Which S or X series would you recommend for mowing a lawn with a steep hill? I’ve heard it’s not recommended to mow a slope steeper than 15-20°. But my hill easily pushes between 25°-30°.
I would definitely go with an upper X series like an X380. The upgraded transaxle will help. You may still have to tackle that steep of a hill going up and down rather than going horizontal but you should have the power to do so with that size mower. But I would also recommend you to have your local dealer let you test drive one on your property to make sure it works for you. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
Great video! Sorry if i missed it but doesn't the X series come with a "twin touch" transmission? Can you describe what the benefits are of this, there is very limited info online it just seems like the same 2 pedal setup as the S series with maybe more resistance in the twin touch with better tip-in to start slower. Would appreciate any thoughts, thanks!
The transmission pedal setup is pretty much the same between the two. The big difference is you get a more heavy duty transmission when you move up into the X series.
The Tuff Torq sealed K46 transaxel is too light weight for the X300 with a grown man's weight. You are lucky to get 300 hours. First one failed at 281 hours after changing oil at 210 when it slowed down. There was an issue with JD using the wrong oil when shipped empty by TT. I must say the customer service people at Tuff Torq were very good to me. Replacing the transaxel is a very easy job and cost $800 in 2019. Rebuilding the pump and motor was 65% the cost of shipping a new uint and I got it in 3 days. Again great service. 3 years and 135 hours on the replacement. If I get 2 more years I cant really complain.
I honestly wouldn’t recommend the S series mower for any type of plowing but if you do go that way then I would go to the top with the S180. Thanks for watching!
x324 2007 replaced front wheels/tires, carburetor, hood, upgrade high back seat. 448 hours normal maintenance. like the 4 wheel turn getting around landscaping. cheaper to maintain than buying new.
Thanks for all these great videos Brent. My wife and I have been watching them to decide which mower would be best for us and our property. We ordered the X354 last night. We were a little lost on what to get before finding your channel. We have three acres; probably about an acre or a little less of grass and the rest is wooded - mostly flat with some small hills. The 4 wheel steer will be great for around in the woods. We also want to be able to pull a cart to move gravel and what not. We were mowing it all with a walk behind.....needless to say we can't wait to get a real mower. Thanks a lot, your videos were a tremendous help!
I see a lot of reviews online related to major issues with that rear discharge 3 series. Do you have customers with those same problems? Do you have recommendations to resolve any of those issues?
We do not deal in many of the rear discharge mowers but I have heard of people being unhappy with the windrow that it seems to form when mowing. Other than that I have not heard of many issues. What kinds of issues are you hearing about? Good question and I wish I had more to say about it. Thanks for watching!
@@WesternEquipment what kind of window do you mean? A lot of the reviews on the actual JD site say it is constantly clogging on this model or not sealing and grass is falling out of the sides.
I have a 2023 JD S170 and it has 15.7 hrs on it. So far cheap plastic steering wheel cracked and took weeks to get in. Now the belt to the lawn mower deck broke and I have to pay $100 for the service center to pick it up and they seem unsure if it will be covered by warranty! Less than 16 hours of cutting my flat 1/3 acre grass in the suburbs. The hood has no support to stop the wind from catching it and breaking it, just plastic junk. I was going to get a snow blower but found out the impeller is made of plastic! Are you kidding me?! The dealership said this is entry level so they’re plastic. Total junk. My neighbor has a cheap tractor with a snow blower and it has a steel impeller, so does my push snow blower. JD Is greedy and resting on their laurels and ripping us off. I thought JD was top of the line and just bought the best one they had at Lowes. I’m going to sell it this spring and look at the competition.
I bought an S140 this summer. It's proving to be just a tad too small but still manageable. That rear steer sure looks handy! I should have researched them more. Thanks for the comparison!
Just had my new X390 dropped off today while I was at work.... Never been so excited to mow my lawn in my life. I figured the power steering was just a gimmick, but I'll tell ya, it was so smooth and easy to mow my 3 acres tonight. I've never had a better time cutting grass before. In a whole other world from the craftsman and yardwork tractors I've had in the past.
When comparing mower deck with a Simplicity, just at the job they do . Simplicity has rollers on back of mower deck that rides the lawn . John Deers doesn’t this scalps high spots in the lawn .
This is true. Some models do not come with rear anti scalping wheels but this is why it is very important to make sure your deck is level and that your front anti scalping wheels are adjusted correctly.
John deere decks are better engineered than most. I've never used a simplicity, but as I understand it they get high Mark's in quality and craftsmanship . The key to a quality cut is in the airflow much more so than how many antiscalp wheels you have. Many inexpensive mowers have poor flow characteristics and the cut quality and dispersment of clippings never lie. All of john Deere's decks have adjustable antiscalp wheels to suit your lawns needs.
My dad bought a X324 in like 2007ish .. its still going strong the Xs are a completely different feeling machine over the improvement store level machines
Nice! We love hearing how well the older mowers are doing. And I agree that the X300's are superior but the 100 and 200 series mowers are still a great option if the budget fits that size. Thanks for watching!
Neither. I went with the X739 and it can do the mowing job and so much more!!! I mow over 5 acres and have several steep inclines and she accomplishes every task I need for mowing. She can also handle the garden jobs as well as move the snow in the winter. The "Beast" will last me until I can no longer get outside to use her anymore... I had two previous smaller mowers and in both of them the transmissions failed . one in just two years and the other made it through 3 years of use. The property requires something big and strong enough to handle what needs to be done and this one has done that.. Thanks JD for building a tractor/mower that can handle it.
Hi, I just bought a S120, how will it handle a snowblower vs the 200 or x300 series? Is it worth buying JD blower or buy a standalone snowblower for a lot less money. Also, is it worth while to upgrade into the S170 range with the upgraded transaxle for towing usage? I have about 1 acre of undulating ground but have 5 acres of woods to haul a trailer to get wood and such. Thank for any feedback
The snowblower part is a tough one for me because I live in an area that never receives enough snow to need one. As far as upgrading to a larger mower for more transaxle strength, I think this is a definite yes when you are able. Maybe somebody else out there has some suggestions on the snowblower issue. Any thoughts anyone?
Great information, was struggling to find a comparison like this. I'm trying to decide between a S240 (48" cut) and a X350 (48" cut) and the differences seem pretty minor compared to the $900 price difference. I believe both have the same kawasaki engines, same transmission and same mower decks. Not sure where the $900 difference comes from?
They are comparable, but some of the things to make the difference is larger frame, larger overall body, better display showing fuel, RPM's, battery, and various warning lights, and more operator comfort features. I hope this helped and thanks for watching!
@@WesternEquipment Appreciate the thoughts on this. If I chose to add a snow blower in the future, is the X350 the better option because of the bigger frame?
@@WesternEquipment Research what the gauge of steel is on the decks. S240 probably thinner. Also check to see if the hydrostatic transmission is owner-serviceable, or is it a "run it 'til it croaks" transmission.
Like to know which mowers have Hydraulic connections for attachments i.e. a blade or bucket loader on the front end. Nobody addresses this on any UA-cam videos I have watched.
Good information. I'm moving from a D140 to a X330 (which should arrive sometime this week) so it's good to have a thorough comparison. Much more thorough, I should add, than what I got at the dealer.
Hey Ron. I have the D140 also and am considering moving up. The D140 has been a very reliable mower and cuts descent but I've always thought it to be a little under powered and the quality of the cut has been a little disappointing. Would you mind giving your thoughts on the upgrade you made and a comparison of the two?
@@dalejones4322 The engines in each of those mowers are the same -- 724 cc/ 22 HP. That's not an issue for me since I don't have hills to climb. What I wanted was the stronger components in the frame, steering, etc. since some of what I mow is a little uneven and rough. The D140 is now the S ___ series. The video said the S series starts at 414 pounds; the X series starts at 542 pounds. Both of mine are 48 inch decks. I mostly mulch and the X330 is much better at that. I suppose it's the under-deck design. The D140 just uses a plug when mulching. The X330 has some additonal baffling under the deck as part of the mulch kit that must account for that. I don't have any issues with "quality of cut" with either mower. I'm not sure what you don't like about yours. Anything else?
@@wideslammer Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. It's been a big help in making a future decision. These mowers are so expensive and it's a big purchase for me. I came from a 42" cub cadet. I chose a bigger mower when I moved and started mowing about 1 1/2 acres. I think why I have been a little disappointed with the cut is that my cub cadet was a two blade mower and cut very even and didn't miss a weed lol. It is now my understanding that in general two blade mowers cut a little better. I'm definitely not moving back down so I'm just trying to find something that will last. I do have a hill to mow and when the grass is thick like it is now you can hear the mower bogging down while climbing. It does it ok but it's a challenge for the little mower. Ten years and it's never failed me. Thanks again Ron
Your comment at 4:11 about the seats. I defy John Deere to make a seat that doesn't split and fall apart while only 5 years old, always used in nice weather, and never abused 😠!!!
@@WesternEquipment True but it doesn't make up for the fact that they fall apart too soon. I'm on my third JD in 35 years. The tractors are great but the seats suck. I'm not even over-weight 🤣!
I bought an x380 with the 54” deck in 2022 for my 3 acres. Could not be happier with it. I’ve never enjoyed cutting grass until I bought this. Very helpful videos for better understanding and servicing my tractor.
Glad you are happy with your mower and thanks for watching!
Just picked up my X380, 54” deck. What a nice machine. Smooth, fast and comfortable.
@@eg6199 a neighbour asked my daughter to cut his grass while he’s away. She’s 12 so I helped a bit. This guy has a tiny little cub cadet. Any whiff of doubt I had about my x380 just being green pride blew away like a fart in the wind. What a great machine. Better than my dads kubota and a million times better than that yellow monstrosity.
@@simongilchrist3329 Now you know where that 'green pride' comes from...)
@@PageMarker1 lol, no kidding! The background on my phone is my tractor. I've never really enjoyed cutting grass but now it's not really work at all.
got a s120 and it has been flawless in the last 6 years mowing two acres and we bought it used with 70 hours it. I am over weight and can easily fit in the seat.
Good to hear! Thanks for watching!
As a former mechanic at a JD dealer I can tell you first hand to only buy X series or higher end Z series. I spent more time fixing the E, D, and S series than anything else. Unfortunately, the Briggs engines have gone down in recent years and I highly recommend staying away from them.
Interesting. Thanks for the input and for watching!
E,D and S seems like the erectile disfunction series.
😂😂😂@@Jman-k4b
I've had a d105 for 9 years and its been great. Only problem I had was the fan shattering, but was a cheap and easy replacement job.
@@Jman-k4bDAUM 😅
We just purchased an S100 the baby of them all and with 20 hrs on it now I love it it's perfect for a little over our 1/2 acre lawn and the bag system picks up everything nicely !!
Awesome! I'm glad you are enjoying it and thanks for watching!
I put 1156 LED bulbs in the Headlights they are much brighter and I put a little 6 inch LED bar on the grill it looks awesome thanks for the great video
I just want to add this comment to help, if it does at all. I bought a brand new 2021 John Deere S170 from Lowes last month and it's a GREAT mower so far. It has the 24HP B&S motor as he said BUT when you lookup the model number on it from Briggs and Stratton, they said it's actually a 'Professional series' motor which is an upgraded quality motor over their base model Intek engines. The professional series motors add a dynamically balanced crankshaft, fully pressurized oiling system, and so on. So, JD actually put forth the extra cash to add the premium B&S engines on their biggest S100 series mowers. Key word to look for is 'Extended Life Series' or 'ELS'. It's a fancy way of saying B&S Professional. It also has the better K46 tuff-torq transmission over the TLT's. It's a nice upgrade over the lower end S100's and, as far as I know, only the S170 and S180 has the same setup minus the deck sizes. S160 and below start losing some of these niceties. So in my opinion, the only real difference between the S170 and the S240 is that the S240 has the better deeper deck, a Kawasaki engine but only 21.5HP by comparison to the B&S 24HP, a little nicer seat, and a mulch control feature. The seat on the S170 does have a lumbar adjustment though to make up for it. The S170 also has bigger upgraded tires than the S240 so the ride is smoother, at least, by the tires. Otherwise the S170 and S240 are almost the same mower so I went with the S170 for that reason. It's cheaper and got more HP without sacrificing too much in the quality department. The S200's do come with a 3 year warranty vs the 2 year from the box store models though so that's something to consider as well. It's up to the buyer to decide if it's worth an extra $400 to move into the S240 from the S170. Lowes also has that nice MIL discount that works on mowers too so there's a potential for a bigger gap than that. ;) Great video as always!
WELL worth the $400 difference!
Thanks for this. I love this type of commentary. Thanks for watching!
I’m not sure that the K46 transmission is an upgrade on any mower. They generally don’t seem to last more than about 200 hours.
@@tedschmitt178 have to move up to x series to avoid that transmission
What is price on x series
I just ordered a John Deer x380 to replace my 14 year old John Deer 100cc mower. John deer mowers are, by far the best in class. Can't wait Until I get it home.
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it!
Get an X370. It has a fully serviceable hydrostatic transaxle. Change the fluid before the 50 hour recommendation and fill with full synthetic 5w-50 or the Tuff Torq propietary fluid.
Not a bad suggestion. Thanks for watching!
@@WesternEquipment I enjoy your videos.
Change what fluid.. the oil?
The higher end machines have transmissions that you can actually service instead of junking when the sealed tranny gives out. So he means transmission fluid.@@DONALD1951
@@DONALD1951gear oil
I'm a 56 yr old chick that does 99.99% of her 4 acre yard work. The chickens do the other point 01% 😂
Anyway, I bought my JD 350 on y'all's recommendations in 2020. Yes they actually built mine during the COVID. I absolutely love my lawn mower and have just a little over a hundred hours on it. Thought I'd come back and check because I remembered where you gave a discount on the home maintenance kits. Thanks for the recommendation
Also, wanted to add that I am on the last ridge of the Appalachian. It is very rocky and hilly. The John Deere has no problem getting up and down hills even with the full,lawn cart attached
Awesome! I am glad you are enjoying your mower and I am so glad we helped you make a great choice!
Well done. Sold my LX 277 in 2017 and picked up a 48” X390. Never going back to a John Deere without power steering again. You don’t realize how great it is until you have it . Spend the money. It’s a worthwhile investment. 😉
Thank you and yes I agree the power steering is awesome! Thanks for watching!
Just bought the x590 with power steering. Sure makes a big difference in how it drives.
is it that noticeable for the price? its a $1000 upgrade. Im looking at the X350 vs X370 VS X354 I almost wonder if the 4 wheel steer is of more value. I definitely feel the upgraded seat is a big improvement.
@@aaroncross8063 X370 has upgraded K57 transaxle and power steering. Unless you need AWS, the X370 is a better choice as there is only $100 difference in price over the X354.
I bought a x394 all wheel steering back in 2018. I cut 3 acres with it never had any issue at all. Well worth the money I would highly recommend this machine.
We just purchased an 394 x. Good to hear its been good for you. We were torn between that or zero turn. We like the choice for a snow blower attachment and power steering and 4wheel steering. Thanks.
@dawnstraughen755 I have the blower but it's a difficult setup, but it throws snow 20 plus feet. Hard to work with the belts in cold weather.
Got the s130 couple weeks ago, 22hp Briggs and 10" rear tires and it's a beast, mows great
Glad to hear you are liking it! Thanks for watching!
I just experienced my first mow with my brand new John Deer 380 series. Can you say sweeeet. Wow! what a experience. Now I know why I continue to own John Deer. Keep up the great work John Deer.
Glad you enjoyed! What all have you had in the past?
Thanks bunches for all the information and your help. I ordered the S120 for my Husband's anniversary present. I couldn't have done it without all the videos you all posted. Thanks again!
Awesome! I hope he loves it and I am so glad I could help!
Your a good woman. My wifey just bought me a deere too. She wants a nice lawn then we need the tools! Haha!
It’s nice I got a
1993
Mtd I had one of the deers I gave it to the Nighbor I just love my old mtd 😊
Very good presentation. Thanks. I have an older style 2004 Toro wheelhorse with the 17 hp Kawasaki. The engine has about 580 hours and so far has been reliable. I had to replace one coil, along with routing oil and filter changes plus batteries about every 3 years. The engine starts and runs perfectly every time and shows no sign of any oil consumption between changes. I would definitely recommend going to the Kawasaki over a Briggs or Kohler.
Thank you! Sounds like you found a good one in that Toro. Did you buy it when it was brand new?
I own a model LX266 from 2003. About 490 hours. Looks and runs like new, all due to preventative maintenance. Take care of your JD and it will take care of you!!!
True.
This is exactly right! Thanks for watching!
LX series = a stout residential piece of equipment
you know that I watch your videos at 0.75 speed, your voice is more zen, it's going very well to follow the French translation. Thanks again for showing us these John Deere tractors.
Haha! This is something I have not heard before but thanks for watching!
Love the video's. I have watched many hours of the riding mower reviews over the last year and I found the S240 was the best of both worlds...Kaw Engine, XSeries low end trans, Accel Deck, Smaller size, price.....So happy with the JD product.
Thank you for watching our channel! I am also glad you found the mower for you!
How do you like it still mate after a few months
I have zeroed in on the S240 as well.
@larrys2080 - hey Larry, how do you like the S240? Would you buy it again?
Excellent presentation. I've been operating a JD X390 for a number of years cutting an acre of lawn and some flat pasture. It's operated flawlessly since I've owned it. Great machine. Nothing runs like a Deere. :)
Thank you and glad to hear the green has treated you right!
I'm currently building a house on 1.5 acres and I'm leaning towards an x390. Still trying to decide weather to get a snowblower for it or just buy a stand alone snowblower.
Great review. I would have liked to hear more about how one has a better cut than the other. Or a better deck system. Too much about creature comforts and not enough about mow quality and durability.
I’m moving up from the L series to the S series. The L series was my very first John Deere. Bought it used but I just bought the S110 brand new at my local John Deere dealership. Looking forward to use once mower season starts.
Outstanding video! I just went from an X580 to a 2021 X370, what an outstanding machine! Strong, smooth and a great cut. The X580 is definitely more stout, but if not necessary, save the cash and have an awesome lawn tractor, love it!
Thank you! Glad you are liking your new mower and thanks for watching!
never buy a new mower,,,buy used,,,buy bigger than you really need,,,,at sales time you will have more interested customers,,,,it will mow in fewer hours, less engine time,,,buy one with the idea of selling it 3 yrs later for a profit,,,,ive done that for 35 years. Repaint, strip body and hood and tires and deck,,,new seat if needed, new decals, keep it in good condition, sell in the fall of the year at your last mowing,,,,buy a 3 yr old low hr unit in the coldest of jan at a low price and go again. Ive always made 2000-2500 more than i had in them,,,,mow free with JD
Love my X304 and the 4 wheel steering, she is about 13 years old and runs like new at 250 hours.
Awesome! I love to hear stuff like this. Thanks for watching!
I bought a JD X300 with the 17hp Kawasaki engine in June 2007. It'll be 14 years old in June 2021 and I have been very pleased with it's performance. It now has little over 400 hrs with no major trouble. Just yearly routine maintenance is pretty much all I've had to do to it using the JD Turf Guard 10w-30 oil. I guess the only thing that would be considered major repair was the hood split down the middle about 18 inches about 4 years ago. I fixed that by doing a X stich pattern repair with small 4 inch green colored zip ties. Turn out good and has held together well.
Glad to hear you've had a great experience with your mower. This is proof that with proper maintenance these machines can go a long ways. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!
Thankfully they make green zip ties. I hope you have a good supply to keep all of your plastic tied together!
@JEFFQUICKLE9 That plastic just gets brittle over the years, or a least mine did. My JD X300 has always been shop kept too, so no outside weather exposure other than mowing. Since I last posted the plastic hood has gotten a lot worse, and I've resorted to using hot staples and fiberglass to keep it together so far.
My neighbor sold me his 2020 John Deer E100 for $500.00 and he used it once, I only have a 1/2 acre to mow so am happy so far! I'd like to put a mulching kit on it!
Sounds like a good deal to me! Thanks for watching!
I would really like to see JD, and all of the mower manufacturers equip their machines with serviceable transmissions. When mower shopping last year, I noticed several used mowers with failed hydrostatic transmissions in the 200-300 hour range. The engine, frame and decks were still in perfect shape, but the transmission was junk. The common thread between all of the machines was the K46 trans. There were even some nice X300 series machines that I passed on because of this transmission. I ended up buying an X540 since it more closely matched the capabilities of the JD 322 it replaced. I made sure the transmission was user serviceable before making the purchase. Changing your transmission oil and filter every 200 hours is vital to the longevity of your machine!
I do agree and think this would help with longevity of these mowers. Thanks for watching!
My first JD 120 transaxle went out around 300 hours. None serviceable by home owner.
You are 100% right. Anything less than a k72 tranny is crap. Of course that x5 series just doubled the price tho
I don't think the k46 really is as bad as the internet makes it out to be. Very common trans but unfortunately the ones who have issues are the ones who squawk. In reality many of the k46 will last you a long time as long as you don't push them too hard or force them to climb extreme slopes(which you shouldn't anyways with any riding mower or tractor as it will tip.)
my issue is I added a grass clipper collector on the back and I need to change the blade now for the updraft blade because it won’t pick up anything. I got it to try and stop some of the sand spurs in the yard. I dug them out all summer. I’m 63 years old and this is a little bit much for me.
The high lift blades would definitely help. I hope you get rid of those spurs! They are the worst.
@@WesternEquipment I just want to know how much are these lawn mowers cost
I bought a x330 last year and couldn't be happier
Great machine! Glad you are liking it and thanks for watching!
Did it have a burnt rubber sme when you first drove it? Mine does. Just bought it this afternoon. It only does it when it is moving, or so it seems. Just curious if this is normalnor not. Dealer is no help.
@@BigDsHomestead not that I ever noticed
The transaxle failed on my X320 after 283 hours. $1,500 plus for new one installed.
@@gordbaker896 4 years, 300 hours right?
2017 Purchased a X380 and love it . According to the manual , models X330 , X350 , X354 , X380 , X384 ALL have a sealed transmission . That’s my biggest worry .
They are sealed but most lawn mower transaxles are this way and most have very good luck with them. They are designed this way to be low maintenance for customers. Thanks for watching!
As a former JD small engine tec STAY AWAY from the ez oil change system. Saw at least 3 engines killed by the thing and NOT covered by warranty. That filter had to be installed just right or the engine looses all its oil while running and dies.
What you recommend what model if I should say away from quick oil change?
What is the exact part number for the seat on the X300 series lawn tractor that Brent showed in his comparison of the S &
X series mowers?
The part number is AUC17180.
I have a x300 for my property and a x350 at my parents, very impressed with both but have been debating adding an older garden tractor to the line up.
Awesome! The more equipment the better. Thanks for watching!
Try to find a jd425 garden tractor they are great.
With the "quick change" oil system. What happens to all the oil laying in the crankcase?? Does the X series have shaft or belt drive transmissions?
Once you have 12 11 10 gage steel on down your in commercial grade steel..also I did a lot of research from internet and talking with lawn and garden tractor dealers.. it's said that that the Kohler and Honda engines are most preferred in tractors and Zero turn mowers its not kawasaki even though kawasaki got good ratings most prefer the Kohler or Honda engines
Thanks for the info and thanks for watching!
Hello for winter there’s a little pool of gas I can’t siphon out, anything I can put in there to evaporate it so the carburetor doesn’t get gummed up? Thanks so much
My recommendation here would be to invest in a small bottle of fuel stabilizer and then mix it with a small amount of gasoline. Then run it in your mower for a while to get everything clean in your fuel system (lines, carburetor, etc.). Then turn the fuel off on your mower if you have a valve and if not then let your mower run completely dry. Or you could completely fill your tank with the fuel stabilizer and fresh gasoline mixture, run the stabilized fuel through the system, and then it should be fine to let sit over winter. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
This video had all the information i was ever lolking for. Great job with this!!!
Thank you and thanks for watching!
I bought the x150 36' back like 20 years ago. Wasn't too too bad, actually ran pretty well while I had it. Easily able to adjust the height of the cut and lots of helpful information included with the purchase. I may look into the X300 for this summer, we will see. Seems reliable enough. 🤭Best of luck to all future mowers.
Excellent video. The narrator manages to cover a lot of information while not making the viewer feel overwhelmed with information. One thing missing was a price comparison which would have been useful at the end after comparing the features. I own a X300 and the battery monitor offered now would have been very useful but was not available when I bought mine. One thing that is annoying is how to access the underside of the mower deck to clean it. I use a lawn tractor jack which makes it a much easier process than trying to get the deck out. You may want to consider comparing the deck options (I use a mulching deck) and how to get the decks on and off of the mower
Thank you and thanks for the comment. Also, thanks for watching!
watch for the cheap drive pulley on the transaxle on the x300 series my neighbor has had nothing but problems with his, my 345 is still running strong
I have an x304 and its ok. Deck wheels only on the front of the deck. It has a Kawa engine but it's very hard to start after it is hot and has been running a while already. Will blow out black smoke after starting warm. Has done this since it was a few months old. About 150 hrs on it now. Spindles went out on the deck around 100hrs.
Well I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. For the hard start and black smoke you may need to have the carb adjusted and for the spindles that seems too soon for them to go out so I hate to hear that. Are you using good grease in them and doing it regularly?
@@WesternEquipment Well that's what I thought on the carb. Took to dealer and they couldn't replicate. Probably because it has to come up to temp after mowing a while. Sit a few mins and then try to start. It doesn't even try to start sometimes when it is hot, like a vapor lock. They said it's set fine and no build up. I run ethanol free gas all the time. I also replaced the fuel filter once and that didn't help. On the spindles, yes I grease them regularly with JD grease as per the manual. To be fair, only one failed but while I had the deck dropped, I went ahead and replaced them both and the belt.
Have the electronic fuel solenoid checked on the carburetor, sounds like its sticking or not working.
Just got my S120 today and the thing is astounding for the price!
Awesome! I am glad you are happy with it. Thanks for watching!
I have a 2019 x350 and still enjoy using it. Excellent mower
I'm glad you are loving your mower. Thanks for the comment and for watching!
Does it pick up grass satisfactory.
I love my 2009 JD X320. ❤️ Never had a problem with it in 14 years
They are good machines and I always love hearing things like this!
Man such beautifully explained in all videos..you are a true product Manager doing JD a big favor!
Wow! Thank you for the compliment, that means a lot. Thanks for watching!
I live on a half acre with lots of trees and azaleas, so I need maneuverability. My Deere Z345R is a great choice for cutting in confined spaces and getting out safely. However, if I had a wide open lawn that needed to look like a golf fairway (i.e. perfect), either of these lawn tractors would work well for me. We Ztrak guys may not want to admit it, but a mini tractor will usually deliver a higher degree of perfection than a Z. Thanks for sharing!
I think there is some truth to this but both should leave a great cut either way. If you had to buy one which tractor mower would you get?
I’m sorry, but I can’t stand our John Deere mower. It’s from 04 and every single week it breaks somehow between the belt or the starter gear. Please give tips if you know how to fix that problem.
'04 ? Are you being serious or screwing us. A 20 year old mower and that's all the problem you're having.
@@MikeM-wz2mh I’m not joking. It’s from 04. It’s been down for a week because of the starter and then it’s the deck shredding belts too. It gets really irritating.
I mow three acres. I have a LA 175 and it has a 26 hp briggs and stratton. Had to replace the oil pan gasket but other than that it's been great for a 54 "yard lawn tractor. i much prefer my 54" husqvarna 24 hp zero turn. Pulls the lawn sweeper much better too.
Well it sounds like you have had good luck with two different brands so that is good!
Thank you for the amazing job. Just got my S120 yesterday and very happy
Congrats on your new mower. And thanks for watching!
FYI - At 6:31 it is stated that the S series come with both an hour meter and electronic fuel gauge. I bought a new 2024 S140 in April and it only has an hour meter. It would be great if it had both.
Both great, It will depend on porpouse and use you're going to give it
Very true. Thanks for watching!
My old LX280 has over 1500hrs and still working good. Just started to burn a little oil. I say go with the higher models if you can.
I agree here. If you have the chance and the funds then definitely go to a higher model. What year is your LX280?
@@WesternEquipment 2005
Nice video! My 2010 X300 didn't come with a seat that nice, but even so, those suspension springs are a joke. I got the aftermarket suspension seat...one that sits on a spring mounted spine. It is much better and saved my back. On the X300, I had to do a lot of modifications though to enable the seat to go far back enough for my legs.
Also, the deck wash system is a joke...just gets the grass clipping wet and can rust the deck out...just pull up on ramps after a cutting and scrape the clippings off with a spackle knife or grill scraper which has a nice long handle.
I also removed the plastic pulley guards as they just pack grass in. This way I am able to clear the top of the deck off with a leaf blower.
Other than that, it's a solid running tractor and gets the job done.
Thanks for the feedback and thanks for watching!
@@MrStangdawg Nice to see they figured it out!
I've owned an X354 since the start of winter 2019, running both a Snowblower and 54" mower deck on a 7-acre property with 3_acres of mixed natural grasses and have just passed 100 hours, so far it has been a great tractor but there have been some issues I've noticed. The first problem I had was the outlet of the tank-mounted fuel pump snapped off because it came into contact with the main platform, this was during snow operations and I suspect some ice had built up and was caught by the wheel chains and pushed the tank into the platform. I did the repair myself with free parts supplied by the dealer since there was at least a 5-week wait for the dealer to make the repair. Another issue is the engine cooling exits out the front of the tractor and turns the snow into slush that piles up over the drive belt and causes it to slip, I've made a shield to deflect the hot air to the side and that helps.
The mower works great, I've just finished lawnmower seeding 2 acres that had grown to about 3 feet tall before going to seed, whatever belt issues I've heard about the belts are fine and the mower will actually kill the engine if it becomes plugged or I push it too hard.
Well thank you for your feedback and for the information. Also, thank you for watching!
Great vid! I had an L110 put 1200 hrs and was still in good shape when I passed it on to a friend. Bought an D130 cause I liked the big rear tires. They got me out of a couple bad situations. I now have 383 hours on it and its doing great. Both mowers use about 1 gallon per hour. I dont know anyone doing proper maint. Wearing out the B&S engines!
Thank you! Unfortunately we see a lot of this too. Proper maintenance will make these machines last a long time. Thanks for watching!
I think that one more advantage to the K56 transaxle over the other lower number ones, which my 9 year old X310 has, is that is does allow for changing the hydro fluid.
This is definitely a plus to those transaxles. How often have you changed yours?
@@WesternEquipment I am following the maintenance schedule by hours and so I have changed it three times.
I previously had a 125 but wanted to be able to push some dirt and snow with blade. There are a couple of things that I don't like as much on the X310: Due to the hydro blade engagement, it is difficult to reinstall the deck belt when replacing the deck. The tension spring has some serious tension on it. Also, changing the cut height requires stopping, raising the deck, changing the height, then lowering the deck back.
Would love one of these for the X300’s vs the X500’s, thank you!
Hopefully I can do this soon. Thanks for watching!
The x5xx series is substantial, heavier frame, battery, K72 transaxle, etc...overkill for most people. I had an X580 for four years, traded for an X370 and some goodies and couldn’t be happier! The X580 was stronger but the X370 is a great machine.
We bought an X380 today. Pretty impressive mower.
This video is helping me decide which model to buy. Love the blooper real in the back! We're all human!
@Alan Heckel we mess up our fair share! Thanks for watching.
Get a question my John Deere mower sounds like it’s miss or not idling I have to run it with the chock about 3/4 open and it stalls the minute I try to engage the blades any idea what is going on any information would be a great help. Thank you
Sounds like you may have a couple different issues. One may be the carburetor or your throttle and choke cables may be bad or it could be both. I would start here and see what you find.
Great Video!! You do a Wonderful job explaining all the features on the Deere!!
Thank you and thanks for watching!
You will be my sales guy not the bozo that returned my call who knew nothing about the product
Can I tow a small disc harrow with a X300 or will that require too much torque. Also, what attachement can i use to clear brush that would be available for the X300?
The max towing capacity on the X300 series mowers is 600 lbs and that is not going to count any ground resistance you get so a disk would probably not be a good idea on these mowers and as far as a brush cutter, you would have to look for something with an engine on it to turn the blades. Once again just keep in mind the 600 lb tow limit. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
Great video, wish y’all were around north Arkansas. We were going to buy the S240 with the 48” deck but our local Home Depot had some drastically marked down E180’s left over from last season and we went with that.
Well thank you and the E180's are great mowers so I think you made out good! Thanks for watching!
When were these JD hoods thinned out even more and changed to snap-together plastic parts? Even the hood holder for the hinge was changed to plastic.
Excellent video. Just starting the research of what model of JD to purchase. This was very helpful as I now know that I need to move up to the X300 Series.
Thank you and I am glad I could help. I hope you enjoy your new mower and thanks for watching!
First, I'd read the Owner's Manual to see if all components - including the hydrostatic transmission - are serviceable BY THE OWNER/USER. You may be able to change the engine oil, but if you can't change the hydrostatic transmission oil, then the transmission is eventually going to croak. When that happens, you're done. Also check to see how many belts there are - if you have one belt from the motor that drives all the spindles on a wide deck (42, 48, or 54), you're going to get a lot of vibration. I'm still running with my GT235, 2 cyl 18 HP Kawasaki with a 54" deck that I bought 20 years ago. Still running like a Swiss watch with over 700 hours on the meter.
Where did you get that work bench in the background? That things a beast. Nice video I just bought the S160 but honestly thinking the 300 series would have been better. Darn
Thank you! The benches came from U-Line and they are nice! Thanks for watching!
Do you suggest changing the oil at the end of mowing season or right before the beginning of each mowing season? I have a x590 and will put around 25 hours annually on it. Happy Easter! Thanks.
Either one will work. I personally like to do it at the end of the season so my mower is ready to go in the spring.
Great video as always! I would like to have a video on how to clean your mower after a cut so she stays nice and pretty. I have swirls all over my current JD
Good idea! I will try to get one put out there towards the end of mowing season. Thanks for watching!
Which one has the locking rear wheels for better traction up hills?
This becomes an option once you jump up to the X500 series. Good question and thanks for watching!
You did a great job explaining the difference.
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Nice video thank you. I bought a 120 , 42 inch cut about 6 years ago and have about 300 hours on it. The only problems I've had are with the deck. One of the brackets for the front bogie had to be reinforced and most recently the right lift bracket had to be rewelded.
Were you able to get them repaired pretty easily?
Yes I have access to a welder.
Which S or X series would you recommend for mowing a lawn with a steep hill? I’ve heard it’s not recommended to mow a slope steeper than 15-20°. But my hill easily pushes between 25°-30°.
I would definitely go with an upper X series like an X380. The upgraded transaxle will help. You may still have to tackle that steep of a hill going up and down rather than going horizontal but you should have the power to do so with that size mower. But I would also recommend you to have your local dealer let you test drive one on your property to make sure it works for you. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
I bought an x330 last year and couldn’t be happier. I put it work a little to hard sometimes but its always handles what I throw at it
That's awesome, I'm glad you are happy with your mower and thanks for watching!
Great video Brent! Contemplating this very decision right now and was glad to find your video. Very thorough! Loved the bloopers too...
Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope it was helpful in making your decision. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Sorry if i missed it but doesn't the X series come with a "twin touch" transmission? Can you describe what the benefits are of this, there is very limited info online it just seems like the same 2 pedal setup as the S series with maybe more resistance in the twin touch with better tip-in to start slower. Would appreciate any thoughts, thanks!
The transmission pedal setup is pretty much the same between the two. The big difference is you get a more heavy duty transmission when you move up into the X series.
The Tuff Torq sealed K46 transaxel is too light weight for the X300 with a grown man's weight. You are lucky to get 300 hours. First one failed at 281 hours after changing oil at 210 when it slowed down. There was an issue with JD using the wrong oil when shipped empty by TT. I must say the customer service people at Tuff Torq were very good to me. Replacing the transaxel is a very easy job and cost $800 in 2019. Rebuilding the pump and motor was 65% the cost of shipping a new uint and I got it in 3 days. Again great service. 3 years and 135 hours on the replacement. If I get 2 more years I cant really complain.
This is good to hear about Tuff Torq. They seem to get such a bad wrap most of the time so it's nice to hear something positive!
what s series can I buy that's big enough to use for plow
I honestly wouldn’t recommend the S series mower for any type of plowing but if you do go that way then I would go to the top with the S180. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for helping me understand the X340 i just purchased
Glad I could help and thanks for watching!
x324 2007 replaced front wheels/tires, carburetor, hood, upgrade high back seat. 448 hours normal maintenance. like the 4 wheel turn getting around landscaping. cheaper to maintain than buying new.
I am all about running them as long as you can. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for all these great videos Brent. My wife and I have been watching them to decide which mower would be best for us and our property. We ordered the X354 last night. We were a little lost on what to get before finding your channel. We have three acres; probably about an acre or a little less of grass and the rest is wooded - mostly flat with some small hills. The 4 wheel steer will be great for around in the woods. We also want to be able to pull a cart to move gravel and what not. We were mowing it all with a walk behind.....needless to say we can't wait to get a real mower. Thanks a lot, your videos were a tremendous help!
That is awesome! I'm glad I could help and thank you all so much for watching!
Should have got a cub cadet, far superior in my opinion.. I looked and tested a JD , no comparison.
Cub cadet lol
I see a lot of reviews online related to major issues with that rear discharge 3 series. Do you have customers with those same problems? Do you have recommendations to resolve any of those issues?
We do not deal in many of the rear discharge mowers but I have heard of people being unhappy with the windrow that it seems to form when mowing. Other than that I have not heard of many issues. What kinds of issues are you hearing about? Good question and I wish I had more to say about it. Thanks for watching!
@@WesternEquipment what kind of window do you mean? A lot of the reviews on the actual JD site say it is constantly clogging on this model or not sealing and grass is falling out of the sides.
@@Haze1552 I'm sorry I meant to space that out to say "wind row". And that is interesting. I have not heard this about the clogging and sealing.
I have a 2023 JD S170 and it has 15.7 hrs on it. So far cheap plastic steering wheel cracked and took weeks to get in. Now the belt to the lawn mower deck broke and I have to pay $100 for the service center to pick it up and they seem unsure if it will be covered by warranty! Less than 16 hours of cutting my flat 1/3 acre grass in the suburbs. The hood has no support to stop the wind from catching it and breaking it, just plastic junk. I was going to get a snow blower but found out the impeller is made of plastic! Are you kidding me?! The dealership said this is entry level so they’re plastic. Total junk. My neighbor has a cheap tractor with a snow blower and it has a steel impeller, so does my push snow blower. JD Is greedy and resting on their laurels and ripping us off. I thought JD was top of the line and just bought the best one they had at Lowes. I’m going to sell it this spring and look at the competition.
Amazing how all these legendary American brands have put all their efforts in screwing their customers so hard.
Cant but JD from big box stores, Its all MTD junk.
Thank you! I love my S120 but I may jump to the X350R. I wish they made it with 4-wheel steering but obviously that's mechanically complex LOL
I bought an S140 this summer. It's proving to be just a tad too small but still manageable. That rear steer sure looks handy! I should have researched them more. Thanks for the comparison!
The 4-wheel steer can be a life saver for sure. I'm glad the video was helpful.
Just had my new X390 dropped off today while I was at work.... Never been so excited to mow my lawn in my life.
I figured the power steering was just a gimmick, but I'll tell ya, it was so smooth and easy to mow my 3 acres tonight. I've never had a better time cutting grass before. In a whole other world from the craftsman and yardwork tractors I've had in the past.
Awesome! I'm glad you are enjoying your new mower and thanks for watching!
Great video! Lots of calm good information! Wish you guys were near me:)
Well thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching!
just bought a x350 with the snowpackage (44in snowblower) for up here in Maine, and here it is, New Years Eve....AND NO SNOW!!! UGH
When comparing mower deck with a Simplicity, just at the job they do . Simplicity has rollers on back of mower deck that rides the lawn . John Deers doesn’t this scalps high spots in the lawn .
This is true. Some models do not come with rear anti scalping wheels but this is why it is very important to make sure your deck is level and that your front anti scalping wheels are adjusted correctly.
John deere decks are better engineered than most. I've never used a simplicity, but as I understand it they get high Mark's in quality and craftsmanship . The key to a quality cut is in the airflow much more so than how many antiscalp wheels you have. Many inexpensive mowers have poor flow characteristics and the cut quality and dispersment of clippings never lie. All of john Deere's decks have adjustable antiscalp wheels to suit your lawns needs.
I would like to see what accessories are for each type of mower as well.
This is a good idea. I will work on something like this for the spring. Thanks for watching!
My dad bought a X324 in like 2007ish .. its still going strong the Xs are a completely different feeling machine over the improvement store level machines
Nice! We love hearing how well the older mowers are doing. And I agree that the X300's are superior but the 100 and 200 series mowers are still a great option if the budget fits that size. Thanks for watching!
Neither. I went with the X739 and it can do the mowing job and so much more!!! I mow over 5 acres and have several steep inclines and she accomplishes every task I need for mowing. She can also handle the garden jobs as well as move the snow in the winter. The "Beast" will last me until I can no longer get outside to use her anymore...
I had two previous smaller mowers and in both of them the transmissions failed . one in just two years and the other made it through 3 years of use. The property requires something big and strong enough to handle what needs to be done and this one has done that.. Thanks JD for building a tractor/mower that can handle it.
Glad to hear you are happy with your machine and thanks for watching!
Great video Brent! Lots of great information on the difference between the s and x series! Thanks for sharing! Have a great and awesome day!
Thanks Vincent!
Hi, I just bought a S120, how will it handle a snowblower vs the 200 or x300 series? Is it worth buying JD blower or buy a standalone snowblower for a lot less money. Also, is it worth while to upgrade into the S170 range with the upgraded transaxle for towing usage? I have about 1 acre of undulating ground but have 5 acres of woods to haul a trailer to get wood and such. Thank for any feedback
The snowblower part is a tough one for me because I live in an area that never receives enough snow to need one. As far as upgrading to a larger mower for more transaxle strength, I think this is a definite yes when you are able. Maybe somebody else out there has some suggestions on the snowblower issue. Any thoughts anyone?
Great information, was struggling to find a comparison like this. I'm trying to decide between a S240 (48" cut) and a X350 (48" cut) and the differences seem pretty minor compared to the $900 price difference. I believe both have the same kawasaki engines, same transmission and same mower decks. Not sure where the $900 difference comes from?
They are comparable, but some of the things to make the difference is larger frame, larger overall body, better display showing fuel, RPM's, battery, and various warning lights, and more operator comfort features. I hope this helped and thanks for watching!
@@WesternEquipment Appreciate the thoughts on this. If I chose to add a snow blower in the future, is the X350 the better option because of the bigger frame?
Yes, this is right!
@@WesternEquipment Research what the gauge of steel is on the decks. S240 probably thinner. Also check to see if the hydrostatic transmission is owner-serviceable, or is it a "run it 'til it croaks" transmission.
I have owned both series. The x series is totally worth the additional $.
In the X-300 series, in the blade spindles, are the bearing seals removed from one side of the bearings, so grease can get in?
This is a good question. I will have to break open a spindle at some point and investigate this. New video idea! Thanks for watching!
@@WesternEquipment Please tell me that John Deere Garden Tractors spindles are not assembled like this: ua-cam.com/video/EYyhVyHysaw/v-deo.html
Awesome video. Would love to see a video on the updated X500's
If I can get my hand on one soon we will get something out there for sure!
Like to know which mowers have Hydraulic connections for attachments i.e. a blade or bucket loader on the front end. Nobody addresses this on any UA-cam videos I have watched.
The only mowers you can add hydraulic functions on is the X700 series. Thanks for watching!
Good information. I'm moving from a D140 to a X330 (which should arrive sometime this week) so it's good to have a thorough comparison. Much more thorough, I should add, than what I got at the dealer.
Well I am glad I could help you out and thanks for watching!
Hey Ron. I have the D140 also and am considering moving up. The D140 has been a very reliable mower and cuts descent but I've always thought it to be a little under powered and the quality of the cut has been a little disappointing. Would you mind giving your thoughts on the upgrade you made and a comparison of the two?
@@dalejones4322 The engines in each of those mowers are the same -- 724 cc/ 22 HP. That's not an issue for me since I don't have hills to climb. What I wanted was the stronger components in the frame, steering, etc. since some of what I mow is a little uneven and rough. The D140 is now the S ___ series. The video said the S series starts at 414 pounds; the X series starts at 542 pounds. Both of mine are 48 inch decks. I mostly mulch and the X330 is much better at that. I suppose it's the under-deck design. The D140 just uses a plug when mulching. The X330 has some additonal baffling under the deck as part of the mulch kit that must account for that. I don't have any issues with "quality of cut" with either mower. I'm not sure what you don't like about yours. Anything else?
@@wideslammer Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. It's been a big help in making a future decision. These mowers are so expensive and it's a big purchase for me. I came from a 42" cub cadet. I chose a bigger mower when I moved and started mowing about 1 1/2 acres. I think why I have been a little disappointed with the cut is that my cub cadet was a two blade mower and cut very even and didn't miss a weed lol. It is now my understanding that in general two blade mowers cut a little better. I'm definitely not moving back down so I'm just trying to find something that will last. I do have a hill to mow and when the grass is thick like it is now you can hear the mower bogging down while climbing. It does it ok but it's a challenge for the little mower. Ten years and it's never failed me. Thanks again Ron
Your comment at 4:11 about the seats. I defy John Deere to make a seat that doesn't split and fall apart while only 5 years old, always used in nice weather, and never abused 😠!!!
Well I have one that has lasted a lot longer that 5 years, I think this is all so circumstantial.
@@WesternEquipment True but it doesn't make up for the fact that they fall apart too soon. I'm on my third JD in 35 years. The tractors are great but the seats suck. I'm not even over-weight 🤣!
I have a two year old X390 love it like driving a car , wish now I would of went bigger JD has some good deals out there , new to the channel
They are sweet machines. Thanks for checking us out and thanks for watching!
Can you get the agri tires for the x350?
I'm sure you could find something aftermarket but there will not be an option from John Deere.