Well, only if everything is made overseas and you like that...................ask anyone who knows their stuff, and JD is overpriced and not nearly as good as the competition
My advice to anyone looking at a Lowes/Home Depot john deere: skip it and go straight to the dealer and get a X350 (or other x series mower). Much higher quality, and you dont have to deal with a junk briggs engine.
I dont disagree but mine I jist bought with mulcher and stripe kit was 4500 bucks. 2k more than the S series at the retail stores. Hard for a lot of folks to dish out that kind of money.
Just purchased x350 today.Love it ! My old John Deere was 14 yrs old with 3200 hrs,yes thats right 3200 hrs.so I can’t complain.Gona take deck off of it,the engine still runs good gona use it to pull wagon to move things around.Have had great luck with JD mowers.
In my youth I blew a heck of a lot of snow on a John Deere 300. We used chains for sure summer and winter on our rolling 10 acre property and about 125 lbs of concrete molded into a wire milk crate on the back. Never got stuck and our driveway was about 450' long and no diff lock either. Oh by the way that JD was a 1972 and has been in use every year since. My older brother inherited it and used it up to last year when he sold it to another guy who will no doubt enjoy it. I wouldn't worry too much about the length of the warranty on these tractors.
I've got almost 200 hours on my x350 and it has worked really well for me. The two problems I've run unto were a defective front left wheel that wouldn't seal to the tire leading to slow leak. The other is traction/suspension. When you are on uneven surfaces this thing teeter totters back and forth on two wheels because it doesn't have any articulation in the rear. once you get a wheel in the air it just sends all power to that wheel. Also, It's real wet and hilly where I live so a real suspension and some more aggressive rear tires would have been nice. It's clear that this mower is intended for a perfectly flat and smooth lawn which I don't have. My lawn is rough as hell and after a few hours of mowing I feel like I got hit by truck.
I have a John Deere 265 which is almost 40 years old and was a great machine but now pretty tired, and I just wrote a check for a new 350 today. After tooling it around the dealer's lot a bit, I totally agree with your observations. I can't wait to get on it. I mow about 3 acres and have a 500 foot long drive, and we live in the snow belt by I-90 in Erie county, PA and 100 inches is a typical annual snow fall.
I know this is an old thread, but for anyone owning an X300/X500 series John Deere mower with a Kawasaki engine. These engines are known to puff out a bit of smoke at startup. This is a normal issue with these engines. A trick I learned, is to give it around 1/2 throttle, turn the key, and when the engine is turning over, give it a quick bump of the choke. This solved my problem of smoking on startup. By the way, welcome to the wonderful world of Deere ownership, and great video!
You can buy a High Back seat from the SEAT-WAREHOUSE for this tractor. I did, And it was only $125.00---Direct replacement for the X350-----I Love Mine.
I’ve had my X350 for 3 years now and it is a Great mower. I mow my 5 acres twice a month and it runs great. It’s got just over 200 hours on it, I change the oil ever spring before cutting season and at 200 hours drained and refilled the Hydro transaxle with full Synthetic 20/50 and that made the transaxle run better. The Acecel deep deck is a great deck and super easy to adjust. Also this year I switched to Gator Blades G5 blades and WOW they cut great.
@@steve9377 I just a small hand pump that came with a larger bottle of Shout laundry cleaner. The long tub is small enough to fit in the breather cap. It take about 2 hours and is quite a hand forearm work out squeezing the hand pump. I took out the recommended amount and replaced it with 20-50 synthetic oil with 8oz of Lucas oil stabilizer.
@@steve9377 they can be pulled out and flipped upside down to drain. I put 5w50 synthetic in mine. LT180, but same trans. Tuff torq recommends 5w50. But most oems fill will either 10w30, or hydraulic oil to save money. Its why they feel so sluggish.
@@steve9377 That's one of the reasons I could justify the added expense for an X500 series tractor. The serviceable K72 transaxle with drain plugs. Makes changing the fluid easy-peasy. Not to mention the locking differential...
I have a new X350 with the 21.5 hp Kawasaki and I love it! One problem: The 42" deck only had 2 gauge wheels in the front. It should have 4, one in each corner of the deck.
I like this tractor. It is probably the current version of the tractor I have now which is a 1997 John Deere 325 with 2,000 hours (that's how long the Kawasaki engines last). The one advantage mine seems to have is that the mower deck (and plow blade and snowblower) is lifted and lowered by hydraulics. I lift and lower any accessory (literally) with my pinky. I think I would miss that...but this is on the list as the 325 won't last forever.
I have had a 350 for over 5 years 250 hours on the clock , 2 gripes ,seat split within the first 18 months 2nd it`s too slow when not cutting , but if it blew up I would buy another one tomorrow , great bit of kit
I have a2018 x370 with power steering and hydraulic lift i love it, i have a lot of obstacles to mow around just got the snowblower a couple of months ago no snow yet so im patiently waiting to try it out😂
Fantastic video my friend. Very informative. I am currently getting ready to pull the trigger on buying a new x350 and like you I am concerned about not having a locking differential. I'm down here in the Smoky Mountains northeastern Tennessee and I'm thinking I can get along without it but it would definitely be a plus if I had a locking differential. However like you pointed out the additional money you have to step up and pay for the next series up kind of makes that an impossibility for me right now. At any rate thanks again for a fantastic video stay well!
Still running my LT180 from 2005. I replaced the belts this summer for the first time, and put a voltage regulator in it a few years ago. Other than that, it still runs flawlessly.
Nice. I still run my LT160 with bagger for fall leaves and I put a plow on it for winter(slushy wet snow). 500 hours and still working hard. Replaced, 2 belts, 1 idler pulley and the plastic lower hood hinge. I run my X350 with mulch kit all summer and have the snowblower too. It’s a beast. Hope it lasts as long as the LT.
Putting a new hood, and a metal bumper on our lt180. Old hood cracked out, but the machine runs great. Only things changed are some belts and pulleys, and changed the transmission oil to 5w50. Was a bit sluggish, but now will spin the tires.
Same lol. But my deck is starting to eat belts and I cant figure out why. Machine runs flawless just nothin but deck problems. 2 spindles replaced thinking of selling it and grabbing this x350 or keeping for other light towing etc.
I know that on my old 2001 John Deere Sabre when the blades are running and you want to reverse, you can pull the blades button up and then go in reverse and the blades will keep going. Wears the belt out less and it’s just easier
My 2007 X300 actually needed two extra 50 pound weights in the back for snowblowing to help with traction. Big difference!! (My two 50 pound weights I believe were actually old go kart weights I adapted for the X300". The 44" snowblower is VERY aggressive and as you say, watch the speed with heavier / wet snow..I've buried the snowblower in very tall drifts and it kept on working.
I have the X390 series with 4 wheel power steering. My lawn is hilly with lots of trees. The 4 wheel steering really helps with traction on the hills. I tried the 350 you have but I lost traction a lot on the hills with the 48" deck. The power steering helps because the non-power 4 wheel steer is like parking a 1950 Buick. Here in the US, Deere only offers a diff lock in the 500 series and up.
Got some news for you, the reason ALWAYS have to choke...even hot, the carb is too lean & with age will require long cranking to start. Unless carefully drill out low speed jet. You can thank the EPA.
Great way to get more traction in the rear. Have a tire shop load your tires with fluid. Makes a huge difference and doesn't hurt the drivetrain because the weight isn't rotating. It just remains level inside the tires.
I bought two JD X380 48" tractors this past summer. One is at my primary house, one at another house. My lawn is a half acre of hills, lots of obstacles to cut around. The other lawn is just under two acres of basically flat lawn with a steep slope way in the back of the yard. I mow both lawns myself. I love the tractors, they are tough, built strong, drive easy and are comfortable for a long job. My lawn takes about 45 minutes, the larger lawn a little more than an hour, there aren't too many obstructions in that lawn. I put a mulch kit on both mower decks which work very well and were easy to install. I also bought a mower jack from Home Depot which makes working under the tractor a pleasure. I'm 65 with bad knees and one bad shoulder, so it was worth it for me to buy a jack. I tow a beefy garden wagon with the tractors for yard work, carrying dirt, mulch, garden tools wood, etc. It makes any job easier. These are my first garden tractors, I was a city guy till I retired, now I am out in the country. The one thing I don't like about these tractors is that yellow button you have to push to mow in reverse. I always forget and the deck cuts off as soon as I touch the reverse pedal. That is really annoying when you have to mow back and forth around an obstruction. I enjoyed your videos about your X350, best of luck with it long term.
When you push that button to keep the blades running while in reverse once you have it backing up you can let go of the button. You don’t have to hold it in the entire time your backing up
Yes, I know that. However, sometimes when making speed adjustments in reverse, I let off too much and the deck cuts off when I push the reverse pedal down again. I have a hilly yard with plenty of places to cut in around so sometimes I simply hold it in when going back and forth short distances around an obstruction. It plenty annoying though.
By now, you’ve probably discovered there’s a bypass trick for that switch (there’s videos on how to do it). We just got a new X350 and it was the first thing we did to it. Our 17 yr old LT180 just died, and I hated having to push the button each time I reversed (didn’t know of the workaround then). Funny that my muscle memory still has me reaching to push that button, though.
If you a problem with heavy snow in the chute just spray some Pam cooking spray in it and the snow goes right through. You might have to do it a couple of times, but makes life easier.
Run the rear tires at a LOW pressure with the chains on. Were you only running one suitcase weight? Also people have said 4 wheel steer helps in the snow. Too bad it is a big price jump to get a tractor with a locking diff.
Great job on your reviews. After watching your snow blower review I went out and bought a X390. It's not here yet, the dealer I bought it from said that the snow blower would be in stock the first week of October. I totally wanted to get a machine with a locking differential, but as you said, it was a lot more money. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time, my driveway is on an incline. Again, great job, stay safe!
Great info. Would love to get my husband one. On the ride on one we have the exhaust manifold is low to ground and with all the leaves they can catch on fire. 🔥🤦🏻♀️. Mower was gift but definitely need an upgrade.
That's exactly what I'm going to buy. Not sure about getting a snow blower, maybe just a walk behind. We just sold our place NE of Gananoque on Gananoque Lake where I cut about 3 acres with my Simplicity Champion XT zero turn but for the one acre where we bought in Brockville, the X350 will be fine.
The one feature I don't like on the X350-42 is how you raise and lower the deck. The next is why 2 extra pulleys on the X350 over the S240? I was a mechanic for almost 50 years and do not see the need for so many pulleys. More to break and a longer belt to create issues. Same trans for the 350 and the 240. I do like the dash on the 350, but that's not worth $500 more. I also like the style of the 2023 S240 over the 2024. Just my .02
Ahhh the little kid in me loved this one! Brought back memories of going into Sears with my dad and he always seemed to pick the door that lead into tools etc. and I would run over to the lawn tractors and sit and pretend on each one.... Told myself that someday I’d get a lawn big enough to have one.... we’ll still not there... so thanks for taking this big kid on a ride along and down memory lane 👍
If you just want to cut grass, stop on by. There are six acres to mow every week and if that's not enough, there are the hay fields and a bigger tractor . . .
Have had a x350 for two years now. Not a single issue with it. Only thing I would change is how the mower disengages when you back up. Pressing the button every time to back up and keep the mower engaged is annoying.
Hey just watched the video i have a x350 also i love it only have 8hrs on mine brand new i had the same issue with the seat, i changed it to the exact one on the x590 bought it on ebay its the milsco xb200 . Easy installation high back very comfortable, guy i bought it from (tractor stuff) in the search bar have a good one.
Looking to upgrade hopefully by this winter I have 1064 hours on my cheap box store John deere L130 only issues were the steering gear and valve cover o ring both happened in the last hour of use looking to get a x5 series or bigger so I dont need 2 tractors for garden work
So far on my X350 no engine issues but i did have to replace the starter solenoid with a beefy Cole Hersee 3 post solenoid. upgraded the front rims so the tires don't come off the beads. the machine so far as of Feb 1 2021 has 142 hours on it the next thing i may face when it goes 500 hours being the transmission may fail as this like many other lawn tractors these use a Tuff Torq K46 nonservicable transmission i may see on swapping this to a older Hydro Gear transmission off a mid 1990s Simplicity Broadmoor if the linkages line up. but so far its working but its looking greasy around the breather on this transmission which is typical on these Tuff Torq K46 hydrostatic transmissions.
Stephen is such a cool dude he always delivers interesting content and the way he explains something is so easy to understand he's just nice :-) btw it's super beautiful up there in Canada nice lawn
Make sure you power wash your transaxle, because if it gets too much dust and dirt on it, it won’t cool off and it will slip, And it can ruin your transaxle, which is about $900 to buy a new one
Excellent review. I really enjoyed your simple explanations of all the features. I am thinking of purchasing the X350R with the mulch kit and rear collector box.
I guess you didn't think to mention the reverse lock out on the mower , I wonder how many times I had to tell my brother-in-law about that feature!! Hahaha. Yeah, I would opt for a locking diff. if I had a blower on my Cub Cadet ( and that was available ) but I cheat when snow blowing,..I have a Kioti CK20S with a cab,..so I actually enjoy snow removal time. ( I know, I need my head read, right! ) Nice video Stephen,..I may just need to replace my ol' Cub Cadet next year, so I'll go have a look see at these Deere models when the time comes.
I bought the x350 3 Summers ago,I love it,I had a Honda 13 hp,32 in cut.the deck rotted out,,so I been looking at the x350 for a year, my only bitch I have,,is the noise of the deck,,I did how ever had to replace a idler with only 80 hours,and a new belt,,but other then that,no problems,,
Bought one to give my old JD 1999 345 some help. Want to love it, but leaves me wanting. Biggest complaint is how loud it is while running the 42” mower. Deafening, and I’m already hearing challenged.
Too bad you haven’t looked at TORO. So much better, and built like tanks. Far more comfortable. After few hours of cutting grass, I felt as if my back is going to snap on John Deere.
@@duke9173 Yes I noticed he did it manually later in the vid after I commented, never seen anyone do that before, could be a Canadian thing lol still my favorite TFL host lol
Yes. The belt drive disengages automatically when you go into reverse for safety. It is mostly annoying, although there is an override button allowing you to keep it running in reverse if you hold it down. I always forget to grab the button before backing up though, so usually I end doing what you saw in the video.
@@TFLoffroad If it were mine I would jump the wires together and bypass it all together, had to do the same with an over sensitive seat pressure switch that would bog my machine when hitting bumps
TFLoffroad sorry my old eyes deceived me and I thought I saw you flipping it off/on. John Deere doesn’t think it should mow in reverse. I would think added start/stops to the deck during operation would lead to premature belt and bearing wear but I’ve been wrong in the past and I’m sure I will be again.
Hey man! Love the videos! Did you have any issues with the snowblower 'climbing' while you're trying to push it into snow? I'm trying to see if the lift assist or hydraulic assist behave the same way in that regard?
It is a shame that a rear locker isn't an option on the 300 series... you're looking at almost twice the price for the base 500 model. You might want to consider more weight to help with traction.
Ya I wanted a 500 series but the price difference is ridiculous, I have the X350 and very happy with it but would’ve been neat to have an actual garden tractor.
@@steve9377 yes and will probably go with the X350, but I'm gonna see if my LT133 will last another year, if not then I guess it'll be time to upgrade 😎
Diff lock isn't even available on the X300 series tractors, so don't cry too much about 'options you missed.' Got to step up to the X500 series for diff locks.
I know you like the foot pedals but I grew up on a Deere 285 with the hydrostatic lever to the right of the seat. SO MUCH BETTER. Easier to modulate, no need for a cruise control button since it stays where you leave it, etc. I would HATE having to reactivate the clutch every time I move forward. When I was cutting grass at my grandmother's house (Home Depot grade Deere) I modified the switch after it was out of warranty so it kept the blades engaged in reverse. All because some people couldn't be bothered to turn and look before reversing and hurt other people/children. Give it a couple years, you'll end up with a zero turn once Roman digs deep and gives you the raise you deserve. My parents' lawn took 3 hours with the 285, now with the Husqvarna 60" zero turn it takes just over an hour.
If I had a hydrostatic transmission, I would prefer fender control. Manuscratchures think everyone is STUPID & have to keep constant pressure on pedal to move.
So I’m mildly confused about the value proposition of the X350... I have an E140 that MSRPs at 2/3s of the cost(and I actually paid 1/2 the cost of an X350). The deck is 48”, it supports the snow blower just fine, and is even a higher HP rating... I lack cruise control, but that’s about it in terms of features. Where is the extra $1200USD coming from for an X350?
I can not speak about the x350. But I had a x320 that the x380 replaced. It was bullet proof. I had it ten years 1200hrs and sold to a guy that wore out a D140 and D155 in 8 years. He did not got less than 1000hrs out of both of them. He ran my x320 last year with no problems. I bought a used x500 with 400hrs ran it last summer no problems. John Deere should say pay me now or pay me later.
My mother had an x300 and I know that rack and pinion steering you will grow to hate. The arms bend very easily and the steering will get sloppier than a 60 year old moose knuckle. About 100-150hrs your grass lines will look like you had BAC of 1.0. You live and learn. I Have a 955 with a 72” tricycler deck for my 3 acres and man that thing is a Cadillac for being 30 yrs old.
I agree. When I had my John Deere, it wasn’t too long before things got sloppy. My biggest beef was how uncomfortable the sitting/operating position is. It took me well into 3.5 hrs to do my yard. After switching to Zero Turn, I shaved off almost 2 hours! Not to mention Zero Turn has incredibly comfortable seat and operating position. And quality of grass cutting is same if not better with Zero Turn using 60” deck.
Absolutely. Zero Turns are almost 3x faster then lawn tractors. These are like lawn Corvettes. There’s a very good reasons why landscapers never use lawn tractors.
I don't doubt that. I chose a lawn tractor because (1) it was already faster than the 21" push mower I had been using, and (2) for future utility (i.e. pulling a dethacher, or cart, or using a snow blade/snowblower).
Funny thing is, the ones that do have it, it's cheaper to buy the parts to convert back to a normal filter, than it is to buy the replacement easy change filter.
Two negative points about John DEERE equipment are the quality of the plastics (covers) which are very fragile throughout the range and too heavy on the 300 series. On the other hand, the quality of the plastic seats is a disgrace for this brand as they crack very quickly.
I was told they aren’t Deere’s that someone else makes them ??? Snow blower is useless for me in Florida that’s y I use a zero turn big dog diablo cuts grass at around 10 or 15 mph
Nothing runs like a deer....
...or smells like a John 😆
Or like a scared Deere
Well, only if everything is made overseas and you like that...................ask anyone who knows their stuff, and JD is overpriced and not nearly as good as the competition
@@High-Tech-Redneck These are made in North Carolina bro also have you priced a labors lately? They are about $2k more for a comp
Good mower. Should have gotten one with that size deck though.
My advice to anyone looking at a Lowes/Home Depot john deere: skip it and go straight to the dealer and get a X350 (or other x series mower). Much higher quality, and you dont have to deal with a junk briggs engine.
I dont disagree but mine I jist bought with mulcher and stripe kit was 4500 bucks. 2k more than the S series at the retail stores. Hard for a lot of folks to dish out that kind of money.
Just purchased x350 today.Love it ! My old John Deere was 14 yrs old with 3200 hrs,yes thats right 3200 hrs.so I can’t complain.Gona take deck off of it,the engine still runs good gona use it to pull wagon to move things around.Have had great luck with JD mowers.
Well I guess this is technically an off road vehicle....I had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April fools day or something 😂
In my youth I blew a heck of a lot of snow on a John Deere 300. We used chains for sure summer and winter on our rolling 10 acre property and about 125 lbs of concrete molded into a wire milk crate on the back. Never got stuck and our driveway was about 450' long and no diff lock either. Oh by the way that JD was a 1972 and has been in use every year since. My older brother inherited it and used it up to last year when he sold it to another guy who will no doubt enjoy it. I wouldn't worry too much about the length of the warranty on these tractors.
I've got almost 200 hours on my x350 and it has worked really well for me. The two problems I've run unto were a defective front left wheel that wouldn't seal to the tire leading to slow leak. The other is traction/suspension. When you are on uneven surfaces this thing teeter totters back and forth on two wheels because it doesn't have any articulation in the rear. once you get a wheel in the air it just sends all power to that wheel. Also, It's real wet and hilly where I live so a real suspension and some more aggressive rear tires would have been nice. It's clear that this mower is intended for a perfectly flat and smooth lawn which I don't have. My lawn is rough as hell and after a few hours of mowing I feel like I got hit by truck.
I have a John Deere 265 which is almost 40 years old and was a great machine but now pretty tired, and I just wrote a check for a new 350 today. After tooling it around the dealer's lot a bit, I totally agree with your observations. I can't wait to get on it. I mow about 3 acres and have a 500 foot long drive, and we live in the snow belt by I-90 in Erie county, PA and 100 inches is a typical annual snow fall.
@mr1971alfa how has the lawn mower been?
I really love my Ventrac 3 series. takes a minute to change attachment, and there are like 30 of them
This is where it starts....my JD life started with a box store D170, then to a real JD X540, and now a X758. It’s a beast in every since of the word.
I know this is an old thread, but for anyone owning an X300/X500 series John Deere mower with a Kawasaki engine. These engines are known to puff out a bit of smoke at startup. This is a normal issue with these engines. A trick I learned, is to give it around 1/2 throttle, turn the key, and when the engine is turning over, give it a quick bump of the choke. This solved my problem of smoking on startup. By the way, welcome to the wonderful world of Deere ownership, and great video!
That would imply the choke isn't set correctly. I read something about a guy changing a choke spring and eliminated issues.
Just bought a 2020 x350 48". Absolutely, love it. I traded in my 12 yr old Cub Cadet LT 1045 that finally gave up the ghost
You can buy a High Back seat from the SEAT-WAREHOUSE for this tractor. I did, And it was only $125.00---Direct replacement for the X350-----I Love Mine.
I’ve had my X350 for 3 years now and it is a Great mower. I mow my 5 acres twice a month and it runs great. It’s got just over 200 hours on it, I change the oil ever spring before cutting season and at 200 hours drained and refilled the Hydro transaxle with full Synthetic 20/50 and that made the transaxle run
better. The Acecel deep deck is a great deck and super easy to adjust. Also this year I switched to Gator Blades G5 blades and WOW they cut great.
Is it difficult to change the oil in the transaxle? I thought the K46 wasn't serviceable
@@steve9377 I just a small hand pump that came with a larger bottle of Shout laundry cleaner. The long tub is small enough to fit in the breather cap. It take about 2 hours and is quite a hand forearm work out squeezing the hand pump. I took out the recommended amount and replaced it with 20-50 synthetic oil with 8oz of Lucas oil stabilizer.
@@steve9377 they can be pulled out and flipped upside down to drain.
I put 5w50 synthetic in mine. LT180, but same trans. Tuff torq recommends 5w50. But most oems fill will either 10w30, or hydraulic oil to save money. Its why they feel so sluggish.
@@steve9377 That's one of the reasons I could justify the added expense for an X500 series tractor. The serviceable K72 transaxle with drain plugs. Makes changing the fluid easy-peasy. Not to mention the locking differential...
I have an X5 series with 227hrs and never had an issue. Love the locking rear-end with a 54"cut. Thinking about a 1 series or a Z9 for quick mowing.
6:50 I noticed you backed up while mowing. Press the small yellow button on the left while reversing and the pto will not disengage.
My operators manual for X304 tells to rotate anti scalp wheels when removing 48" deck. Glad to hear tractor had enough power to remove that snow.
I have a new X350 with the 21.5 hp Kawasaki and I love it! One problem: The 42" deck only had 2 gauge wheels in the front. It should have 4, one in each corner of the deck.
I like this tractor. It is probably the current version of the tractor I have now which is a 1997 John Deere 325 with 2,000 hours (that's how long the Kawasaki engines last). The one advantage mine seems to have is that the mower deck (and plow blade and snowblower) is lifted and lowered by hydraulics. I lift and lower any accessory (literally) with my pinky. I think I would miss that...but this is on the list as the 325 won't last forever.
I have had a 350 for over 5 years 250 hours on the clock , 2 gripes ,seat split within the first 18 months 2nd it`s too slow when not cutting , but if it blew up I would buy another one tomorrow , great bit of kit
I have a2018 x370 with power steering and hydraulic lift i love it, i have a lot of obstacles to mow around just got the snowblower a couple of months ago no snow yet so im patiently waiting to try it out😂
Fantastic video my friend. Very informative. I am currently getting ready to pull the trigger on buying a new x350 and like you I am concerned about not having a locking differential. I'm down here in the Smoky Mountains northeastern Tennessee and I'm thinking I can get along without it but it would definitely be a plus if I had a locking differential. However like you pointed out the additional money you have to step up and pay for the next series up kind of makes that an impossibility for me right now. At any rate thanks again for a fantastic video stay well!
Still running my LT180 from 2005. I replaced the belts this summer for the first time, and put a voltage regulator in it a few years ago. Other than that, it still runs flawlessly.
Nice. I still run my LT160 with bagger for fall leaves and I put a plow on it for winter(slushy wet snow). 500 hours and still working hard. Replaced, 2 belts, 1 idler pulley and the plastic lower hood hinge. I run my X350 with mulch kit all summer and have the snowblower too. It’s a beast. Hope it lasts as long as the LT.
Putting a new hood, and a metal bumper on our lt180. Old hood cracked out, but the machine runs great. Only things changed are some belts and pulleys, and changed the transmission oil to 5w50. Was a bit sluggish, but now will spin the tires.
Same lol. But my deck is starting to eat belts and I cant figure out why. Machine runs flawless just nothin but deck problems. 2 spindles replaced thinking of selling it and grabbing this x350 or keeping for other light towing etc.
@@MaDGriZz78 The transmission on the LT 180 took a crap. I bought a new 370 1-1/2 years ago...
I know that on my old 2001 John Deere Sabre when the blades are running and you want to reverse, you can pull the blades button up and then go in reverse and the blades will keep going. Wears the belt out less and it’s just easier
My 2007 X300 actually needed two extra 50 pound weights in the back for snowblowing to help with traction. Big difference!! (My two 50 pound weights I believe were actually old go kart weights I adapted for the X300". The 44" snowblower is VERY aggressive and as you say, watch the speed with heavier / wet snow..I've buried the snowblower in very tall drifts and it kept on working.
I have the X390 series with 4 wheel power steering. My lawn is hilly with lots of trees. The 4 wheel steering really helps with traction on the hills. I tried the 350 you have but I lost traction a lot on the hills with the 48" deck. The power steering helps because the non-power 4 wheel steer is like parking a 1950 Buick. Here in the US, Deere only offers a diff lock in the 500 series and up.
Got some news for you, the reason ALWAYS have to choke...even hot, the carb is too lean & with age will require long cranking to start.
Unless carefully drill out low speed jet. You can thank the EPA.
Great way to get more traction in the rear. Have a tire shop load your tires with fluid. Makes a huge difference and doesn't hurt the drivetrain because the weight isn't rotating. It just remains level inside the tires.
I bought two JD X380 48" tractors this past summer. One is at my primary house, one at another house. My lawn is a half acre of hills, lots of obstacles to cut around. The other lawn is just under two acres of basically flat lawn with a steep slope way in the back of the yard. I mow both lawns myself. I love the tractors, they are tough, built strong, drive easy and are comfortable for a long job. My lawn takes about 45 minutes, the larger lawn a little more than an hour, there aren't too many obstructions in that lawn. I put a mulch kit on both mower decks which work very well and were easy to install. I also bought a mower jack from Home Depot which makes working under the tractor a pleasure. I'm 65 with bad knees and one bad shoulder, so it was worth it for me to buy a jack. I tow a beefy garden wagon with the tractors for yard work, carrying dirt, mulch, garden tools wood, etc. It makes any job easier. These are my first garden tractors, I was a city guy till I retired, now I am out in the country. The one thing I don't like about these tractors is that yellow button you have to push to mow in reverse. I always forget and the deck cuts off as soon as I touch the reverse pedal. That is really annoying when you have to mow back and forth around an obstruction. I enjoyed your videos about your X350, best of luck with it long term.
When you push that button to keep the blades running while in reverse once you have it backing up you can let go of the button. You don’t have to hold it in the entire time your backing up
Yes, I know that. However, sometimes when making speed adjustments in reverse, I let off too much and the deck cuts off when I push the reverse pedal down again. I have a hilly yard with plenty of places to cut in around so sometimes I simply hold it in when going back and forth short distances around an obstruction. It plenty annoying though.
@@k1hasard I bet it can be….I just bought a JD S100 so am looking forward to getting it out for the 1st mow
By now, you’ve probably discovered there’s a bypass trick for that switch (there’s videos on how to do it). We just got a new X350 and it was the first thing we did to it. Our 17 yr old LT180 just died, and I hated having to push the button each time I reversed (didn’t know of the workaround then). Funny that my muscle memory still has me reaching to push that button, though.
@@traceybaldwin6509 doesn’t bypassing the safety switches/buttons void the warranty if something were to go wrong?
I just bought one with the winter package so I would have a snowblower for up here in Maine, but we still have no snow.
If you a problem with heavy snow in the chute just spray some Pam cooking spray in it and the snow goes right through. You might have to do it a couple of times, but makes life easier.
This is such a well-designed mower. I sure wish I could say the same about my base model mtd.
Run the rear tires at a LOW pressure with the chains on. Were you only running one suitcase weight? Also people have said 4 wheel steer helps in the snow. Too bad it is a big price jump to get a tractor with a locking diff.
Great job on your reviews. After watching your snow blower review I went out and bought a X390. It's not here yet, the dealer I bought it from said that the snow blower would be in stock the first week of October. I totally wanted to get a machine with a locking differential, but as you said, it was a lot more money. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time, my driveway is on an incline. Again, great job, stay safe!
Great info. Would love to get my husband one. On the ride on one we have the exhaust manifold is low to ground and with all the leaves they can catch on fire. 🔥🤦🏻♀️. Mower was gift but definitely need an upgrade.
I'm going to get a x350 this video sold it. Thank You!
That's exactly what I'm going to buy. Not sure about getting a snow blower, maybe just a walk behind. We just sold our place NE of Gananoque on Gananoque Lake where I cut about 3 acres with my Simplicity Champion XT zero turn but for the one acre where we bought in Brockville, the X350 will be fine.
Actually I'm on my wife's laptop at the moment so my name is David, not Cheryl
I got a zero turn but I have a lot of things to go around too. I purchased a big dog brand and am very happy with it
Zero Turn mowers are champ. Speed and comfort is like a lawn Corvette
I have a 6yr old x320 that I've run the snot out of and is currently begging to be replaced, this is the model i was leaning towards
I have the X370 with the 44” snowblower and it is an awesome rig!
I would think the weights on the rear during snow removal operation would be for added traction at the rear wheel.
The one feature I don't like on the X350-42 is how you raise and lower the deck. The next is why 2 extra pulleys on the X350 over the S240? I was a mechanic for almost 50 years and do not see the need for so many pulleys. More to break and a longer belt to create issues. Same trans for the 350 and the 240. I do like the dash on the 350, but that's not worth $500 more. I also like the style of the 2023 S240 over the 2024. Just my .02
Ahhh the little kid in me loved this one! Brought back memories of going into Sears with my dad and he always seemed to pick the door that lead into tools etc. and I would run over to the lawn tractors and sit and pretend on each one.... Told myself that someday I’d get a lawn big enough to have one.... we’ll still not there... so thanks for taking this big kid on a ride along and down memory lane 👍
If you just want to cut grass, stop on by. There are six acres to mow every week and if that's not enough, there are the hay fields and a bigger tractor . . .
When you level the mower deck does that make the height adjustment knob work on the height?
Have had a x350 for two years now. Not a single issue with it. Only thing I would change is how the mower disengages when you back up. Pressing the button every time to back up and keep the mower engaged is annoying.
You can easily disable it. There are a how to videos. Less than 10 minutes to disable.
I disabled mine with a simple jumper wire.
That’s not limited to John Deere it’s a stupid government regulation.
Hey just watched the video i have a x350 also i love it only have 8hrs on mine brand new i had the same issue with the seat, i changed it to the exact one on the x590 bought it on ebay its the milsco xb200 . Easy installation high back very comfortable, guy i bought it from (tractor stuff) in the search bar have a good one.
Looking to upgrade hopefully by this winter I have 1064 hours on my cheap box store John deere L130 only issues were the steering gear and valve cover o ring both happened in the last hour of use looking to get a x5 series or bigger so I dont need 2 tractors for garden work
So far on my X350 no engine issues but i did have to replace the starter solenoid with a beefy Cole Hersee 3 post solenoid. upgraded the front rims so the tires don't come off the beads. the machine so far as of Feb 1 2021 has 142 hours on it the next thing i may face when it goes 500 hours being the transmission may fail as this like many other lawn tractors these use a Tuff Torq K46 nonservicable transmission i may see on swapping this to a older Hydro Gear transmission off a mid 1990s Simplicity Broadmoor if the linkages line up. but so far its working but its looking greasy around the breather on this transmission which is typical on these Tuff Torq K46 hydrostatic transmissions.
The k46 can be serviced, it's just not easy.
I have a 2007 x324 and it has the 22hp Kawasaki, why would they do a moderately large downsizing on power for a bigger machine such as the 350?
Just got my X350 2 weeks ago. It’s hard to stay off of it! Can’t wait for winter.
Stephen is such a cool dude he always delivers interesting content and the way he explains something is so easy to understand he's just nice :-)
btw it's super beautiful up there in Canada nice lawn
Ive had one for several years and love it
Looking at one of these soon gonna upgrade from my lt180 one hill on my property worried about the reviews on this mower now
Make sure you power wash your transaxle, because if it gets too much dust and dirt on it, it won’t cool off and it will slip, And it can ruin your transaxle, which is about $900 to buy a new one
I want to cut my pasture 5 inches high but this mower will not go higher than three inches ?
Excellent review. I really enjoyed your simple explanations of all the features. I am thinking of purchasing the X350R with the mulch kit and rear collector box.
Great review. This is what I needed to make up my mind
My 2022 will be delivered in three days. Can’t wait!
You said you don't have to move your hands to back up. There is a reverse safety switch, unless you bypass it like I did.
Great review thank you do you think this would work well with a plough instead of the snowblower?
I guess you didn't think to mention the reverse lock out on the mower , I wonder how many times I had to tell my brother-in-law about that feature!! Hahaha.
Yeah, I would opt for a locking diff. if I had a blower on my Cub Cadet ( and that was available ) but I cheat when snow blowing,..I have a Kioti CK20S with a cab,..so I actually
enjoy snow removal time. ( I know, I need my head read, right! )
Nice video Stephen,..I may just need to replace my ol' Cub Cadet next year, so I'll go have a look see at these Deere models when the time comes.
I would prefer a plow vs a blower. Wet heavy snow is a problem with a blower.
Do still have this tractor or have you upgraded?
Looks like you need to build a shop next!
My X300 has that on turning the anti scalp wheels sideways.
Having a camera attached on the underside of the nose WHILE you're mowing... *shudders* You're a braver man than I.
I bought the x350 3 Summers ago,I love it,I had a Honda 13 hp,32 in cut.the deck rotted out,,so I been looking at the x350 for a year, my only bitch I have,,is the noise of the deck,,I did how ever had to replace a idler with only 80 hours,and a new belt,,but other then that,no problems,,
What's the Roomba mower co. (Husqvarna) got to offer.
Bought one to give my old JD 1999 345 some help. Want to love it, but leaves me wanting. Biggest complaint is how loud it is while running the 42” mower. Deafening, and I’m already hearing challenged.
Just stumbled across this vid. Didn't know you guys did mower reviews!
How many weights can you add and what is the weight of each weight thanks
They sold me 3 with the blower, and they're 40lbs each I believe
Don't like that you have to hit the ROE switch everytime you backup
Too bad you haven’t looked at TORO. So much better, and built like tanks. Far more comfortable. After few hours of cutting grass, I felt as if my back is going to snap on John Deere.
I still see people using John Deere mowers from the 80s I have yet to see a company match their quality.
Did I hear the mower deck turn off when you went into reverse?
youngblood23rb if your talking about around the 7min mark then no he turned it off and back on. Guess he doesn’t believe it can mow in reverse.
@@duke9173 Yes I noticed he did it manually later in the vid after I commented, never seen anyone do that before, could be a Canadian thing lol still my favorite TFL host lol
Yes. The belt drive disengages automatically when you go into reverse for safety. It is mostly annoying, although there is an override button allowing you to keep it running in reverse if you hold it down.
I always forget to grab the button before backing up though, so usually I end doing what you saw in the video.
@@TFLoffroad If it were mine I would jump the wires together and bypass it all together, had to do the same with an over sensitive seat pressure switch that would bog my machine when hitting bumps
TFLoffroad sorry my old eyes deceived me and I thought I saw you flipping it off/on. John Deere doesn’t think it should mow in reverse. I would think added start/stops to the deck during operation would lead to premature belt and bearing wear but I’ve been wrong in the past and I’m sure I will be again.
Hey man! Love the videos! Did you have any issues with the snowblower 'climbing' while you're trying to push it into snow? I'm trying to see if the lift assist or hydraulic assist behave the same way in that regard?
It is a shame that a rear locker isn't an option on the 300 series... you're looking at almost twice the price for the base 500 model. You might want to consider more weight to help with traction.
Ya I wanted a 500 series but the price difference is ridiculous, I have the X350 and very happy with it but would’ve been neat to have an actual garden tractor.
I had the X580 and it was a beast, downsized places and bought an X370 which is a great machine!
Thank you for posting these, actually been debating on the E170, S240, or the X350 for this next spring in VA
Have you narrowed down your search? I always read that the "real" John Deere tractors start with the X series models.
@@steve9377 yes and will probably go with the X350, but I'm gonna see if my LT133 will last another year, if not then I guess it'll be time to upgrade 😎
Diff lock isn't even available on the X300 series tractors, so don't cry too much about 'options you missed.' Got to step up to the X500 series for diff locks.
I know you like the foot pedals but I grew up on a Deere 285 with the hydrostatic lever to the right of the seat. SO MUCH BETTER. Easier to modulate, no need for a cruise control button since it stays where you leave it, etc.
I would HATE having to reactivate the clutch every time I move forward. When I was cutting grass at my grandmother's house (Home Depot grade Deere) I modified the switch after it was out of warranty so it kept the blades engaged in reverse. All because some people couldn't be bothered to turn and look before reversing and hurt other people/children.
Give it a couple years, you'll end up with a zero turn once Roman digs deep and gives you the raise you deserve. My parents' lawn took 3 hours with the 285, now with the Husqvarna 60" zero turn it takes just over an hour.
If I had a hydrostatic transmission, I would prefer fender control.
Manuscratchures think everyone is STUPID & have to keep constant pressure on pedal to move.
So I’m mildly confused about the value proposition of the X350... I have an E140 that MSRPs at 2/3s of the cost(and I actually paid 1/2 the cost of an X350). The deck is 48”, it supports the snow blower just fine, and is even a higher HP rating... I lack cruise control, but that’s about it in terms of features. Where is the extra $1200USD coming from for an X350?
I can not speak about the x350. But I had a x320 that the x380 replaced. It was bullet proof. I had it ten years 1200hrs and sold to a guy that wore out a D140 and D155 in 8 years. He did not got less than 1000hrs out of both of them. He ran my x320 last year with no problems. I bought a used x500 with 400hrs ran it last summer no problems. John Deere should say pay me now or pay me later.
I have the x350 and it has a larger heavier steel gauge frame and the Kawasaki engine.
You can get an eighteen inch seat, or a 21” one!
The 4 wheel steer handles better on snow & cuts mowing time
My mother had an x300 and I know that rack and pinion steering you will grow to hate. The arms bend very easily and the steering will get sloppier than a 60 year old moose knuckle. About 100-150hrs your grass lines will look like you had BAC of 1.0. You live and learn. I Have a 955 with a 72” tricycler deck for my 3 acres and man that thing is a Cadillac for being 30 yrs old.
I agree. When I had my John Deere, it wasn’t too long before things got sloppy. My biggest beef was how uncomfortable the sitting/operating position is. It took me well into 3.5 hrs to do my yard. After switching to Zero Turn, I shaved off almost 2 hours! Not to mention Zero Turn has incredibly comfortable seat and operating position. And quality of grass cutting is same if not better with Zero Turn using 60” deck.
You know they make a enclosure for that x350 for snow work
What is the price? And acres per hour? Once you go zero turn you dont go back lol
Absolutely. Zero Turns are almost 3x faster then lawn tractors. These are like lawn Corvettes. There’s a very good reasons why landscapers never use lawn tractors.
I don't doubt that. I chose a lawn tractor because (1) it was already faster than the 21" push mower I had been using, and (2) for future utility (i.e. pulling a dethacher, or cart, or using a snow blade/snowblower).
Zero turns are faster for mowing but if you want to do any other application you’re pretty limited.
I prefer zero turns myself, but the lawn tractor is a lot nicer for doing garden work.
Does it have the easy change oil system?
WBOS72 the easy change oil only comes on the smaller 100 series.
You can add the easy change oil system. It comes with everything including a pink skirt.
iwanaGoFast2010 id rather not have it, thats why i asked.
Funny thing is, the ones that do have it, it's cheaper to buy the parts to convert back to a normal filter, than it is to buy the replacement easy change filter.
@@iwanaGoFast2010 For the Kowasaki engines? Don't believe that to be the case - I think it is only available on the Briggs engines. Might be wrong.
Needs more power. Install a turbo on that thing.
Super helpful thank you.
Not a word about the smallish Kawasaki engine. That's what I wonder about.
What you're going to hate after 4 years: the k46 transmission.
Two negative points about John DEERE equipment are the quality of the plastics (covers) which are very fragile throughout the range and too heavy on the 300 series. On the other hand, the quality of the plastic seats is a disgrace for this brand as they crack very quickly.
Small tractors with mid PTO are about the same price as the 4x4 Deere. Way better bargon
That grass isn't even high enough to mess with.
He got show and grass skills!. Nice yard!
To much work buy another one for plowing that's what I did so I dont have to keep changing stuff around
I was told they aren’t Deere’s that someone else makes them ??? Snow blower is useless for me in Florida that’s y I use a zero turn big dog diablo cuts grass at around 10 or 15 mph
You heard wrong
Well that was refreshing. TFL mow edition.
In the thumbnail it looks like you have blue hair 😅
Your know their scratching around for power if they have to say ‘and a half’......
Lots of lawn equipment is like that. Nothing new.
Should be 7 1/4 like a hat size 😁
If you ever try the X700 series you will be spoiled forever lol.
I loved my X730
John Deere makes a fantastic product, but the price tag on that series is a bit much.
love mine