Hi Steve, I bought the mulch kit that was available in 2013 when the tractor was new. The control lever was not an option. The kit is installed "permanently" with nuts and bolts and the output opening is closed off all the time. The kit has steel baffles that effectively create 3 separate chambers under the deck which force the grass or leaves to be held in suspension for multiple cuts. I used the JD mulching blades that came with the kit and have been very happy with everything.
No mulch kit. I start next to the house. Mow a swipe and it throw’s the leaves toward the wooded area. The deck will pick up most of the leaves. Not leave them as in this video. I will back up over where I just moved picking up more leaves. Then make the next swipe and so on till you get to the woods. Leaves in woods but not in yard. Takes longer but looks 2-3 times better. No woods mow in pile 5-6’ wide then mulch, and if have to pick up with 22” mower with bagger.
I am trading my x320 in for a x734 AWS or the x739 AWS and 4WD. The 738 and 739 have more aggressive tires than the x734 with turf tires. Do your tires rip up the lawn?
Hi Tom, My X738 came with the HDAP tires which are kind to the lawn. I have only had one time when the lawn was messed up a little. The lawn was really wet and I was going up an incline and the rear tires spun a bit. I really bought the tractor for plowing snow and the HDAP tires along with the front wheel assist are traction kings! Good luck with your purchase, either tractor will be awesome, but if you ever plan on doing snow work, I would give a big nod to the 4WD. TJ
@@tomcat6933 I am surprised at the ability to make sharp turns with the X738. However, if you have a lot of small obstacles that you need to maneuver around the AWS would be nice and your risk of tearing up the turf would be less. I don't have that issue and am able to make wider turns when mowing.
That's a really good question! All of my original literature and sales receipt refer to my tractor only as a "Signature Series X738". They don't even call it a tractor. The general acceptance is that lawn mowers are small and just mow lawns, lawn tractors are larger and are able to tow carts, lawn rollers, etc. Garden tractors are the largest of the group and can use "ground engaging" implements like plows, tillers, seeders.
Any problems with your tractor yet? Let me warn you, when you bring it in for any warranty related issues you have to pay labor charges. It's called "In use issues". I even complained to JD warranty about labor charges. You have to pay labor.
Which JD mulch kit did you buy? Looks like the full kit with the baffles and not just the much control lever? How about blades? Thanks
Hi Steve,
I bought the mulch kit that was available in 2013 when the tractor was new. The control lever was not an option. The kit is installed "permanently" with nuts and bolts and the output opening is closed off all the time. The kit has steel baffles that effectively create 3 separate chambers under the deck which force the grass or leaves to be held in suspension for multiple cuts.
I used the JD mulching blades that came with the kit and have been very happy with everything.
No mulch kit. I start next to the house. Mow a swipe and it throw’s the leaves toward the wooded area. The deck will pick up most of the leaves. Not leave them as in this video. I will back up over where I just moved picking up more leaves. Then make the next swipe and so on till you get to the woods. Leaves in woods but not in yard. Takes longer but looks 2-3 times better. No woods mow in pile 5-6’ wide then mulch, and if have to pick up with 22” mower with bagger.
Leaves are very fine but you can still see them
how do you like your machine? love me an x738
+Steven Silva
I love my X738.
I bought it for snow removal but it does lawn and leaves really well too.
Thanks for watching!
I am trading my x320 in for a x734 AWS or the x739 AWS and 4WD. The 738 and 739 have more aggressive tires than the x734 with turf tires. Do your tires rip up the lawn?
Hi Tom,
My X738 came with the HDAP tires which are kind to the lawn. I have only had one time when the lawn was messed up a little. The lawn was really wet and I was going up an incline and the rear tires spun a bit.
I really bought the tractor for plowing snow and the HDAP tires along with the front wheel assist are traction kings!
Good luck with your purchase, either tractor will be awesome, but if you ever plan on doing snow work, I would give a big nod to the 4WD.
TJ
@@isellu I greatly appreciate the feedback. It sounds like the 4wd is the way to go. Do you think the AWS is important? I may consider the 738.
@@tomcat6933 I am surprised at the ability to make sharp turns with the X738. However, if you have a lot of small obstacles that you need to maneuver around the AWS would be nice and your risk of tearing up the turf would be less. I don't have that issue and am able to make wider turns when mowing.
why do you call it a garden tractor? the john deere website says it's a lawn tractor
That's a really good question!
All of my original literature and sales receipt refer to my tractor only as a "Signature Series X738". They don't even call it a tractor.
The general acceptance is that lawn mowers are small and just mow lawns, lawn tractors are larger and are able to tow carts, lawn rollers, etc.
Garden tractors are the largest of the group and can use "ground engaging" implements like plows, tillers, seeders.
Any problems with your tractor yet? Let me warn you, when you bring it in for any warranty related issues you have to pay labor charges. It's called "In use issues". I even complained to JD warranty about labor charges. You have to pay labor.
No you don't...?
Yup I didn’t pay labor charges