John Deere x324 or x500?

14 years ago

Hello yall,

I am looking to get a lawn tractor...I will be cutting 2.5 acres with lots of trees. I will be usiing the tractor to pull utility trailers, sprayers etc. I may in the future like to work a small garden with it, if posible. But mainly I will be pulling a cargo trailer around for soil, mulch, branches etc. I am wondering if the x324 would do fine, or do I need to go with the 500? The turning radius will not be near as tight on the 500, but I guess they have a better transmission for pulling. No I am not going to be pulling anything extremely heavy except dirt and soil and the like. Do yall think the tranny on the 324 will last?

Also I am nervous about going from a single blade to three blades with the 48" are they are on a timing set up or something. Or in other words...if one blades hits a root or something, does it cause problems with the blades hitting each other from then on?

Thank yall for any advice.

Steve

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Comments (9)

doberman_2007
14 years ago
Both tractors are good choices , but if you are pulling stuff around a 500 series is much more heavy duty , if possible get a 54 inch deck. I personaly have a x534 with a 54 inch deck and it mows great , the tranny is a k-72 so it is more heavy duty . The important thing you said is work a garden the 324 I do belive doesnt accept a tiller like my 534 . I only bought mine to mow with and possibly a blower down the road. Ithink it is a big step from 300 to 500 series the 300s are like the old lx series which was a fine piece of machinery .I had one 16 years never a problem only regular maintainance the usual bearings in mower and drag links ever so often.I am sure you will get a lot of quality opinions on this thread the rest is up to you
SEMPER-FI and THANK YOU....
User
14 years ago
The X300 is a LAWN tractor and the X500 is a GARDEN tractor and that is one giant step UP the ladder.

The 48" and 54" mowing decks on the X500 do not have "timed" blades.
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Don't worry about the little stuff, look at the big picture, you got a great tractor. Sell the weather enclosure on ebay. Deere stuff has a high resale value.
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My only intention in my posting is to maybe help the next person along in their search of a lawn tractor or learn a bit about them for myself. Whether it be green, orange, blue, red or black. I don't think anyone disagrees with the fact that quality is not what it used to be, even with the advancements in technology. I wish, like most other americans out there, that we still manufactured everything here in the states. But that is a long distant memory and will probably never be again. But I bought a John Deere because the one I had before it lasted, and the farm I grew up on had plently of them that did their share of breaking, but got the job done everytime. But so did the Case, Internationals, Massey's, and I think a New Holland. Every manufacturer out there has it's share of problems. Nothings perfect! John Deere has been in my blood since childhood when I played with my first little green toy. Everytime I get on my X530, I will be proud to have one. People don't usually buy Harley Davidsons because of their quality (although I feel them to be very well built). They buy them because of the name that sits on them. If John Deere stops making a good product, the brand would eventually suffer and only be found in the history books and a few landscapes maybe. But when I drive anywhere, it is still the brand I see most often, and usually they are moving. So, drafted 72, your opinion is noted and hopefully a few people may benefit from your experience, but a GT235 and a X530 are a bit far apart in the ways they are used. I have no doubts that mine will still be alive and well in 15 years. And if I have any problems, I will be sure to post them, so the next person at least can use the info to decide if the JD brand is right for them.
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1*My situation is that I don't need to run anything off the PTO or 3pt hitch, I have a larger Kubota tractor for that. 2*However, the reason I am interested in the x500 series is the ability to lock the rear differential. 3*Just tonight I borrowed a used x540 from our local dealer. 4*seems to get very good traction. 5* However, I noticed that engaging the mower deck results in a loud noise and very noticable drop in engine RPM - is this normal? Thanks! dbk123 **************************** *********** 1* 2*After owning a Bolens 850 GT for 41 years as of this month I've deduced that Additional weight is a far better traction getter than a locking differential.I doubt If i've ever engaged the Diff. on the ole Bolens half a dozen times. 3* 4*It Should as it's bigger and heaver that most garden tractors. 5* normal I'd go with a JD 445 or 455. I would also take a look AT the CC 2500 and 3000 series.
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john_wa
14 years ago
At 2-3/4 acres my property is just slightly larger than yours and like you, I have lots of trees. I also have some hills and other obstacles to mow around. I settled on a GX335 which I believe has been replaced by the X500 series tractors. I wasn't sure that I wanted a deck as large as 54" but the salesman told me I would not regret it and on my sixth season of mowing I'm so happy I took his advice. I think that the fact that the larger deck sticking out a little further away from the tractor actually makes it easier to mow up close to trees and such. And it also cut over an hour off the mowing time from the tractor I had before which had a 48" deck, though it wasn't only because of the additional 6"......it was just faster and more maneuverable too.

I got the mulch kit too with Gator blades and love it. It allows me to trim close to anything from either side of the deck. The locking differential really helps me on the fairly steep hills and also when I use the JBJr. scoop for moving gravel, dirt, bark or whatever.
atschirner
14 years ago
Take a deep breath and go for the X-534. I'm on my second season of mowing around trees and hills without a single problem with mine. With the 54" deck and 4-wheel steering you can mow down to an 8" uncut circle. I really like the diff lock to get me out of slippery places I shouldn't have been in the first place. One caution with 4-sheel steering, try to avoid burning "tree circles" in your lawn with the outside rear tire. Turning too tight combined with going a little too fast and you'll rip the grass out by the roots.
budcat
12 years ago
hello my first time doing the forum i have a 2011 jd x500 i have the small plow and disk plow but they are craftsman both from before 1988 they still look the same as in the current catalog but will they hook up to the 3 pt hitch can i fabricate something
User
12 years ago
If those implements use a sleeve (Brinley) hitch then you can get the JD integral (sleeve) hitch for your X500 and they'll work fine.

If the implements are for class 0 or class 1 three point hitch
then they won't work cause there is no 3 point hitch for an X500
grass1950
12 years ago
The standard differential lock on the X500 series and up can be an important feature that I dont believe is available on X300 series, but it's been a couple years since I looked at Deeres. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
User
12 years ago
grass1950,

This is a two year old thread.

Budcat hijacked this thread and asked a new question instead of starting a new thread.
grass1950
12 years ago
Thanks justalurker, saw the month and day but paid no attention to the year.

John Deere x324 or x500?

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doberman_2007

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