Me thinks some here have a tendancy to pick the fly excrement out of the pepper.

Unless you are going to try and mini farm with it, most deeres get used to MOW. If you want to mini farm move up to ehe 500-700 series mower tractor and get a heavy duty machine. If you live in Wisconsin, drive down to NE Iowa and there are a lot and I mean a lot of good used 1 year old JD larger models for sale each spring at many dealers close to any John Deere Plant as the employees trade in each year when they get their Equipment purchase bucks.

Around $1500 per year.

I wouldn't worry one bit. Enjoy your new x300.

Because you didn't tell your wife?

I got my new X300 2 weeks ago it is a great machine. I think you will like it. I know i do ...... good luck with it

You can second guess yourself to death. I just bought an LA140 and almost succumbed to a friend's "But wouldn't an LA130 have done?". Enjoy it.

If you are mowing an acre or less and don't have challenging hills, the X300 should be fine. IMO, the key difference between the X300 and the X304 is the All Wheel Steering (AWS) which is helpful if you have many obstacles. Both the X300 and the X304 are marginal if you challenging hills. IMO, challenging hills require a tractor in the GT class.

Wankel, very few people regret buying more tractor than they need at the moment. I think it's better to get slightly more than you need than not enough.

-Deerslayer

More is better... always..... the problem is that if you want "more tractor", you will have "less money" in your pocket... so the question is: what do you want more of?... money?... or tractor?...

yea, yea.... if the small tractor breaks down, you'll have "even less" money in your pocket, but lets face it: for mowing, the LA is "less"... and the X300 is "more" already.

The parts in the K46 tranny are the same as the K5x whatever the X304 has.... the only difference is the charge pump, which accomplishes only 1 thing: makes the tranny more efficient. Thus produces slightly more torque. An efficiency improvement will certainly not make anything last any longer in abusive environments. The parts that take the load: the hydraulic motor, the gears, the shafts, the bearings & bushings - are all the same in the 2 trannies.

Strictly speaking, if you want more, you have to go to X500 - and that is a different game (both in terms of $$'s and tractor guts)...

"Strictly speaking, if you want more, you have to go to X500"

That's a good point.

Below is a link to the product selector at the Deere site.

Tractor Selector

If you input .5 acres and challenging terrain, it recommends an X500. If you input .5 acres, flat terrain, and heavy hauling it also recommends an X500. Basically, JD recommends an X500 if the user has conditions that stress the hydro.

If the K-46 could handle the most difficult conditions, there wouldn't be a need for stronger hydros.

-Deerslayer

Yes but the OP did not specify any heavy-duty activity.... assuming so would be just that - an assumption. One could just as easily assume that he's going to mow a flat 0.5 acres, and otherwise only apply a nice coat of wax to the hood.

Reason for challenging terrain and X500, is not necessarily stress - it could be traction-assist.... and stress being the driver for the heavy hauling. 2 different reasons for the same machine choice.

And what is "heavy hauling"?... compared to "light hauling"?... there is no definition... imagine you are trying to buy a wrench, and you walk into the store and they ask you: "do you need a big wrench?... or a small wrench?..." and that's all you get for a choice. Will you walk away with the right tool?

P.S. I got a kick out of the selection tool. One choice that makes the diference between an L120 and the X534 is "shrub removal"???!!! How the heck does shrub removal stress the tractor?... I remove my shrubs with a weed-whacker, shears, and a chain saw. Does Deere expect you to run over the shrubs with your tractor?... and in order to kill it good, the tractor needs a strong transmission?

"Yes but the OP did not specify any heavy-duty activity"

The OP didn't specify very much like most posts here. If you reread my initial response, you'll see that I said that the X300 would be OK if...

"Reason for challenging terrain and X500, is not necessarily stress"

Pulling a 500lb tractor driven by a 200lb rider up a steep incline can create more stress on the hydro than pulling a cart.

"And what is "heavy hauling"?... compared to "light hauling"?"

If you look at the list of attachments recommended for each tractor, you'll see that smaller carts are recommended for smaller tractors.

"How the heck does shrub removal stress the tractor?"

From my experience, you need a tractor with a lot of guts to pull out a shrub. Yews are particularly tuff.

-Deerslayer

hondafan---X300/K46 B tranny..slightly upgraded from L Series...X304/K58 Tranny/w/pump..heavier duty better for slopes and hills...what are ya mowing? then look at both..I went from an X300 mulching deck to a X304 cause I have slopes and hills...both are great LT...and if ya decicide to go X304 the xtra bucks are worth it along with thw AWS..good luck in your endeavors...

I am pretty certain that you don't need a $5500 tractor to mow a hill. If the slope is steep enough to stress the tranny just by pulling the tractor and operator, then it's probably too steep to mow with a tractor in the first place - because of safety.

To demand the rated torque out of the K72 (approx 500 ft. lbs) for just the tractor and operator (700 lbs) going up a hill, and overcoming gravity, the slope would have to be a bit over 45 degrees. In other words, the X500 could mow a 45 degree slope continuously for it's entire life, and not "unduly" stress the tranny, per the ratings. That would have to be some back-yard.... Like I said - I am sure that JD recommendation of the X500 for slopes is due to traction (diff lock option), not stress.

Note: tuff torq specifies their tranny outputs as continuous torque that can be supported for the life of the tranny. Max or peak torque varies greatly due to manufacturing variances & tolerances, and therefore is not provided.

Interestingly, the K46 tranny - with 170 ft-lbs on the X300, same weight and operator (700 lbs total), could climb a 17 degree hill continuously... that's a 30% grade. Probably quite common for normal lawn slopes.... is it insufficient for what people call a "hilly back yard"?... I guess it depends

Congratulations! I purchased an X300 just about a year ago after 20+ years with 3 different Honda mulchers. The Honda was great (and still is as the ultimate trim mower), but the X300 is fantastic. I added a mulch kit this year and the cut is even better. I mow a total of about 1 acre in three different lots and I'm not having any power or transmission problems after 57 hours. One lot has one small but significant slope and it doesn't seem to have any effect on the performance. I also pull a small cart, a de-thatcher, and a lawn sweeper in season. Happy cutting and enjoy your seat-time!!!

I almost settled on the X300, but then I found out about the All Wheel Steering on the X304, and I figured what the hell, I'm in this far, whats $500 more? Plus I plan on getting at least 30 years out of this tractor. So if I'm going to have to live with something that long, I definitely want a couple of bells and whistles. With the four wheel steering, you will find yourself using reverse a lot less.

Hmmmmmmm!I re-read all the posts and saw nothing to indicate this machie is going to do anything but mow a "normal" graded type yard.No mountain climbing was indicated.As long as I have traction,I never wonder/worried about what the tranny specs were,or whether the machine would traverse any grade /slope required,and not disentagrate.My present machine has a pair of Eatons installed,and It just does what I want it to do.Not babyed.It is 14 years old with 410 hours on th clock. Although I prefer gearboxs,this is a (Z).

Thanks everyone for all of your responses. The opinions vary greatly as to which machine is best. I will hopefully get some seat time tomorrow night providing it does not rain. I hope to get some pictures up also.

-Andy

By the way, I have the K46 in my L120. 250 hours on the machine, in 2.5 years. Going strong. No problems. And I have a hill too, that I not only mow, but also pull a plug aerator and a 48" roller up it as well....

But I will admit: the K46 is not a good match for the X300 level machine. It should have had the K62 or K66.

wally2Q-ya remember me--slope guy--the x300 has the K46 but according to JD it is beffier than the L series...they didn't say how but they did say that much at least...I have the X304 with the K57 and it does really good on that darn slope...my L100 before that couldn't make it up and had to pull it up with a rope and the truck...hense the X304 and not the X300..to much weight on the X300 for that K46 tranny.

... for about 40 feet or so. And my X-300 has no problem running right up. I have to push the peddel down a little more to maintain speed, and it makes a little bit of noise, but that's about it.

My old Sears with a 16 hp Kohler had no problem either.

Now my neighbor across the street has a much steeper slope in his from yard ... he can't cut accros ... has to go up and down. And he's been stuck a few time when the grass is damp. He has the same Sears machine I had, about 12 years old now.

I let him try out my JD and he was very impressed on how it handled his hill.

Net-net, I think the trans in the X-300 is quite adequate for the acre or so kind of lots contractors grade in most developments these days.

Sooooo...I received the X300 last night. Guess what? It is going back to the shop. An X304 is being prepped for me! The JD dealer was excellent to deal with. Once this is all done with I hope to post some pictures of the new tractor.

-Andy

there ya go Andy, ya did well. I did the same thing got the 304 and lovin it...just be careful in the beginning till ya get used to the AWS..but it is grrrrrrrrreat!!!!

here ya go andy! 3.5 hrs on it and waiting for the rain here in Georgia so the grass will grow and I can use it more..{{gwi:317322}}{{gwi:326727}}{{gwi:326730}}

Wow bighagrid, that is some heavy duty slopes you are dealing with. The X304 should handle it with flying colors. Keep us up to date on how it is running. I should hopefully get my 304 delivered early next week!

-Andy

yeppers Andy it does....But just rember that when ya get yours practice a little and get comfy with the AWS before ya start tackling the more difficult stuff...I ordered the mulching kit for it 2 weeks ago and it should be here this week..If ya need to know on that one I'll let ya know after it is all hooked up..Got alot of hay to mulch...as ya can see.