I bought a X300 at the start of the summer. It is there, you have to really look hard for it. It is next to the forward foot control on the top of the frame. You will need a 10mm socket to remove it. I removed it, tie-wrapped it closed, then tie-wrapped it to the frame. I also removed the park brake switch. Drilled a hole in the dash next to the key. Mounted the switch next to the key. You have to push the switch in to start, then release it. It's nice though, you don't have to engage the brake to start the mower. Both "fixes" are done so that I can put them back to "factory" if needed. You would want to do that if you have to bring the mower in for service. If you don't the dealer will do it for you.

garydewater: That's about 1/2 the price as a new one and 135 hours is about 3 years of average homeowner use (about 40 - 50 hours/year). If it is in good condition and not been abused it sounds like a pretty good deal. You did not mention what year model it is. I have an acre and 1/4 myself and usually rack up about 40 - 50 hours/year depending on what projects I'm working on. I mow, dethatch, aerate, overseed, pull a cart loaded with rocks, firewood, etc... and mulch my leaves in the fall pulling a lawn sweeper to collect them. You can usually save a bunch of $$$ buying a good used quality tractor. Just make sure it has been well taken care of by the previous owner. If it looks rough it probably is rough. An engine coated in oil, grass clippings, etc..., faded paint, cracked seat and weathered plastic components typically indicate that it was left outside in the elements and not well cared for. Good luck!

In my opinion as an owner of a Freedom 42 deck, there is not a chance in h*** that you caused that blade to come off by hitting something. These decks have the blades positioned in one spot with a small lug, they do not rotate freely on the spindle like most blades. When bolted tight, they cannot be rotated on the shaft without breaking something metal. In addition, the special timing belt that runs between the two blades seems to break at the drop of a hat (ie: with only slight contact with an obstruction). If you timing belt is still connected between the two spindles, it is very unlikely you could have hit anything hard enough to damage blades. The only logical explanation for a dropped blade with no other mechanical damage is that the blade was not tight enough in the first place, the bolt dropped off and the blade just dropped straight down. Note that you cannot just buy Gator blades as suggested. These decks take very unusual blades that are virtually flat -no lifting edge along trailing side like most blades, and no space to allow such a blade to be fitted. The trade is that they do an outstanding job at the only thing that they were designed in tandem with the deck design to do - mulch. Also, if you find the old one, or buy new ones (2) be very careful how you install them. They are not two of the same blade -one rotates to the left and one rotates to the right, so the cutting edges are on opposite sides and you must put the correct blade on the correct side of the deck. Also, since they are flat, you can install them upside down, so that the cutting edge is on the back side of blade, not on the front where it meets the grass. I know the above in detail because when I got my Freedom (with JD LT160), the dealer had installed new blades both on the wrong sides and upside down. That caused the prior owner to just about throw away a nearly new machine because the cut was so poor :)) Details of the installation are in the manual. Anyway, press the dealer - this cannot be explained as operator error without some visable mechanical damage. Still a very good chance youwill find that blade in teh grass, and it just needs a new bolt and washer (both are stock, not a late fix).

Don't forget to figure the price of attachments. The X495 will do some snow with a blade but the smaller machine will probably need a snowblower attachment ($1400?) The X-series will take a 3pt hitch package that accepts Cat 1 attachments (cultivator, 5ft. back blade, cranes, plows, scoops). That really opens a world of things to do with the tractor. I've yet to get the pto package installed but that is also an option on that size tractor. The x-series is a pretty big machine for a small yard. Mine takes up most of a car space in my garage. My cat thinks the seat is the most perfect bed ever made.