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My Craftsman rider is becoming problematic after 20 seasons of use and I am considering replacing it before long. I am at a point in my life where I am willing to "buy once, cry once" and I have seen and studied for myself that it seems the x350 is a great choice. My criteria was: 42" cut, enough power to pull a garden cart full of wood, and I'd like the most reliable engine I can find. My yard is pretty flat and half an acre.

Is the x350 more mower than I should buy? Would a lower level JD with a Briggs v twin be just as good of a choice but for less money? My Craftsman is the 917.275680 with a 24 HP Briggs V twin and it has been problem free aside from replacing both heads a few years back.

Hello M,

When it comes to the current JD rider mower lineup, reliable rider mowers don't begin until the X350 with a Kawasaki engine.

My advice is purchase from a servicing JD dealer and not a big box store. They will know your machine from the day it is unloaded and setup right off the shipping crate.

Auto Doc's said:

Hello M,

When it comes to the current JD rider mower lineup, reliable rider mowers don't begin until the X350 with a Kawasaki engine.

My advice is purchase from a servicing JD dealer and not a big box store. They will know your machine from the day it is unloaded and setup right off the shipping crate.

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The good news is there is a dealer right down the street. I went in and talked to their sale guy and had a good rapport with him.

I am not married to buying JD, so any other highly regarded options are welcome suggestions

Hello M.

Avoid buying a display model that has been sitting. Fuel goes bad in the carburetor and the battery discharges. Aside from that some childish customers tend to abuse them a little at times.

Most selling dealers will agree to set up a new one right off the shipping crate if you ask them. It might be a 2 hour wait, but it is worth it in my opinion.

Years ago, I was a service manager at a local JD dealer, and we only kept minimal display models to avoid having trouble from the very start.

Once they set up your machine have them demo it for you.

Last but not least, make sure they give you the operators manual with your exact matching product ID number (PIN). This is so you have an accurate reference in the event your machine ever gets stolen. JD uses that number for customer and parts reference once it is registered in their system