John Deere X350 vs Cub Cadet XT2

[Mower Man Dan]

So I am doing my homework on purchasing a new rider, looking more for a buy once, cry once option. I will be mowing half an acre, pretty flat residential lot. Currently using a 20 year old Craftsman lawn tractor with a 24 hp Briggs v twin with hydrostatic transmission and 42" cut. 42" cut is as big as will go through the back gate. Want a tractor as I occasionally move wood around with a pull cart.

As I see it, here are the key differences between the two tractors:

JD has Kawasaki engine, the Cub has a Kohler 7000 series. Both seem highly regarded

JD has a stamped deck. Cub is fabricated. Advantage there goes to the Cub, if I'm not mistaken.

JD has a 4 year, 300 hour warranty. Cub is 3 year unlimited.

JD has electric PTO, Cub is manual. I strongly prefer electric

Both have the k46 hydrostat.

The Cub has a single support rod at the front of the deck. The John Deere has two. Seems a bit odd you would go to the trouble of putting a heavier fabricated deck on the Cub boasting about 11 gauge steel and then put half the supports on it on the front?

The Cub is about $800-$900 less. But I'm open to discussion about these or any other options. Thanks in advance for reading and any input!

 

[Craftsman Garage]

With half an acre, you'll probably hit the 4 year mark before 300 hours, so the JD warranty takes the win there. Kawasaki is often regarded as the "gold standard" for the best air-cooled engines. I really love them. Manual PTO could have it's fair advantages only that there are less parts that could go bad. I wouldn't worry too much about the deck supports, JD most likely has 2 to prevent the stamped deck from flexing and to maintain a consistent deck height while mowing. The JD frame is also built heavier and better than the cub. I have a Kohler 7000 series, and had a Kawasaki FR691v (wish I hadn't sold it), and the 7000 series can be finicky to work on, and they are definitely not built as good as the Kawasaki. I say go with the John Deere.

 

[Mower Man Dan]

So I am doing my homework on purchasing a new rider, looking more for a buy once, cry once option. I will be mowing half an acre, pretty flat residential lot. Currently using a 20 year old Craftsman lawn tractor with a 24 hp Briggs v twin with hydrostatic transmission and 42" cut. 42" cut is as big as will go through the back gate. Want a tractor as I occasionally move wood around with a pull cart.

As I see it, here are the key differences between the two tractors:

JD has Kawasaki engine, the Cub has a Kohler 7000 series. Both seem highly regarded

JD has a stamped deck. Cub is fabricated. Advantage there goes to the Cub, if I'm not mistaken.

JD has a 4 year, 300 hour warranty. Cub is 3 year unlimited.

JD has electric PTO, Cub is manual. I strongly prefer electric

Both have the k46 hydrostat.

The Cub has a single support rod at the front of the deck. The John Deere has two. Seems a bit odd you would go to the trouble of putting a heavier fabricated deck on the Cub boasting about 11 gauge steel and then put half the supports on it on the front?

The Cub is about $800-$900 less. But I'm open to discussion about these or any other options. Thanks in advance for reading and any input!

As I dig further and look to the long term, there are some things I am liking better about the CC. Parts appear to be less expensive. And when I stopped in at my local dealer, he stressed to me the level of service they provide for people who bought their mowers there. He mentioned that if there was ever a warranty repair needed, they would pick up the mower and deliver it back free the first time. The JD dealer emphasized there would he a charge every time. The CC dealer also said if the mower was ever in for any amount of time during mowing season they would provide a loaner mower free. The JD rep never mentioned that so not sure what they do. I feel like the Kohler engine will live a fairly easy life doing a flat half acre and getting about 30 hours a year. Couple all of this with the $900 savings on the initial cost, I am heavily favoring the CC. The heavier frame and Kawasaki on the JD are enticing for sure. Just not sure if it may not he overkill for my needs?

 

[Craftsman Garage]

As I dig further and look to the long term, there are some things I am liking better about the CC. Parts appear to be less expensive. And when I stopped in at my local dealer, he stressed to me the level of service they provide for people who bought their mowers there. He mentioned that if there was ever a warranty repair needed, they would pick up the mower and deliver it back free the first time. The JD dealer emphasized there would he a charge every time. The CC dealer also said if the mower was ever in for any amount of time during mowing season they would provide a loaner mower free. The JD rep never mentioned that so not sure what they do. I feel like the Kohler engine will live a fairly easy life doing a flat half acre and getting about 30 hours a year. Couple all of this with the $900 savings on the initial cost, I am heavily favoring the CC. The heavier frame and Kawasaki on the JD are enticing for sure. Just not sure if it may not he overkill for my needs?

That $900 difference is the difference between the Kohler running maybe 800 hours or more, and the Kawasaki which are known to easily get more than 1000 hours. As you say, Buy once, cry once, I just don't see that with the cub cadet.

 

[Mower Man Dan]

That $900 difference is the difference between the Kohler running maybe 800 hours or more, and the Kawasaki which are known to easily get more than 1000 hours. As you say, Buy once, cry once, I just don't see that with the cub cadet.

800 hours of use is over 26 seasons for me. Won't robot butlers be cutting our lawns by then?

Also, that $900 savings invested in the market at 7% would be over $5k by the time the Kohlers done, assuming an 800 hour life! That would probably buy me a push mower in the year 2052.

 

[Craftsman Garage]

800 hours of use is over 26 seasons for me. Won't robot butlers be cutting our lawns by then?

Maybe, but they can't pull yard carts.