Well, I finally bought another mower..

I took the Husqvarna back, no questions asked full refund. I still believe that particular model is leaps and bounds ahead of the majority of the other box store mowers, that one just had some issue that neither the dealer or I had heard of before. And it did blow another brand new fuse. So I started beating the bushes again and this what I came up with. 2005 JD gt235, 48 inch deck, 18hp Kawasaki V twin, tractor tires on the back, 247 hours, new blades, $1400 out the door. Hood does have a small crack, the grass shoot/deflector is missing and the headlights don't work. Used it for about an hour and I'll give it's do, it's a whole new level of mower than I'm use to. Hope it gives good service.

(quoted from post at 10:20:27 08/31/14) I took the Husqvarna back, no questions asked full refund. I still believe that particular model is leaps and bounds ahead of the majority of the other box store mowers, that one just had some issue that neither the dealer or I had heard of before. And it did blow another brand new fuse. So I started beating the bushes again and this what I came up with. 2005 JD gt235, 48 inch deck, 18hp Kawasaki V twin, tractor tires on the back, 247 hours, new blades, $1400 out the door. Hood does have a small crack, the grass shoot/deflector is missing and the headlights don't work. Used it for about an hour and I'll give it's do, it's a whole new level of mower than I'm use to. Hope it gives good service.

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I have one just like it. No complaints at all. In fact I have newer jd mowers with a lot lower hours, but I'd rather hop on the 'ol 235 and go mow. Most times when I see them for sale, they are closer to 2K. I think you did fine.

Casey you found a good mower. That is a true garden tractor. You will get YEARS of use out of it. You actually got a good deal on it as well. That mower would bring more money around here.

As for the head lights. Look and make sure that the wire going up to them is plugged in. If they have had the hood off then the light wire gets missed when the hood is put back in.

I really never use the lights on a mower anyway. If it is dark then more than likely the grass is getting wet and I stop mowing.

I am sorry that I was not able to help you on this. Things have been busy and I just was spread too thin. You did well on your own. It just takes some patience at times to find a good fit.

Run down to harbor freight and pick up a plastic welder before
that crack spreads any further. Hood = $$$

Don"t know about the plastic welder, but I would take it to a good fiberglass shop and get it done right. A friend of mine did a hood on his JD and you can"t tell its been repaired and he does"nt do much fiberglass work. LE

You did very well on that mower, It will give you years of service. On the hood crack, Drill a small hole at each end of the crack to prevent it from going any farther.

Casey,
A few years ago I purchased a used GT275. 17 hp
single cylinder kaw. No hour meter, but engine
and tranny are solid. New rear tires like yours,
new belts, new blades, new battery, new tines for
30 counter rotating tiller. I got it for $1500.
It is a good mower. Like the comfort ride. I use
as a trim mower. I put an hour meter on it to
tell me when it's time to change oil.

I also have a mower like the one you returned.
I've had no issues with it. I bought it in 2000
with 4.5 hours on it because it has a short in
starter solenoid. I think it got shorted by
someone getting it wet. I use it as a tirm mower
at my other place. It has 330 hours on it without
a problem. I just sharpen blades, change oil and
filter every 50 hrs.

I wouldn't say there is a lot of difference
between my JD and husky. I do like the JD ride a
little better. The husky has a bagger. I need to
pick up leafs. JD has a tiller. Instead of buying
a bigger tractor to put a tiller on, the JD was
the next best thing.

Good luck find a bagger for your JD. I purchased
a agri-fab vacuum trailer instead. In fall I like
to pick up leafs for garden and add to mulch
pile.

The guy I got the JD from went crazy with a
garden hose. The steering on JD and front
spindles had a rust issue because of the water.
The mower deck was even worse. The belt guards
were in a sad shape, rust. The under side of
mower was like nothing I've ever seen. Total
rust, Major rust pits.

I have 30 year old mowers, used at rental
property, that has never been washed and look
much better. I cleaned up under side, gave it an
extra coat of rustolum. Rebuilt the belt guards.
I'm on the look out for a good used 48 inch deck
that someone hasn't taken a garden hose to.
George

Casey,
You may want to get a front bumper. All the green
on my JD275 is thin toy like plastic, very
expensive to replace, easily damaged, vibrations
cracked some of mine. I made my bumper out of a
mobile home axle spring. The bumper prices are
expensive too.

My dad, a JD fan, always said JD were painted green
because green is the color of money.