I'm thinking its getting close to time to get rid of my JD318 lawn tractor. The hydraulics are getting weak and it has a lot of hours on it. Getting the mower off of a machine that vintage is a pain in the neck as I'm getting older. A few other things are starting to happen but its a 1989 model and has been a great machine over the years. A replacement would be either a Kubota or a JD since those are the only dealers close buy. I'm looking in the $8000 - $10000 range for something similar to what I have from what I've seen. Some questions I have include who makes the equipment - does each company make their own or are they farmed out. Any good/bad reviews on the line in general.I know JD can get pretty pricey on parts. I have no experience with Kubota. I've thought about a zero turn but I think I may add a snow blower along with about a 48" mower. One have easier to attach accessories than the other? Are there better times during the year to get a better deal - maybe late fall or during the winter when this type of equipment is in less demand? I just wrestled the mower out from under my tractor to weld a part that broke is what has started me thinking about it.
- Thread starter Charlie M
- Start date
just got a jd 1025e think it was came with deck you just drive over and it hooks up. loader you can just also drop it off in seconds. it has really worked well for them. they are not handy with anything mechanical that's why I went this route. the price range you are talking not sure if that will get you into drive over version,but when I bought the unit nothing for 2 years. Kubota in my area price not any difference hardly, infact in my deal they were higher I ended up with loader,drive over deck and 3pt tiller. they were what call 3part pkgs. this was year ago
I've owned a couple 318s and now have a X739 (purchased after I got tired of dealing with the deck on the 318).
There isn't a direct comparison in current models. There are three series today (ignoring the E100, you don't want those). The X300 are fine if you're only using a mower and some snow removal. The transmission is light duty compared to the 318. The X500 series provides a better transmission and is capable of doing gardening work.
At the top of the line is the X700 series which has a heavy duty (for a garden tractor) transmission with shaft drive, like your 318. You can also get liquid cooled engines and 4x4.
All three of those series are built by Deere in the Horicon, Wisconsin factory. The engines are transmission are supplied by other companies.
There isn't a direct comparison in current models. There are three series today (ignoring the E100, you don't want those). The X300 are fine if you're only using a mower and some snow removal. The transmission is light duty compared to the 318. The X500 series provides a better transmission and is capable of doing gardening work.
At the top of the line is the X700 series which has a heavy duty (for a garden tractor) transmission with shaft drive, like your 318. You can also get liquid cooled engines and 4x4.
All three of those series are built by Deere in the Horicon, Wisconsin factory. The engines are transmission are supplied by other companies.
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
What do you do with the tractor ? If you only cut grass consider a X380 or the 500 series of zero turn mowers. once you use a zero turn to mow the lawn, you will wonder why anyone uses a tractor. Unless the lawn is very steep or wet.
another thought and this is what I have done. Keep the 318 and put a snowblower on it and get a 0 turn for mowing. Ends messing around switching stuff. Then you can set the blower tractor up for that job. I put narrow drive tires with fluid and chains and hang a 250 pound of concrete off the back.
just a thought.
jt
just a thought.
jt
Have you ever serviced the hydrostatic transaxle?I believe the JD 318 had a servicable hydro unit. To answer your questions- John Deere manufactures all thr x300,x500,x700 series tractor. The differences are well explained by PeterE's post. I have an x320 ( very satisfied with it)which has been replaced by the current model X380. That would be a starting point unless you want more features. If you have relatively flat ground you may want to consider a zero-turn instead of a tractor.I would suggest trying a couple out to be sure you like them. You could set up the 318 with a snowblower and leave it on so less fighting with switching implements. Not sure what to recommend as to best time of the year to buy, and this year will probably be atypical due to the virus/economic situation. My dad used to try and buy around the end of the calender year or midwinter and get a "leftover" model , this was in the 1990's-2000's. I feel the decks are relatively easy to get off the JD garden tractors but it does involve getting down on your hands and knees a little.
I've heard that from everybody that switched to a zero turn. I'm thinking about a garden tractor so I could add a snow blower. I said the same thing about my 318 when I got it but never added one. Its hard to believe I own 12 tractors and nothing is set up to move snow. Every time I think about spending money on snow equipment (other than my walk behind snow blower) we don't get any snow. Its not like growing up in the 60's where snow was almost guaranteed for the full season.
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
The X380 and up use a medium duty transaxle. All tractors below use a flimsy K46 or similar trasnaxle.
The 500 series zero turns have larger tires, heavier decks and heavier hydro stat motors than the entry level 300 series. Not a lot of difference in price between a optioned out 300 series with a 54" deck and a Z525E with the standard 54" deck.
The 500 series zero turns have larger tires, heavier decks and heavier hydro stat motors than the entry level 300 series. Not a lot of difference in price between a optioned out 300 series with a 54" deck and a Z525E with the standard 54" deck.
Kubota is great! They usually offer some deals like zero pct financing for 60 months. Use their money! Kubota has a large aftermarket parts community for the consumable parts. Filters, blades, belts, etc. Coleman is the one that I use for my ZG20 zero-turn. Their tractor type mowers are also very good. I had a diesel one years back and worked flawless.
Stephen Newell
Well-known Member
I bought a Kubota tractor in 1987 and I'm still using it. After a number of years it needed some repairs I didn't have time for so I bought a JD tractor because it was cheaper and it lasted a couple weeks before it had an internal problem with the transmission. I sent the tractor back because I returned it to the dealer twice and they just let it sit on the lot a couple of weeks and then called me to tell me it was ready without ever attempting to work on it. I contacted the company directly and they just said see the dealer I bought it from. After that I won't buy any JD equipment new or used again.
I have a zero turn X Mark 54" deck. I can mow almost anywhere. Steep hills no problem. But if you are a planner and a tractor driver. Just 15 minutes saved mowing my.yard. 1 1/2 hr. I want a 1026R with drive over deck, and loader. Plus a tiller. With 4x4 I can spray fences and keep the brush beat back. And drive it around like a side by side.
Go to your KUBOTA dealer and look at the BX series and you will not be sorry. And yes it is a KUBOTA made unit. As for the best time of the year folks always talk about getting a left over model ect. In reality the unit is cheaper the day it come to the dealer than when left over. Floor plan interest has to be paid by someone. Now granted you MIGHT find a dealer that was wanting to unload older unit so he could get new stock but pricing usually boils down to the manufactures sales programs (rebates) and how much profit the selling company has to make to keep the doors open. Not always the best deal at the larger stores.
JM: Neighbor lady has an older BX2200 it has been pretty good machine. I do the maintenance and repairs on it for her. It had some power steering hose issues and steering cylinder issues. The replacement parts were designed different and seem to be holding up better though. Now unless Kubota has redesigned the mower decks this guy would have to wrestle around with one of these too just like he complained about the old Deere. They mount pretty much alike. Except the Kubota will be worse in the fact the deck is larger and heavier !
I'm thinking about something like a Kubota F2560 front mount mower for myself. Looks like they tip up to clean and get at the blades to sharpen them. Plus you can put snow removal equipment on them. He may want to check them out , but I think new ones are pricy. I see a few used ones around and they seem to depreciate pretty good.
I'm thinking about something like a Kubota F2560 front mount mower for myself. Looks like they tip up to clean and get at the blades to sharpen them. Plus you can put snow removal equipment on them. He may want to check them out , but I think new ones are pricy. I see a few used ones around and they seem to depreciate pretty good.
J Hamilton
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern Illinois
They both make good equipment, personally I prefer John Deere over the Kubota and yes I have ran both brands of the same horsepower. To me it seems like the Kubota just doesn't have the low end lugging torque that a Deere has especially for mowing when you get into a thick area.
newhollandnut
Member
At work we have all John Deere two 950r’s 3 997 and a 3720 tractor with a belly mower they are all pretty good mowers but I hate their deck design. All the spindles are recessed in the decks and around the spindles and under are always packed with grass dirt and water and when you wash them it does not drain just sits full of water. Everyone else uses flat decks so I just don’t get it but the machines themselves seem to be good. If/when I have to replace my Dixie chopper I will get a kubota unless someone else has a deal too good to be true. In the early to mid 2000’s while I was still in school I took care of the guys property who owned the construction company I used to work for and I put thousands of hours on 3 different kubota zero turns and two different tractors and I can’t think of any problems I ever had with any of the other than maybe a dead battery
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
You can't go wrong with a good running used Kubota. I bought the 92 B7100 24 years ago with a snow blower and the 88 F2000 20 years ago with a snow blower and heated cab. Have about $12,000 into both of them and other than belts blades and idler bearings they have required nothing but oil and filters. I used to burn 3.5 gallons of gas in my Case 446 to cut my 3 acres. Either of these will do the same job on 1 gallon of diesel. The deck on the B7100 is a pain to remove so it stays on years round and has become my dedicated leaf collector. The front deck is much easier to clean and remove and that is my main mower and snow remover. In Jan. I picked up a 2001 JD 1145 for $1,300 and use it to cut 2 acres at my brothers rental 20 miles away. It also uses very little fuel. I'll second the other suggestions about keeping the 318 for snow removal. That is what my neighbor did when he got a ZTR 2 years ago.
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