New mower

[desertrat (Premo)]

Went and looked at the JDs today, think I might go for the X324 with a 48" deck and bagger. Haven't decided on the snow blade yet. 4 wheel steering is very nice.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by desertrat

Went and looked at the JDs today, think I might go for the X324 with a 48" deck and bagger. Haven't decided on the snow blade yet. 4 wheel steering is very nice.

I bought a bagger for my other mower years ago. Giant pain in the ass. It filled up in minutes. I spent all my time running over to empty it. I would skip the bagger and get the mulching kit. Also the zero turn mowers are nice.

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Pete

I bought a bagger for my other mower years ago. Giant pain in the ass. It filled up in minutes. I spent all my time running over to empty it. I would skip the bagger and get the mulching kit. Also the zero turn mowers are nice.

Yeah, but I use mine to pick up leaves in the fall. It is a pain dumping the bags, but beats raking.

[RPMDAD]

Originally Posted by Pete

I bought a bagger for my other mower years ago. Giant pain in the ass. It filled up in minutes. I spent all my time running over to empty it. I would skip the bagger and get the mulching kit. Also the zero turn mowers are nice.

Pete the trick to a bagger is not to let your grass get knee high..
Just kidding, they are a pain to keep emptying but the yard does look good and if you have a mulch pile it helps. Agree with DR baggers are great when dealing with leaves.

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by RPMDAD

Pete the trick to a bagger is not to let your grass get knee high..
Just kidding, they are a pain to keep emptying but the yard does look good and if you have a mulch pile it helps. Agree with DR baggers are great when dealing with leaves.

I usually only have to empty just grass once or twice per mow. Usually, though I do mulch it. With leaves when they are coming down good it is one lap and off to the woods.

[itsbob]

Originally Posted by desertrat

I usually only have to empty just grass once or twice per mow. Usually, though I do mulch it. With leaves when they are coming down good it is one lap and off to the woods.

Get the mulching deck, may take you 'mowing' every few days when the leaves are falling but it works well.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by desertrat

Yeah, but I use mine to pick up leaves in the fall. It is a pain dumping the bags, but beats raking.

That is basically why i got my bagger. It filled up within minutes. Giant pain. Now i do like Bob said. Put boy on it with the mulching kit and tell him not to stop until the leaves are powder. Takes about 3 passes

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by itsbob

Get the mulching deck, may take you 'mowing' every few days when the leaves are falling but it works well.

Originally Posted by Pete

That is basically why i got my bagger. It filled up within minutes. Giant pain. Now i do like Bob said. Put boy on it with the mulching kit and tell him not to stop until the leaves are powder. Takes about 3 passes

Will look into that.

[RPMDAD]

Damn DR, just looked up the pricing on that and it took my breath away.
Don't get me wrong i know the JD reputation and reliability, and have several friends that own them and swear by them. Over the last 20 years i have owned 2 tractors first one was a Lowes Brand NOMA yard tractor with a double bagger on it, it was still running when i sold it after 11 years of work. Wife bought me a Sears Tractor in 2002 and am still using it. I really try to baby my mechanical equipment maintenance wise, I also put 320,000 miles on a Toyota 4x4 pickup that i owned for 19 years. I don't think i paid half for the 2 tractors i have owned for what i saw the price for on that model JD, which if i am not mistaken did not include the bagger or snow blade.

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by RPMDAD

Damn DR, just looked up the pricing on that and it took my breath away.
Don't get me wrong i know the JD reputation and reliability, and have several friends that own them and swear by them. Over the last 20 years i have owned 2 tractors first one was a Lowes Brand NOMA yard tractor with a double bagger on it, it was still running when i sold it after 11 years of work. Wife bought me a Sears Tractor in 2002 and am still using it. I really try to baby my mechanical equipment maintenance wise, I also put 320,000 miles on a Toyota 4x4 pickup that i owned for 19 years. I don't think i paid half for the 2 tractors i have owned for what i saw the price for on that model JD, which if i am not mistaken did not include the bagger or snow blade.

I'm looking at about 6k if I get both of those options. At least twice what i could replace my current mower with. It's much nicer though and I know they will be around with parts or service if I need it..anywhere. It will be a month or so before I decide. Money is hard to part with.