5XI opinions on lawn duty quality of cut?

[zieg72 209]

Grass cutting is just around the corner and I am thinking about a newer more modern mower for lawn duties.  Sadly I am looking at a rebuild for my P220 in my 520H and don't know if I want to spend the bucks or just get a more modern tractor.  Looking for 5XI owners to give me opinions.

 

The 520H, a great tractor, and I have all the needed attachments but it is going to take some coin to get it back into shape.  The 48" deck does a decent job but would like a better quality of cut at a faster ground speed.   Winter plowing needs have been diminished by a new neighbor who has done the driveway with his plow truck.  My 414-8 took care of what little ground I need to keep plowed. 

 

I am thinking about something with power steering and a better quality of cut may be a better way to go.  I tried a zero turn and don't care for them.  My dad has a Ford with a 16hp liquid cooled diesel with a 50" deck and power steering that flies but I'd like to stay red.

 

Let the discussion begin.

 

Thanks in advance!!!

[bmsgaffer 2,052]

Im sorry to hear about your 520!

 

If you do end up going with the XI, let me know. I would be interested in parts off of the 520 (or at least buy it as a parts tractor) and the 48" mower deck and plow, and possibly the tiller since I dont think those will fit the xi.

 

I have heard good things about the 52" recycler decks that come on some xi's. I doubt you will ever see the same quality of cut from a tractor as you would from a dedicated mower like a zero turn, but they have come a long way. Good sharp high-lift blades if you dont have a mulcher and a striper (basically a modified push broom in select locations)  can help fluff some of the grass for a better cut.

[racinfool40 202]

I have a 520 xi with the 54" deck and I don't mow with anything else..In my opinion one of the best cutting machines there is! I love it and use it for about everything. I have a Snow Blower for it..Mid-mount grader blade and a Dozer blade. As far as power steering I have drivin both models and mine does just fine even with the blower hangin off the front. It is one machine I am glad I spent the money on!

[motox25 36]

I agree with you on the 48" deck, it does the job but it's nothing special. I am currently working on restoring a 60" deck for my 520H and look forward to trying it out as I've heard it does a better cut.

[Rick_in_CT 156]

I mow with a 5xi and 48" and 60" decks.  The attached pictures were taken after cutting with the 48" deck.  I think that it does an adequate job.  Been cutting with a wheel horse deck since 1971, so I don't have anything to compare it to.

 

Rick

Edited March 12, 2014 by Rick_in_CT

[zieg72 209]

I agree with you on the 48" deck, it does the job but it's nothing special. I am currently working on restoring a 60" deck for my 520H and look forward to trying it out as I've heard it does a better cut.

I had a 60" deck and it did a great job, much better than the 48" but I found it took longer and used about 1/2-3/4 gallon more to do the same job as it was a strain on the engine.  Had to go slower cause I have a really thick lawn.  Biggest reason for not keeping it was it was too heavy for me to pull it on and off by myself without throwing my shoulder out of whack...

[Torino 15]

I cut with a 520xi with the 48" deck and have to agree that the cut is not all that great but i have a lot of clover in my lawn so that may be it.  I have heard great things about the 60" deck though.  If you want a classic garden tractor I have heard that Simplicities have the best cut.

[Torino 15]

If you look at Rick's cut, noticed the strips.  That's what my  48" deck does.  If looks good if you mow back and forth but it you mow in circles like I do it does not look all that good.  On my lawn it looks uneven.  Is that caused by the tires or what?

[RMCIII 838]

All I can say is hmmm....Wait, here is my,  ... If the deck is set-up correct, back to front slope and side to side height, the 48" cuts just as good as anything out there....Excluding anything that has a deck, or reels, hanging out front.....Now, here is something else that is interesting though...There are 2 different style 48" decks for the "xi", actually a full line of decks, but specifically the 48" has 2 styles....One weighs in at 195lbs, as seen on VT New Heaven Power and Equipment...The other one weighs in a little over 290lbs.....I do have the heavier deck and I would place some of the cutting ability to be associated with the weight of the deck.....If it is just a cut you are looking to achieve, you may want to look at a front mount mower....If it is versatility and year round use, the "xi" will pass any test you put it through....The only draw back is the parts supply and the cost of the those parts.....Other than that, you really can't go wrong with any of the "xi" series GT's....Unless you compare them to the line of GT's, not SCUT, that are being pushed out today by Deere or Simplicity...Then you may find they come up a bit short, simply because of the lack of locking diff, and the missing hydraulic couplers......Just my    

 

Forgot to mention this....New Holland, but it was actually Toro, produced an identical line of GT's for New Holland.... GT -18, 20, 22..90% of the parts are interchangeable, but it will be blue vs. red....If you find one of those for sale also, they are the same machine as the "xi", just painted Blue, Black and White.....

Edited March 12, 2014 by RMCIII

[Torino 15]

I must have the 290lb deck because I when I removed it I was thinking how hard it was to move around compared to the 48" deck on the 520.

[Jim_M 179]

I've got a 520Xi with the 52" deck and it's the best mowing Wheel Horse I've ever owned. You can actually set the deck to 3 1/2" high unlike the older decks.

[6.0 powerstroke 62]

What didn't you like about the zero turn?

was it a commercial unit , or residential?

Edited March 12, 2014 by 6.0 powerstroke

[zieg72 209]

What didn't you like about the zero turn?

was it a commercial unit , or residential?

Having to use both hands mainly.  I have shoulder problems.  I tried a top of the line commercial unit that had a suspension seat, really rode nice.  Maybe I haven't tried enough of them but holding on to the levers are painful.

[bmsgaffer 2,052]

zeig:

[zieg72 209]

zeig:

Very nice unit, to bad it is so far from me and it doesn't have a deck listed with it and I don't need/want a loader

[6.0 powerstroke 62]

I kinda figured it would be the controls, no comparison to a tractor.

On most of the z's ive used(mostly exmark) , you can position your hand almost anywhere on the bar that is comfortable- even work both with one hand to an extent. It just takes time to get a feel for the machine .

High horse power and nice deep decks will give you the cut your looking for, and you will reduce the time it takes to cut your lawn

They are however, not cheap, not very safe on hills, and would be a truly dedicated grass only machine

[Hodge71 665]

I kinda figured it would be the controls, no comparison to a tractor.

On most of the z's ive used(mostly exmark) , you can position your hand almost anywhere on the bar that is comfortable- even work both with one hand to an extent. It just takes time to get a feel for the machine .

High horse power and nice deep decks will give you the cut your looking for, and you will reduce the time it takes to cut your lawn

They are however, not cheap, not very safe on hills, and would be a truly dedicated grass only machine

 

Not very safe on hills? I have been using Scag zero turns for close to 15 years. In sizes from 36" walk behinds for small fenced in lawns to 72" 35 Hp turbo diesels and the newest 72" with a 38 horse Briggs twin and a Hi/low gearbox. I can mow at 18 MPH with that machine and the quality of cut doesn't suffer as long as the grass isn't a foot tall...There is nothing safer than a z on a side hill. They have a very low center of gravity compared to a tractor and I can speak from experience, in the hands of a skilled operator, I can mow sidehills that would make a tractor operator soil their drawers. If its so steep that I can't mow sideways or diagonal, I will go top to bottom if need be...

[6.0 powerstroke 62]

I wasn't trying to say tractors are better on ( steep) slopes,

But yes, a skilled operator can do alot more than someone who has never run that type of a machine before

[Hodge71 665]

I wasn't trying to say tractors are better on ( steep) slopes,

But yes, a skilled operator can do alot more than someone who has never run that type of a machine before

 

I didnt think you were. It sounded like you were saying zero turns aren't safe on slopes, which makes no sense as thats why they were designed with such a low center of gravity. They are heavy and wide with low slung engines and hydraulics so the do well on slopes and increase operator comfort and safety.

[leeave96 488]

IMHO, the 48 inch deck, if set up correctly, gives a great cut - every bit as good as my simplicity, just no striping rollers across the back of the deck.

Is your 520H a 1991 year model or later with swept forward axle and gear reduction steering? If so, you've essentially got power steering.

If it is, you've got a great combo there.

One thing you might consider is a repower with a used engine. I've got a Kohler magnum 14 hp I'm thinking about putting on one of my 520H tractors vs a rebuild. Only got $100 in the engine - you could find a donor tractor/engine if you look around and save some serious $$$'s.

The other thing to consider is Matt's foot control kit. It really brings these hydro tractors into this century. I've got two tractors with the kit and they are as comfortable to use as anything deere has to offer new.

Good luck,

Bill

[zieg72 209]

IMHO, the 48 inch deck, if set up correctly, gives a great cut - every bit as good as my simplicity, just no striping rollers across the back of the deck.

Is your 520H a 1991 year model or later with swept forward axle and gear reduction steering? If so, you've essentially got power steering.

If it is, you've got a great combo there.

One thing you might consider is a repower with a used engine. I've got a Kohler magnum 14 hp I'm thinking about putting on one of my 520H tractors vs a rebuild. Only got $100 in the engine - you could find a donor tractor/engine if you look around and save some serious $$$'s.

The other thing to consider is Matt's foot control kit. It really brings these hydro tractors into this century. I've got two tractors with the kit and they are as comfortable to use as anything deere has to offer new.

Good luck,

Bill

I do have a foot control, it's a 1992 so it does have the easier steering.  Been looking for a good running K341, I've done that repower on a 520H before so I know what to expect work wise.  Just weighing my options, thanks for the reply

[boovuc 1,090]

I had a neighbor that had an Xi with the smaller deck and an FEL plus a 2 stage blower. He eventually traded it in on a new Kubota. He told me it was because the mower didn't cut grass well at all. He even had it serviced at the dealer. It never cut grass well, (quality of cut), from the day he bought it according to him and his wife.

It did everything else well though. Keep this in mind.............he is one fussy individual. Everything in his yard is manicured. His garage and house are perfect. His driveway jet black all year round. He won't talk to me anymore because I asked him if I could have first dibs on his tractor if he got rid of it. He offered everything to me for a price that was actually very good but I couldn't afford it at the time. (Calling him "fussy" is actually pretty lame).

 

It sounds like the smaller deck on an Xi or at the least, this particular deck/tractor did have a quality of cut issue. Maybe it is a system that requires a precise fine tune to get it right.