EricMassey 14 #1 Posted February 7, 2018 (edited) I’ve got the opportunity to purchase a 522xi with a 60” deck. It has just shy of 900 hours on it. Just wondering some pros and cons of the 5xi series, and roughly how many hours are the Kohler motors good for? I know a lot about the older 520-H’s and the 3/400 series wheel horses but need some input on the newer 5xi series. Thanks in advance. Edited February 7, 2018 by EricMassey 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,103 #2 Posted February 7, 2018 I own the 520LXI which has the liquid cooled Kawaski motor and I run a 60" deck on it. I will never go back to mowing with the older style horses as the XI is just a different machine. I also have a 522xi with loader. That has a 22 hp air cooled Kohler twin. It has under 500 hours and runs like a top. You cannot go wrong with it. The downside of the 60" deck is that it is very heavy to take off and move around. I would not hesitate to buy it but make sure you do the usual testing of the hydro once it is nice and hot and drive up hills. The hydro has a high and low speed so try both. Check over the engine for smoke as cold start etc. Good luck and keep us informed on what you plan on doing. Pic below are of my 522xi with loader. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMassey 14 #3 Posted February 7, 2018 (edited) Thanks for the info, I will keep everything in mind. We have 4 520-H’s and 3 of them have the 60” decks so I know all about how heavy they are lol... This one has sat outside for awhile as it’s pretty fadded but doesn’t look to be beat up and abused.. Do you know rightly how many hours the Kohler air cooled motor seem to run? I’m going to try and go look at it this weekend so we will see! Edited February 7, 2018 by EricMassey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Forest Road 594 #4 Posted February 7, 2018 I have a 522xi w loader. It came w a blower, mower deck & plow. All of which were essentially rusted out shells. I'm at 1200 hours and going strong. Weak link on them them seems to be the linkage. Every link in the motion control pedal and steering need to be tightened annually. Other than that there's no comparison between them and out little red riders. Mow w it once and you'll never go back to a 520h 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMassey 14 #5 Posted February 7, 2018 8 minutes ago, Forest Road said: I have a 522xi w loader. It came w a blower, mower deck & plow. All of which were essentially rusted out shells. I'm at 1200 hours and going strong. Weak link on them them seems to be the linkage. Every link in the motion control pedal and steering need to be tightened annually. Other than that there's no comparison between them and out little red riders. Mow w it once and you'll never go back to a 520h Awesome thanks for the input! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,369 #6 Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) I bought a one owner dealer serviced 1200hr 520xi with 60" deck last Nov, but after owning the a 520H since new ok just my personal opinion, 520H with the Onan has more power the front axle has more articulation for going over ditches ect, and implement/attchment interchangeability and with the xi I really wasn't fond of the toe/heel "rocker" pedal, if it were a side by side set I probably would have liked it better, the lift lever where the motion control is on the H, the steering linkage not as heavy or simple, the pluses of xi the hi/lo range trans,cruise control, tilt column, one piece fender pan, power steering (518/520xi doesn't), more weight for traction, IDK if everybody knows this but you CAN leave the deck ON and lock the lift linkage in the up position and with a rear clevis hitch on you can use it with plow disc rear scraper blade ect, attachments harder to come by at they are xi only (Toro made it blue for New Holland), the smart steer is love or hate, when I brought it home after carrying that 60" deck all those years most if not all the bolts holding the transaxle to the frame had backed out and letting it "flop" around causing a jerkiness, again just MY personal experiences/thoughts, had I bought the xi new when I bought the anniversary they may be different now, but I sold it and up graded to compact 4wd with FEL and kept my 2 classics, Jeff. Also from what I hear engine life 2000-3000 hrs if maintained/serviced regularly. Edited February 8, 2018 by WVHillbilly520H 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMassey 14 #7 Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) 20 minutes ago, WVHillbilly520H said: I bought a one owner dealer serviced 1200hr 520xi with 60" deck last Nov, but after owning the a 520H since new ok just my personal opinion, 520H with the Onan has more power the front axle has more articulation for going over ditches ect, and implement/attchment interchangeability and with the xi I really wasn't fond of the toe/heel "rocker" pedal, if it were a side by side set I probably would have liked it better, the lift lever where the motion control is on the H, the steering linkage not as heavy or simple, the pluses of xi the hi/lo range trans,cruise control, tilt column, one piece fender pan, power steering (518/520xi doesn't), more weight for traction, IDK if everybody knows this but you CAN leave the deck ON and lock the lift linkage in the up position and with a rear clevis hitch on you can use it with plow disc rear scraper blade ect, attachments harder to come by at they are xi only (Toro made it blue for New Holland), the smart steer is love or hate, when I brought it home after carrying that 60" deck all those years most if not all the bolts holding the transaxle to the frame had backed out and letting it "flop" around causing a jerkiness, again just MY personal experiences/thoughts, had I bought the xi new when I bought the anniversary they may be different now, but I sold it and up graded to compact 4wd with FEL and kept my 2 classics, Jeff. Also from what I hear engine life 2000-3000 hrs if maintained/serviced regularly. Thanks for the info and your input. If I do happen to purchase this 522xi I will also be keeping the 520-H just for all my implements, snow blower, snow plow, and tiller work. I have converted the 520-H to a rocker style foot controlled motion lever as I never liked the one on the dash.. they also said that the 60” deck had just been put under this one as something happened to the smaller deck so hopefully it hasn’t packed that big heavy think around all it’s life. Like I said thanks for your input I will keep that in mind when I go to look at it. Edited February 8, 2018 by EricMassey 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt-NEPA 755 #8 Posted February 8, 2018 I used my three 520H for mowing and snow blowing duties for the last 8 years. I loved them all. Then I got a 520xi and fell in love with it. So much so that I picked up a 522xi. That 522xi is the finest tractor I've ever used. Don't get me wrong, I love the 520H, but the 5xi's are one step above. Power steering is to die for, but I hate the smart steering. All that said, I worry about the Kohler V-Twins. I had to replace one because of oil burning at 800 hrs. But my other V-Twin has 900 hrs on it and is running just fine. I would go for another 5xi in a heart beat. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,369 #9 Posted February 8, 2018 2 minutes ago, Kurt-NEPA said: I used my three 520H for mowing and snow blowing duties for the last 8 years. I loved them all. Then I got a 520xi and fell in love with it. So much so that I picked up a 522xi. That 522xi is the finest tractor I've ever used. Don't get me wrong, I love the 520H, but the 5xi's are one step above. Power steering is to die for, but I hate the smart steering. All that said, I worry about the Kohler V-Twins. I had to replace one because of oil burning at 800 hrs. But my other V-Twin has 900 hrs on it and is running just fine. I would go for another 5xi in a heart beat. I do know where a N.O.S demonstrator hours 522xi is hiding in a dealers basement ...still has the N.O.S price tag though 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMassey 14 #11 Posted February 8, 2018 I actually read some post about it earlier today.. sure would a a sweet tractor to get ahold of but not for the price lol. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,369 #12 Posted February 8, 2018 12 minutes ago, EricMassey said: I actually read some post about it earlier today.. sure would a a sweet tractor to get ahold of but not for the price lol. Maybe this will help put it perspective, Jeff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMassey 14 #13 Posted February 8, 2018 Just now, WVHillbilly520H said: Maybe this will help put it perspective, Jeff. That’s awesome! I have another question, do all the 522xi’s have power steering? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt-NEPA 755 #14 Posted February 8, 2018 2 minutes ago, WVHillbilly520H said: Maybe this will help put it perspective, Jeff. A new 522xi at $7619 - if it comes with a deck, I'm in. 5 minutes ago, EricMassey said: That’s awesome! I have another question, do all the 522xi’s have power steering? The 522xi's have power steering, the 520xi does not. Also the 522xi is 22 hp and the 520xi is 20 hp. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMassey 14 #15 Posted February 8, 2018 5 minutes ago, Kurt-NEPA said: A new 522xi at $7619 - if it comes with a deck, I'm in. The 522xi's have power steering, the 520xi does not. Also the 522xi is 22 hp and the 520xi is 20 hp. Awesome thanks! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,875 #16 Posted February 8, 2018 I have a 522xi with loader, and a New Holland GT22, which is a 522xi with no power steering. Toro made them for NH, as Jeff said. I have a 60", 54", and 48" deck, 2 stage blower, and I picked up a single stage blower but I have not been able to get it here from my son's house. I think my ankle is finally strong enough, as soon as the weather breaks, I'll take a trip out to his house and pick it up. I think I am going to sell all my classic tractors and attachments except one 520H to use for pulling trailers, etc. The 522xi is a great tractor. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,369 #17 Posted February 8, 2018 518 and 520 Kohler V-twins no power steering, 520Lxi Kawasaki liquid cooled power steering, 523Dxi Briggs/Daihatsu 3cyl diesel power steering and you know the 522. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt-NEPA 755 #18 Posted February 8, 2018 6 minutes ago, WNYPCRepair said: I think my ankle is finally strong enough Brian, its good to hear you are on the mend. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,875 #19 Posted February 8, 2018 6 minutes ago, Kurt-NEPA said: Brian, its good to hear you are on the mend. Thanks, it's slow going, but it gets stronger every day. I can walk fine, but I'll have to unload the blower by myself, so I didn't want to try it until it was stronger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt-NEPA 755 #20 Posted February 8, 2018 Brian, I tried the broke ankle routine about 20 years ago. Not fun. Slow to get things working again. Wishing you the best. Don't push it too much. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Forest Road 594 #21 Posted February 8, 2018 A NY dealer had one NOS not long ago. Believe it was a 522 w Loader $12000. For the record I could NEVER see paying that when a kubota w loader could be had. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMassey 14 #22 Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) Well as of now the 522xi I was going to look at has fell through... O well maybe someday I will luck onto one. Thanks for all the input guys will definitely keep it in mind if I ever happen to run across another one Edited February 8, 2018 by EricMassey 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elliot ness 1,916 #23 Posted February 9, 2018 On 2/7/2018 at 4:14 PM, stevebo said: I own the 520LXI which has the liquid cooled Kawaski motor and I run a 60" deck on it. I will never go back to mowing with the older style horses as the XI is just a different machine. I also have a 522xi with loader. That has a 22 hp air cooled Kohler twin. It has under 500 hours and runs like a top. You cannot go wrong with it. The downside of the 60" deck is that it is very heavy to take off and move around. I would not hesitate to buy it but make sure you do the usual testing of the hydro once it is nice and hot and drive up hills. The hydro has a high and low speed so try both. Check over the engine for smoke as cold start etc. Good luck and keep us informed on what you plan on doing. Pic below are of my 522xi with loader. Sweet loader tractor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites