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Wasn't impressed with 300 JD

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4.1K views 21 replies 15 participants last post by  PA318Guy  
#1 ·
Borrowed my wife's uncle's 318 today because I don't have a bagger and we are beginning the fall cut down.........wasn't real impressed. I have the LA145 with gators that side discharge, he has the 318 with the powerflow bagging system and I think there was more clippings on my lawn using his. I mentioned this to him and he thought his "fins" in the powerflow might need to be replaced. Either way, not real impressed and sorta glad I didn't go another 3k for the 300 series with the powerflow.

Just saying,

pfan
 
#2 ·
Poor setup, old blades, etc. can make a huge difference in cut quality. I just went through this with a pair of new gator blades. They just didn't work with my setup. I'm glad you like your 145, but don't make too much of a comparison with a 30 year old GT that may need new blades. The new x300 series is a different animal than the 318. It's actually much closer to your 145.
 
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#3 ·
If it doesn't cut as good it may need some TLC on the mower deck. But there are many other things the 318 will do, that the 145 can't... Just sayin :)
 
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#5 ·
And who would spend 3000 over the price of a LA100 for a 20 year old 318? They go around 1500-2000.

Like everyone has said, a deck that has worn blades and is not level will cut like crap, no matter what the model of your tractor you have.
 
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#6 ·
Are you comparing an new X300 with a 20+ year old 318 ??
just asking cause I'm confused !!!!!!!!!
 
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#8 ·
I don't think that he was complaining about the quality of the cut, he was complaining about the amount of clippings still on the lawn compared to his LA145.

LA145 with gator blades and side discharge deck with no bagger and he has less clippings on the lawn than when he used the 318 with a powerflow bagger.

If the impeller blades need to be replaced like your wife's uncle said, then I can understand the problem. You need to compare to one that has a properly working powerflow system to be fair. Your comparison is like saying that a Volkswagon Beetle is a faster car than Mustang GT because the Mustang that you tried to drive was missing the spark plugs.
 
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#9 ·
i was talking about if I went for a new x300 with the powerflow for another 3k over my la145. I'm sure it was set up of his tractor. He is having it serviced this fall, I'll borrow it again and compare. It also had really touchy steering and couldn't back out of my ditch which I normally do with my la145. I think it was a little faster which was nice :thThumbsU

I forgot how much longer it takes to mow when you bag!, i was off the tractor every little bit (very thick lawn and cutting it down for winter). Thank god I live where I can dump my clippings in 4 different spots on the edge of my property. Glad I have my gators :trink39:
 
#12 ·
Okay I am thoroughly confused now.. So did you use a 318 or an X300 series? Because there really is no comparo between them. The old 300's are extremely heavy duty machines, where as the X300's (below a certain model) have the same exact transmission as your LA series, but they are lugging around a lot more weight than your LA series (heaver frame).
 
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#10 ·
The older mower decks are crap, it does'nt surprise me that the 145 cut better than the 318. The new mower decks have better vacuum to pull grass up.
 
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#14 ·
Sir Charles, my 48 inch "replacement" deck on the 318 is nearly new! It's great to have on that is mechanically good and doesn't need maintenance so much. But the 46 inch deck, which was a 1982 (I think), deck cut beautifully. Also my 38 inch deck on the 216 (gator blades) gave me that "golf course" mow that I like! The 318 isn't crappy and I suspect with some gators on it then the cut would improve but it just doesn't match the older decks!
 
#11 ·
I actually own both, a new L series with the 42c mulching deck, and a 318 with the 50" deck, hands down the 318 cuts 5 times better than the L, I even since day one the L has cut uneven when turning (even after leveling and re leveling the deck) and clumps the grass, wet or dry it doesn't matter. The 50 on the 318 cuts dead even and leaves smaller clippings that aren't clumped together with regular blades and an open chute.
 
#13 ·
pfan1981 said:
Borrowed my wife's uncle's 318 today because I don't have a bagger and we are beginning the fall cut down.........wasn't real impressed. I have the LA145 with gators that side discharge, he has the 318 with the powerflow bagging system and I think there was more clippings on my lawn using his. I mentioned this to him and he thought his "fins" in the powerflow might need to be replaced. Either way, not real impressed and sorta glad I didn't go another 3k for the 300 series with the powerflow.

Just saying,

pfan
Click to expand...
Get a rope boys!
 
E
#16 ·
This is so funny, as the 50" deck was well known as a "crap" deck back in the day. And here we have folks loving it. Same with the 46" at times. Everyone seems to have their own favorite deck, and two folks wouldn't agree on what a good cut is.

I agree, a LA145 will likely out mow a 318 any day. I said mow, not pull.
 
#17 ·
People say the same thing about Simplicities and the people that "talk" usually have no real world experience to base anything on just "what they heard" and as someone who has an X and has a Simplicity Legacy XL (the best you can get from Simp) at hand, I can say it's BS...

"A good cut" has as much to do with the lawn as the equipment. Most of us dream to own golf courses, but so few of us do..... :)
 
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#18 ·
OK.................sorry for the confusion.......

Wife's Uncle = 318

Me = LA145

I Could have bought a new x300 with powerflow for 3k more.





I am sure he just needs to overhaul his powerflow, I mean most mowers just have the high lift blades that throw it back there. I will let you know how it goes once he overhauls it.
 
#19 ·
I'm glad you like your LA145.
- after reading all the confusion / I guess that is what this thread, simply boils down to
(still hard to compare 2 units - when one is probably maintained better / just "apples & oranges")

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Beaumont { :>)) www.petperfectexpress.com
Golden Rule - "he who has the gold, makes the rule"
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http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=135888 http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=136600&page=3
1992 JD 318 original paint w/484 hr. on P218g Onan & #49 snow blower / 1998 JD GT262 w/brand new Kawasaki OHV & 48" rebuilt deck
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=135838
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