[c5rulz]

Anybody ever regret getting a Yanmar diesel and which they had gotten a gasser?

Not a discussion regarding the economics, just what do you like better. I've put over 32 hours on the X758 since June and the torque and ability to navigate steep hills is hands down superior. Fuel consumption is running .7 gallon /hour. I have a Simplicity Conquest set up as a bagger right now and ran it this week when the grass got away from me a little bit. Windrowed to the center with the X758 and picked up in a few minutes. After putting a lot of time on the diesel, the power of the gas motor which is rated higher was just sad asi it was bogging under load and it consumes 1.5 gallon/hour. (Note the grass is mowed at 3.5" and the Simplicity deck was in the transport position but is still cutting much closer, probably 2.75"

 

[RT3360]

Before I got my X738, I was also considering a new Kubota BX2380 like my friend has. If I hadn’t found a slightly used (under 100 hrs) X738, I would likely be driving a diesel. I only find I need the torque a few times per summer and a few times each winter, so torque for mowing and snow blowing isn’t the issue, it would be if I had the loader. Interestingly I have been considering a diesel zero turn. Also interesting that the blade tip speed on a diesel is about 1000 fpm less than gas. Probably because the engine rpm may drop under load when you are in heavy grass.

 

[TWG1572]

I'm considering moving to diesel with my next tractor, but I think the thing that concerns me the most is gelling in cold weather. It's preventable to an extent, but after dealing with a couple gelled diesel engines in the past it's always in the back of my mind.

Snowblowing is pretty much all I use my tractor for in the winter. Typically it doesn't snow when it's super cold, so it may be a non-issue. But it would certainly be a pain if it did...

 

[BigBlue]

Had my x758 since early 2016. Prior to that a 345 for 20 years and many other similar gas garden tractors prior. I see no drawbacks to the diesel, other than the fuel cost, which isn't a huge disparity these days but I recall when it was almost a dollar a gallon more some time back. I've been quite happy with the x758 with pretty much everything about the tractor itself. The mowing deck and blower on the other hand have been somewhat challenging but that's another topic.

Rob

 

[c5rulz]

I'm considering moving to diesel with my next tractor, but I think the thing that concerns me the most is gelling in cold weather. It's preventable to an extent, but after dealing with a couple gelled diesel engines in the past it's always in the back of my mind.

Snowblowing is pretty much all I use my tractor for in the winter. Typically it doesn't snow when it's super cold, so it may be a non-issue. But it would certainly be a pain if it did...

I use the JD 2305 for snowblowing and the diesels really excels when heavy load is encountered such as snow blowing. Mine never gets colder than 40 degrees as it is in a heated garage. Once started even -15 below has not been an issue for fuel related problems.

 

[c5rulz]

Had my x758 since early 2016. Prior to that a 345 for 20 years and many other similar gas garden tractors prior. I see no drawbacks to the diesel, other than the fuel cost, which isn't a huge disparity these days but I recall when it was almost a dollar a gallon more some time back. I've been quite happy with the x758 with pretty much everything about the tractor itself. The mowing deck and blower on the other hand have been somewhat challenging but that's another topic.

Rob

Regarding fuel costs: Years back diesel was more expensive, now since they have jacked the price of non ethanol gas so much, the diesel is about 60 cents a gallon less than gas.:tango_face_smile:

 

[eKretz]

No way. I bought my x595 in 2003 and it's been fantastic. I haven't had a single complaint. Prior to that I had a couple gassers, the last of which was a Scott's 2554 (25 HP, 54" deck; same as JD's Sabre at that time). Mowing the same yard, the Scott's (more HP than the x595 on paper, and an 8" narrower deck) would bog down if mowing when the grass was more than 8" high in my back acre, (it grows fast and thick back there) even at the highest mowing height. I would have to stop the tractor and let it recover every 10 feet, and mowing speed was about as slow as I could get it to go. The x595 eats that stuff up at walking speed even with a wider deck. And the fuel economy is WAY better. I haven't actually measured gal/hr but I remember having to fill the Scott's tank every mow or two. The x595 about twice a year if I only use it for mowing and snow clearing.

Oh, and as for the winter worries about diesel gelling: I have owned my tractor for 16 years and it has never had that issue. It's kept in a garage, but it's detached and not heated. Winters here regularly get below zero, but not like all winter long or anything.

 

[moondawg]

I regret not buying more diesels.

 

[RT3360]

I have mowed a 4.5 acre field twice this summer with the X738 54” deck where the grass and rye were to the top of the rear wheels. Yes, I couldn’t mow as fast without leaving stragglers and you could hear the engine working, but never bogging down. Both times, I had to stop half way through to clean the screens and used nearly ALL the full tank in 4.5 hrs. Normal mowing is about 2 acres per hour.

I think the EFI engines run better under load than the older carbed engines. I know they sure start better in the cold.

 

[KEYBEAR]

I have a 2016 X-758 and mow a lot of grass I am at 300 hours now . The Tractor has been 100 % with the 60 inch HC deck the only problem . The deck would not stay level but after talking to the dealer I found the fix so fine now .

 

[c5rulz]

I regret not buying more diesels.

That's the spirit. After having the Yanmar in the JD 2305 for 13 years, I would not consider a gasser.

 

[wirlybird]

I love my 332 diesel. I wanted another diesel but the deal I got on my X585 ($2700) was too good to pass up.
I would like the X595 but the 85 is quite the machine and no complaints with it.

Given the choice I'd go diesel.

 

[TWG1572]

I use the JD 2305 for snowblowing and the diesels really excels when heavy load is encountered such as snow blowing. Mine never gets colder than 40 degrees as it is in a heated garage. Once started even -15 below has not been an issue for fuel related problems.

That's good to know. Gelling was not enough of a concern for me to not buy another one, just the only downside that I've thought of as I've considered it. Mine is also stored in a garage where it doesn't freeze in the winter.

 

[Sergeant]

I only Bought a X748 because of the Tractor weight and couldn't find a used Low Hr X728 at the time which I was Looking for. I would Have gone Gas. But I don't regret going Diesel either. For a Super Garden tractor to Me either Gas or Diesel is fine. :thThumbsU

 

[Tractor-Holic]

Here in MA diesel fuel is at least 50+ cents a gallon more than regular gasoline..
Been that way many years ..

But one advantage to diesel fuel is it does not go stale very quickly,it can sit a long time before it'll get algae in it...no ethanol woes with diesel..

Diesel engines usually are built more beefy,run at lower rpms,and have more low end torque than a gas engine (longer stroke most of the time)..if cold weather isn't a problem,that is a better option over a gas engine..

 

[Steamguy]

My regret is not going diesel sooner...

My 345 always had bogging problems when mowing, that with the deck that came with it. The ride is what made me finally get rid of it; a torn retina ... here's your sign.

The 'bota just goes and goes through the same grass, no slowing down, it just puts its head down and keeps working. And this with a 60" finish mower that does a better job and gets me done in 2-1/2 hours instead of 4-5.

As for the stuff in the diesel, I was told by the dealer to ALWAYS treat the fuel, and I do. No problems, yet.

 

[RussKish]

I have both (gas & diesel), Onan & Yanmar, LOVE them and the power they have!

 

[mopar65pa]

I'm considering moving to diesel with my next tractor, but I think the thing that concerns me the most is gelling in cold weather. It's preventable to an extent, but after dealing with a couple gelled diesel engines in the past it's always in the back of my mind.

Snowblowing is pretty much all I use my tractor for in the winter. Typically it doesn't snow when it's super cold, so it may be a non-issue. But it would certainly be a pain if it did...

911 heat additive. I have used it in my trucks after the first gelling when we had 0* weather. I pulled the filter off dumped the gel out and filled it with the 911. fired up and have been using it ever since once it gets to 20*

Had my x758 since early 2016. Prior to that a 345 for 20 years and many other similar gas garden tractors prior. I see no drawbacks to the diesel, other than the fuel cost, which isn't a huge disparity these days but I recall when it was almost a dollar a gallon more some time back. I've been quite happy with the x758 with pretty much everything about the tractor itself. The mowing deck and blower on the other hand have been somewhat challenging but that's another topic.

Rob

Yeah fuel costs.......... ppppffftttttt diesel costs LESS to produce than gas but once we started buying diesel truck for economy and power they jacked the prices up. :tango_face_sad:

I regret not buying more diesels.

Yeah buddy!

That's the spirit. After having the Yanmar in the JD 2305 for 13 years, I would not consider a gasser.

Woo Hoo yeah!

I just bought a 332 basket case after having 12-16hp Kohler singles for the last 30+ years. They do ok and last forever but man that Yanmar is awesome! I want more!
I have 2 thermo-king 2 cyl (15hp) diesel "heater boxes" out back that I plan on dropping one in my 300. The other will be for a generator. :tango_face_wink:
Then the thought that I could run veggie oil in one and heat my garage with it sparked me.......... :tango_face_devil:



I'll keep my gassers but I'm sold on the low end torque and grunt of the diesels. :tango_face_grin:

 

[mikgran]

Being off the school bus for the summer, I am working for the town parks and rec department. I usually spend about 5 hours a day on an X749, with occasional time on an X758, a zero turn, or a larger JD mower for the open areas like athletic fields.

I am continually impressed with the torque and stability of the X749. When cutting back brush at the edges of the fields, the Yanmar diesel never seems to flinch, regardless of height or thickness. I have always thought my X485 had good power in thick wet grass, but NOTHING like the X749.

The other area it really shines is mowing steep slopes. The all wheel drive, along with a low center of gravity, enables me to mow across a slope that most other machines would become unstable.

As far as fuel consumption, I believe it uses around .75 gal/hr. Considerably less than my X485, which uses around 1.25 gal/hr at WOT.

While I intend on getting another 15 years out of my X485, I would purchase a diesel without hesitation if suddenly faced with replacement.

Here’s a few pics of my summer rides-

 

[KHodges]

Diesels, all the way. I like the way they sound better than a gas engine, I like the way they smell better than gas. I'd love to have a collection of them. I wish I'd kept the Yanmar tractor I had before the X748 (but still have the X7). It was bigger than the X7, and had an older, long-stroke 23hp 3-cyl diesel. The JD could outwork it any day, but it was a fun machine; it would idle so slow you could count the individual cylinders firing and the oil pressure light would blink in time with the engine.