Too many unknown variables to reply. I always lean toward waiting till I find a bigger used machine at a good price. 6-7 years ago a friend moved to a gated community and let me have his JD X540, with snow blower and Cyclone Leaf Rake for $2500. Life was good, I was happy with the machine. last year a neighbor got sick and moved to a gated community too. He offered me his X738 with 140 hours, blower blade, and a bunch of other stuff, for $12,000. Now I have a payment and a Rolls of tractors. I didn't need it, but I sure like it.

 

Welcome to MTF, it is a great place with great folks.

It is hard to suggest what you should do without your particular experience with the machine and how you use it. If you have acres of mowing to do, that would make me lean toward replacement just to give some longevity to your work. But then you imply that you may not be where you are for longer term.

Maybe your best course of action is to clearly define what you are mowing now, including slopes, acreage, plus any other jobs you expect out of your machine. Then, -other than the deck-, assess the overall condition of your X304 as far as wear and tear, and how well it has been maintained for its thousand hours. Has it had other problems in its life? Engine oil and filters and any transmission maintenance done in its life.

At the bottom line, you will be hanging a $1k deck on a one thousand hour tractor. Balance that against what is currently available in the X-300 class of JD tractors for comparison purposes.

If you ever do decide to move, and no longer need the X300 level of machine, you can always sell it. I'd say a newer X300 machine is higher resale than a 1,000 plus hour machine with a new deck on it.

Easy for us to spend your money, but you are the only one able to accurately assess the overall situation. Whatever you decide, best of luck with it.

 

If drivetrain of the mower is okay. And you've kept up on the maintenance, plugs, oils and etc. Then I would either go for the $1,000 for the new deck. Or drop the deck and determine if the blades align wtih each other. Additionally, check the spindles, pullies and bearings. Then I'd strip the deck down and using planishing hammers and dollies to straighten the sheet metal deck. Then reassemble.
I've included a link on sheet metal repair. Warning hammering out the deck will take patience and time. Avoid sledge hammers for this type of work. I followed the same procedures when a baseball got between the blade and the deck of one of my mowers. Wear hearing protection. Harbor frieght has planishing hammers.

 

Assuming your mower is in otherwise fine mechanical condition, I'd just replace the deck with a nice used one from FB Marketplace, etc. and be done. 👍

 

Why not look for a used deck? Can get them for wayyyyy less than new and will probably last longer than your current machine.

 

I have a x304 with 1016 hours on it. I damaged the deck, had to sledge hammer it out, does not work as well now, can't seal it as well as
I used to, and much noisier, and dustier. Motor runs well.

Spend 1K to get a new deck, or put that money towards a new mower? While I have no definitive plans for moving, I am hesitant to spend 4\5 K on a comparable replacement, being not sure how much longer I will be here.

I guess the question here is, with the hours that this mower has on it, it is worth spending 1 K on it?

Thanks

I Ordered a new deck shell from the Green Parts store for My 2004 GX335 and Just transferred the deck components to the new deck shell My first deck I had On the GX335 was a used deck and a component Broke Off that would require welding which I just didn't want to deal with So I Bought the shell

You Can get a complete new deck for $875 from The Green Parts store John Deere Complete 42X Edge Extra Mower Deck Assembly - SKU24193 and if You Use Coupon Code TTWT at check out You get free shipping The deck In the Link is a replacement for all serial Number Breaks and weather You Have or don't Have a Tension handle

 

You might also check for used decks, there's at least one place near me that posts ads for a bunch of use decks from JD's, wouldn't surprise me if someone around you is doing somethig similar.

 

I agree with Platinum2 and Dave r. With that many hours etc I would look for a good used deck to go with it.