[cadman56]

I've been thinking for a while now about getting a GT with a FEL. So last week I pulled the trigger. I have some landscaping/hard-scape projects to do at my house so I'm sure the FEL will come in handy. I can't do anything of the projects this year because I'm still recovering from surgery. My 83 year old father in law lives a little over a mile from me. He has between 6 to 7 acres and mows between 2-3 acres. He has been mowing this with his '97 MTD with a 42" or 46" deck. That MTD probably has a million hours on it by now! Anyway, I showed him a picture of the X728 on my cell phone and asked him if he would like to mow with this? You should have seen his face light up! Priceless! He has helped me out through the years so I thought I would help him out now. It should make his mowing job a little easier. I got the X728 delivered to his house so he can use it to mow the grass. He cleared a spot in the barn for it so it will be out of the weather. And if I would happen to need it for something it is close enough that I could go get it. You can tell by my sig that I'm a Simplicity guy. I'm not going to get rid of either of those, just adding to the fleet! I know there are a lot of knowledgeable JD guys on board here so I'll probably be asking some questions down the road. Here are a couple of pics of the addition.

 

[Dale X495]

Congrats, very nice machine, You will love the JD.

 

[KHodges]

I see you got the 62 inch deck, too. I regret not getting it or the 60" 7-Iron when I bought my X748. The 54" is a great deck, but it would be nice to make a few less laps when mowing the 4-1/2 acres I cut.

That loader is gorgeous!! It's great to see a picture of it mounted on a tractor like mine, because I just ordered the same loader last week, and expect my dealer to call me any day and tell me it's here. I've been wanting a loader for as long as I've had my tractor (bought it new in '08).

What kind of rear counterweight are you using? Did you order the weight box, or doing something else? I'm trying to figure out what I want to do. I have a 60" box blade that would work great for counterweight, but it's a PITA to hook up. I'm thinking of fabbing a bar I can put on my 3 pt hitch that I can hang suitcase weights on. It would be really easy to hook up and add however much weight I thought I needed.

Congrats on your purchase, you and your FIL will have fights over who gets to use it next.

 

[burned300]

Very good choice for your first Deere. :fing32:

 

[Mike X485]

Congrats on the X728, looks great. :trink39::trink39:

Is the 45 FEL new?

 

[KHodges]

Congrats on the X728, looks great. :trink39::trink39:

Is the 45 FEL new?

No, it's been out as long as the X4 series has (X485, etc). My dealer told me it will probably be discontinued in the next couple of years, as the newest X7's can't mount a FEL. Something to do will rollover hazard and liability (more nannystate nonsense)

Looking at the pics above, I hadn't realized how big the bucket is. I'm getting excited !!:Tractor2:

 

[Seal]

Nice of you to let him use it! Grats on the machine

 

[Mike X485]

No, it's been out as long as the X4 series has (X485, etc). My dealer told me it will probably be discontinued in the next couple of years, as the newest X7's can't mount a FEL. Something to do will rollover hazard and liability (more nannystate nonsense)

Looking at the pics above, I hadn't realized how big the bucket is. I'm getting excited !!:Tractor2:

Thanks, but I know that they have been available in the past. His looks new, as the bucket does not look like it was ever used. :fing32:

 

[slovan]

Wow, it almost looks new! Very nice looking tractor and FEL. :fing32:

 

[KHodges]

Thanks, but I know that they have been available in the past. His looks new, as the bucket does not look like it was ever used. :fing32:

Oh, I gotcha. I was also thinking the X728 wasn't new, since the numbers have changed and the hoods are different, but yeah, his loader looks new.

But not for long, I'll bet !! I already have plans for wearing the paint out of the bucket on mine.

 

[Austen]

Beautiful!! You're going to love it and talk about the perfect setup!

 

[X748SE]

CONGRATS on your new X728! :fing32::fing32:

You will find lots of uses for that FEL which you never thought of before. Can be a real back saver in just lifting, carrying or just moving things around.

Looks like you have a weight box out back for counterbalance and stability when using that loader.

Roger

 

[X748SE]

What kind of rear counterweight are you using? Did you order the weight box, or doing something else? I'm trying to figure out what I want to do. I have a 60" box blade that would work great for counterweight, but it's a PITA to hook up. I'm thinking of fabbing a bar I can put on my 3 pt hitch that I can hang suitcase weights on. It would be really easy to hook up and add however much weight I thought I needed.

If you have a 3PH then you may want to look at purchasing or fabricating something like the Heavy Hitch. I have one and it has countless uses for doing other things too.

http://heavyhitch.com/

Roger

 

[8086bruce]

Looks great congrats!!!!

 

[Ericjr16]

Real nice machine!! Congrates! I would love that for small jobs around house! Thoughts of a small bucket to play with.........

 

[PA318Guy]

Very nice machine and like the story about your dad! Nice to see a father and son sharing like that!

 

[jar19800]

me likey likey!

 

[rfowler]

Every father should have a son like that. That's really awesome. Great tractor. I just bought an X728 too. What a machine! You're gonna love it too. Congrats.

 

[KHodges]

I went and picked my loader up today, the dealer called this morning. I'm saving myself $250 to install the diverter valve and lockout valve myself, and do the loader assembly. Everything is bolted to a pallet, they just loaded it on my trailer for me. The only real assembly to do is to install the valves, install the crossmember on the frame, and put the bucket on the lift arms.

I can't wait to "play" with it tomorrow.

 

[KWDAILYD]

Congrats on the X728. You will love it and the many uses of the FEL