Tho not as great a difference between the Poulan and the X7, I also did a couple of comparison shots of my Craftsman GT next to the Prestige and the differences aren't subtle. The GT had a fender mounted hydro control that I loved EXCEPT when it came time to plow. Then, like the others here, not enough appendages to operate everything fluidly and smoothly.

The Prestige has foot control and it is head and shoulders better than the fender control in my honest opinion. My sister has a Cub with foot controls (HD special) and I absolutely hate it. The forward gas pedal is about 1/2 foot above the reverse pedal which is in the running board. Idiocy thought and implemented that poor design I believe.

But I know how you guys are, so without any further ado: :wwp:

 

Foot hydros rule!! I went from a cheapo Poulan to an X7. Night & day diff between these machines. The X7 has spoiled me for sure!:fing32:

 

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Tell you what also--if that is your garage/shop--it is very nice/very clean. Would you post more pictures--so we could drool? Maybe even a whole another thread?

glenn

 

I loved my 420 BUT..... I didn't have enough hands to drive it and operate the plow.. the foot hydro on the X is what is needed!
It takes time to adapt to "new" ways of doing things.

 

I grew up with a 210 and thought that was normal and very easy to use. When I bought my 318 I was amazed at how nice it was with the hydro and hand control. Got the 400 and it was the same normal as the 318. I have only used a foot control recently with my son's brand new 300. I honestly didn't like it better then my old ones with hand controls. I guess I am just used to steering with one hand and propelling with the other.

 

The power steering of the 400 and 318 probably help a lot. The 320 has manual steering and its not as easy steering with one hand.

Foot hydros rule!! I went from a cheapo Poulan to an X7. Night & day diff between these machines. The X7 has spoiled me for sure!:fing32:

That X7xx looks like a monster truck next to that Poulan!

 

My Dad also had a Cub Cadet 125 with the dash mount hydro that he had mounted a frontend loader onto with the individual levers for actuation. You need three hands to run that machine effectively. My 855 has the wobble stick for the front end loader, foot control hydro, and a steering wheel mounted control ball, it is so much easier to operate efficiently for a much longer period.

 

I have a few 4x5 machines and a while ago, I picked up a 314 to do some sow blowing because the blower for the 4x5 was so much money. I HATED the hand control and lack of power steering. It didn't stay with me for long.

When I was young, we had a 140 and I have struggled to remember what it was like with the hand control. I just can't remember it and at the time didn't know better. I could never go back to hand control again.

 

My JD 855 has the foot control hydrostatic, along with power steering, a 72" mid mower and a frontend loader. I feel out of control mowing with my JD 214 and the gear drive with the variator alongside the hood. I never liked mowing with my Dad's Cub Cadet dash mounted hydro 1250, it always seemed like I was going to run into something.

 

Foot vs. hand hydro is MUCH nicer.

 

THEN, there are those who refuse to try the newer machines, sticking with the old technology,,,

The 650 is new to me only a couple weeks ago,
it has no power steering, but, steers as nice as the other two with power steering.

How about this guy?? What would happen if he EVER saw a chainsaw,,, :dunno:

https://vimeo.com/88870274

"It is a tragedy of the first magnitude that millions of people have ceased to use their hands as hands. Nature has bestowed upon us this great gift which is our hands. If the craze for machinery methods continues, it is highly likely that a time will come when we shall be so incapacitated and weak that we shall begin to curse ourselves for having forgotten the use of the living machines given to us by God."
Mahathma Ghandi

I gotta use my hands to keep the old iron running,,, :sidelaugh

That Ghandi quote was at the video of the guy making an axe,,,
I think I draw the line there,,:hide:

https://vimeo.com/37360333

Maybe making an axe could be a good hobby,,,
right after I sharpen all the mower blades on the mowers already in the shed!! :swow:

Where is my soft sharpening stone?? :biglaugh:

 

If you have older equipment and like it you should stick with it... don't spoil yourself if you don't have to.

My JD 855 has the foot control hydrostatic, along with power steering, a 72" mid mower and a frontend loader. I feel out of control mowing with my JD 214 and the gear drive with the variator alongside the hood. I never liked mowing with my Dad's Cub Cadet dash mounted hydro 1250, it always seemed like I was going to run into something.

That was how I felt running the 320, I felt out of control like I was going to run into something. Because of the hand control on the 320 you have to steer with one hand. The 345 has foot control so you can steer with both hands. The 320 needs power steering more than the 345 does.

I have a few 4x5 machines and a while ago, I picked up a 314 to do some sow blowing because the blower for the 4x5 was so much money. I HATED the hand control and lack of power steering. It didn't stay with me for long.

When I was young, we had a 140 and I have struggled to remember what it was like with the hand control. I just can't remember it and at the time didn't know better. I could never go back to hand control again.

When you don't know any better...
I remember the 320 being a breeze to mow with when I was a teenager but now its just awkward. We can get so spoiled without even realizing it. I don't remember a big difference going to the 345 but it was a huge difference going back!

 

Man i was thinking just today about my grandpa's garden tractor we had at the lake house growing up. We started with a late 60's early 70's cub cadet maybe a 120 series? Don't remember but every time we started it from sitting for a week or so. We alway had to take a small cup of gas and pour down the carb to help it start faster.

It had manual steering which really wasn't all that bad as long as you were moving which my grandpa pounded into my head numerous times. It had a fairly loud exhaust from the factory and was a true 3 speed with a clutch. It actually help me and others how to operate a manual transmission starting out. And yes if you pushed the clutch pedal in, it would really freewheel down a hill really really fast, like my dads mid 80's 650.

Then in the early 80's he purchased the 1980?? john deere 314 to help speed up mowing which was/is about 2.5 acres. At the time it made the Cub seem like a dinosaur with how you moved the tractor with just your hand on that red ball, which at the time seemed like a really good idea and also seemed natural to do. Steering was a better and tighter than the cub and of course still manual and the hydrostat on the dash made it feel like a cadillac.

I haven't been on one with that setup in about 14 years or so when i got rid of the 314 and can only imagine what it would be like to drive one of that era compared to what i have today with power steering, foot controls and not to mention how much smoother and quieter these engines are now. Man those were good days back then. Have to agree I had/have it pretty good.:fing32: