Worst mower ever owned

The mower won’t start even when brand new. Dealer couldn’t fix it. It’s something in the safety switch circuits. Sometimes standing and sitting or toggling the PTO switch on and off will get it to start. The few times it’s run, it cuts great. However, spending hours trying to get it to run is not why I bought it. Seat safety switch and PTO switch have both been replaced. Since it rarely starts, I basically wasted $3800 making it the worst purchase of my life.

Pros

Cons

Amazing machine

This tractor is a very easy machine to operate. It is a very well built machine runs like a champ mows great. After owning this I'd never have anything but a Deere. Never thought in my life I'd say in look forward to mowing my lawn

Pros

• easy to operate.
• very ergonomic

Cons

• plastic transmission fan

Superb quality

This product is simply amazing.Sturdy performance and extremely good in performance.Overall an amazing product.

Pros

Cons

X350

I love the way my X350 cuts grass. This machine is so easy to use. thanks John Deere for making my life easier.

Pros

Cons

Smooth and Powerful

Just bought my JD X350 a month ago after owning a JD L130 for over ten years. Gave the L130 to my son in law and I upgraded to the X350. Powerful motor and the torque is unbelievable. Will add a snowblower attachment this winter. My family now owns 3 of the X300 series mowers (and one L130). John deere continues to prove itself with the quality products. The price you pay is worth the quality and the service you get with John Deere.

Pros

• ease of use
• easy to service
• quality and reliability

Cons

• there is no con

Great machine

I had a LT133 and the rear axle broke and could not be repaired, it was over 17 yrs old. I bought the X350 42 in and I just love it! I really liked my LT133, but this machine is a real wow! It is so much quieter and I had the mulching kit installed. It doesn't leave clumps of grass and it cuts the grass into very small pieces. I just love the way it mows my yard and I get a lot of complements on how will my yard looks. John Deere came a long way from my 17 yr old LT133! I love all the features it has, but the one thing you have to learn with this machine is when you go into reverse. You have to push that yellow button down before you even come close to going into reverse, it's very touchy. Over all, John Deere, you did a great job on this one!

Pros

• great and easy mowing
• easy cleaning of the deck.

Cons

• the reserse is very touchy.

quality plus

After years of buying other brands, I finally bought a genuine John Deere. The quality and workmanship ate evident from the smallest detail to the overall design. The x350 makes yard work a pleasure and the results are outstanding. Fuel consumption is a bit high, but the emissions and noise are low. It’s also expensive, but if you’re looking for a lawn tractor that will last year after year, then this it it.

Pros

• reliable
• quiet
• well made

Cons

• expensive
• thirsty

Great fe

Very smooth running mower definitely recommend the 18 hp Kawasaki engine

Pros

Cons

• lacks actual steerjng gearbox

John Deere X 350 42 inch mower

While this is a fine mower I just turned over 7 running hours on it; got a stick in the deck belt and threw it off. I ran my previous brand mower (not suppose to give the brand name in this review) 17 years and never threw a deck belt off. The JD belt is much too exposed. It needs the addition of a guard. Also I dislike the JD transmission compared to my previous brand of mower. On the other mower when you take your foot off of the forward pedal the tractor stops on a dime and stays there. No brakes needed. On the JD taking your foot off of the pedal (forward or reverse) leaves it free wheel. My yard is sloped and it would be easy to run off a bank or hit a tree if I cannot stop quickly. The brake pedal is a foot in the air making it too far of a leg movement to use it to stop quickly. I have made due with getting into the habit of using the reverse pedal as a brake when needing to stop quickly. In my opinion this is a dangerous set up on this machine.

Pros

Cons

THE REAL DEAL

MY PREVIOUS LAWN TRACTOR WAS A STX 38 THAT I PURCHASED IN 1997,THIS TRACTOR WAS AMAZING NO PROBLEMS,I RECENTLY PURCHASED 2 MONTHS AGO A X350 & IT IS AWESOME-AWESOME & AWESOME ,MY FIRST JD LASTED ME 22 YEARS,NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. THIS X350 IS THE WAY TO GO ,ILOVE IT TKS. JD ROSS

Pros

Cons

Awkward midlevel machine

Smaller 18.5hp motor is great wide open mowing. Made it all the way through an hour and a half of use. I did not like the sound and feel of motor at lower rpms. Engine used a lot of fuel also. Mower height dial on center of foot deck is getting kicked when I get off machine. It is a poor location. The orange dash lever that locks the brake pedal is lifted to engage. should have push to engage and release when pedal is pressed. That and the reverse button when mowing are annoying. Don't like the plastic hood. Scratches real easy. Cup holder will not hold a travel mug unless it is real small. Overall this doesn't have the attention to detail I expected from John Deere. Even the linkage from the steering shaft to the wheels is loose and makes noise from a poor fit. The hinge holding the seat is loose and rattles when not sat on. The little throttle lever is so stiff to move it hurt my wrist. U am very happy the corporation's are doing such a fine job of decreasing costs of production, but I am not wanting the sub par products anymore. I traded up to the X380 48" mower. I am hoping for a better experience with the upgrade. Unfortunately except for the different engine the other issues may carry over to the 380

Pros

• it's green
• solid undercarrage

Cons

• expensive
• heavy
• fuel consumption

Season 3 review.

Going on my 3rd season with this mower. It's a workhorse. Starts everytime. Runs for hours in end. Our place isn't exactly mower safe. It does a real good job at chewing up unexpected items. Couple things I'd like to see different tho. The mulch attachment closes up too much of the side discharge. It's a must to pull it before that 1st of year tall grass mowing. Would also like to see a man's size cupholder. One it comes with is too shallow. Really only fits a 12oz can.

Pros

Cons

I still have my first John Deere LT155 for 19 years, it never failed to start or run.

Two years ago I bought the X350, when it was delivered the driver took it off the truck and said here is you tractor and hat and left. No demo of features or anything else. I notice the seat had a wrinkle on the right side but thought it would go away over time. It only got worse and about a year later it started cracking. It was running good so I delayed calling the dealer. Earlier this year I notice it was cracking in a number of places. I assumed that the bumper to bumper warranty would cover the seat.The dealer said it was normal wear and would not replace the seat. The tractor only has 26 hours on the odometer. My first tractor never did this and did not show any major wear for at least fifteen years. I was going to buy a bumper and some other attachments, now I want to sell it!

Pros

Cons

Bagging attachment

Recently purchased X350 with bagging attachment to replace my LT160, I bought in 2004. Unfortunately it was flooded in Hurricane Florence, still ran perfectly. X350 runs perfect, love the cruise control. Issue with X350 bagger is installation of chute and the mesh bags. In order to install chute, you must loosen the bolts holding the attachment arm to mower head and then re-tighten. Old system had a rubber strap to attach. the mesh bags are basically useless as they allow dirt to fly all around you. When you finish mowing, you and the mower need a shower to remove the dirt and debris. Bad engineering on bagger attachment!!

Pros

Cons

Great tractor, but remember its limits

I purchased a brand new x350 in may of 2018. Fantastic tractor. Cut was perfect. I was in love for the first cutting until I pulled the tractor in the garage. My local John Deere dealer recommends a D or E series tractor for an acre. I don't agree. They recommend the x300 for up to 4 acres, and the x500 and x700 for anything larger depending on implement usage. I purchased an X350 for cutting 3.5 acres of semi flat ground. No major hills, slopes, or loads. The K46 transaxle became so hot that I could not touch it! It is non-serviceable. How long would the transaxle of lasted to that abuse? Internet searching quickly proved to me that my thoughts were right, as I had found thousands of people who had burnt up their K46 transaxle. I am not sure why John Deere, and many others, insist on using the garbage that the tuff torque K46 is. I do not recommend anyone buy a tractor with a K46 unit. I cut with it twice, called my dealer and used the John Deere promise and got an X570. It would of only been a matter of time before the transaxle failed. This tractor for one to two acres of flat ground would be perfect. Anything else, I would suggest the X500 series. The D and E tractors, I wouldn't go more than a 1/2 acre. If you have your heart set on a X300 series, I would recommend the X380 and above as they do have at least a serviceable transaxle with the K58 unit.

Pros

Cons

Clippings everywhere

I have owned many John Deere mowers over the last 30 years. The X350 is excellent in most ways. Best cutting deck i have owned. Too bad it throws grass clipping all over the machine and operator. No blow-out baffle anymore and it spits clippings atop the deck several inches deep. The bagger has tremendous suction and does a great job. Seem that JD built the deck and then cobbled a bagger bracket and flap for it. I would prefer a complete redesign chute, rather than making a previous model fit. Mulch kit proved pointless for me, and did a very poor job despite grass length.

Pros

• excellent cut quality.

Cons

• blows cut grass all over the machine and operator.

Second X series that I have owned.

I have been mowing grass for 50 years. I had a lawn service for 2 years and I have owned John Deere equipment(including ztraks, lawn tractors, tractors, walk-behinds, and trimmers) for 35 years, so I know John Deere mowers. Other than general maintainence, I have always had very good luck with my mowers. When I went to buy a new mower I went to the local John Deere dealer and got a good deal and I am very satisfied with the mower. I know and have used Craftsman, Cub Cadet, Husqvarnas, and Murrays, they are not in the same league with Deeres. John Deere X mowers are built for people who need mowers that last. And that's my review and I am not bias I telling my experiences.

Pros

• best buy for the money

Cons

• none

Great Machine

My only regret is that I did not buy it sooner. This machine replaced my 1990 JD STX38, which I swore by. First, the dealer was fantastic. Everything exactly as promised. Knowledgeable staff.and very professional that made you feel at ease. My machine performs flawlessly and I have no complaints.

Pros

• ease of handling

Cons

• should have bought it sooner.

The best lawn tractor I've ever used

My philosophy is one that I try to wait a year before writing a review so that my feedback will be more meaningful. I bought this mower to replace a craftsman that I have had for two decades and I love it so far. I live on a small farm with two John Deere tractors so jumping on this machine was a seamless transition. The ease of use is amazing and I didn't know you could back up without turning off the blades on a tractor but this one does! The engine is great and appropriate for my 4 acre yard. The mower has a good turning radius and is very comfortable to drive. There are some design flaws that you should know about before you buy this machine. Don't get me wrong...I do not regret my purchase but I admit I am surprised that the engineers didn't do better than this. 1. The biggest issue is the wheels on the deck. I was driving without the blades on pulling my straw sweeper. As the weight got heavier back there, I guess it weighed down the machine putting pressure on the back deck wheels. You see...the deck has wheels but it does not float on the ground. I am 6'1" and 180 lbs but that shouldn't matter. The extra weight caused the wheels to be forced into the lawn creating heat on the plastic wheels. The heat melted the back two wheels and they came off the deck. I replaced them at $30 dollars each (omg!) and promised myself that I would raise the deck next time I towed anything. Yesterday, I was cutting a family members yard along the driveway and the side two wheels where pushed into the yard because of the slope. Off they go again along with another $60!! 2. You can't change the oil without getting oil all over the deck and I'm not about to remove that thing just to change the oil. Most mowers these days have a hose coming out of the bottom of the crankcase where you can drain the used oil into the pan. The deck is too high to rest it on top of the deck. Anyway...more thought could have been put into that.

Pros

• ease of use
• engine is top notch
• nice turning radius
• easy to use
• you can back up with blades on!
• starts every time first try
• powerful enough to tow
• is not loud like others

Cons

• deck wheels are flimsy
• deck does not float
• can't change the oil without getting oil on deck
• the shrouds over pulleys holds grass. i took off
• lights aren't led
• hood is flimsy
• water bottle will fall out of the holder
• grease points not easy to get to

A very nice running machine

Decided to trade in my 1993 LX 176 on the X350. I had to get one ordered as the dealers in my area did not have a 42" deck in stock. The machine is very smooth running and steering is very easy. I have a very thick bed of grass and as a result the mower was cutting the grass too short.i checked the height of the deck and found that it was set too low and the tires had twice the pressure that was recommended. I followed the instructions in the manual set the tires to recommended pressure and then adjusted the deck height to be higher than what was recommended. I now have the mower working great on my yard. The oil change was easy with a cup for the filter. The seat is very sensitive to any movement and will shut the engine off if I get light on the seat. Something I need to check out further. All in all a very nice machine which I enjoy.

Pros

• smooth running with a nice cutting deck.

Cons

Quiet, Easy to Operate, But Cheap Plastic Body

Really love how easy this machine is to drive, and how quiet it is. Only issue I have is that the hood cover is made of fragile plastic; cost of ordering replacements for two cracked hood panels is $300. If you drive a little rough may wish to add a front bumper with brush guard (if available from your dealer); I developed a bad habit with my previous John Deere of closing gates by "gently" driving into them (easy way to crack this X350's hood). Mowing under low hanging shrubs finished off cracked hood panels.

Pros

• ease of operation
• quiet

Cons

• fragile hood cover
• complete assemble replacement hood not available

Terribly disappointed

First thing to say is my overall rating is based on the cut quality, the build and handling is first rate. I purchased this mower after reading the Consumer Report reviews and using my neighbors and listening to them talk about their JD lawn tractors. I have an acre lot plus I cut my neighbors grass which is about a half acre. I wanted something to handle both, that would last with no problems. My previous mower had lasted about 17 years but the last 3 have been a struggle. So after some research I spent the extra on the JD 350 and after 5 cuts I must say I am frustrated beyond belief. Half acre of my yard has a slight slope to it and this mower leaves lines in my yard. I called the local dealer after the first three cuts and they picked it up and readjusted everything and the last 2 cuts since then have been no better maybe even worse. After spending the money for a Deere I'm seriously second guessing my decision and I am extremely frustrated and disappointed. One of my neighbors has a mower that I had considered and it cost less and the overall cut looks better.

Pros

Cons

Switched from a Cub

I was in the market to replace a 20 year old Cub 2155. Fully expected to go with them again but equivalent quality (built to last 15-20 years+) was a huge jump up in price from the big box store models and was way more than I needed. I was pleased to find the X350 hit the "sweet spot" of exactly what I was looking for in terms of long lasting quality for the 1/2 acre yard I mow. Really impressed with how easily it handles with the tight turning radius. Cuts beautifully; discharge really spreads out the clippings so I no longer have to consider raking up clumps of grass. Very pleased so far and would highly recommend.

Pros

• easy handling
• tight turning radius
• spreads grass clippings well

Cons

99% Happy.....

Just bought it new and overall I knew I'd be happy. The only thing that concerned me was the mesh bags in the back. I really didn't want mesh but that's what it comes with. I've had a bagger for years but with hard bags on the back. This is the only thing I dislike about it is that feature. If they ever come out with the hard plastic bags, I will take these off. I have pretty much grass and not much dirt to run over, but this thing shot dust or whatever out and I was covered with it. The mower was covered with dust just from mowing. When the shoot tosses it in the bags, since they are mesh, any dust or dirt will billow out of the thing. Trying to dump the clippings into lawn bags wasn't that great either. When you dump the clippings, there is a strap on the bottom that you hold onto to lift it. When you dump it, once again I'm covered in dust and dirt because it comes out of the mesh. I'd have given it 5 stars, but because the mesh bags are a PITA, I'm giving it a 4 and hoping they offer up the plastic bags again.

Pros

• lots of power feels sturdy does the job

Cons

• those mesh bags are awful and messy

Speed cut is outstanding

there is not a bad thing to say about this machine! had a jd la105 for 12 years just sold it. my wife said get a mower that's going to make your life easier so I brought a JD X350 i went from 1 1/2 hours to 35 minutes and that included a rinse! I can not believe its parked in my shed! I cut grass about every three days now I think it's going to be every two day's LOL The mulching kit is great I cut the lawn and it looks like a golf course! NOTHING RUNS LIKE A DEERE and there RIGHT!!!!!!

Pros

• engine mulching
• speed
• did i say speed

Cons

• not a one

I am a landscaper and bought the x350 for my smaller high end yards.

the peformance and quality of the new 42 inch deck is unbelivable. it functions like a full commercial deck and you wont be disappointed. this is my 8th John Deere since I started my company in 1999 and it is one of my favorites. already preparing to buy the x380. great mower

Pros

Cons