Replacement for JD LX188

10 years ago

Hi
Looks my LX188 may have come to the end... at the shop now with clutch issues and just not realistically economic to fix. (I think)

Looking at replacement options...

looking at L155 or select 300 series. is the 300 series that much better?

Currently have bags that I catch in... i think that is an option on the 300 series if i get the powerflow unit as well. Is this wise? or is the std rear discharge ok. (I would prefer bags.. I can throw whereever etc)

Currently have the 48" deck. I see that osm eof the 300 series come with 42" decks. I think that I would notice a big difference with a smaller deck?

seem to be a number of differint 300 series models to choose from.. any recommendations

Any advice appreciated here... thanks!

Featured Answer

User

10 years ago

Replacing the electric PTO clutch on an LX188 shouldn't be all that much money... a couple or three hundred parts and labor... so why not realistic to fix?

The X300 is built on the same frame as the larger X500 garden tractor with good fit and finish and a step or two up from your LX188. Steers easy and cuts nicely. Some dealers will install a 48" deck if that's what you want.

It uses the lawn tractor class K46 hydrostatic trans that is not serviceable and gets criticism when pushed top do things that it shouldn't be asked to. On the other hand there are lots of people who just use them for what they were intended and are quite happy. Depends on the topography of your property and what you want to use the X300 for.

The X300 is side discharge and the X300R is rear discharge... two different models.

X300 has a 48 month or 300 hours warranty in the US and JD has a 30 day no questions asked full refund called the John Deere Promise. Check if the same in NZ

No experience with baggers so can't help there.

JD usually has a promo in the US in October with hundreds off X300s so check if that's the same in NZ.

This post was edited by justalurker on Sun, Sep 1, 13 at 22:40

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Comments (6)

PeteNZ
Original Author
10 years ago
dealer quoted best part of NZ $1000 to drill out bolt and replace damaged clutch (if that's what the problem is). That is more than value of the mower hence my thinking that's its just not worth it.

Yes same warranty in NZ which seems pretty good. I have read re the issues that some have he with the transmission. I would not be pushing it hat hard I would like to think
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tomplum
10 years ago
Sounds like you are dealing with a broken clutch retaining bolt? It happens more than it should on Deeres. Here's the thing. MOST times all it takes is the edge of a sharp screwdriver to back out these broken crank bolts. Really. They are hard and don't typically distort in the threaded end of the crank.
User
10 years ago
Find another dealer...
PeteNZ
Original Author
10 years ago
Seems that the bolt has broken off. Shop says that they have to remove the engine and drill out the bolt to replace.
4 hrs labour all up to take the engine out and then put back in. So all up NZ $700 and possibly another $220 if they need to replace the clutch itself.
Hence I am leaning towards getting another mower.. thinking the 320 with the powerflow as well,.
User
10 years ago
There are a few things that can be easily tried before removing the engine.

Find another dealer.