Go BottomJD overkill
 | Larry
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 0 St.Davids 
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1999-11-01 9340
I may have committed JD overkill. I had a JD318 and all the attachments to adequately attend to my lawn. I decided for whatever reason that bigger was better and bought a JD4100 (loader, tiller, 60"deck, ballast box, and bucket level guage). I sold the JD318. I have now noted that the JD4100 is too large to trim around the trees and ditches. Today I purchased a JD SX85 for trim work. $2000 out the door price. Has anyone else suffered this strange affliction?
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| MichaelSnyder
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 0
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1999-11-02 9355
Larry,They say hind sight is always 20/20..We know your pain, luckily for us we were sorta prepared for the "opportunity cost" of owning a more capable unit. Our affliction is more from the lack of folding ROPS than trimming ditches. I only used a trimmer mower under the fruit trees. Now I need it around a few more. On the other hand, I've cut 2 hours off my total mowing time, and my arms aren't tired from fighting with power"less" steering. Not to mention all the things the 4100 has been able to do otherwise...(loader,ect..) My better half convinced me to keep the AC until we were completely comfortable with using the 4100 100% of the time...We'll probably sell the AC this winter or spring. I'm not sure I understand why the 318 could mow your ditches, and the 4100 cannot. ....
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| Larry
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 0 St.Davids
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1999-11-02 9368
I am in total agreement with your response. In answer to your question about the 318 mowing ditches and the 4100 not mowing ditches, I'm not sure why. For some reason I felt very comfortable with the 318 and rear wheel weights while mowing the ditches which are sloped. With the 4100 I feel like I am pressing the tilt angle beyond a comfortable range. Maybe it is the relationship of the tractor width to height. When the dealer delivered the tractor I asked if it would be safe to mow the ditches with it. His response was "John Deere says that if you are not comfortable with the slope, you probably should not be there". I suspect he would have made a great politician. ....
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| MichaelSnyder
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 0
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1999-11-02 9372
Larry,I have a small area that gives me the same feeling. On the old AC I would sit on the fender, for extra stability. Doing this is difficult on the 4100, w/seatbelt. I always run 1 set of rear wheel weights, and if I had the 60" deck, I would swap the rear wheels. Giving you a few extra inches in width, thus increased stability. Because of our slope, I find the unit does less turf damage (spinning) with the wheel weights installed than without them. 4wd will also add a margin of safety. If the (highside) rear tire starts spinning, because most of the weight is transferred off of it. 2wd only offers brakes on the 2 rear wheels and potentially....traction to the rear tire, almost in the air. 4wd gives you front/rear braking and traction... BTW: I assume you have the turfs Tires? ....
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| Larry
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 0 St.Davids
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1999-11-02 9373
I do have the 60" deck, and turf tires that I have swapped. I will try the rear wheel weights and 4wd option as you suggested. Unfortunately it looks like it will be next spring before we can put your plan into action. It is very cold here in Michigan and is supposed to snow tonight! ....
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