Garden tractors are a dead issue. Not enough people garden anymore so no need for rear attachments or tractors to work them. I'm sure Cub doesn't sell enough of the XT3's to keep carrying them. I think their last try was the 3000 series and in 1998 & 1999 they built a pretty good machine. After the first 2 years of that series they started value engineering stuff off of them. I believe my 1999 Cub 3205 was around $7k new(I paid $400 for it in 2010 in pieces). Hell, in 2001 I purchased a new Kubota B7500 4 wheel drive diesel tractor for $8500. I'd be lucky today to get $1200 for my 3205 but that Kubota would probably sell in a day at $6k. I bet the big box stores are a lot more profit than the hand full of Cub Cadet dealers here in the USA.

Check this out.
https://www.deere.com/en/mowers/lawn...s/x700-series/

$13k can get you a "Lawn Tractor" Are these machines not capable of rear ground engaging attachments?

Sorrrrry, rant over.:biggrin2:

I have an X720 w/powerflo bagger on the lot right now.
Awesome machine, similar to my 2086 Cub, same Kawa engine.

Well the Garden tractor is Not Dead Just Yet(it's getting there) . Deere actually sells a Lot of X500 & X700 series Garden tractors actually they still sell more X700 series than Sub Compact tractors

The Push to drop the XT3 series actually has to do with Parts availability more than Lack of sales they have had an issue getting in the Transmission outer Cases as there Built In China . It has actually Been a decent seller for MTD. The Other Push is Stanly wants to go more Towards the electric Market Of which you won't need a shaft drive anymore. But Stanly & MTD Better fix there electric issues 1st or there going to Have More fires with there equipment at more equipment shows :ROTF2:

I have Owned a Deere Super Garden tractor for 23 Years weather it's a JD 425, JD X485(older Version of a Deere X720/X730) or and X748(older Version of the Current X758) In the spring The X748 will actually surpass the Hydraulic capacity of the 3000 series thanks to aftermarket Kits It will be and H4 Tractor with a separate Lift for 3point and Rear Hydraulic Outlet Kit :ThumbsUp:

Oh that X720 surpasses that 2086 do to it capability IE
Chose of Limited Cat 1 or Cat 0 3point Hitch Optional 540RPM rear PTO, Optional OEM 45 Loader, 4 Hydraulic outlets standard . You Can Lock the deck Up and Use the rear 3 point Hitch The X720 also Has Diff/lock . Which I think diff/lock has always been the One Thing the Cub Supers were always Missing. You Can do a Pretty good Job with split Brakes on the Cubs But Deere Had Diff/lock On there 420 & 430(made 1983 to 1992) which also had split Brakes.

In 1992 the Deere 425 through 455 really surpassed the Cub Cadet supers By adding the Industry standard 540RPM rear PTO as an Option as it could Take More aftermarket rear PTO equipment where The Supers still had to Use 2000RPM rear PTO attachments which were Purposely made for Cub as Bush Hog was Mostly just Building 540RPM equipment at the time

This was the one that dropped the driveshaft while on cemetery duty just before it was due to be gifted to the board.
The board wanted nothing to do with it after that happened.
So, I bought it from the owner and repaired it as well as they were just going to give it's to the dealer and forget about it!

It's flipper at this point unless the board comes up with a plan for mowing that section next w/some compensation for use of my equipment.

2 of us members had been voluntarily mowing this section using the JD and my 2154 and we could knock it out in less than 4 hrs using both units, including what little trim work there was involved using a walk behind.

Somebody didn't Take Care of that X720 as Your supposed to Lube the driveshaft That why there are grease fitting on it :ThumbsUp:

The cast iron case on my Cub Cadet GT3100 rear had "China" cast into it. + the decks got thinner and the spindles were a joke. That machine was built in 2008 IIRC.

Last MTD CEO Rob Moll Moved a Lot to china In the 2000's He also the One that sold MTD to Stanly He Is Not the Most Popular Family Member of the Moll Family because of some of what he has done to the company In the Last 20 years
The Cast Iron Trans Cases where actually made In the US at first. I think if He Had Keep More Components US Made I don't think You would have seen The Issues MTD has had since 2019 The Tuff-Torq and Hydro gear aluminum Transmission are Made In Tenn & Illinois Part of the reason for The Move to china, Not as Many regulation In the Manufacturing Process for Cast Iron Like there is in the US

Mt thoughts exactly from the very first minute I started disassembly.
That machine was just filthy from one end to the other, under in and around every nook and cranny.
Even the arms for the deck wheels, one was darn near worn off from the wheels never having been greased.
Well, it's all back together and looking for a new home now so all is well

My thoughts exactly from the very first minute I started disassembly.
That machine was just filthy from one end to the other, under in and around every nook and cranny.
Even the arms for the deck wheels, one was darn near worn off from the wheels never having been greased.
Well, it's all back together and looking for a new home now so all is well.