Quote:
Originally Posted by MSS7120
I like the XT3's. I am still thinking about getting one. At least it shouldn't leak oil. Regarding the plastic hoods. They most all have that. Even the 250k big tractors. All plastic/fiberglass hoods that are hinged and swing up.
An xt4 would be right up my ally if such a thing was made. But the xt3 is the best features of the 3000 series. Final drive looks the same as the late 3000 series. No hydraulics, but those items are electric actuators now.
I will admit, I really like the x739, it's just paint that rubs me wrong.
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I don't Usually post Here Been a Member here since 2010 I usually just use this forum as a reference forum & PM questions
I have owned a XT3 GSX for a Little over 3 years now Only had one issue at 1.5hrs which really wasn't a MTD issue it was a Warner Issue the PTO clutch failed It's Been a Great Mowing, Front Blade and sleeve Hitch Tractor.
I was Leary when the 2011 2000 series Came out do to the Lack of 30inch Hydraulic tiller not Being available or the Fact they went to a Electric Lift system and a electronic power steering system. I had a 2002 Cub Cadet 2206 with a 48inch Deck, electric Lift sleeve Hitch and a 30inch Hydraulic tiller(bought new in 2002). The 2206 was actually the wife's Tractor. Well she wanted Power steering. But I wanted a OEM sleeve Hitch at Minimum because we could always get a 30inch PTO driven Bercomac tiller for it.
Well in 2016 MTD finally had Agri-Fab Produce a Manual lift sleeve Hitch for it. Didn't actually see it On the website until 2017 when I actually Bought the sleeve Hitch and this Kit
http://www.johnnyproducts.com/crafts...r_electric.htm Finally the following Year we Bought the XT3 GSX Up to that Point I was Mowing with My John Deere X748. Now the X748 is strictly for Loader, 3point and rear PTO work.
Mostly I have Just Mowed with the Tractor. The Past winter 2020/2021 I did finally use the 46inch Front Blade On it. For such a short height of Blade It did a great Job Plowing Snow. Never Used a the Diff/lock on it I did put these Tires On the Rear
https://www.millertire.com/23x10-50-...ac-4-ply-tire/ though and Tractor that I own with Diff/lock or 4WD/AWD I put the Kenda Tires on and any 2WD without Diff/lock I Put AG tire's On.
I own a number of IH & MTD Cub Cadets
1963 Original
1965 70
196? Pre Production(test Model)60
1970 106
1976 1450
1992 2182
2018 XT3GSX
The Plan for the XT3 GSX Hopefully By Next year it will be relegated to Tilling with a 30inch Bercomac tiller(unfortunately Bercomac stopped Producing the Universal PTO tiller In April 2021) for spring and summer work and Using a Bercomac Rotary Broom for Fall & winter work and Purchase a Cub Cadet SX54 Z force Steering wheel zero turn for Mowing as the Mowing Patterns I use a Zero turn is better suited then a Garden tractor.
Yes the XT3 GSX is No 3000 series But it still a very decent Garden tractor. The 3000 was Made to compete against the Deere 425 thru 455 & Simplicity Legacy.
MTD's Problem was they should Have Updated the 3000 series in the Mid 2000's to compete against the Deere X400 thru X700 or the Simplicity Legacy XL Ie adding a Limited Cat 1 3point and Maybe 4WD. and You Might have seen something Like a XT4 being Produced right now. The Problem was they just went right on chugging away with the outdated 3000 series. It was a fine selling machine Until about 2005 and Numbers of New Purchases just slowly declined from that point. To the Point by 2010 it had really Poor sales. But there 2000/2500 series grew Leaps and Bounds over the competition as the 2500 series was a shaft driven Medium Garden tractor at a very competitive Price compared to the Deere X500 series and the Simplicity Conquest & Prestige. Even with the after 2011 2000/XT3 higher Price Tag it still costs Less then the Deere X500 series of the Simplicity Conquest/Prestige.
I will say I find the Hood design On the XT3 to Be a Better Hood design then the Cyclops era Tractors. It's really been a Nightmare to re-hood My 2182 While all the cyclops Hood Panels are basically the same Between the Super & the Standard Garden tractor, The Hood design was Not Very forgiving for Longevity Compared to Deere Hoods from Tractors from the same time Period
The XT3 Hood design is Nice that it a Once Piece system for the Main Body of the Hood. The Only thing I don't Like is I wish they would have stayed with the White/Cream Colored Hood But I can easily remedy that with Putting a Hood of from the Previous after 2011 2000 series. Just haven't Gotten around to it yet.
The ergonomics of the XT3 series really put the Pre 1998 Cub Cadets to shame in a Lot of ways. Yes it don't Have a 3 point or rear PTO Neither did the Pre 82 series Yes You could get a 515RPM PTO But there wasn't Much You could use it for On the Gear tractors from the Narrow & Wide Frames. Really the XT3 series today is the Modern 147.
The Problem is the Lack of aftermarket attachment Manufacturers today They have either gone out of Business or They Produce equipment for Sub Compact tractors and above today. If You still had Haban,Johnson & Brantly Bet You would see a Lot of the aftermarket attachments You saw for the Narrow & Wide frame Tractors on the XT3 series.
While Kwik-way is still around there Parent company wants to concentrate on front Blades. Kwik-way does still make a Loader & Backhoe for the Simplicity Legacy XL But supposedly the Legacy XL is going away in 2022 Production year.
In 2020 Simplicity eliminated the 36inch Belt driven PTO tiller and the Hydraulic or spring assist 1 Point Hitch(Sleeve Hitch) for the Conquest and Prestige and Only Offer a 36inch Tow Behind Agri-Fab tiller for them.
Deere is eliminating the 30inch Belt driven Mechanical tiller for the X500 series for the 2022 Production year. They will now Just have the 42inch Belt driven Hydraulic Pump 42inch Hydraulic tiller for the X580 & X590 tractors. While there will be no Tiller for the X570 Model In 2022(but I Think Deere Might adapt the 42inch Hydraulic tiller to Be Lifted off the Manual lift X570) Deere did that Back In the day when they Introduced a Hydraulic driven tiller for the Older Pre 1987 200 series tractors.
I really find the XT3 GSX or even the XT3 GS model to Be worth the Money and still be considered a Garden tractor that can work the Land
