John Deere X540 lawn tractor

by Tim
(Wisconsin)

The John Deere X540 is the best lawn tractor I've ever owned, at least through 50 hours of use. This tractor has a 26 hp liquid cooled engine which provides more than enough power for mowing even tall wet grass as well as ample power to run attachments; in my case a 47" two stage snow blower and a 30" mechanical rear tiller.

The first thing you notice when engaging the PTO to run the mower is that that tractor is so quiet you wonder if the mower is actually running. This is a pretty good sign that the tractor isn’t underpowered.

The deck cuts evenly and discharges cleanly. The deck is also very simple to remove or attach; it’s about a 2 minute job in either case. Deck height adjustment is done with the turn of a knob with cutting height ranging from 1” to 4”. The tractor has a Reverse Implement Operation feature that allows you to operate the mower while traveling in reverse. The deck also features a clean out port for attaching a garden hose and rinsing the deck without removing it to prevent grass clipping buildup.

The tractor provides a comfortable ride with an adjustable seat, cruise control and a cup holder. The tractor has power steering; as an option you can get 4 wheel steering but in my opinion the turning radius is so tight with the power steering that you don’t need the 4 wheel steering. I had debated buying a zero turn mower but needed a tractor to operate the other attachments and with the power steering it’s almost like having a zero turn mower that can operate other attachments. The X540 also handles different terrain easily with a wide stance and a rear wheel locking feature.

Maintenance is fairly straightforward. The oil drain plug and oil filter are easily accessible. Access to other fluid fill points and the air filter is simple as well. The few grease ports that need servicing are easy to find too.

I would highly recommend this mower to anyone that has a substantial amount to mow. I use it to mow about 2 acres, till a fairly large garden and remove snow from about 200 feet of driveway which helps to justify the price. The mower sells for about $7,500; with the snow blower and tiller I paid a little over $10,000. Most dealers are pretty good about discounting the mower and attachments when you bundle them and John Deere is usually offering no payments and no interest for one year.