Excellent tractor!!!

Awesome for snow removal with Blade . Love this tractor !!!

Pros

• excellent quality

Cons

good machine

lot of power,for mowing or snow blow,,,,,,,60 deck ,,yes the machine likes gasoline but mow faster,,,270 hrs so far,,,,no problem,,,,just follow the manual maintenance,,,,it is a good machine ,,,,,

Pros

Cons

I like the z738 nice tractor

The x738 likes GAS why. I had x728 it did not like gas like x738.

Pros

Cons

Excellent with snowblower attachment

I live as far north in Michigan as you can get on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Lake Superior blasts us with 300+ inches of lake effect snow every winter. In 2014 I bought an open air x738 with a snowblower attachment. From November 15 to the end of winter I used it at least 5 days a week and it never failed, never got stuck, did everything I asked of it. Well I’m tired of coming in the house looking like a snowman, so I bought a new x738 today with a factory hard cab with a heater. I can’t wait for winter!

Pros

• always started on first try.
• never got stuck in heavy snow.
• easy to handle.

Cons

• needs a hard cab in heavy snow areas.

Awesome for hills and snow removal. Kawasaki engine and customer service are problematic.

The X738 was THE answer to what I needed for my property. My previous 445 of 21 years and 1000 hours with bar tires was tearing up the hills surrounding our house. After the Kawasaki cam gear gave up in my 445. I purchased the X738 in August and it was great finishing up the mowing season in Iowa. I hooked up the snowblower and waited for snow. When snow arrived in Feb, I went out to use it. At 13 hours I started to notice the tractor spewing unburnt fuel or something out of the exhaust. I took a video and sent to my dealer. They picked it up and brought it back a couple of weeks later after putting a new ECU in it. The next snow I went out and watched it carefully and it was spewing the same black soot all over my garage and snowblower. I took a video, sent it to the dealer, they picked it up. After another couple of weeks, they said the ECU that was sent was bad and they replaced it and put almost 9 HOURS on my machine making sure. It was delivered and I started it and AGAIN more smoke and spewing soot. (JD customer service was called and they told me it was between the dealer and me. No help.) They sent a tech up to look and he said it needed to be taken into the shop. Then I didn't see the tractor for a few weeks...JD approved a new short block engine and that was installed. It still didn't run and so JD approved a long block. By now it was the end of April. It was delivered and the charging system failed and the parking brake safety cut out failed. I have informed JD that they sent my dealer a faulty product or a "lemon" and have been treated like I bought the nearly $20k setup at Home Depot. Since it is the perfect tractor for our property and the implements are excellent, I asked to trade for a new tractor only and the dealer wants me to pay 23% depreciation to trade me machine (not to mention all of my time and trouble in dealing with this lemon) and into a new one. This is a fair review. Do some reading and research before buying.

Pros

• awesome on hills.
• fit and finish

Cons

• kawasaki engine problems.

Post Update: x500 to x738

The dealership was able to fix my machine after a month and its back to running correctly now. I really appreciate how the dealer kept my machine until the issue was adequately addressed. This machine is expensive so plan on buying some attachments to get use out of the hydraulics and to make the cost more justifiable. It is a beast of a machine.

Pros

• power
• 4x4
• convenience

Cons

• cost

Post Update: x500 to x738

Unfortunately I have to downgrade my glowing 5-star review from less than a year ago on June 8, 2017 which you can still see on this website. My x738 with 60 hours has developed a engine problem that the dealership in Asheboro, NC is trying to fix and aren't having any luck. Soon after start up, the engine begins to misfire and completely fouls the plugs. I took the tractor in and it has been with the dealership going on a month now. They thought it was the fuel regulator allowing allowing in too much fuel but that was replaced without any results. They have escalated the issue to John Deere corporate. I hope to hear something back soon from the dealer. It really stinks that I've been without my really expensive brand new $13,000 tractor going on a month now. Until this issue is resolved, I have to change my ranking to reflect my actual experience.

Pros

Cons

• engine

tooo much gas and a fuel gauge that does not work

Mows nice , Need to have a constant line to a gas can. 5 Gallon tank may last 2 hrs. The gas gauge on my vehicle does not work. Manual says to allow 30 seconds to reset. I can start with a completely full tank and in less than .1hr the the low fuel light may blink on the instrument low fuel. With a full tank running less than .2hrs the fuel gauge may run from full to empty. Just a big pain not knowing if the fuel is really gone. The dash panel was replaced and no difference. I was told this is a problem, but surely JD can fix a faulty fuel gauge sensing device

Pros

Cons

Bad to the Bone!

I wrote a review last year for my new x730 at the time. And not a thing against the x730, but the x738 is everything that machine isn't. First off, if you are buying a machine of this caliber, and elect not to get the 4x4, just think long and hard about that. I recently bought a Little Buck Loader, awesome by the way, for my x730, and immediately regretted not having 4x4. So, I traded it in and got the x738. Now I can actually get some work done! As many of the other reviews for all the other x700 series, these are awesome machines and are in it for the long haul. Granted, nothing is perfect, and the ones I have read about some peoples issues, well, you have a 4 year warrantee to work out any problems. And as far as the oil drain, this machine is the simplest and quickest oil change I have done on any piece of equipment in my life. I would assume, anyone buying a machine of this caliber, would have a little mechanical know how and couple of tools in their garage to open the valve to drain the oil. It is extremely simple to do, I don't know why their are so many complaints about it, it is awesome and easy and clean! If I didn't state it before, if you are thinking about another machine, don't. Get a John Deere x700 series, and get the right one from the start. Yes, it is expensive, but with the 0% offer, there is no reason not to get the right machine for you, and be happy with your purchase that will out last you! If you change the oil, which is quick and easy to do!

Pros

Cons

Very Disappointed

First I want to say I am a Deere fan. Owned many through the years, but I am not happy with this machine. My X530 is a better machine. Does not mow even. It is set up by the manual but still scalps on the edges on any kind of slope. WORST RIDE EVER. Any bumps in the yard it starts to bounce and you have to let off the pedal to get it to stop. Almost threw me off more than once. I even purchased the air suspension seat and now it's more uncomfortable. Flat bottom seat so I slide around in the seat and there is barely any suspension no matter what setting. Might have to install a seat belt to help this. I can mow as fast with the X530 (54") as with this one. I cut 2-1/2 acres each week mostly hills. By the time I am half done I am wore out and hurting (no joke). I am 5'5" and have to move the seat almost all the way forward and tilt the steering straight up to reach the pedals half way comfortable, but it still tires you out. Lugs down a bit going up hills so you have to slow down. Does have good traction and tight turning radius and super sensitive steering. Overall I am very disappointed in the mowing aspect. Might be great with attachments but I have other equipment for that. Turned my pleasure of mowing into a nightmare. I am seriously thinking of selling with only 18 hours on it and going back to my X530.

Pros

• tight steerning
• good traction

Cons

• horrible ride quality
• not a good cut

I think John Deere doesn't want us to service this mower ourselves

I have 9.1 hours on the x738 now and yesterday spent about three hours doing a 15 minute 8 hour oil change. Whoever designed the bolt to release the oil flow from the engine needs to be removed. If you have the hands of a three year old you are in good shape to change the oil on this machine. With no help from the operators manual I discovered (finally) the trick is to have a 10 inch 1/4" drive extender rod that inserts from the front of the mower to mate with the subject bolt. Once I figure that out the rest was as easy as cake. On the plus side this mower mows like a dream. Very nice. This is my sixth John Deere mower since 2004 and along with an earlier x739 I owned it is the best mower of the lot. (GX345, 534, Z920, x739, 1025R were the previous mowers). I have a 54" deep deck (drive on/off) and once I figured out how to remove it (John Deere decided I didn't really need an owners manual for that, thank you You Tube) it went smoothly. It actually reengages the locking bar on its own when you attach the deck. The mower is extremely quiet even with the blades running. It is a joy to operate. It takes me just under 3 hours to mow a 3.78 acre lot (with over 100 trees). It is not as fuel efficient as my diesel powered 1025R but I wanted to have just one type of fuel to store in the shed. My mark down in quality and ease of use was due to the horrible design of oil change procedures and lack of a quality owners manual. But as for mowing the yard the mower is a solid 10 out of 10.

Pros

• quality of the end result a well mowed yard

Cons

• terrible owners manual
• the ease of changing the oil

x500 to x738

Upgraded from an x500 to an x738 due to some capabilities that I wanted. This thing is a tractor while the x500 is a mower. I got the auto connect deck which is great. I can take the deck off in under one minute and can get it back on in under 2 minutes. The 4x4 works well and does not scuff the grass. I have the 54" deck and it cuts well but the x500 might have cut better due to the front end. The x738 front end is a solid axle while the x500 has an independent suspension which means it soaks up bumps/holes better and therefore the deck moves less causing less scalping. This should be expected since once again, its a tractor. Seat is comfortable and the controls are intuitive.

Pros

• power
• quality
• cut
• 4x4

Cons

• price

Amazing mowing machine

Traded a '16 X590 for a '17 X738. Limited use so far(only 4 hours) but it is absolutely amazing. So much quieter, rides very nice, and mows amazing. Traction when backing up hills while turning is awesome. I do use my machine part-time mowing yards so it will get used quite a bit.

Pros

• traction
• quality
• comfort
• ease of use
• range of attachments
• 4wd

Cons

• price
• expensive attachments
• big for tight quarters

Heading north

Well my 738 is a outstanding mower.Overal it is a great investment.It goes very well up and down hills as well as mowing side ways on hills as well as level lawns. I am taking this to my home in north west Ontario.I am getting older and really need this to mow my 2 ac. I am bringing back my 730 which I traded in on a new 758D.

Pros

• goes and goes
• great mowing job
• starts great.
• easy on fuel

Cons

• rad can plug
• not enough grass to mow

X738 overall good machine

We have a couple X378 we do lawn care and over all good machine. The negative is the fuel tank is to small 5 gallons is way to small for a 4 wheel drive garden tractor. .My guys have to stop and fill it multiple times through the day. The older 7 series had bigger tanks and hopefully they will go back to that size tank. The other issue is getting to the oil release screw is a pain you can't use a regular 10mm wrench or socket. If those things were changed it would be 5 stars hands down.

Pros

Cons

X738

It is tall and heavy... but still nimble and quiet. I have the 60" deck... you can cover some ground with it! It is fast! I like the hydro. More tractor than mower though, as it really is tall. So far, happy with the gas twin. Glad i passed on the oil burner, i have had them before and they tend to stink up the house unless you have a garage for them unattached to the house. Anyway it is the caddy of garden tractors. Try to get it on sale in the fall if you can.... ==PPK oklahoma city

Pros

• a caddy!

Cons

• $$$$