You are correct, but if you look at the uncut circle it is 28 inches on a X300 and 16 inches on a X304. I went with the X300. My dealer recommended the 300 over the 304. Less mechanical issues to deal with. I went with their advice and got the X300. I am completely satisified with it. It is a great machine. It gives an absolute great cut and the ride is unmatched.

Is the uncut circle measured with the same deck on both? If so I guess that is quite a difference.

That is using a 42" deck on each mower. Go to a dealer and look at the underside of each mower. There are a lot more mechanical issues with the X304. I would test drive each and then make my decision. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

"There are a lot more mechanical issues with the X304."

Funny how we use words in a "soft" way to try to influence others thinking, in order to promote our own selections. Suddenly a desirable (for most people) and costly feature like AWS becomes a "mechanical issue." LOL! I know, I do it too.

But I am having a hard time visualizing a mower with a 16-in. radius leaving more than 32-in. diameter of uncut grass, and likewise a mower with a 15-in. turning radius leaving anything other than a 30-in. uncut circle when they both have the same width deck. Where am I going wrong, and how is it computed otherwise?

Bill

What is measured for the turning radius, the tractor tires or the mower? If the mower extends beyond the tractor tires, it will reduce the radius of uncut grass. The more the mower deck extends beyond the tires, the tighter you can mow to a tree or whatever, due to the smaller radius.

I have the X304. I drove the X300 as well and could have purchased either. I went with the X304 for the larger transmission, proven reliability of the JD AWS,

JD has been using it for 8 or more years I think -

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tractor/msg062319062837.html

...and tighter turning radius. Overall, I'm very happy with it though I think the X300 would have been fine. For the small difference in price (considered over 10-15 years of use - I'll likely be on a bigger place by then) I'd rather get the model with AWS and possibly change my thinking about it (for the better). The only other mowers I've used are push, an 18 year old whites, and a craftsman. All worked fine but I was looking for the "best of the best."

Certainly my last comment is debatable, but I'm happy with my X304!

I think the comments about the JD reliability issues are, at best, speculation. We have had an LX277AWS for 6 years without any issues at all, and it is turned a lot, very tight, around 175 trees. JD has done a lot of AWS and I have not heard of any issues, either when we originally researched tractors, or since. If you want to speculate, you could even put forth a theory that the AWS would be more reliable because it is less stressed. You don't have to turn the wheel to the extremes nearly as often as with regular steer, so you stress all the components less. The u-joint rear drive also isolates the transmission from the axels so the transmission is not seeing as much stress to the internals. Without data of failures you can profess whatever you want, it just isn't supportable.

I think the turning radius is measured as a radius to the center of the turn, perpendicular to the rear wheel. With the rear wheel turned compared to the tractor with AWS, this gets to be a pretty useless dimension. Uncut circle is what really matters, and I wish all manufacturers would use it.

Uncut circle is fine, if you only plan on using a tractor to mow (and changes with deck size), but how does it help someone who wants to use a snowplow/spreader/tiller? Then we would need the unplowed circle/unspread circle/untilled circle dimensions as well. It could get a little confusing.

That would seem like kind of a non-issue. .. to me.

Your probably going to spend far more time mowing, than other chores. If the implement you're using is a tow-behind, you can only turn as short as the tongue with allow, before riding up on the rear wheel. If you are tilling down rows in the garden, you can always skip one row, each time you come around and then pick it up on the the next circle. ??

Ya, I think metal is playing a bit of devil's advacate here. I suppose the manufacturers could publish full Autocad drawings of how the tractor turns, the area it uses, and the angle of attack, for each of the implements, at all latitudes, with and without a full load of fuel, ya. Like major says, you use the easiest to understand, most applicable, dimension for what you are doing.

One thing that wasn't mentioned about AWS is that the tail does move in the opposite direction to the turn, like a rear steer mower, so you have to be aware around building, fences, etc.