X354Riding Lawn Equipment

12.2-kW at 3100 rpm V-twin engine

The tractor is powered by an iTorque™ power system, a combination of engine features, and an exclusive hood design that provides superior lugging ability, even cooling, and durability.
 
A large 603-cc, 12.2-kW engine at 3100 rpm has plenty of power and torque for superior performance. The larger, more powerful engine also allows the engine to be operated at a lower 3100-rpm speed for quieter operation.

Key engine features include:

• 12.2 kW at 3100 rpm
• Large 603-cc displacement
• Quality features include:
  • Cast-iron cylinder liner
  • Overhead valve
  • Full-pressure lubrication
  • Replaceable oil filter
  • Dual-stage air cleaner
• V-twin design:
  • Excellent power and performance
  • Easy starts
  • Smooth operation

Flywheel alternator

A flywheel alternator provides plenty of capacity to quickly recharge the battery and power electrical equipment, such as lights or a sprayer:

• 15-amp capacity
• Regulated to keep the battery at full charge without risk of overcharging

Fuel tank has large, 12.5-L (3.3-U.S. gal.) capacity

Fuel tank

Electronic fuel gauge

Large fuel tank and convenient fuel gauge minimize the number of stops for fuel and chance of running out of fuel:

• Fuel tank has a large, 12.5-L (3.3-U.S. gal.) capacity for more hours of operation between refills.
• Large, 7.6-cm (3-in.) diameter fuel tank filler opening makes adding fuel easy.
  • Located on the left fender
  • Helps eliminate spillage
• Electronic fuel gauge on the dash display allows the operator to easily monitor the amount of fuel in the tank.

X350 with Accel Deep 42A Mower Deck

Accel Deep 42A Mower Deck

The 107-cm (42-in.) Accel Deep Mower Deck is a stamped-steel, deep, flat-top design that delivers excellent cut quality, productivity, cleanliness, durability, and versatility. Optimal performance and dispersion of clippings is provided, even at faster mowing speeds:

• 12.6-cm (4.97-in.) depth throughout the entire deck shell gives optimum mowing, mulching, and bagging performance.
  • Standard MulchControl™ system provides superior mulching performance and versatility.
• Stamped-steel design eliminates sharp edges and corners where material can build up and diminish mowing performance.
• Mower deck is suspended from the vehicle for a smooth and level cut.
  • Adjustable mower wheels, positioned just above ground level, for reduced scalping.

Excellent cut quality and productivity

42A Mower bottom

Side-discharge deflector on Accel Deep 42A Mower Deck

Deep mower-deck stamping gives excellent cut quality. It allows the cut and suspended material room to exit the deck without getting recut:

• Reducing the amount of recutting enables more power to be used to cut incoming grass, which greatly improves mower capacity.
  • Helps maintain excellent cut quality at faster mowing speeds
• Clean flow of material out of discharge area prevents cut material from interfering with cutting the incoming grass, making it possible for the blades to cut incoming material cleanly.
• Even in mulching mode, cut evenness is improved compared to other designs because the additional depth allows for continuous circulation, optimal recutting, and an even distribution of clippings.

Deep mower-deck stamping gives high productivity, which gets the job done fast. It allows the cut and suspended material room to quickly exit the deck, reducing the amount of recutting so more power is available to process incoming grass:

• Greatly improves mowers capacity to maintain excellent mowing performance in difficult mowing conditions and at higher speeds

Large discharge opening is both high and wide to handle more material:

• Gives a smooth, even discharge of clippings at all mowing speeds
• Reduces the chance of plugging, especially important when operating in wet, thick, or dense grass and when bagging
• Optional cut-and-throw chute has a large, optimized inlet which aids in collecting material by using airflow from the large deck opening

Cleanliness - for the mower and the operator

Front view of Accel Deep 42A Mower Deck

Side view of Accel Deep 42A Mower Deck

The flat-top shape of the deck stamping is optimal for keeping itself and the operator clean:

• There are few places to catch and hold material on top of and underneath the deck.
  • Top of deck stays cleaner, reducing time and effort needed for cleaning and service
  • Underside of deck is self cleaning to maintain optimum performance without buildup of material to interfere with the flow of air and clippings
  • Less need to clean and remove buildup of material from underside deck
• The depth of the Accel Deep mower deck minimizes the amount of material that escapes from the front of the deck.
  • Limited amount of material to drift onto the operator and mower deck
  • Even flow of material discharged out the chute, less recutting results in larger pieces that are less likely to end up on the operator
  • Mulching prevents the discharge of material completely
    • Standard MulchControl makes mulching a practical solution for most mowing situations.

Cleaning a mower deck, both top and bottom, is one of the most frequent maintenance activities:

• The flat-top design reduces places for material to build up and makes material that does collect easy to remove.

How MulchControl works

MulchControl baffle open

MulchControl baffle closed

MulchControl is an innovative, simple design that is easy to use and maintain:

• The MulchControl feature includes baffles to control the flow of material under the deck.

Mower wash port

Hose connector purchased locally - not standard equipment

A wash port is provided to make cleaning the underside of the mower deck easy:

• A hose-end adapter for the appropriate water hose to be used can be purchased locally for connection to the wash port.

Superior durability is designed in

Underside of 42A Accel Deep Mower Deck

Mower wheels are double captured for durability

The 42A Mower Deck has strong spindle pockets, to keep the blades aligned, even after years of tough service:

• Ribs in the deck shell add strength where it is needed.
• The 42A has a 16 percent heavier overall weight than the Edge™ Xtra 107-cm (42-in.) Mower Deck.

Smooth contour of flat-top deck stamping has few places for material to catch and collect.

Mower wheels are double captured:

• Provides greater strength and durability for longer, trouble-free life.
• Single-bolt adjustment makes setting wheels to the correct height for the cutting height quick and easy.

Low-tension belt-drive design reduces the side load on the engines lower bearing and mower deck bearings for longer life.

Rolled outer edge of the deck provides extra strength and protection.

Dual-stage E-coat and powder-paint coatings provide extra protection from rust.

MulchControl is standard on the 42A Mower

The MulchControl system of the 42A Mower Deck is standard equipment and makes mulching more practical for many mowing situations because it not only does an excellent job of mulching but it also allows the mower to be easily converted for times when it is more desirable to side discharge or collect the lawn material. Advantages of mulching grass clippings include:

• A beautiful looking lawn
• Grass clippings not blown onto the operator, driveways, or flower beds
• Less fertilizer use
• Elimination of the effort needed to dispose of clippings

Optional 250-L (7-bu) Rear Bagger

X350 equipped with optional rear bagger

Two-piece chute (ordered separately)

An optional 250-L (7-bu) Cut-and-Throw Rear Bagger material collection system (MCS) is available for use with the 107-cm (42-in.) Accel Deep Mower. It provides an efficient means of collecting grass clippings and leaves.

The hopper design provides modern styling, great bagging performance, cleaner operation, and easy-to-empty bags:

• 250-L (7-bu) capacity
• Air exhaust duct
• Convenient spring latch
• Airflow fill indicator
• Quik-Tatch mounting
• Sealed hopper top
• Loose-knit bags available

This rear bagger chute (ordered separately) is required, along with the 250-L (7-bu) Hopper , to provide a complete rear bagging system for an X300 Series Tractor equipped with a 107-cm (42-in.) Accel Deep Mower Deck (42A):

• The chute is a two-piece design to allow easy installation at the mower deck, without the rear of the chute being encumbered by the hopper.
• The top section of the chute slides into the flexible hose that is attached to the hopper and is held securely to the bottom section with an easy-to-use bungee cord.

MulchControl baffle closed

MulchControl lever

• The MulchControl lever is located on top of the mower deck and used to open and close the discharge baffle.
  • The operator is required to get off of the machine in order to engage or disengage mulch mode.
• Changing from mulching to side discharge or vice versa takes only a few seconds.
• There is no need to change blades when converting between mulch and side discharge as the standard blades are designed to work in all modes.

MulchControl provides an advantage in the following mowing situations:

• Usually mulch, but side discharge when grass gets too long
• Usually side discharge, but would like to be able to close the chute to control clippings
• Always mulch a main lawn, but often side discharge secondary lawns
• Bag clippings, but want to go farther before emptying bags

MulchControl puts the operator in control of the clippings. The operator has all the benefits of mulching with the ability to change to side discharging or bagging when needed.

While in the side-discharge mode, MulchControl will still mulch about one third of the material. Therefore, the side-discharge mode is essentially a partial-mulch mode. This can be an advantage when side discharging or bagging, as it helps to reduce the amount of material being discharged. Other times this could work as a disadvantage:

• When cutting strong grasses
• When cutting in wet, high-growth conditions
• When optimum bagging and lawn clean up is desired

Versatility - easy to change between side discharge, mulch, and bagging modes

Rear MulchControl baffle (A) that must be removed for bagging

Rear MulchControl baffle removed to allow for chute installation

The 42A Mower is designed for maximum versatility, providing the greatest ease in changing from one mode to another:

• The standard mower blades are used for side discharging, mulching, and bagging.

The mower’s cut-and-throw design allows bagging with the addition of the bagger chute and hopper - no blower is required.

• The 42A Cut-and-Throw Chute is easy to install and securely held in place at the front and rear to provide a tight seal between the mower deck and the chute.
  • The rear latch is adjustable to allow for the optimum setting for easy use and a tight seal.
• The mower deck includes a rear MulchControl baffle (A), held in by two carriage bolts, at the rear edge of the discharge opening. This baffle:
  • Must be removed for installation of the rear bagger chute, a 13-mm (0.51-in.) wrench is required (the bagger chute cannot be installed without removing this baffle)
  • Must be reinstalled for mulching or side discharging material
• The front baffle (B) is included with the mower deck and required whether bagging, mulching, or side-discharging material. 
  • MulchContol is operated in the gate-open position when side discharging.
  • When bagging, the MulchControl door is operated in a partially closed position, touching against the lower chute segment.

 With the standard MulchControl system, changing from side discharge to mulching or vice versa is done with the simple flip of a lever.

Upper chute with handle and fill indicator

Lower chute installed

A convenient handle is included on the top section of the chute to make installation and removal easier. A fill indicator tells the operator when the bags are getting full.

The bagger chute is securely held in place at the front and rear to provide a tight seal between the mower deck and the chute. The rear latch is adjustable to allow for the optimum setting for easy use and a tight seal.

Four-wheel steering versus two-wheel steering

Four-wheel steer maneuverability

NOTE: Pre-2014 tractors shown in photos have similar steering geometry as current models.

NOTE: In the schematic above, the solid line refers to a four-wheel steer tractor, and the hashed line refers to a two-wheel steer tractor.

Four-wheel steering provides very significant maneuverability and trimming advantages over that of two-wheel-steering-equipped tractors.

For example, with the X354 Select Series™ Tractor equipped with a 107-cm (42-in.) Edge™ Mulch Deck (the following numbers correspond to the schematic above):

1. Uncut circle radius is reduced from 66 cm (26 in.) for a two-wheel steer X350 to only
   38 cm (15 in.), eliminating or greatly reducing the need to back up when trimming around trees, shrubs, etc.
2. Interference from the mower and tractor wheels are eliminated because they are several inches away from the object being trimmed around. 
3. Outside turning circle is reduced, reducing the time spent turning and increasing mowing efficiency.

Also, trimming inside curves around flower beds or other landscaping can be done more completely with a four-wheel steer tractor.

Designed for tight turns

The four-wheel steering system is designed for tight turns, leading to greater mowing efficiency:

• Caster, camber, and kingpin angles are optimized to reduce effort, especially when going from straight ahead to a turn.
• Steering geometry has been designed with the use of three-dimensional (3D) modeling, so all four tires are working together.
• Sealed ball bearings are used on the torque shaft and the rear spindles to reduce friction.
• Small scrub radius (less than 25.4 mm [1 in.] in the rear) reduces scuffing and bump-steer. 

Designed for easy steering

Four-wheel steer illustration from rear

Four-wheel steer illustration from front

Sealed ball bearings are used at critical all-wheel-steer joints for reduced friction, longer life, and less maintenance.

Easy steering is important for an enjoyable mowing experience:

• Larger, 35.6-cm (14-in.) diameter steering wheel gives improved leverage for easier turns.
• Larger sector gear gives improved (higher) steering ratio.
  • A higher ratio equals lower steering effort.
• Dual-drag links help equalize steering loads and greatly reduce steering error.
• Ball-joints on both ends of the steering tie rods reduce wear to maintain accurate steering. 
• Long steering arms improve the mechanical advantage of the steering system through the full range of motion.
• Steering shaft rotates on a sealed ball bearing at its lower end, near the pinion gear, to reduce steering effort and provide a smooth feel for the life of the tractor.
• Sector gear pivots on a shaft rather than a bushing to ensure proper gear mesh and eliminate binding.
• Pivoting of the upper and lower ends of the sector gear shaft on sealed ball bearings reduces steering effort and provides a smooth feel for the life of the tractor.
• Greasable front steering spindles reduce friction and improve wear over time.

Kanzaki® K46 transaxle

Kanzaki K58 transaxle

The Tuff Torq® hydrostatic transaxle encloses the hydrostatic pump and motor rotator groups in the same housing with the differential and axle housings. This design is very efficient and reduces the number of sealing surfaces to minimize the potential for leakage. Transaxles used are based on the specific tractor requirements:

• Kanzaki K46 – X350, X354
• Kanzaki K57 (has hydraulic capacity for power steering and power lift) – X370

• Kanzaki K58 – X380

Combined with the foot controls, the hydrostatic transmission functions similarly to that of an automatic transmission in an automobile, so the term automatic is often used to describe it:

• Use of the latest valve designs gives lower sound levels.
• Large pump and motor rotating groups ensure long life and efficient operation.

Freewheeling valve

Freewheeling valve

A freewheeling valve control is conveniently located near the tractor rear hitch plate for good visibility and easy operation.

Kanzaki is a registered trademark of Kanzaki Kokyukoki Manufacturing Company.

Tuff Torq is a registered trademark of Tuff Torq Corporation.