John Deere Residental Mowers Any Good ?

[Lost Pine]

I have a neighbor who is thinking about getting a JD mower from Home Depot...Probably the L115 or 125 series...42in 16-19hp...I don't remember exactly. Another neighbor is telling him that if you want a "real Deere" you have to go to the 300 series and any of the home Depot mowers are just stripped down junk and will wear out in a couple of years...Now this neighbor has a home Depot JD Scotts mower that he has taken care of and it's 10 years old and it runs and looks great !

Is there any truth to this claim..? Are the 100 series of John Deere junk..? the 100 series are $1600 -$2400 where as the 300 series are $3000 and up...

Now I am the 1st one to say, you get what you pay for, but is the 100 series worth what you are paying, or is it better to invest in the 300 series...?

LostPine

[4.3mudder]

The ones form HD and Lowes are complete junk. My grandfather even went to the dealer a few years back and bought one for almost 3 grand, same POS. He had numerous problems. Dash and and hood crack due to vibration. Front axle turning to far to one side and the wheel would rub. I would go with a Kubota instead.

[Wizz]

If he has to stick to that price range tell him to go over to Lowes instead and get the 2009 model 48" cut/24hp Husqvarna instead, better built imo and prolly a couple hundred cheaper. Unless he's a 'Deere man' then there will be no changing his mind, I just think the Sweedish one is better built between the two.

[jkingrph]

I bought a JD LX 277 back in 2000 and it's still going strong. I have only replaced a couple of pulleys with sealed bearings on the deck, everything else is original. It probably saw 85-90 hours per year. It is semi retired now, I got a Scag Wildcat to help with some shoulder problems caused by the constant steering. This was thier upper grade lawn tractor at the time and appears to be much more solid than the models I see at Lowes/Home Depot.

[retrodog]

Simply no, you would do just as good going to Wal-Mart and buying a Yard-Man. You will have to replace everything just as often, and you will save a little money doing it. The 277 is a nice unit, but then you are looking into $4000 or more.

[newz7151]

I just think the Sweedish one is better built between the two.



Ha ha ha ha.. Sweedish.. ha ha..

Might as well send him to Sears or KMart for a "Craftsman" , or to anywhere else for a PoulanPro. ... Sweedish built :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Wizz]

Ha ha ha ha.. Sweedish.. ha ha..

Might as well send him to Sears or KMart for a "Craftsman" , or to anywhere else for a PoulanPro. ... Sweedish built :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Husky is indeed a Swedish company/design with the equipment being 'assembled' all over, CEO is a Swede...Magnus Yngen. Much American stuff isn't designed as well as their European counterparts these days. Me and many friends I know/work with put our money in tools (work on race motors) and equipment in European/Japaneese companies due to better quality/design.

[DavidR]

Most of these HD and Lowe's machines are the same...all made by MTD is my understanding based on what I have been told multiple times. What others have said, they are all Chinese made crap! Seems like all of these companies have sold out there names to have a product available in the big box stores. Look closely at these machines, under the shells, they all look the same.

Then again, you get what you pay for. If you want a nice machine, it cost big bucks. Also keep in mind the audience your posing this question to. While there are some homeowners in here, most of the members here are lawn care professionals.

[Tom White]

Most of these HD and Lowe's machines are the same...all made by MTD is my understanding based on what I have been told multiple times. What others have said, they are all Chinese made crap! Seems like all of these companies have sold out there names to have a product available in the big box stores. Look closely at these machines, under the shells, they all look the same.

Then again, you get what you pay for. If you want a nice machine, it cost big bucks. Also keep in mind the audience your posing this question to. While there are some homeowners in here, most of the members here are lawn care professionals.

Actually, the LA series Deere's sold at Lowe's and HD are produced at a Deere factory in Tennessee. They are the very same as the LA series Deeres you see at a JD dealer. Why would you want to spread untruths?

[Lost Pine]

Actually, the LA series Deere's sold at Lowe's and HD are produced at a Deere factory in Tennessee. They are the very same as the LA series Deeres you see at a JD dealer. Why would you want to spread untruths?


YES ! There certainly seems to be quite a bias against John Deere 100 series on this site...Seems kinda odd to me...


LostPine

[DavidR]

Actually, the LA series Deere's sold at Lowe's and HD are produced at a Deere factory in Tennessee. They are the very same as the LA series Deeres you see at a JD dealer. Why would you want to spread untruths?


I don't think my post implied I was trying to spread "untruths". I said that is what I had been told, if you say they are made in a JD factory then so be it. I can tell you that locally our JD dealership does not sell the cheaper LA series units. In addition, they said most of the lawn tractors they have to work on are the LA series cause they are junk. Just telling you what my local dealership told me.

Several of my neighbors have these machines and don't like them at all either for what that is worth. The Briggs motors that some of the units use are junk as well. I think some of them use Kohlers as well, not sure about these motors. I don't think either of these motors compare to the Kawa that the real JD's use...again based on the information provided to me from my local dealership.

[newz7151]

Husky is indeed a Swedish company/design with the equipment being 'assembled' all over, CEO is a Swede...Magnus Yngen. Much American stuff isn't designed as well as their European counterparts these days. Me and many friends I know/work with put our money in tools (work on race motors) and equipment in European/Japaneese companies due to better quality/design.

I don't give a rats part that hits the ground when he sits where it's "designed" , if it's using the same parts as the "Craftsman", Poulan, PoulanPro and rolls out of the same style factory with different paint. ..... nevermind.. waste of my time. Unless it has to take a plane ride or a boat trip to get here, in fully assembled condition, in the end it's no better than the stuff Sears has been selling for years.

[stacks04]

imo john deere sold out, about 4-5 yrs ago they were differant machines from the hd/lowes to the john dealers. the dealers would hate working on them because they did not sell them and ect. now john deere corp has shut the dealers up by giving the most local dealer to the box stores the exclusive repair/service contracts. the local dealer sticker is on each and every mower they sell. kinda like the auto dealer stickers.

we live in a disposable society these days. people see no issue with paying 3 grand and having it last 2-3 yrs now.

[Lost Pine]

imo john deere sold out, about 4-5 yrs ago they were differant machines from the hd/lowes to the john dealers. the dealers would hate working on them because they did not sell them and ect. now john deere corp has shut the dealers up by giving the most local dealer to the box stores the exclusive repair/service contracts. the local dealer sticker is on each and every mower they sell. kinda like the auto dealer stickers.

we live in a disposable society these days. people see no issue with paying 3 grand and having it last 2-3 yrs now.

Now ! This post seems to be making sense...That sounds more like it....$2500...If it doesn't work in a couple of years, then just throw it away....Now that the economy is in the toilet, I think that will change.....

LostPine

[vietzee]

The LA series mowers sold at Lowes and Home Depot are not junk by any means. They are a lower priced mower with Briggs engines and have 2 years warranty. They were developed to compete with lower spec machines such as Cub Cadet and Sears which are made by MTD. The x300 series mowers are quite a step up from the LA series. They feature Kaw engines and a heavier drive train and have a 4 year warranty. They are well worth the extra dollars. Dealers also stock the LA series and usually service them and level decks and deliver free and that is what sets them apart from the Big Box stores. Lets face it, those guys don't provide parts and service and you have to take it to a Dealer anyway, why not buy it there in the first place and develop a relationship.

[newz7151]

They were developed to compete with lower spec machines such as Cub Cadet and Sears which are made by MTD.

:hammerhead: Sears riding and self propelled mowers are not made by MTD, they are made by Husqvarna. Handheld stuff from Sears is made by (lowest bidder usually).

[randy448]

The John Deere name/reputation has been made over 150 years of quality equipment sold from every countylocal dealer around. The sad truth now is you get what you pay for.Some people can run 10 years on a 1000$ rider but others can tear it up in2.Work on all kinds at my repair shop,weak links on MTD is front axle/spindles and deck spindles.People brag on engine size and horsepower ,I tell them in 5 years it will be a go-cart for the kids and you will have a new one to brag about.

[kirk1701]

I don't think my post implied I was trying to spread "untruths". I said that is what I had been told, if you say they are made in a JD factory then so be it. I can tell you that locally our JD dealership does not sell the cheaper LA series units. In addition, they said most of the lawn tractors they have to work on are the LA series cause they are junk. Just telling you what my local dealership told me.

Several of my neighbors have these machines and don't like them at all either for what that is worth. The Briggs motors that some of the units use are junk as well. I think some of them use Kohlers as well, not sure about these motors. I don't think either of these motors compare to the Kawa that the real JD's use...again based on the information provided to me from my local dealership.

Purchased a LA140 about three years back, also got the four year extended warranty with it and yu know what; there was no reason to. I did however purchase mine from the JD Dealership not Lowes and its the garden tractor not the lawn tractor (Big difference) and cost $3300. Yes, JD comes and picks it up once a season, goes over it and makes sure nothings wrong, changes the oil and tune up, air filter and all that but for the $400 price tag for the maintenance agreement I could have done that stuff myself. :clapping:

I love my deere, three years now and other then the battery going dead during cold weather which was fixed by simply disconnecting it and bringing it in the house over the winter months I have yet to have one moments problem with it, however I do wash it after each mowing, keep it serviced and stored in a shed when not in use.

I was looking for a place to post this question and this seemed a good place as any. Took me some time to figure out what was causing burnt spots in my lawn when I first got my LA140. Then, started noticing the burnt spots formed the circular shape of the mower blades to the deck and is where I stop the tractor and left the blades engages for anywhere between 10 seconds to 20 seconds??? WHY???

I have since corrected this problem simply by not stopping while mowing or disengaging the blades before I stop but I never had any other mower to do this so its got me intrigued.

[Lost Pine]

Is it possibly that you have the blades too low..?

Lost Pine

[kirk1701]

Is it possibly that you have the blades too low..?

Lost Pine


No, never cut below 3" and it was summer before I figured out it was the mower so probably up around 3 1/2"