Buying new mower help me decide

[Waterr]

2011 Z445

Beware, this morning i called John Deere in the USA and all 2011 Z445 come with a 27HP John Deere Cyclonic Engine (Briggs & Stratton ELS).

Same engine for USA/Canada.

Yesterday, i visited a John Deere dealer in Canada and the engine on the 2011 Z445 was the 27HP John Deere Cyclonic Engine.

Kawasaki is no more available this year.

The Z445 also come with the ZT2800 transmission.

 

[Black Bart]

Re: 2011 Z445

Beware, this morning i called John Deere in the USA and all 2011 Z445 come with a 27HP John Deere Cyclonic Engine (Briggs & Stratton ELS).

Same engine for USA/Canada.

Yesterday, i visited a John Deere dealer in Canada and the engine on the 2011 Z445 was the 27HP John Deere Cyclonic Engine.

Kawasaki is no more available this year.

The Z445 also come with the ZT2800 transmission.

After reading your post today I called the dealer that had offered me a Z445 with the Kawasaki engine and told him about your post.

He said that was true but since I had said I was interested in the Kawasaki he quoted me a priced for one that they still had that was built early 2011.

When these are gone that will be the last of the Kaw engines in a JD

I talked to another dealer today and he said XMark was not going to offer the kaw engine either.

I would guess the B&S that will be offered in place of the Kaw engine cost the manufacture less $$$$$

It is beginning to look like JD is focused on competing with the lower priced mowers even at the expense of lowering quality.

With all the junk being imported from China we are accustom to buying this cheap stuff and no longer willing to pay for quality

 

[Waterr]

Z445


If you can get one with a kawa engine, jump on it !

From my side, maybe i will buy the Z445 with the all new 27HP John Deere Cyclonic Engine.

It come with a warranty of 4 years or 300 hours.

The price is 4600$CAD

How much it costs you at your JD dealer in USA ?

 

[twall]

Well, I say good riddance to Kaw. Unlike Honda, they make great motorcycles, but TERRIBLE equipment engines! (Honda does well both ways)

I have 2 JD's with Kaw engines, and I would rather have an OHV B&S any day of the week. Carburetors don't last forever. Unlike B&S, who use the same components for decades, Kaw seems to think it wise to change the frickin thing every year - and SORRY! Last year's parts are obsolete. Then comes the torturous ritual of FIXING the miserable things, even if you CAN get the parts........you can get a new carb - but hold your breath (and your wallet)!

You're better off, especially if Kaw is gone, to just go with what you can get parts for, rather than insisting on Japanese stuff. Your parts search 10 years from now will thank you.

 

[Black Bart]

Re: Z445

If you can get one with a kawa engine, jump on it !

From my side, maybe i will buy the Z445 with the all new 27HP John Deere Cyclonic Engine.

It come with a warranty of 4 years or 300 hours.

The price is 4600$CAD

How much it costs you at your JD dealer in USA ?

Z445 with 54" deck $4349 is the best price I have found.

Twall I understand your point about change but nothing ever advances or gets better without change.

If the whole world had your view we would still be driving model T Fords

 

[twall]

Re: Z445

Z445 with 54" deck $4349 is the best price I have found.

Twall I understand your point about change but nothing ever advances or gets better without change.

If the whole world had your view we would still be driving model T Fords

Yes, but YEARLY change? That GUARANTEES that you'll never get parts - making something with a simple carb problem a POS........

Mechanically, their tolerances are typically great Japanese style awesome. But the carbs - I've seen more JD's for dirt just because the only way to fix it is get lucky on ebay, or get a new engine........

 

[Black Bart]

Re: Z445

Yes, but YEARLY change? That GUARANTEES that you'll never get parts - making something with a simple carb problem a POS........

Mechanically, their tolerances are typically great Japanese style awesome. But the carbs - I've seen more JD's for dirt just because the only way to fix it is get lucky on ebay, or get a new engine........

Sounds like poor maintainance to me.

My 180 is 25 years old never a problem with anything on it but I have a fuel filter and change it every few years.
Also I use carb cleaner a couple times per year.

Same for my Kubota powered Grasshopper 20 years without a problem.

Some JD have fuel injection I would much rather have that but putting a carb on is a lot cheaper to build so the antiquated carb is still in use.

In the future the EPA will force all of them to go to fuel injection.

 

[twall]

Well MORE THAN THEIR SHARE, B&S problems stem from poor maintainence, and/or abuse, as well.....but that isn't the point.

SHOULD YOU NEED PARTS, for whatever reason, you won't be able to get them. That is the truth. IF YOU GET A DEAL, due to whatever lead to a carb problem, figure in an engine replacement in the 'deal' to see if it's still worth it. Because a new carb will cost you enough to consider a new B&S to a new Kaw carb on a used engine......just my :2cents:

Glad you had such good luck.

 

[Black Bart]

Talking about problems today when I was talking to a big power equipment dealer I ask him what was the problem they saw the most.
This is a really big dealer in a major city and they sell a lot of mowers.

He said blown head gasket's on Kohler's was the #1 engine problem.

 

[twall]

Talking about problems today when I was talking to a big power equipment dealer I ask him what was the problem they saw the most.
This is a really big dealer in a major city and they sell a lot of mowers.

He said blown head gasket's on Kohler's was the #1 engine problem.

I'm curious - was it just a 'crap gasket' kinda problem? Poor design? Overheating? Poor machining?I said in another thread that Kohler seemed to be resting on their laurels, and making junkier and junkier engines through the years........