Is your John Deere worth it?

[joe gremlin]

I really need to by a new mower but I can't committ myself to buying a mower. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any help would be appreciated. I am looking at the JD 320, JD 500, Husqvarna and cub cadet. The John Deere are at a local dealer and run $4000 to $5000 respectively. The Husqvarna is $3000. Help!

If you've got 3+ acres of bumpy and hilly terrain to mow, you shouldn't be looking at a mower, you should be looking at a tractor or a SCUT IMHO. For a property that size, you're going to have trouble getting any mower from any manufaturer to hold up in the long run. Yes its a much bigger investment. Better to spend $15k on something will last 20 years or more than $5k on something that will only last 5 years at best IMHO.

Deere, Cub, Kabota and New Holland all produce diesel sub compact tractors that that will handle that job quite well and should last 20 years doing it if you take care of them properly. And they give you the option of easily adding things like a loader (once you have one, you won't know how you lived without it) or numerous 3pt impliments. Trying to do it with a mower, even a name brand $5k unit, is just asking for headaches IMO.

 

[Carl Bert]

The thread was about Deere, yet the discussion seems to center around box-stores. Let's see if I have this straight. I buy a JD LA145 at Lowes for $1999, and it is a DIFFERENT MACHINE than the LA145 I buy for $1999 on the JD website? And the JD dealer won't sell me parts for the LA145 I bought at Lowes? This makes no sense to me. Can someone please explain?

Are we maybe saying that folks should forget the box store JD models and step up to a higher-end JD model that can only be purchased at the JD dealer? While this might be advising people to purchase something they don't necessarily need, at least it makes logistical sense.

The LA145 is the same machine whether you buy it at Lowes or John Deere. Both are a waste of your hard earned money. What John Deere did was sell out to the BB stores by manufacturing a very poor quality line of tractors, along with Cub Cadet and Troy built. They have been doing this for many years, but they used to be called Scotts and Sabre (built by JD). Now they decided to take it one step further by using the John Deere name and color. Some John Deere dealers carry them, mine will not.

I don't blame JD for doing this, hey thats why they are in business, to make money. I just wish they would have left it at Scotts or Sabre and not used the JD name and color. You have to admire Kubota for not doing the same. At least when you buy a Kubota, you know what you're buying.

 

[jenkinsph]

If you've got 3+ acres of bumpy and hilly terrain to mow, you shouldn't be looking at a mower, you should be looking at a tractor or a SCUT IMHO. For a property that size, you're going to have trouble getting any mower from any manufaturer to hold up in the long run. Yes its a much bigger investment. Better to spend $15k on something will last 20 years or more than $5k on something that will only last 5 years at best IMHO.

Deere, Cub, Kabota and New Holland all produce diesel sub compact tractors that that will handle that job quite well and should last 20 years doing it if you take care of them properly. And they give you the option of easily adding things like a loader (once you have one, you won't know how you lived without it) or numerous 3pt impliments. Trying to do it with a mower, even a name brand $5k unit, is just asking for headaches IMO.

I agree with Joe for the most part, further I suggest you fix the bumpy lawn. Smoothing the lawn out will greatly decrease the mowing time and it will look much better too. I use a landplane to cut off the mounds on lawns and fill in the depressions. Then reseed and drag with a harrow.

If you smooth out your lawn you can get by with a less expensive mowing rig.

 

[zoomerii]

I agree with Joe for the most part, further I suggest you fix the bumpy lawn. Smoothing the lawn out will greatly decrease the mowing time and it will look much better too. I use a landplane to cut off the mounds on lawns and fill in the depressions. Then reseed and drag with a harrow.

If you smooth out your lawn you can get by with a less expensive mowing rig.

Got to agree with jenkinsph here. When I bought our house on 5 acres in 2003 I new I would need a small tractor to work the land, but I just didn't have the funds (don't like borrowing money for these type of things). So I purchased a box store unit (first a Craftsman, then five years later a JD LA175) with the clear understanding it would be used to mow and pull a small cart. I now have a Scut (JD 2305) that is used for dirt work. The lawn tractor is holding up well, and I do my best to not use it beyond it's intended purpose.

 

[Bobrien]

I have a 1987 JD 165 that recently needed a new motor, but unless something else major breaks and I can't get it fixed, I think I'll keep it until I'm too old to mow or plow. JD makes great equipment, and you can usually find parts for older models (E-Bay is great for used and some new parts). If I were to purchase a new unit, I would go to a dealer and not a big box store. I see too many returned lawn tractors at those stores. JD has a good reputation, and by the way, check out Consumer Reports. JD has strong ratings.:smile:

 

[jakeharrington95]

i have a 1994 425 over 5000hrs on it used for commercial mowing. i replaced the motor at about 3500hr
and just little repairs like filters and belts. still cuts better them all the neighbors.

 

[Buckshot721]

Some times you just have to laugh, some people buy a LAWN MOWER to do the work of a compact or utility machine. Then when you try to mow 20 acres of wooded swamp land and it does not last for 20 years, complain that JD is a POS. Instead of trying to buy the lowest cost tractor and using it like a 4020, go up a few models and buy the one you really need. I have 3 Deeres a 425, x485 and a 2305. No problems with any of them. I do not use them like half tracks, and take care of them. Regular engine and hydro oil changes. And only JD oils and filters. Also the my dealer will bend over backwards to help if for parts or even if I have a question. They also still stock parts, going back to the old A's. Bottom line DON'T drive it like you just swiped it.

 

[JDgreen]

Some times you just have to laugh, some people buy a LAWN MOWER to do the work of a compact or utility machine. Then when you try to mow 20 acres of wooded swamp land and it does not last for 20 years, complain that JD is a POS. Instead of trying to buy the lowest cost tractor and using it like a 4020, go up a few models and buy the one you really need. I have 3 Deeres a 425, x485 and a 2305. No problems with any of them. I do not use them like half tracks, and take care of them. Regular engine and hydro oil changes. And only JD oils and filters. Also the my dealer will bend over backwards to help if for parts or even if I have a question. They also still stock parts, going back to the old A's. Bottom line DON'T drive it like you just swiped it.

Well stated...when you pay a premium to buy the best lawn care equipment it is just common sense not to abuse them, and to maintain them well. Several people on TBN (tractorbynet.com) said I am foolish to change the oil and filter on my JD at "only" 50 hours, when I put 100 on it a year. REALLY? An oil and filter change at 50 hours costs me $20, so does the next one at 100 hours. When you spend 22 grand on your equipment new, what is another $20 a year to super maintain it?

Concur with you also not to abuse your equipment or try to do what it isn't engineered for. My older 318 got worked far in excess of what it was designed for but it never let me down.

 

[JDgreen]

i have a 1994 425 over 5000hrs on it used for commercial mowing. i replaced the motor at about 3500hr
and just little repairs like filters and belts. still cuts better them all the neighbors.

Filters and belts are not repair parts, IMO, they are maintenance items. What engine does your 425 have? What did the replacement motor cost? Was it an actual replacement or just a rebuild?

 

[Oddball]

I'd have to say yes. I bought an LT150 10 years ago when I broke my shoulder and could not mow our huge sloped back yard one handed with the push mower. Other than routine maintenance, I have not had anything done to it in that time. Its still going strong with at least 500 hours. Its been my only rider, so I have no other brand to compare it too, but I'm happy.