Stihl in John Dealers

[Buckshot 1]

Re: John Deere

Now that John Deere is in Lowes and Home Depot, I've been told by old time dealers that the product quality has gone way down. Also, a homeowner is not going to hunt up some small dealer for JD when he can just go to Home Depot to get it. I'm not a JD fan. My brother owned a push mower and had it in the shop at least once a year it's whole life. I tried to warn my father off JD when he was looking for a lawn tractor. He wouldn't listen...and now hates the one he bought. Underpowered and just doesn't mow all that well.

:smile: I heard/read some where the the JD;s sold by Lowes/Home Depot are being made by MTD. I would have to look awful close at the model number tag, before buying.

 

[jekjr]

Re: John Deere

:smile: I heard/read some where the the JD;s sold by Lowes/Home Depot are being made by MTD. I would have to look awful close at the model number tag, before buying.

I would not doubt it. It is a shame that John Deere would put their colors and name on such as that.

 

[Carscw]

It's a shame that MTD would put that ugly green paint and junk deer on there mowers.

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[Rivets]

It's a shame MTD can't build at least one decent tractor that I could recommend to my customers.

 

[jekjr]

It's a shame MTD can't build at least one decent tractor that I could recommend to my customers.

I am not a fan of anything they make either. I have a Craftsman that is probably built by them but I normally only use it to pull a cart or pine straw rake. I do ot use it to cut grass.

 

[Carscw]

I do not know about any of the newer MTDs but I have a 1990 ace and a 1998 yard man gt they both are very well built. I run them very hard.
When it comes to tall thick grass they both will out cut a JD or a snapper. In 22 years only had to replace tires and belts and blades.

JD. Is a name you pay for they have never built a tough riding mower. If you need a farm tractor then yes I would go with JD. I have a yellow JD front end loader and like it better than a CAT of the same size.

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[jekjr]

I do not know about any of the newer MTDs but I have a 1990 ace and a 1998 yard man gt they both are very well built. I run them very hard.
When it comes to tall thick grass they both will out cut a JD or a snapper. In 22 years only had to replace tires and belts and blades.

JD. Is a name you pay for they have never built a tough riding mower. If you need a farm tractor then yes I would go with JD. I have a yellow JD front end loader and like it better than a CAT of the same size.

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In most instances I totally agree with you on the John Deere mowers. There have been a few through the years that they made that were pretty good. As for the MTD mowers they also built some that were pretty good. They now build some that are nothing more than junk. Cours that is my opinion.

 

[Buckshot 1]

:smile: I have one customer that has a MTD made LT. It is one tough LT, after all that its been thru in the last 10 yrs., It should have been in the grave yard. I also have another customer that has an ACE (MTD) LT and it been thru he_ _ and back and keeps on ticking. I learned a long time ago, not to use after market belts on MTD products, as they have a different pitch (angle) than the MTD's ones. I was not going for this, until an old time mechanic showed me how deep an after market belt rides in the pulleys against where a MTD stamped belt rides. I have found the same to be true on JD's and Simple-city (older) products.

 

[Carscw]

I use a cheap belt on the deck and it works fine but on the drive only MTD belts will work but they do last a long time so well worth the money for them.

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[jekjr]

:smile: I have one customer that has a MTD made LT. It is one tough LT, after all that its been thru in the last 10 yrs., It should have been in the grave yard. I also have another customer that has an ACE (MTD) LT and it been thru he_ _ and back and keeps on ticking. I learned a long time ago, not to use after market belts on MTD products, as they have a different pitch (angle) than the MTD's ones. I was not going for this, until an old time mechanic showed me how deep an after market belt rides in the pulleys against where a MTD stamped belt rides. I have found the same to be true on JD's and Simple-city (older) products.

I even found that to be true on some macinery with bearings a few years ago. They special order the parts from a manufacturer that are slightly different mainly so you will have to buy from them to get it and there is a large mark up.