best value lawn tractor..?

gerry100 · Jun 23, 2017

Our 12 yo(?) inherited "Yardman" is finally too much trouble and I'm too old to spend a hot summer day fixing a carburetor that broke a spring.

We mow about 2 acres with a few slight grades and are looking for a reliable lawn tractor to last us at least ten years. ( I've got a nice deck for my MF1010 but it would be way too big and cumbersome for the lawn we cut).

My first instinct is to grab a John Deere 125 from Home Depot because of JDs reputation but I'm a little concerned that this is their "toy" line and may not get the support/ attention of the serious Ag units.

Anyway, looking for inputs here on best brand to spend <$2k on?

Thanks

fried1765 · Jun 23, 2017

gerry100 said:
Our 12 yo(?) inherited "Yardman" is finally too much trouble and I'm too old to spend a hot summer day fixing a carburetor that broke a spring.

We mow about 2 acres with a few slight grades and are looking for a reliable lawn tractor to last us at least ten years. ( I've got a nice deck for my MF1010 but it would be way too big and cumbersome for the lawn we cut).

My first instinct is to grab a John Deere 125 from Home Depot because of JDs reputation but I'm a little concerned that this is their "toy" line and may not get the support/ attention of the serious Ag units.

Anyway, looking for inputs here on best brand to spend <$2k on?

Thanks

I have had a (big box store) John Deere LA 110 for ten years.
I mow about 3 acres, but only about ten, or fewer, times each year.
I consider the LA 110 machine to be a very good value for my use.
It is NOT a serious Ag unit, but it works just fine for me. Mine currently has less than 200 hours.
I have two larger REAL tractors if I need to pull something, or for other uses.
I paid just over $1200, with my veterans discount, back when I bought my LA 110 at Home Depot.

Weedy Fields · Jun 23, 2017

best value?

1) don't buy new, poor value to buy something only to have it loose value after taking possession
2) buy from private seller, you'll get better deal
3) buy best or very high quality once, usually means older, as saying goes they don't build them like they used to.
better to pay more at time of purchase and never buy again rather than buy another mower every 10 years.

I bought '76 wheel horse back in the early '90's, I doubt I spent more than $200 in maintenance in the approx 25 years I've owned it and I'll bet I could sell it tomorrow for more than what I bought it for. It still does its job every time I ask it to, I'm sure it'll last longer than me.
This is very definition of best value.

CowboyRon · Jun 24, 2017

gerry100 said:
Our 12 yo(?) inherited "Yardman" is finally too much trouble and I'm too old to spend a hot summer day fixing a carburetor that broke a spring.

We mow about 2 acres with a few slight grades and are looking for a reliable lawn tractor to last us at least ten years. ( I've got a nice deck for my MF1010 but it would be way too big and cumbersome for the lawn we cut).

My first instinct is to grab a John Deere 125 from Home Depot because of JDs reputation but I'm a little concerned that this is their "toy" line and may not get the support/ attention of the serious Ag units.

Anyway, looking for inputs here on best brand to spend <$2k on?

Thanks

If the only problem with the mower is the carburetor, just look for a new on on eBay. I've had good luck with this on weedeaters.

Wagtail · Jun 24, 2017

I've had 4 worry free years (so far) with my D110. All I've ever asked it to do is mow & mulch (broken up horse manure) and the odd time towing a yard cart with portable generator. The B&S engine has always started right away and other than greasing + 50hr oil changes, that's all I've really invested in it. I did change the blades to 'predator' after a couple of years, but that was due to initially "cleaning up" my property.

Mine was a dealership model though, as they're not available in our 'Box Stores".

Oldpath05 · Jun 24, 2017

Sears.com <<<I bought this Sears brand last year, around 2k, but now they gone out of busness might become hard to get dealer suport. Only have 100 hr. on it so I cant tell how dependable this will be.

I like the tight turns, like the not so loud motor, easy to get at oil change. It say's it has mow in reverse feature, but I lost the manual and I cant figure out how that works, if I push down the reverse petal, the engine stalls. I dont like when I get off the engine stalls, I rather have it so when I get off the mower, disengage the blades then get off, way it is now everytime I get off to move something, have to restart the motor, bull crap I tell you. Also I dont like the small cup holder either, I added to it so I can carry a real mans cup.

fried1765 · Jun 24, 2017

Weedy Fields said:
best value?

1) don't buy new, poor value to buy something only to have it loose value after taking possession
2) buy from private seller, you'll get better deal
3) buy best or very high quality once, usually means older, as saying goes they don't build them like they used to.
better to pay more at time of purchase and never buy again rather than buy another mower every 10 years.

I bought '76 wheel horse back in the early '90's, I doubt I spent more than $200 in maintenance in the approx 25 years I've owned it and I'll bet I could sell it tomorrow for more than what I bought it for. It still does its job every time I ask it to, I'm sure it'll last longer than me.
This is very definition of best value.

As I mentioned in my previous post,...... I currently use a big box John Deere LA 110
I also have a Sears 15HP (single cyl.) 42" rider (built by Roper) that my dad bought new in 1972.
I have painted it once, and replaced belts, etc.
It is 45 YEARS OLD, and still mows my lawn (2 ac.) at my summer cottage.
My dad paid $1050 for it in 1972.
I would guess that it has at least 1300 hours.

Utopia Texas · Jun 24, 2017

Be warned that the JD sold at the box stores are not always the same as the ones sold at a JD dealership.
I bought a Small JD zero turn mower 5 years ago at the local Home Depot because it was $200 less than the "same" unit at my local JD dealership. Within 2 seasons both spindles on the mower deck wore out and the bushings were shot. Blades cut angled and the noise level was huge. Took them off and to the dealership for replacement. Noticed immediately the the new spindle housings had actual grease fittings where the old ones did not. I asked the parts guy why the original housings had no grease fittings. He replied that I probably bought the mower at a box store!

BrokeFarmerJohn · Jun 24, 2017

Get a dealer version of things, even the low end stuff, dealer versions are usually fitted with at least a better deck.

I would stick with Husqvarna or JD on smaller mowers, stay away from MTD.

Husqvarna makes a lot of brands out there and is hard to beat on price.

plowhog · Jun 24, 2017

I have a 2017 Husqvarna GT48DXLS. Bought at a dealer, not a box store. About $3,000. The mower rocks. Kawasaki engine, K66 transaxle, electric locking differential. Has side discharge with so much power you don't need a separate power flow unit to use a bagger.

Even if you paid $1,500 more for the Deere dealer model X380 mower, you still don't get a locking differential. I believe Deere omits the locking differential on the X3XX platform to push buyers to spend even more $$$ on the X5XX platform. My .02 cents anyway. Box store Deere models are lower quality than Deere models sold at dealers, same with Husqvarna.

Good luck with your choice. Much to choose from.

Msamt · Jun 24, 2017

Have had a husqvarna yth2448 for 5 years, with the Koehler v twin, bought it at lowes and it's been a real standout machine. As a comparison, the husky snowblower and weedeater both purchased from a dealer, both blew engines inside of a year, so it seems pretty hit or miss on the dealer versus box store front. At least dealer stepped up and replaced both at no cost.
I will say my lawn machine makes a bit of a racket from the trans and not looking forward to that repair when it goes south.
I believe the days of anything lasting more that 5-8 years are over.

chriswheeler · Jun 24, 2017

I own a John Deere 125 automatic you mention in your post. It's been a good machine over the years, but it has it's quirks. I need to note here that I bought mine for city use at a Home Depot and got a great price at the time. It has the 20 hp. twin for power. Now I mostly mow weeds living in the country keeping up 5 acres. First off, the 42" deck does a crappy job of picking up the cuttings with the bagger attachment. The deck has inadequate suction to lift cuttings into the bagging set up I bought with it, even with the high lift blades. Now it gets used without the bagger, it's useless. The deck holds on to cuttings and ends up needing to be removed at least twice a season to have the caked on stuff removed no matter what I do. I routinely remove 20-25 lbs. of stuff from the deck. I think because I'm mowing weeds, it goes through a set of blades every season. The machine itself seams good and runs well, I've put on 120 hours in the last 10 years. If I had it to do again I'd look for something with a little better deck that will bag the cuttings, this one doesn't, and the fact that I have to remove it twice a year to clear the caked on cuttings says a lot about the bad deck design.
Chris

Goose69 · Jun 24, 2017

For under $2000, I would look around at dealers for used quality mowers.
.. I just got a 2016 Kubota Kommander Z121s yesterday
It only 100 hours on it for less than $2000 front the same dealer I bought my tractor from.
... it is B&G equipment,
(Awesome,Great, dealer, by the way.)
and they sell Bush Hog commercial mowers, and get lots of like new trade ins.

Tractorable · Jun 24, 2017

Best value? I'd be looking at Husqvarna with the K66 or K72 transmission. It's the transmissions that usually go in riding mowers so spend enough money up front to get a good one. The JD X300 series are great machines but probably more than you want to spend.

Wagtail · Jun 25, 2017

Goose69 said:
For under $2000, I would look around at dealers for used quality mowers.
.. I just got a 2016 Kubota Kommander Z121s yesterday
It only 100 hours on it for less than $2000 front the same dealer I bought my tractor from.
... it is B&G equipment,
(Awesome,Great, dealer, by the way.)
and they sell Bush Hog commercial mowers, and get lots of like new trade ins.

Yep, There's always a few refurbished "previously loved" lawn tractors/mowers at my dealership. Not only JD (their brand) too.

GuiltySpark · Jun 27, 2017

Tractorable said:
Best value? I'd be looking at Husqvarna with the K66 or K72 transmission. It's the transmissions that usually go in riding mowers so spend enough money up front to get a good one. The JD X300 series are great machines but probably more than you want to spend.

I called my buddy at a local JD dealer and was told they don't like to keep used mowers in stock, so they wholesale them out. Turns out he had a used X300 there that needed a battery. He told me if I showed up before the wholesaler did, he'd sell it to me for the same price.

2 hours later, I picked up my X300 paid for the battery and the unit and it's been running great ever since. I've put 55 hours on it since Sept, and it just rolled to 400 this past weekend. We use it almost daily with a poly cart, and I mow about 3 acres with it every 10 days or so. My only complaint is that it's a 42". I've already greased the skids with my wife that I'll be buying at least a 60" or maybe even a 72" ZTR next go round. But I had to have a mower the weekend we took over our new homestead, so I'd still buy it again if I had it to do over.