Advice on a new John Deere skidsteer
- Thread starter mlangeler
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EquipmentJunkie
Platinum Member
Do your research. I just talked to an owner of a two-year old 250 yesterday...he has had a lot of problems with it. Not all of the problems were covered by the warranty, either. These problems cost a couple of thousand, and that's after the dealer absorbed some of the labor costs. I know that this guy is easy on his equipment, which worried me.
I used to think that the Deere would be my first choice for a skid steer to replace my LX665 New Holland. Now, I'm not so sure.
The Series II machines were supposed to have a number of changes. The specifics of the changes, I don't know.
I used to think that the Deere would be my first choice for a skid steer to replace my LX665 New Holland. Now, I'm not so sure.
The Series II machines were supposed to have a number of changes. The specifics of the changes, I don't know.
radman
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2000
- Messages
- 320
- Tractor
- Kubota L3710, JD5300, AC D19, IH 806, IH 8950, Ford 8N, Farmal Super M, several others in the past.
The early JD skidsteer 200 series had lots of issues, especially the first few years. One JD dealer even steered my away from buy any of the early models. He thought the 2002 and later models had most the of problems worked out. I don't have any first hand knowledge of the series II. I ended up buying a used Bobcat 873 which is similar in size the the JD 260. I did buy some attachments from the JD dealer.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I used to think that the Deere would be my first choice for a skid steer to replace my LX665 New Holland. )</font>
Just goes to show you, there are different pieces of equipment made by the same MFG company and they can really have different quality. Remember that Homelite was made by John Deere and it was junk. I could NEVER get anyone to work on them and the first thing out of repairmen's mouths was: Oh they don't make that any more. The second, they don't make parts for that anymore. John
Just goes to show you, there are different pieces of equipment made by the same MFG company and they can really have different quality. Remember that Homelite was made by John Deere and it was junk. I could NEVER get anyone to work on them and the first thing out of repairmen's mouths was: Oh they don't make that any more. The second, they don't make parts for that anymore. John
yellowsocks93
Veteran Member
I have seen quite a few leaky JD skid loaders in my day. I don't know how good the new ones are since they came out not too long ago but the non series IIs break down. I gotta wash every one that comes in for repair because they are covered in manure, dirt, and hydraulic oil. I prefer Gehl which we also sell.
40Kchicks
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2003
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- 489
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- Western Oregon
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota M9000DTL 2001 JD 2252 Orchard Tractor Cat 216 Skidsteer 1999 JD 450H Dozer 1994 JD 644G wheel loader
When I was looking for a skid steer John Deere brought out a 250 and CAT brought out a 226. My wife took one short ride in the JD and one ride in the CAT and told me we are definitely getting the CAT. The CAT was easier to drive, quieter, had better visibility and was very comfortable. On the other hand the JD had vertical lift, stronger lift, and huge pins in the arm joints. We bought and love the CAT skid steer. Not one problem in three and half years. I couldn’t be happier with this amazing machine.
If I was getting a new skid steer it would be a new CAT with the vertical lift, hydraulic quick attach and a bucket with teeth. I would also make sure and get grouser tracks and forks. The tracks are really important. They turn the skid steer into a unstoppable tank.
One last thing. One time I had the skid steer over at a friends house helping him put in a lawn and got to talking to the contractor building a new house next door. He said that he liked John deere equipment except for the skid steers the company had. He said they hadn’t held up as well as the bobcats they had. These were older JD skid steers that they were using.
Eric
If I was getting a new skid steer it would be a new CAT with the vertical lift, hydraulic quick attach and a bucket with teeth. I would also make sure and get grouser tracks and forks. The tracks are really important. They turn the skid steer into a unstoppable tank.
One last thing. One time I had the skid steer over at a friends house helping him put in a lawn and got to talking to the contractor building a new house next door. He said that he liked John deere equipment except for the skid steers the company had. He said they hadn’t held up as well as the bobcats they had. These were older JD skid steers that they were using.
Eric
OrangeGuy
Gold Member
From my experience, John Deere has been a fairly minor player in the skidsteer market. John Deere dealers in the upper midwest who have success selling skidloaders usually carry the Bobcat Brand and sell it over the John Deere. I would recommend that you check out Bobcats. They invented the skidloader over 40 years ago and still achieve over 50% marketshare. They must be doing something right.
yellowsocks93
Veteran Member
My dad uses a Bobcat to plow the car dealership. The Bobcats have a heck of a nice cab compared to the crap cabs I ride around in at the JD store. I can't believe the poor design of the JD skid steer cabs. They have nice cabs on the rest of their equipment. The door on the skid steers is on a slide that is a pain to work on and open. It slides back up into the cab instead of the Bobcat's and Gehl's hinged car door style cab. Plus the Bobcats and Gehls are a lot better finsished in the inside.