How reliable are JD lawn tractors?

[Dutch61]

I purchased a JD GT series 7 years ago, it's in the 19HP range and now I see JD has consolidated the varied model numbers to X300, X500 and X700. It's going strong and I see no need to replace, but I am considering a replacement diesel unit. The quality of the X is significantly better then the D and this is based on my friend opinions that works for the JD dealer I purchased from and he also assembles them for the box stores. That being said, I'm a big fan of buying used and with your $2000 budget that's what you should consider.

 

[jinman]

These are largely the ramblings of a grey-haired ol' man, but several things come to mind. The Snapper RER the OP is discussing is a single blade fixed height mower with an open engine compartment and a seat-forward operating deck to add weight to the front wheels for good traction and turning. I'm not sure what kind of transmission it has: variable speed or hi-low 2-speed. Those mowers were manufactured for homeowners who didn't have the amount of lawn to justify a large lawn tractor. The RER models are excellent performers on smooth ground and small lawns with lots of tight spots and turns. The Snapper is a great little mower with very limited mechanical functions that change or are adjustable. Somewhere on my junk pile of stuff I intend to carry to the metal recycler, I have a 28" Lawn Boy with 5 hp engine. It was one of my favorite mowers of all time for my city house lawn. It was also nearly bulletproof except for the Briggs & Stratton engine that finally failed.

To try and find something similar today is like running a classified ad in the newspaper for $5/hr laborers. 28 years ago, you may have found somebody worthwhile with that ad, but today you won't have any takers. If you do find someone, they'll be worth less than $5 per hour and probably more of a liability than an asset. It's a bit of a stretch, but I see the JD LA-series and D-series mowers about the same as that low wage laborer. If you want anything out of them, you are gonna have to give them unlimited attention and coaching. With the JD low-end mowers, you can get them to perform, but you'll have to limit what you want them to do and you'll have to spend a lot of time on maintenance. I own one of those mowers and my opinions have been posted in this forum before. Having it to do all over again, I would have spent more money. However, if all I have is $1500 to $2000 to spend today, I'd recommend doing a refurb of that great Snapper or looking in the used market for some value at a bargain price. At today's prices and the added features we want in our lawn tractors, you just can't buy 28-year trouble-free operation like you could in the past. It's a different time and the standards have changed.

 

[John Puican]

How reliable...Purchased John Deere x340 in 2006. At 200 hours K58 transmission needed replaced. Last week (June 19th,2012) replacement K58 transmission died. JD replaced original transmission at 200 hours at no charge even though I had just passed warranty period. I am now at 585 hours when the second one went. I am in discussion with my JD dealer and it sounds like they will be helpful with this 2nd transmission. My main issue is what replacement transmission to get. My research shows numerous problems with the K58 not being able to handle ground contact and hilly environments. I purchased this x340 from JD dealer for $5000 in 2006, because I knew the box store units were not of the same quality so I was willing to go the extra expense for a machine I thought would last me 20 years. The transmission problem in the x300 series involving the durability of the K58 is very evident in many garden tractor blogs, and hopefully JD will resolve this issue. I must say overall the x340 is excellent and my dealer has been very understanding and helpful with my problem. JD realizes the issue with the K58 because they sometimes issue financial assistance with the problem by dealer paying 1/3, JD 1/3, owner 1/3. Average cost of K58 replacement is $1400. My question is should I go to the Tough Torque K66 instead of the replacement K58 which will probably fail again. I mow an acre lot, mostly level, and snow plow a 50 yard driveway. I'm suspecting the snow plowing is too much ground contact for the K58 and I believe JD realizes the weakness of this transmission for this level of garden tractor. I would appreciate any comments or advice because I will be resolving this issue with John Deere this week. I am retired and really can't afford any expense for this. Thanks, John

 

[rekees4300]

My question is should I go to the Tough Torque K66 instead of the replacement K58 which will probably fail again.

I think you would be better off upgrading to the K66. In light of your problems with the X340, perhaps your dealer would be willing to give you a special deal trading it for an X500? Those are much more suited for heavy work like snow plowing. Either way I'm sure there is going to be some expense involved.

 

[buickanddeere]

K58 trans is a lightweight. K66 and up are good. There are different torque and option versions of the K58 and K66 . Find out what first. The operator may also be the problem, some folk figure thier ordinary usage is ordinary rather than aggressive. Any kids operating the tractor going Instantly from max fwd to rev etc at max speed and rpm? Make certain the. K66 has diff lock. I've also seen operators that never used synthetic oil or cleaned dirt from cooling fins.

 

[Boris1]

Just so I'm certain, is k66 in the x540?

 

[rekees4300]

Just so I'm certain, is k66 in the x540?

No the X500 series has a different transmission called Kanzaki K72B. Haven't read anything about transmission problems in that series.

 

[Boris1]

That's good news! (I think?).

 

[jenkinsph]

That's good news! (I think?).

The x540 is an excellent lawn mower and you should get many years of good service from it.
Also like your signature line, dogs are a major benefit to my life.

 

[John Puican]

rekees...thank you for your response. I would love to upgrade to the x500 but was forced to retire after being laid off in 2009. JD mentioned they would install the K66 if I purchased it. Don't know yet how much the K66 costs but it seems senseless to put a K58 back in knowing it will eventually fail. My opinion is if JD, which I consider one of the best quality tractors available, produced a $5000 garden tractor that has snow plow capability, but has a transmission incapable of handling ground contact operations,or hilly terrain, then the upgrade to a K66 should be provided by JD at no charge. Also, the number of complaints regarding the K58 appears to be extensive, so hopefully I can work out something with JD at minimal or no cost. If any one else has dealt with this situation I would appreciate your feedback.

 

[Boris1]

Thanks, I agree. It's just a shame that they can't live longer. Heres a pic of our new one. He's six months old now. Our last one made it 13 1/2 years till cancer took him .

 

[jenkinsph]

Nice puppy, hope you have many good years.

 

[jhonb]

These are largely the ramblings of a grey-haired ol' man, but several things come to mind. The Snapper RER the OP is discussing is a single blade fixed height mower with an open engine compartment and a seat-forward operating deck to add weight to the front wheels for good traction and turning. I'm not sure what kind of transmission it has: variable speed or hi-low 2-speed. Those mowers were manufactured for homeowners who didn't have the amount of lawn to justify a large lawn tractor. The RER models are excellent performers on smooth ground and small lawns with lots of tight spots and turns. The Snapper is a great little mower with very limited mechanical functions that change or are adjustable. Somewhere on my junk pile of stuff I intend to carry to the metal recycler, I have a 28" Lawn Boy with 5 hp engine. It was one of my favorite mowers of all time for my city house lawn. It was also nearly bulletproof except for the Briggs & Stratton engine that finally failed.

To try and find something similar today is like running a classified ad in the newspaper for $5/hr laborers. 28 years ago, you may have found somebody worthwhile with that ad, but today you won't have any takers. If you do find someone, they'll be worth less than $5 per hour and probably more of a liability than an asset. It's a bit of a stretch, but I see the JD LA-series and D-series mowers about the same as that low wage laborer. If you want anything out of them, you are gonna have to give them unlimited attention and coaching. With the JD low-end mowers, you can get them to perform, but you'll have to limit what you want them to do and you'll have to spend a lot of time on maintenance. I own one of those mowers and my opinions have been posted in this forum before. Having it to do all over again, I would have spent more money. However, if all I have is $1500 to $2000 to spend today, I'd recommend doing a refurb of that great Snapper or looking in the used market for some value at a bargain price. At today's prices and the added features we want in our lawn tractors, you just can't buy 28-year trouble-free operation like you could in the past. It's a different time and the standards have changed.

Are you bragging that you still have hair, or complaining that it is grey?:laughing: forgot what color mine was, and I mean was...
I am not sure if I have posted in this thread before, but My LA120 is on it's 6 mowing season and has not given me any problems at all. Not even a new belt. I change the oil and filters, grease her up once a year. I also giver her a bath a few times during the season. So some of us can get great service out of a new1600 machine, and know the first two years at least, will be fixed free. For me, I need to get three more seasons out of it, and I will throw it in with the house when I sell it.

 

[jinman]

I am not sure if I have posted in this thread before, but My LA120 is on it's 6 mowing season and has not given me any problems at all. Not even a new belt. I change the oil and filters, grease her up once a year. I also giver her a bath a few times during the season. So some of us can get great service out of a new1600 machine, and know the first two years at least, will be fixed free.

If you live close to the dealer you can get it serviced "almost" free for the warranty period, but you still have to transport it two ways and that is even worse for those of us who live 35 miles from the dealer. I think you are lucky to have the LA120 without the electric clutch and also with a 42" deck. Both of those things help reduce stress on the deck pulleys, idlers, and belts. It seems lots of folks have more luck with similar models. I have discovered that taking the advice of the folks on TBN and not washing out the deck with water and being careful to not get water on top of the idlers (and into the bearings) has extended my deck's life. For the first time this year, I have had no failures of idlers or spindles. I have greased the spindles every 4th time I mow since it takes about 2 hours to mow my lawn and I think 8 hr is good between spindle greasings. I think I now have 175 hours on the mower, so with cost and repairs, if it fails today, I've paid $16/hr for the mowing time. I'd sure like to get that down to below $10/hr before sending my LA145 to mower heaven. The problem with inexpensive mowers is that some will be like yours and completely trouble free and others will have continual problems; both with the same use and maintenance. It's a roll of the dice.

 

[jinman]

I am not sure if I have posted in this thread before, but My LA120 is on it's 6 mowing season and has not given me any problems at all. Not even a new belt. I change the oil and filters, grease her up once a year. I also giver her a bath a few times during the season. So some of us can get great service out of a new1600 machine, and know the first two years at least, will be fixed free.

If you live close to the dealer you can get it serviced "almost" free for the warranty period, but you still have to transport it two ways and that is even worse for those of us who live 35 miles from the dealer. I think you are lucky to have the LA120 without the electric clutch and also with a 42" deck. Both of those things help reduce stress on the deck pulleys, idlers, and belts. It seems lots of folks have more luck with similar models. I have discovered that taking the advice of the folks on TBN and not washing out the deck with water and being careful to not get water on top of the idlers (and into the bearings) has extended my deck's life. For the first time this year, I have had no failures of idlers or spindles. I have greased the spindles every 4th time I mow since it takes about 2 hours to mow my lawn and I think 8 hr is good between spindle greasings. I think I now have 175 hours on the mower, so with cost and repairs, if it fails today, I've paid $16/hr for the mowing time. I'd sure like to get that down to below $10/hr before sending my LA145 to mower heaven. The problem with inexpensive mowers is that some will be like yours and completely trouble free and others will have continual problems; both with the same use and maintenance. It's a roll of the dice.

 

[buickanddeere]

K72 is an even beefier unit. K66 and up are considered "ground engaging" anything less is a toy.

 

[bigtiller]

K72 is an even beefier unit. K66 and up are considered "ground engaging" anything less is a toy.

I sure would like to know what you are talking about. A little help please.

 

[John Puican]

Thanks for feedback. I was aware of the K72 but I noticed on blogs that sometimes you have to change other parts or brackets. Would the K66 or K72 be installable on the JD x340 without other modifications. I would really like to install a transmission that is going to be able to handle the functions I purchased the X340 for and at a cost of $5000 I would like it to last as long as possible. I thoroughly maintain this mower for that reason, and purposely did not buy the box store version. Had I known about the K58 weakness in the X340 I probably would have gone to the X500 version 6 years ago when I could afford it. I'm retired now and can't do that so I need to repair this tractor with a transmission that will last.

 

[jhonb]

I sure would like to know what you are talking about. A little help please.

He is saying that he has a big tractor, and if you don't have one you are beneath him.

 

[buickanddeere]

He is saying that he has a big tractor, and if you don't have one you are beneath him.

Sigh..................................................Quote"K72 is an even beefier unit. K66 and up are considered "ground engaging" anything less is a toy" Unquote.
When shopping for a replacement hydrostat trans axle for your 100,300 or other series that uses the lightweight "toy" K46,K57 or K58. The K66 is a HD ground engaging unit designed to haul the weight of the tractor and pull a load. The K72 is an even heavier duty version of the K66 with more pump capacity. The K66 is usually an almost bolt in while the K72 may require some tweaking.