JD LA115 from Lowes

Shantycoke · Mar 22, 2008

My MIL just got a JD LA115 from Lowes the other day, and I'm concerned about it because of what I've been hearing about them. I am the one who will be doing the routine upkeep and maintenance on it, and my sons are the ones who will use it to mow her 3/4 acre yard. Any concerns I should be aware of?
Thanks for your help.
Pat

EdC · Mar 23, 2008

A lot of people bad mouth the box store Deeres. I don't. We have an L120 that we bought from the Home Depot 5 years ago. Before we bought the 2320 we used that L120 for everthing from hauling rocks in a cart to moving about 25 cubic yards of dirt in that same poor cart. It felt like it took most of a summer. On top of that we used it to mow about an acre of lawn and an acre of "other" that I should really have used a rotary cutter for.

I did replace the air filter, fuel filter and do oil changes per manufacturer's specs and the only trouble we have had with that tractor was the drive belt went out the first summer because it was installed incorrectly. The belt was replaced at a JD dealer under warranty, no questions asked.

Shantycoke · Mar 23, 2008

Hi Ed,
Thanks for the reply and I'm hopeful that she will have the same luck with hers that you did.
I have two Kubotas, a B7800 and a T1570, and am not too familiar with the Deeres. The local Deere dealer stuck it to me pretty good a few years back, and I won't deal with him, but from what I understand, all warranty work will be through him. This may get interesting. Have a good one and Happy Easter.
Pat

TA462 · Jun 2, 2008

I'm looking at the very same model. I have a little over 1/2 an acre to cut. Its very flat and well maintained. I'm sick and tired with cutting my lawn with my old Craftsman push mower and spending an hour and a 1/2 doing it, lol. I know that this model is a light duty rider and doesn't compare to the bigger models but for me I think it might be the right one. I'm not going to be abusing it. I've looked at almost every brand in my price range and this one seems to be the best. How does your MIL like it so far now that she has had it for awhile?

stuart · Jun 4, 2008

I have an L120 for 4 years same as that sold in H/Depot and have used it to mow 3 acres. I am very satisfied with its performance. I have a bagger for it I used once and then decided to mulch thereafter. I bought it for the 46" cut and I would do it again.
Anyone interested in bagger PM me.

TA462 · Jun 4, 2008

Well I bought the LA125 instead of the LA115. My local John Deere dealership didn't have any of the 115's in stock and since I was going to buy the mulching attachment as well I went with the 125 because it came with it standard. I'm glad I went to the dealership instead of Home Depot to buy it. They gave me the same price and they will go over the whole mower, add a full tank of gas and explain everything I need to know about operating it and servicing it on my own before I pick it up on Friday. Home Depot couldn't do that. I know its not a "real" John Deere but this is my very first rider and I can't wait to get it home and cut the grass.

JiminGa · Jun 4, 2008

Shantycoke said:
My MIL just got a JD LA115 from Lowes the other day, and I'm concerned about it because of what I've been hearing about them. I am the one who will be doing the routine upkeep and maintenance on it, and my sons are the ones who will use it to mow her 3/4 acre yard. Any concerns I should be aware of?
Thanks for your help.
Pat

it should do just fine, my only concern would be the operators....I have two boys and know from experience, one of my boys can tear up an anvil.

peterc38 · Jun 4, 2008

My experience has been the same as Ed C. I have a L130 I bought in the fall of 2003. I operated it in many ways I am sure it was not designed for. I have always done the recommended maintenance and it has alwys performed well. Last summer I bought a CUT so now I just use it to mow about 1 1/2 acres of grass.

Killer_B · Jun 5, 2008

I used my neighbor's for a couple of weeks while my Kub was in the shop. It felt like plastic, tin foil and pot metal. But it did the job, and that particular example was evidently more reliable than my Kubota.

KB

Shantycoke · Jun 6, 2008

TA462 said:
I'm looking at the very same model. I have a little over 1/2 an acre to cut. Its very flat and well maintained. I'm sick and tired with cutting my lawn with my old Craftsman push mower and spending an hour and a 1/2 doing it, lol. I know that this model is a light duty rider and doesn't compare to the bigger models but for me I think it might be the right one. I'm not going to be abusing it. I've looked at almost every brand in my price range and this one seems to be the best. How does your MIL like it so far now that she has had it for awhile?

My son is the one who uses it to cut her grass, and he says it's pretty nice to use, but he likes my Kubotas better. I guess it will do the trick for her, and it's nice not to have to go over there and play tractor mechanic every time she needs her grass mowed. My father-in-law, who is now in a better place had an old wheel horse from the 80's, and needed a little help with it's low enthusiasm.
So far, so good.
Pat