JD quality

[gowitheflo]

I'm shopping for a garden tractor and considered JD for it's rep. But I've been reading some negative things about JD, particularly the 100 series. Now I'm a little nervous about buying JD. How does Husqvarna, Kubota, Simplicity etc compare to JD?

 

[jonyyuma]

You might just need to keep reading about all of them. It take months to digest the data. BUT if I made and sold a stainless steel hammer and sold it with a fiberglass handle, then someone would not like it..JD makes good stuff, some of it is cheaper for a reason...Not as heavy duty as other models...My neighbor uses his MOWER for a bushhog and then complains about it breaking....Of course there are some bad models or designs..Time usually tells----then they change it??

 

[Tenn_Blue]

Deere, like many other manufacturers, makes different levels of product, sometimes to meet price points. No matter what the product is, when you build to compete at a price point, you make compromises and sacrifices.....

The "bottom tier" of Deere equipment has been built to compete with cheap mowers and mass distribution at the "big box stores." Not saying it is necessarily a bad product, but they won't take as much use/abuse as the more expensive models.

Another example is briggs (or kohler, or...) engines. They make a a base model with plain bearings, splash lubrication, aluminum cylinders, etc. Much cheaper than the "commercial grade" product by the same manufacturer, which have ball bearings, iron liners, pressure lube, etc. The cheaper engine would work fine for what many of us would use it for, but don't expect to use it for many years in a daily use mower...

But back to Deere..:laughing:

Personal opinion here, but I don't think even the upper tier Deere mowers are built as well as they used to be. Manufacturers don't overbuild to last anymore! I have 2 older garden tractors, both from the 70's; a ford LGT165 and a Deere 316K. Both lived hard lives before I got them. Both came with heavy(!!!) steel frames and cast iron engines (that can be easily rebuilt). Both still going strong and with moderate care, will outlast me! I don't think a modern Deere product will be around and in that kind of shape in 40+ years!

But depends on what you want, how much you want to pay, what you want it to do, and how long you want it to last....

Read the posts - lots of OPINIONS on here :thumbsup:

 

[s219]

The JD 100 series are a low cost department store tractor. It's intended to meet a certain price point (cheap!), and I think it competes well with other brands in that same low end of the market. But I wouldn't recommend one. Unless price is your only factor, I'd recommend you spend more and get into an X300 or X500, which is a "proper" Deere to me. I have a ten year old Deere "LT" model that is equivalent to a modern X500, and it's been great.

Bottom line is you get what you pay for, and brand is not so important in that low end of the market.

 

[jonyyuma]

Amen, Brother, some of what I was trying to say too. My old jd had a alum engine and no bearings. I replaced with Com. Ind BS engine..The spindles are steel and bearing changes are easy..But i believe it is 1981 model. ALL MFRS are trying to stay in business, and they supply what the market can stand. MY Famous comparison is JD and Kubota Quality againest the cheapies, mainly chinese clones. BUT there are people here Whom love thiers and a totally satified . Opinions.

 

[tractchores]

For what its worth i've got a JD garden tractor from 1986. It's still running strong and it has been very abused (used as a brushog, used to haul stuff, used to skid some logs and a bunch of other stuff). I still use it for mowing and hauling stuff today. In 26 years its never broken down or needed to go to the dealer for anything but a tune up. My parents bought a newer version (it's the biggest garden tractor they make without PTO and a FEL). They like that one far less and it's broken down twice in 2 years with light use (mowing a hilly 3 acre lawn). For whatever reason they're not built like they used to be. Does that make it any better or worse than any other new model out there? I don't know, but I think the quality overall of that class of machine has gone down. When it came time to buy my bigger tractor I went with Kubota because of my personal impressions of quality and because I felt like I got a LOT more for my money. My point is that things change over time and between lines from a manufacturer, so I'd find folks with the exact model you're considering and/or look closely at it to make your own assessment about the quality of the machine.

 

[gowitheflo]

Thanks for your opinions and info.

 

[BobOB1775]

I spent a lot of time looking at all of the riding mowers and lawn tractors and ended up buying a 1987 JD 165 on E-Bay. I wanted something heavy duty but didn't have the budget for one of the more robust mowers. I did luck out and found one locally.

I decided on the older model because I still could find lots of parts, even used ones on E-Bay. I'm on my second motor, but will re-build the Kawasaki this year so I have it for a spare. I use the tractor for mowing, pushing snow and moving dirt. It takes a beating.

If I ever break it, I'd go for one of the 300 series tractors. I would not buy one at the big box stores. I've read many comments regarding big box stores and agree, you will get much better results and people that know the product.

Do your homework. This forum is a great place to get answers. I've had great results from many fine members. Let us know what you end up with. Best wishes!:thumbsup:

 

[Bryan59EC]

I have 2 Lxxxgarden tractors.

Mypersona opinion is that there is nothing wrong with the tractor or engine,
but the transaxles suck.
Too small a transaxle for what people want a garden tractor for.

I live in a hilly sandy area (3 acres)and that will take a toll on the tractor.
Sand gets everywhere and does some damage.

Last year I ha to replace the deck as the sand had blsted right thru it and you could see the blades a spinnin' (350hours on this tractor--2002---L120)

Bought a another (L130) last year with 100 hours on it, and this spring---both transaxles failed.

Put a bigger and better trans in the L120 this lat week, and will attempt to rebuild he trans in the L130 here in the near future..

They both have really paid for themselves, and it ias still less money to repair than to replace, so I will keep them going 'til they rot away.

 

[jenkinsph]

I think it depends on what your expectations are, lots of people want a garden tractor for the price of a riding lawn mower. Many of these people buy the riding lawn mower and try to use it in roles that require a garden tractor and these cheaper lighter built models can't take the abuse. They then complain here.

From what I see the better Deere riding mowers start with the x310 and up, the garden tractors start with the x700 series. The x500 series are more capable than the x300 series on rougher terrain, they are stronger with a better transmission, larger tires and can pull much better.

At any rate which one to buy depends on your planned uses, simply mowing can be done with the x310 and up with a good life expectancy.