John Deere 830A Review / Experience

[MooreSites]

Still lovin' this machine (830A). I again relay the ease of cleaning out clippings above the deck. The sheer speed is amazing. I admittedly have flat land in many places - otherwise couldn't go near as fast. I did have to slow down last week due to heavy growth from all the rain, but the JD didn't choke - kept a steady cut.

As for the stalling issue, all is well up my large hillsides. The only time I can even get close to stressing the engine is on a quick turn around, then full throttle. Noticed this on comparable Exmark/Scag too.

One thing I do notice is there are a few more areas that are prone to scalping than I remember with my old Cub Cadet. Possibly the larger cutting width, possibly the different way the deck floats. This isn't too big of a deal to me given my terrain, but something to take into account.

 

[two_bit_score]

Still lovin' this machine (830A). I again relay the ease of cleaning out clippings above the deck. The sheer speed is amazing. I admittedly have flat land in many places - otherwise couldn't go near as fast. I did have to slow down last week due to heavy growth from all the rain, but the JD didn't choke - kept a steady cut.

As for the stalling issue, all is well up my large hillsides. The only time I can even get close to stressing the engine is on a quick turn around, then full throttle. Noticed this on comparable Exmark/Scag too.

One thing I do notice is there are a few more areas that are prone to scalping than I remember with my old Cub Cadet. Possibly the larger cutting width, possibly the different way the deck floats. This isn't too big of a deal to me given my terrain, but something to take into account.

Thanks for the updates. I'll be following your thread with a lot of interest. I'm looking at the 810 so your experience will be very helpful.

 

[AlabamaTractor]

I have an 840 bought last year...have had nothing but TROUBLE with it. It has 210 hrs. The only good thing is the hydraulic deck...don't know how long it will hold up. I put 50+ hrs on a loaner mower since last year. Hope you have better luck than I did.

 

[MooreSites]

Sorry to hear that, Alabama. I read extensive reviews and experiences as well with the 840 and 820 models. This was definitely a shot in the dark as to getting a good mower. After testing this, I was sold. I mowed two days ago over my whole yard (12 acres or so). Still rock solid. I threw the master spring (that holds the belt drive tension) for some weird reason a few weeks ago. Talk about nervous! The drive halted and I thought it was the beginning of a long road of maintenance heartache. But, I re-positioned and all is well.

To new potential owners, I think the new models are improved. Seems like the 830A was the best of that old bunch (in my case anyway).

 

[deere830a]

whats up....

I bought my third deere last spring, a 830a with the 72 inch deck....LOVE IT!!!!

this is one bad dog.

I own 10 acres and 3 john deere machines now.

Big deere is a 4300 tractor, its bullet proof...I used to mow my property with this machine..used too...

Little deere is a LT 160 42 inch cut, my old trimmer mower

New deere is the 830a w/ 72" cut....bad boy he is.

The only complaint is wheel spin but I think that is operator error which I am getting better with...

My church has an older exmark, or what ever they are called....complete piece of junk with over 1500 hours on it!!!! the wiring is a basket case, all the switches need replaced you can no longer adjust the deck height...IMO a mower like these should last a lot longer than 1500 hrs. My big deere 4300 has almost 1000 hrs on her and she has worked hard between mowing and landscaping and moving rocks and so forth, rocks so large that the bucket on the loader is splitting...BUT she is tough as nails, no wiring issues or bad switches and so forth.

The 830A is built just like my 4300, tough as nails. My JD dealers sells both the exmark and the deere so I parked the two side by side and the exmark looked like a toy, I suggest any buyers do the same!!!


Happy as all get out....and the 830a will go well beyond the 1500 hrs...easy, more like 5000 hrs before being in the shape of the exmark I know....


peace out

 

[rkeyman]

I have a Ztrak 830a bought in Sept 2008. It currently has about 200 hrs on the clock. I mow mostly lawns in the hilly, rough, rocky, central Arkansas area and most "lawns" are from 2 to 4 acres and include bermuda and various field grasses. My main problems have been drive belt life in the 70 hour range, rear wheel slippage, a couple of broken anti-scalp wheels and a minor leak in one of the pump/motors that will be replaced under warranty at the end of this mowing season. Other than that it has been a beast, going through any grass I have thrown at it and taking hills without any problems. JD redesigned the drive belt, and the one I have on it now is the new design so I will know shortly whether it will last more than 70 hours. I have to say that overall, I have been quite satisfied with the mower. It is truly a TANK and handles rough terrain without a whimper.

 

[MooreSites]

Hey, thanks for all the great feedback on this thread. At the risk of broken record syndrome, my 830A is still thrilling me. I just started my 2nd season with it and all is in great order. I just wanted to post this to keep my experience updated. Have a great summer, everyone.

 

[RollingsFarms]

i just bought a 910A w/ 54" deck yesterday. has exactly 0.4 hours on the clock. haven't had a chance to cut much with it except a few strips yesterday afternoon, just trying to get the feel of it and so far i'm impressed!:thumbsup: now, don't let me fool you, i'm coming from a 42" Z225(the kind you buy from Lowes except i bought mine through my JD dealer), so it would be almost impossible for a commercial grade mower not to make me :drool: after years of owning nothing but Murray's, Snappers, and a Z225. i just made up my mind that i wanted a mower that was going to last me more then 2-3 seasons. i bought it only to do my yard with, so this thing should last me a good long while. i can't compare the 900 series to the older 800 series, but i will say that i shopped Hustler & Exmark and this mower doesn't take a back seat to either one in my opinion. i paid $7,250 for all you price shoppers out there, and i don't see any reason why i won't get every penny's worth out of it.