John Deere sold at Lowes & HD

[Builder]

Any truth to the rumor that these are "watered down" JD lawn tractors? That's what i've been hearing.

I can't believe how much cheaper a 26HP JD 120 was than my 18HP GT235 was way back in 2001!!!

I'm thinking my local John deere dealer either burned me for my GT235 or these new JD "100" series must be a lesser-built tractor?

Anyone know the truth?

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I am wondering th esame thing. I have a 2003 Gt 225 that I paid about $5500 for. Nice tractor, but a 26 HP tractor at Lowes with a 54" deck is $2700!!!

I have been considering a LA130 as a second tractor, but i am concerned that it is cheaply made.

 

[VABlue]

Others can give you far more detail, but my research showed me that the box store JDs are built to compete at the low end. Meaning that they are not comparable to the better JD mowers you get directly from the dealers. I researched the X500 and X700 series before buying and learned that they are far stronger machines than the LA series. Better shafts, stronger decks, better engines, etc. Overall, just a much better quality of build than you would expect out of a box store machine.

I don't think you were 'taken' on the costs of your machines from the dealers...

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

This is how pretty much all the outdoor power equipment is at the box stores. Top to bottom, all these guys care about is selling at a low price and they will kill the quality of anything they sell to do it. I've heard some increadible speeches from the guys at Stihl about the meetings they have had with them and why they will never sell there. Did you know that most anything with a Honda engine on it in a box store is actually a Chineese engines with a Honda sticker...?

 

[bontai_Joe]

Most "box tores" sell entry level tractors and mowers. The HP numbers are misleading as that is a marketing ploy. A 25 or 27 HP light duty lawn tractor is not stronger and better than a 20 HP garden tractor rated for use pulling a plow, cultivators, etc. You need to look at more than HP numbers, you need to look at frame construction, engine design life, axle size, serviceability of the hydrostatic unit, ratings for pulling an airator, or garden cultivation tools. It's like comparing a light duty imported pick-up truck vs. a full size pickup truck. Yep they are both trucks, might both have the same HP, but the full size one will haul more weight with less strain than the smaller truck.

 

[Builder]

I hated to see JD go to "the box". I think it was a BIG mistake, like when they made the "Sabre" tractors. They were a flop. My JD dealer was really upset when they started selling them at lowes. He said he won't service them, even if they're under warranty.

I see some Milwaukee tools in the boxes now, too.

 

[thatguy]

From my observations it appears that the Lowes/HD JD lawn/garden tractors are sold through/prepped by/ and/or serviced by a local dealer - there is usually a local dealer sticker on the tractor or the dealer name on the board were you drop your warranty card.. I would also guess if a dealer wont service one from a Box, its just because he isnt the dealer associated with that store.

I think I heard/read that Lowes and HD sell similar models (but just the exactly the same model number) My dad was able to get better price at a local dealer for the L130 (or L135) than at Lowes/HD

there was a previous thread regarding the same topice and what I got out of it was, as already stated - the Box JD's are priced to sell against the comparable models of the competition. If you go to the 300 and up series the price goes up, but you get bigger/better components..

brian

 

[thatguy]

here is the link i was refering to...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/lawn-garden/81595-lawn-tractor-jd-vs-craftsman.html

 

[Volfandt]

The 100 series JD's sold at HD & Lowes are the "economy" models and they are also sold at JD dealerships at the same price. JD sets the price and both the box stores and the dealers sell at this set price.
The 100 series is designed to compete pricewise w/the Craftsmen and MTD made riders.
These are good lawn tractors but they are the economy
offerings.
Traditionalist JD L&G owners knock them for the most part but they seem to provide good performance for the price.

 

[Builder]

The 100 series JD's sold at HD & Lowes are the "economy" models and they are also sold at JD dealerships at the same price. JD sets the price and both the box stores and the dealers sell at this set price.
The 100 series is designed to compete pricewise w/the Craftsmen and MTD made riders.
These are good lawn tractors but they are the economy
offerings.
Traditionalist JD L&G owners knock them for the most part but they seem to provide good performance for the price.

Since you have seat time on the "Box store" 100 series, can you compare it performance wise to a JD "GT" series garden tractor? I want to find out from someone like you who has experience with them what's the real deal on these.

 

[Volfandt]

I owned an 04 L130 for a season. 23hp w/a 48" deck. It mowed very well, the mulching kit worked good, the bagger also worked good and was easy to mount/dismount. The HST barely whined and I never bogged down the 23hp Kohler when mowing.
Only mechanical negative I had with it was that the CV Kohler smoked on cold startup way to much for my likeing. I'm not a big fan of the Kohler CV Command where as I think the Kohler K series is the best air cooled engine ever made.
I also found out that none of the 3 JD dealers in my area wanted to provide warranty service work on it, one of which was the assigned dealer. I finally got a Kohler authorized shop to repair the defective reed valves and after the repair I decided to not deal with my local JD dealers. But thats another story
I then sold it for what I had in it (JD sells) and bought a Kubota BX23.

Since you have seat time on the "Box store" 100 series, can you compare it performance wise to a JD "GT" series garden tractor

Can't compare it to any other JD L&G tractor as I've never operated another.
I would venture to say that a 100 series would compare similar in operation to a 200 or 300 series that had the same HST (Tuff TorQ K46) and similar HP, but I'd also say that the 200 or 300 series will have a better engine (Kawasaki as compared to the B&S), thicker frame, stouter steering assembly and more ergonomics. Gotta justify the extra $$$'s.
That said, For an inexpensive economy mower the 100 series seem to be a good deal.

 

[VABlue]

That's just it - its an "inexpensive economy mower". Its built for surburbanites to cut their half acre and pull a cart with mulch. Maybe a small blade for plowing a 50' driveway. And it does that well, but if you want/need heavy duty usage on rough terrain don't buy one. Or, at least, be very careful with it.

 

[Builder]

That's just it - its an "inexpensive economy mower". Its built for surburbanites to cut their half acre and pull a cart with mulch. Maybe a small blade for plowing a 50' driveway. And it does that well, but if you want/need heavy duty usage on rough terrain don't buy one. Or, at least, be very careful with it.

Think they're made in China?

 

[VABlue]

I don't think they're Chinese, but I have read elsewhere on this board that they are also not made by Deere. I have no clue who builds them...

 

[Volfandt]

but if you want/need heavy duty usage on rough terrain don't buy one. Or, at least, be very careful with it.

They aren't designed to be garden tractors, hense their less expensive price. They are lawn tractors so heavy duty usage isn't in their design. They do well for what they are designed for which is mowing, towing up to 700 lbs, working a snowthrower and snow blade.
I mowed 4 acres with the L130 for an entire season and it did just fine.

Think they're made in China?

They are made in a JD plant located Greenville, TN.
The Tuff Torq HST (for all L&G tractors) is made in Morristown TN.
Don't know where the B&S is made but I suspect Japan.
FWIW there is a Kawasaki air cooled engine plant (again, for all L&G tractors)in the same industrial park as the Tuff Torq HST plant in Morristown TN.

The starter(s) and other electronic components are probably made in a Denzo plant in Maryville and/or Athens TN.

Most of tires for L&G tractors are also manufactured in TN.

Now not all of the Tuff Torq HST's or Kawasaki engines are made in TN but these are major manufacturing plants.
And yes, these same components are installed in the more expensive 200 & 300 series JD's ;D

 

[LBrown59]

I don't think you were 'taken' on the costs of your machines from the dealers...

The Box stores are the takers.

 

[unit40]

I had a 2002 Scotts L2548. I traded it in for a Deere X744. The John Deere L series were and still are a great bargain for people shopping in that price range. Deere has the best repair history, and knows how to build tractors. They will build one to compete with the others and will naturally make a superior product. My 25 HP v-twin Briggs in the Scotts was loud, thirsty but powerful, and would leave a burn spot in the grass if I left it running while parked. My 24 HP Yanmar diesel will drag that thing around the block. But I went from a $2700 tractor to a $13,000 tractor and everytime I fire it up I realize to myself....It doesn't get any better than this!!

 

[Builder]

I was just hoping it wasn't some cheap chinese crap.

 

[Fordlords]

I don't know of any Chinese made lawn or garden tractors in the USA. Some might have a few Chinese components such as bulbs or ?, but for the most part even the cheapest models of Craftsman, Deere, Cub, etc are made in the USA and have mostly USA made components. Even Kohler's economy Courage and Briggs Intek engines are made in the USA. Tuff Torq who makes JD's transaxles is owned by Yanmar, but they build them in the USA, much the same deal of the Kawasaki engines they use on some models.

There isn't much of a profit margin on the lower priced tractors, and manufacturers have to fill that gap with their higher end, higher priced, and usually higher quality machines. (The same holds true for automobiles.) Most American companies that exclusively produced bottom end discount store push mowers and tractors have gone bankrupt, as it is nearly impossible to hold that end alone without building the mahines in China. Murray for instance, even after being bought out by a Chinese holding company, still could not build exclusively low end machines at a profit in the USA. At their end in 2004 it was estimated the company lost $10 for every push mower they built. They owed over $30 million to Briggs and Stratton when they folded.

People ask then why do companies like Cub and Deere even make low end machines? The simple answer is that they hope every customer will want to move up to something bigger and better in the future, or look to their company for buying other types of lawn and garden equipment. They know not every potential new buyer will hop on a $2500+ machine, so they hope by having their equipment out in the low end segment they can attract people to their name. Incidentally, the low end segment is also the most competitive.

-Fordlords-

 

[VABlue]

Unit40

I'm curious... When I was searching for a new mower, I looked into the X5 and X7 series. One of the things I wanted to do is clear some woods for yard, so I wanted a big, heavy duty tractor. My dealer showed me the X5, but didn't have any X7's. He did say he would order me one if I wanted it, but didn't want to sell it. For the same money the 2305 was a prettier option (at least for me). So my question for you is what pushed you into the X744 at the same cost of the 2305?