Looking for advice on used John Deere lawn tractors

[vlmuke]

I am about to retire my 1965 Simplicity Broadmoor, I have had it for 17 years and still runs but needs some work, takes a procedure to get it running so its hard for the woman to use it, but i am looking to retire it and get a used tractor my budget is 700 there is a auction that has several John Deere for sale they have 2 111 one hydro and one gear, a Gt 262 and a D105 with a bagger which one of these would be suggested I mean I got 17 years from the simplicity and its 52 years old and would lke to get about the same

 

[hosspuller]

Forget the hydro units... get a geared unit and it'll last as long as the engine is properly cared for.

 

[not2old]

I've heard there is a big difference between the dealer models and what the box stores sell. My BIL's experience confirms this. He's repaired it at what appears to me to be a ridiculous cost several times, and is now going to place it with something different. A friend paid noticeably more for a similar dealer model about the same time and is yet to do any repairs.

 

[hosspuller]

Deere mowers at the box stores are made to compete price wise with the MTD, Poulan, etc. You get what you pay for. Even the Deere consumer mowers are inferior to the Deere commercial mowers, sold at the same dealer. Their price is commensurate to their performance and longevity.

 

[vlmuke]

So it sounds like the D105 is a Box store tractor, what at the Gt262
or should I stick with 111 there is also a stx 38 as well

 

[Sysop]

I wouldn't buy a Deere with a stamped deck. Most of the Deeres that have a stamped deck, if you look closely, there is a Craftsman model that is built the same except a few minor things that keep parts from being interchangeable. Parts for the Deere are always more expensive (and they're no better quality when shopping in the sub-$3k market).

 

[forgeblast]

I went looking at all of the new deeres, heard horror stories about the transmissions and which ones they had were. Same with the Husqvarna tractors. Then had a 89 jd 318 with 600 hrs on it become available. I added all new gas lines, switches, and put in an electronic fuel pump. Its a beast, handled 3' of snow when we had the blizzard too.
Its a great tractor if you can find it.

 

[MF283]

I ran a GT242 for 19 years, the only thing that broke was the throttle cable. Regular maintenance was all that it ever needed. I hated selling it, mom-n-law got sick & I had to start mowing her 2 acres as well as my 2 acres & went with a ZTR to cut the time down.
My choice would be the 262 providing it appears to have been taken care of. Who knows what the D series will do, JD & the hardware stores both have them, JD set's the mowers up for them & will do the warranty & service.
If I were buying new, i'd look at the X series with the KAW engines & high capacity decks, beefier frames, bigger wheels & tires.
My .02 cents worth.

Ronnie

 

[jenkinsph]

If it looks to be cared for I would go with the GT 262 of the models you listed.

 

[leonz]

If at all possible avoid a JD or other lawn tractor with a belt driven mower or snow blower After owning this LA115 for 6 years with a belly mower and a 44 inch snowblower and spending a mortage payment and more on spare parts and snow blower chutes I would never buy another hydro tractor with belt driven mower implements or a mid mount belt driven snow blower.

I bought my LA115 brand new with the attachments as it was crated unsold inventory from the dealer and its still junk.

I looked at the X series and I was not impressed. To me it amounts to buying a souped up go cart with many of the same issues with drive belts and pulleys and its still too small to use the year round effectively.

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Candidly I wish I had the 12 horse IHC cub hydro lawn tractor or the 4 cylinder low boy we had that I grew up with they were so much better built and I could still have a single stage snow thrower that was made from heavy steel not plastic parts.