John Deere at Lowes

[OilPatch197]

The John Deere riding mowers the are selling at Lowes, can anyone comment on these? I believe the model numbers are the L150, L130 and the L120. I have heard that these are a generic version of the John Deere...any comments?

Seems like business is business, and more statisfied customers should be good business - right ? It makes me wonder if these snobby JD dealers showed the same disdain the very first time JD came up with an affordable LT , the STX or any sub 2k machine . I doubt it , as I think they see the box store versions as cutting into their sales , so therefor they see any JD sold at HD or Lowes as the enemy .

That is they see customers buying a cheap version of a very good product and getting turned off of the brand if it turns out to be unreliable as opposed to getting good service out of a machine then upgrading in acreage and buying an upgrade JD machine from the dealer . Which is the way the JD dealers who service the box store machines seem to look at the situation .

 

[Mac]

Well, I had been a long believer in JD. I had my 185 for almost 18 years. Started having troubles with it so I bought a LT155 from a dealer. First year went good but in the next two-three years it was in the shop three times for the same fuel problems, flooding. Mechanics just couldn't figure it out. Gave it to a guy at work and he had it fixed and running in a week. Diaphram leaking was all it was. You do mention a cheap version and that's just what they are, not inexpensive but cheap. Hated the safety features on it, actually found them dangerous with the two directional pedal and the button you have to push to change direction,
Dave

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I bet it irritates them.

They run to the box stores because they are cheaper, then they drag it back to the John Deere dealer that they didn't buy it from and expect red carpet service on a machine the dealer couldn't match the price of because the box store that buys by the truckload.

IMO, the dealer makes or breaks a brand. If they can't service them or stock parts for them, I would never buy from them.

The L120 and L130 have been out of production for five years, and there is no such thing as an L150. Both Home Depot and my local JD dealer show the LA105 and LA115, no pricing online for my local dealer.

I haven't been around the new ones much, but like the old ones.

 

[chvlfrk]

Fyi>>>

The John Deere's & Cub Cadet's sold at Home Depot & Lowes ARE NOT TRUE JD's/CC's........they are made by MTD (same JUNK sold under the names of Huskee, Yardman, Murray, etc) and JD & CC sell them the right to fly their flags and the unknowingly public thinks their gettin a bargain for a JD & CC.

YES, it's BS, but that's a FACT, I have a friend that works on the small engine stuff and he's the one that let me in on the supposed secret....

I personally have a 97 JD 170 and my Son has a 99 JD 175, both of which were purchased at the local JD dealer, Richey Tractor.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well, I had been a long believer in JD. I had my 185 for almost 18 years. Started having troubles with it so I bought a LT155 from a dealer. First year went good but in the next two-three years it was in the shop three times for the same fuel problems, flooding. Mechanics just couldn't figure it out. Gave it to a guy at work and he had it fixed and running in a week. Diaphram leaking was all it was. You do mention a cheap version and that's just what they are, not inexpensive but cheap. Hated the safety features on it, actually found them dangerous with the two directional pedal and the button you have to push to change direction,
Dave

If I bought a new mower, I would be bypassing a lot of switches.

The parents have a SX-95 which is by no means new, but it drives me nuts when the deck shuts off everytime you back up.

IMHO the best mower I have found is the 68. Tough, cheap to fix and all around bulletproof. It doesn't put your head in the tree branches like the tractors, and hugs a hill like no other. That old 8hp Briggs (gasp single digit hp ) just goes and goes on virtually no fuel... always on the first pull.

 

[straycat]

Lowe's has been selling the JD for some time now. I know several people who bought the JD and have had no issues. It is a very good product and if the JD manufacturer was even the least bit upset about Lowe's selling this product I am sure they would have gone to court about it by now. I never had any issues with any MTD products I have bought and mine always last a long, long time. I just sell them after a few years and buy a new one because another item comes out and maybe I just like the new feature.

Ace Hardware is selling Craftsman products. I bought several things from them last year. You get the same warranty as well.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

If the JD/Cub Cadet are made by the same company I'd never buy one... We had a residential Cub ZTR that would not do anything but breakdown... We got a Hustler after that and never have problems with it...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

With decent care, most anything will last longer than you care to look at it.

Most of what comes in the shop is deck related stuff. Blades, pulleys/bearings, springs... that kind of stuff. Engine problems are usually from running old fuel or not checking oil. Had a tiller that the guy changed the oil but forgot to refill it and it threw a rod. Yard Man, Ranch King, Deere, Husky it all comes in for about the same stuff.

Long story short, not surprisingly the part that gives the most trouble is what people use to try to cut rocks, branches, sticks, stumps... whatever is the deck.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I'll stick with my Craftsman tractors. I've gotten to operate a White, a new JD and an older JD. The older JD wasn't bad, the new one rapidly got annoying having to press the button to back up and I don't think it really cut all that nice, if you were cutting more than like a quarter inch off the top, instead of mulching it up it would just throw hay out the side. I ended up spending more time cleaning up grass clumps than mowing the lawn.

And don't get me started on the White.

I started out with a Craftsman LT1000, 17 hp, manual shift. Did a pretty good job once I put some good blades on it. Then got another LT1000 with a motor that broke the crank and repowered it with an 18 hp motor. Did good then sold it and picked up a DLT-2000 hydrostatic 25 hp with 48" cut - man that thing is wicked fast for mowing! I can mow in less than half the time of an LT1000! Now I just picked up a GT with a 50" deck and automatic. Plus I have an old Craftsman II 18 hp manual that I use for plow duty and a back-up mower (the first LT1000 is up for sale).

What I paid for each? Bought 'em used but in good shape: Lt-1000 17 hp $340, Lt-1000 18 hp $150 tractor $50 motor, DLT-2000 $75 (needed a battery, fuel line, blades, and purge the rear axle of air), GT $200 (needed a belt and battery - 48 hrs on the ticker FTW!), Craftsman II $100

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Get a TORO.

 

[Shran]

My dad has a Case 224 that I borrow occasionally. It is by far the most solid one I have ever used, hope he never gets rid of it.

 

[pillen140]

i have a jd LA105... its better than the other lowes brands, but it sucks!!! broke 3 times already! in two years. i would way rather have an old john deere! or one from a real dealer! those tractors are assembled by john deere, but made by mtd. but you still can only buy the expensive john deere parts for it..... it is pretty much the best cheaply made lawn tractor. better than troy built or any other but still junk

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i have a jd LA105... its better than the other lowes brands, but it sucks!!! broke 3 times already! in two years. i would way rather have an old john deere! or one from a real dealer! those tractors are assembled by john deere, but made by mtd. but you still can only buy the expensive john deere parts for it..... it is pretty much the best cheaply made lawn tractor. better than troy built or any other but still junk

Same goes for anything, gotta get their special parts.

I don't remember the Yard Man deck that came in last summer being much if any cheaper to restore than the several JD's that came in.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Same goes for anything, gotta get their special parts.

I don't remember the Yard Man deck that came in last summer being much if any cheaper to restore than the several JD's that came in.

Not true for most Craftsman tractors, you can buy AYP parts for even things like the mower deck parts. I want to say that there is also another brand of parts you can get for a lot of stuff too.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Not true for most Craftsman tractors, you can buy AYP parts for even things like the mower deck parts. I want to say that there is also another brand of parts you can get for a lot of stuff too.

MWE makes or at least sells a bunch of stuff too, that is where we get our oddball stuff from.

SEPW also has a bunch of stuff, they are usually our backup.

Craftsman is a MTD.

MTD has two kinds of parts.

1. Stupid common, somone somewhere must have a forest of trees that grow them.

2. Discontinued and you have a ugly hunk of lawn art.