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 | brokenarrow
Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1288 Wisconsin 
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2005-10-15 117925
Hi ya all.
Most of you know I am a New Holland owner and next to never venture into Deere territory BUT I come in PEACE! LOL
I am looking for some unbiased advise. Looking into buying a new riding lawn tractor for my house just outside the city. Its on 1 acre so we are not talking huge grass areas to cut but large enough for a rider (wouldnt want to get in shape pushing a mower).
I have a pretty cheap rider now and have been happy with it for 8 years (not really happy but it fit the purpose, the cut looks like crap and its noisy as helll) Anyway it was a throw away tractor and I am throwing it away after 8 years. Here's my questions?
1. Are the deeres at Home depot any good? LOL
Was wondering if they have a decent reputation
( Like Deere has) in other lines of tools?
2. I am looking at a Craftsmen, Auto Trany w/electric
blade eng. and a decent engine in it for $1599.
3. I am also looking at the home depots deeres. Here
are my choices please advise me on any pro's cons.
1A. L100 Deere $1499 17hp briggs ohv Gear trany.
2.B. L111 Deere 20hp v-twin Auto Trany w/foot pedal controls for $1899
3C. Deere L120 22hp brigs v-twin auto trany and elect. blade engagement.
Now remember I dont want to spend money but I will spend only what I have to for this rotten task of JUST cutting lawn. I am moving in less than 5 years and will have next to NO lawn for mowing (Or as little as I can get away with)
Please help me Thanks
Broken TOM
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 | ncrunch32
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 762 Kingston, NY 
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2005-10-15 117935
I just bought the JD LT190 which is a nice tractor but pricey. I recommend the Husqvarna XP series for the best deal for the money - about $2000 or $2400 depending on whether you get the 42 or 48 inch mower. ....
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 | oneace
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1490 south central pa
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2005-10-16 117954
Use the employee discount and get a New Holland. They are made by Toro. You have the GT-A and the MY series to chose from. ....
Link: New Holland mowers
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 | Iowafun
Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 955 Central Iowa
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2005-10-16 117970
Craftsman brand lawn tractors are made by the lowest bidder. That's how Sears operates. They are designed with a 2 year life span.
The Deere units sold at the mass retailers are designed with half the life expectancy of the units sold at your Deere dealers. Are they good compared to the cheap stuff on the market? Yes. Are they as good as they could be? No, done that way to keep the cost down for the profit margin needs of the mass retailers.
I hate to say that of Deere since I'm a Deere owner. But I own a 4310 with 72" mid-mount and that has a good finish cut. I also own a used JD325 that does a nice job. The best Deere equipment is bought at the dealer. Unfortunately, it's expensive as I'm sure you know by now. ....
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| jeepers94
Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6 Wisconsin 
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2005-10-16 117977
The low end Deere L series is the SAME at both the Deere dealer and the mass merchant! Also the current Craftsman are made by Husqvarna,and are on a par in quality to the L series Deere.I say this as a Deere and Kubota owner.If I were looking for a $1700-$3000 tractor,I would look at all brands.Deere is not better than the rest in this price range!If I were looking for a $5000 tractor,I would look at Deere. ....
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 | Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee 
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2005-10-16 117986
I think you should look for a nice low hour used Deere F-525. These are very reliable and simple front mower machines that are darn near as good and fast as a zero turn radius mower. The are powered by a Kawasaki PA540 17 hp engine that shares the same oil with the hydro unit. I have had mine for about 4 years and it has been a very good mower that I have used on my own lawn as well as 2 years of commercial lawn mowing. You can find them in the $1200 to $1800 price range depending upon condition and hours. Just something else to consider. ....
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 | yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1413 Northern Michigan
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2005-10-17 118011
Deere sells low end riders to compete with the other guys (Sears, MTD, White, etc). These are all found at the box stores. These same JD models are sold by real Deere dealers but they will attempt to sell you a better model. The same holds true for the Cub-Cadet line. I feel the low end Deere and Cadet models are better than the off brands mostly made by MTD. I feel the Cadets and Deeres are comparible but the Cadets are slightly less money especially used.
If you don't want to spend much money, are mowing only an acre and that will only last 5 years, I'd buy a new low end model or opt for a nice higher end used model with 42 to 46" deck.
I keep buying used Cadets, I like hydros and power lift. My oldest ones are approaching 25 years old and yes they need maintanence. I also have a couple of newer ones that also have power steering. That is sweet for going around trees, etc.
If you buy a low end model, are careful in handling and abuse, it should last about 10 years. If you are elligible for a NH discount, that should be a starting point for how much for your money. ....
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| Iowafun
Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 955 Central Iowa
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2005-10-17 118018
another option to look at is auctions. My local JD dealer is one of a group of 9 or 10 dealerships. Each spring at one location, they gather all of their used lawn and garden equipment and hold a big auction. That's where I got my JD 325. You have to know the value of course, but sometimes you can get a good deal on an upper level mower. ....
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| oneace
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1490 south central pa
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2005-10-17 118050
Just a bit of info. Cub Cadet (l&g), White, Troy Built are all MTD. ....
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| ncrunch32
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 762 Kingston, NY
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2005-10-17 118056
I think MTDs are amazingly tough for the little money you spend. I prefer more beefy and smoother riding lawn tractors but I pay more than I should for them. I grew to love lawn tractors after mowing my father's 3 acre lawn weekly when I was a kid. Took me up to 6 hours a week.
My Dad used to make the MTDs last forever but after a couple of years we had to wire them together. He'd even leave the 3 acre regular lawn and start mowing the pear orchard for fun. I know this is the best and cheapest option if you are a handyman - or if you baby your lawnmower on a nice easy lawn.
My Mom has an MTD which she refuses to get rid of because it was my Dad's and he is gone now. We just put $600 into it to replace the tranny - even though the machine only cost $900 to begin with. The nephews beat it up a bit and it failed after about 10 years. With the new tranny, and if I keep the nephews off it, it will probably last another 10 years. I would prefer a nicer riding stronger machine but this is what my Mom wanted at her house. ....
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| yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1413 Northern Michigan
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2005-10-18 118079
Oneace is correct about MTD building the Cub-Cadet. The Cadet line is their premium model lineup. Who builds the New Holland lawn tractors? Shibaura? ....
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| rogermo
Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 57 Hannibal Mo. usa
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2005-10-18 118093
Good story, made me think back after my father passed away my mother kept the then 10 year old car of his and 10 years later we kept pouring money into just becase it was a part of him. This is what they want and it kept her happy little price for a chunk of life.. Now when I pass away my wife will sell my 4110 JD fast because she thinks it has replaced her as much time as I spend on it.
Mike ....
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 | Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2005-10-18 118095
From what I know there are two main suppliers of lawn tractors in the US, MTD and Murray. Selling tractors with a hundred different names. Oneace stated that Toro supplied NH with tractors. We have Deere making their own and possibly branding one of the others for the cheaper lines. Husky is part of Electrolux which owns, Poulan, Jonsered, Partner, and Weedeater. I suspect they purchased one of the lawn tractor makers. There maybe a Murray connection as the Poulan was definately a Murray design. I don't know what else is out there still manufacturing in small quanities. Wheel Horse? Ain't badge engineering fun!!!! ....
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| yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1413 Northern Michigan
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2005-10-18 118100
The reason I asked about NH is I didn't think Toro built their own either! ....
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| jeepers94
Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6 Wisconsin
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2005-10-18 118106
There are more than 2 major manufacturers! AYP,American Yard Products is owned by Electrolux.They make Husqvarna,Poulan,Rally,Craftsman and several others.I will go along with the buy used recommendation.You can buy a nice JD 318 for about $2000.It will have full hydro,power steering and be able to handle just about any attachment.I sold my JD 317 and 455,but still own my 318 and Kubota 2230.The 318 is in many peoples opinions the best mower Deere ever built! ....
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| Denis
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2005-10-18 118113
I have a 3-year old JD L120. The wire the engages the PTO broke 4 times this summer. My wallet is $250 thinner as a result (the dealer paid for 2 of the repairs as they were under his warranty). Then it cost me $900 to replace the mowing deck and the spindle (my fault - I ran over a stump). But $900 for a mowing deck? that's the price of an entry level Craftsman! If I had to buy a mower for a 1 acre lot, I wouldn't be seduced by the JD badge on a Briggs and Stratton engine and instead go for a plain Craftsman. ....
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 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2005-10-18 118118
I have two suggestions that are worlds apart from what I have seen, so if you don't like them (or anyone else for that matter) it is fine.
How about hiring someone? Here it is big business with some very lost prices if your yard convient.
I suggest you look at low price z turn. Believe you will be ahead of the tractor style regardless of brand. Some of those do make their own. They are so much better to operate, you may just want to keep a good size yard. My wife and a friend both like cutting our yard to use the z turn. It is also much faster (not necessary in groun speed) than other styles I have used. ....
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| oneace
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1490 south central pa
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2005-10-18 118122
Toro is wheel horse or the other way around? ....
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| ncrunch32
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 762 Kingston, NY
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2005-10-18 118125
Toro purchased Wheel Horse and absorbed the brand. Wheel horse was a great lawn tractor - Toro still sells the "classic" wheel horse but it is quite expensive. I think it goes for $4000 plus. I would have recommended a Wheel Horse to anyone in the past - but there are too many options now with the 0 radius mowers. ....
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| brokenarrow
Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1288 Wisconsin
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2005-10-18 118131
Thanks all for a great conversation. I actually like cutting grass (except for the hornets LOL ) It gives me time to relax and think a bit. Zero turns are out, I want a small tractor for other things like the leaf picker-upper and the trailer. (remember my TC40 is a long way away from here so I sometimes need to use a small trailer behind my riding tractor). I have decided to go for a Kohler engine (I believe they are in many lower end/mid end
JD's.) Craftsmen has a few Kohler engines BUT low and behold THEY ARE ALL gone from my state for the year! Cant find one anywhere and possible only a few sears stores still have the models I would consider. Just a bit late in the year around here for this. I am looking into Cub Cadet. Fact is I think I have found the last one at a farm and fleet by me. A bit larger than I wanted and 2hundred more than I wanted to pay but if I can get it I will be happy. Its a 20hp Kohler pro comand (one cylander only though) hydro all the toys elect lift power etc.It has a 46" deck and three blades??????? I wanted the next size smaller (19hp 42" deck and 2 blade everything else is the same) BUT they are not to be found AGAIN at this time around here. SOOOO I will pay the $1699 for the first one I described. Gotta go and try and get the store to hold it for me (OVER THE PHONE) till tomarroo)
Thanks again folks, I really enjoyed this conversation and learned alot from it as well as some others here may of also)
TOM ....
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