In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Riding Mower
scooterdriver
Member Posts: 1,184 ✭✭✭✭
Got a flat, well-manicured acre that needs mowing. Had been using a loaner John Deere S100 that was adequate for the task. Need a new mower and prefer to stay on the less expensive side (i.e., not a zero turn and not electric) and surprised by the price increases over the last couple years (thanks Biden). Not planning on fancy attachments other than a bagger. Leaning towards a 100-series JD. Anyone had good luck with a mower along these lines?
Comments
I had good luck with the JD 100 series mowers. That said, I went to the zero turn side and NEVER looked back. All JD reg mowers(prob all riding mowers) had the steering rack and pinion worn out over a few years. Worse part is the stamped decks, they ALL rust out eventually now.
I also see ZERO diff between the ones sold at big box stores and the ones at JD(assuming you get the same model #) BUT sometimes JD dealership is cheaper, so check both!
I stepped up to a bobcat ZT2000 with 52 inch cut. About 5k but it cuts EVERYTHING 😁. I cut more than an acre too tho. Figure this one will last my lifetime. Went thru 3 regular JD riding mowers over about 15 years.
Ive got two Huskys and one John Deere (new). For the money, the Huskys cut as good and are less money.
Stick with what you know.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Lots of differences in john deere from dealer vs. bigbox .
Bigbox usually is a Briggs and straton made for jd .instead of bearings in the front hubs there will be greasable bushings etc . Can't really see any difference in deck thickness
Husky has the thickest stamped deck .and a better warranty so I told
I'm using an old LX177(?) that's been 'in the family' since new. Lord only knows how many hours are on it but still does a good job. Change the oil & filter every year and sharpen the blades once in a while. Don't push it too hard or mow when the grass is wet(these seem to be notorious for clotting up with wet cuttings under the deck). Oh yeah, the hood broke of years ago but that doesn't hurt the cutting ability.
Knowing what I know now,if I needed another good mower I would try to find a good,clean used John Deere 277, or 300 series with a Kawasaki or Briggs Vanguard engine. Most of the box store John Deere you are paying a premium for a green and yellow paint job. That being said most riding mowers that are maintained as the should be,kept clean and stored out of the weather will give good service. Beware of Kohler Courage engines.They have a series of bolts under the flywheel that tend to back out and make contact with the rotating flywheel cracking the block.
IF you buy the SAME model JD.....it is the SAME mower no matter where you buy it. Now IF you buy a model that is NOT sold at JD store, then you will get a diff mower. Some mowers are specifically built for big box stores, those have diff model numbers too.
Either way, buy what your comfortable with. I have had good luck with the old JD110.
And DO avoid Kohler engines, esp the courage models!
get the mower that you like the best, in that class they are all very similar. as for engines, i get good service from kohlers, i have replaced three kawasaki's this past year that have broken exhaust valves and destroyed the engine. i replaced them with kawasaki's just the same. i dont believe any of the major companies intentionally build defective engines but all have some problems that they eventually correct.
We just bought a new place and I needed to plant about 3/4 acre of grass. Since I also needed to prep the area, I needed a lawn tractor rather than a zero turn mower. I looked all around and couldn't find anything new, so I ended up buying used. The guy at Home Depot said that they got very few machines in this year due to shipping delays, Covid, etc. In other words, "LET'S GO BRANDON"!!!!!
I pick a dealer that services their stuff, then pick from what they offer.
I bought a Husky several years ago and wore the transmission out mowing a hill that was too steep. Replaced the trans and now I'm mowing 2 acres with it and plan on doing so for a few more years. Tried a zero turn but on the hill it was too tippy; took it back and traded for the 48" rider. Doesn't take long to do the 2 A if I don't let the grass get too far ahead of me.
If it does there's some guys who will cut it for the hay😎
just to show you how good some of those can be, i have a 1979 wheelhorse. i used it for mowing for many years but have taken the deck off and now use it for my "yard" tractor. i use it to tow things i dont want to use one of the bigger tractors for. cast iron transaxle and front axle. lots of grease fittings. the only problem with the deck has been with stress cracking but never with rust. with the cheaper brands of mowers around here deck rust is the major issue. but with reasonable care you can get several years use out of most all of them. like ive said in the past, pick the one with the features you like for what you are willing to pay and take care of it.
I used a Sears Craftsman riding mower for 23 years with zero problems. Switched to a John Deere 5 years ago to get a wider cut, and gave the Craftsman to my daughter and she has had no problems with it also.