doodling primitive doesn't like John Deere lawn mowers

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7580583

Oh my.

The primitives have been rather mechanical the past couple of days; I wish some of them would come over here and post in the automobile forum, where the information's better than what's on Skins's island.

doodadem (806 posts)      Wed Mar-19-08 12:05 PM
Original message
 
Looking for riding mower recommendations

I'm not finding anything on the web that doesn't cost (like, Consumer Reports). I have a huge yard (probably a couple acres worth), and also use it to do the edges of some of our closer fields, and some trailblazing for riding/walking the rest of our 40 acres. I have a big tractor/bush hog for the really tough stuff.

I just sent this email off to John Deere's corporate:

"We bought an L100 riding lawn mower at Home Depot approx. 5 years ago.

Now, at the height of mowing season in our area, the engine on this machine has quit. It's a piece of junk that we'll be lucky to sell for parts.

We invested in a John Deere because it was supposed to be the best.

Five years for a $1,500 machine is the best you can do? Previously, we had a cheap little Murray that we bought at K-mart. It lasted 15 years, and always ran like a champ.

We had just sunk $500 into this mower for a spring tuneup, and some worn out part replacement. Another chunk of money wasted.

We now have to go buy another riding mower, and you better believe it will NOT be a John Deere. We will also pass the word along."

I dunno.

The ancient elderly gentleman who mows the lawn here uses a John Deere, although it's probably a tad bit larger than most riding lawn-mowers, almost the size of a very small farm tractor.  He says he got it in 1962, and it's never needed anything other than routine maintenance and small parts.

I suspect the doodling primitive is hoping John Deere will send him a $50-off coupon or something, on the purchase of a new John Deere lawn-mower.  I've known people to do that.

flvegan  (1000+ posts)       Wed Mar-19-08 12:09 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. We had a Craftsman. Never failed. Not once.

My mom sold it with the house when she moved. We had that thing for well over 10 years. Not easy years, either. I could get it to wheelie when launching it in top gear.

Mugu (888 posts)      Wed Mar-19-08 12:13 PM
Response to Original message

2. I have a little Kabuta 3-cylinder diesel that has been a wonderful machine. 

Have owned it 14 years (1600 hrs) and have only needed to change mower blades twice and drive shaft u-joints once. One of the best pieces of equipment that I have ever owned.

dbaker41 (1000+ posts)      Wed Mar-19-08 12:19 PM
Response to Original message

3. My Craftsman has held up very well.

And it's seven years old. Still starts first time, every time.

doodadem (806 posts)      Wed Mar-19-08 04:38 PM
Response to Original message

4. Thanks guys!

I've been looking at some of the Craftsman, as well as Husqvarnas--we have one of their chainsaws that has been really good.

I SO used and abused the little Murray I mentioned previously. And I don't think we ever changed a thing on it or tuned it up the way we did the John Deere. They probably don't even make them like that anymore.........

PAVet4Murtha  (439 posts)      Wed Mar-19-08 05:45 PM
Response to Original message

5. From consumer reports, good luck.

Best for most, with versatile mowing:

• John Deere LA110 , $1650, CR Best Buy
• Craftsman (Sears) 28724 , $1600, CR Best Buy
• Craftsman (Sears) 27690 , $2000
• Husqvarna YTH2348 , $1800
• Craftsman (Sears) 28713 , $1200

Between the low-priced John DeereLA110 and Craftsman 28724, choose the Deere for its high-back seat and visible fuel level, the Craftsman for its twin-blade, 46-inch deck. Also consider Craftsman 28713, which trades a hydrostat drive for a less-smooth gear drive for less money. Choose the 54-inch Craftsman 27690 and 48-inch Husqvarna YTH2348 if wider mowing trumps cut quality

Craftsman (Sears) 28724
Summary: This Craftsman 46-inch 21-hp hydrostatic drive lawn tractor has cruise control and requires a blade change to mulch. It is backed by a 2-year warranty.

Highs
This lawn tractor features excellent bagging, very good handling, ease of use, evenness of cut, side-discharge mowing, and mulching. Further, this model has been among the less repair-prone brands of lawn tractors.

Lows
This model has no discernible lows.

Bottom Line
Very good overall and a CR Best Buy, this lawn tractor features excellent bagging, very good handling, ease of use, evenness of cut, side-discharge mowing, and mulching. Further, this model has been among the less repair-prone brands of lawn tractors. It is backed by a 2-year warranty.

Taverner  (1000+ posts)       Wed Mar-19-08 06:00 PM
Response to Original message

6. I have always wanted to ride a riding mower 

One of those strange desires, I guess..

[Carl]

First off that would be about the cheapest riding mower one is going to find and you get what you pay for.
From what I can find online they used a Briggs and Stratton engine (figures a primitive would complain without knowing Deere didn`t build the engine.)

Craftsman is owned by MTD as are many others including Cub Cadet which I sell.
There are cheap department store machines and there are higher end ones but will run much more then 1500.00.

We also sell Kubota which are virtually bullet proof but will run as much as 10,000 for a larger diesel lawn tractor.

and some trailblazing for riding/walking the rest of our 40 acres.

5 years for 1500.00 is probably about right if he is mowing several acres of lawn along with this,it wasn`t made for that.
If he had come to us he would have been told that but still not everyone listens.

[dandi]

WTF? Why aren't they out there pushing around one of those old manual reel mowers instead of polluting the air with gas-powered mowers? Don't they know how much of the ice shelf they're melting?

[Taxman]

WTF? Why aren't they out there pushing around one of those old manual reel mowers instead of polluting the air with gas-powered mowers? Don't they know how much of the ice shelf they're melting?

Why even mow at all?  Let it go green and it might become a haven for the endangered housefly or mosquito.  Plus by not mowing it will allow more time to post on DU.

[MPCOA]

There is only one word to describe not thinking John Deere is quality - inconceivable - even people people who buy other tractors realize that John Deere is high quality.