I am looking to buy a new riding mower. Any thoughts on a good one. I think I want a John Deere and not a box store one.
New riding lawnmower
- Thread starter rc10
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How big is your lawn?
John Deere makes good stuff, I'm currently fixing up an old 316 and have spent many hours on my parents LX280. The 316 is a tank and the 280 is like a Cadillac compared to the the box store mowers. The 280 just hit 250 hours, the only problem it has had is the cushion part of the seat separated from the base.
This site has a ton of info on Deeres:
John Deere Forum - MyTractorForum.com - The Friendliest Tractor Forum and Best Place for Tractor Information
John Deere makes good stuff, I'm currently fixing up an old 316 and have spent many hours on my parents LX280. The 316 is a tank and the 280 is like a Cadillac compared to the the box store mowers. The 280 just hit 250 hours, the only problem it has had is the cushion part of the seat separated from the base.
This site has a ton of info on Deeres:
John Deere Forum - MyTractorForum.com - The Friendliest Tractor Forum and Best Place for Tractor Information
I bought a Husqvarana YTH2042 about a year ago.I don't have any regrets yet. I have approximately 3 acres to keep mowed. It gets the job done much faster than my old snapper. Probably can't go wrong with a john deere either. 
,Ben
,Ben
If you get a Deere, do NOT go to Homey Depot to buy it, they are not the same. They have cheaper parts, and stuff starts wearing out and breaking early.
Co-worker teaches a 2 semester class here on small engine management and care. The 2nd class has a long lab where students bring in an engine and completely rebuild it as part of the class, they spend the entire semester doing it. You really get to see how cheaply made some of the big names are put together, especially if they came out of a big box store. Even some of the Hondas are crap.
This spring one student brought in his grandfather's Husqy lawn tractor. It was only a few years old but it was running like crap, mostly wouldn't idle. He doesn't know where he bought it, but he's sure it came from a big store. We think the only part that was Husqvarna was the paint and stickers. It had a B&S Intek 2 cylinder engine, and man what a POS that thing was. The carb was pre-jetted and non-adjustable. The intake is plastic and it was badly warped, he had to buy a whole new intake.
On the other side, one kid brought in an old Lincoln Ranger welder. It had been used and abused, it was filthy dirty inside and out, it was used on a farm. He got it all apart and it was really well put together. Runs great now.
Co-worker teaches a 2 semester class here on small engine management and care. The 2nd class has a long lab where students bring in an engine and completely rebuild it as part of the class, they spend the entire semester doing it. You really get to see how cheaply made some of the big names are put together, especially if they came out of a big box store. Even some of the Hondas are crap.
This spring one student brought in his grandfather's Husqy lawn tractor. It was only a few years old but it was running like crap, mostly wouldn't idle. He doesn't know where he bought it, but he's sure it came from a big store. We think the only part that was Husqvarna was the paint and stickers. It had a B&S Intek 2 cylinder engine, and man what a POS that thing was. The carb was pre-jetted and non-adjustable. The intake is plastic and it was badly warped, he had to buy a whole new intake.
On the other side, one kid brought in an old Lincoln Ranger welder. It had been used and abused, it was filthy dirty inside and out, it was used on a farm. He got it all apart and it was really well put together. Runs great now.
Toro makes excellent mowers, a large percentage of golf course mowers are Toros. Highly recommend a zero turn, and if you have a decent sized yard and the $$ a commercial one(even a used one). The cut is fantastic and will last a homeowner many years.
x2 on not buying a John Deere from a box store. They are comparable to a MTD, Poulan or Murray. Buying a "real" JD used, from a dealer or private party will be your best bang for the buck.
If you are going to use the machine for mowing only a zero turn is great, a tractor will be more useful if you also want to till, plow, haul etc.
If you are going to use the machine for mowing only a zero turn is great, a tractor will be more useful if you also want to till, plow, haul etc.
What is your budget?
Do you have slopes and hills or is your property flat?
What do you plan on doing with it? Mowing, Plowing snow, tilling the garden, etc?
What can you get the best service on in your area? (What do the servicing dealers in your area promote and support?)
Do you have slopes and hills or is your property flat?
Do you have slopes and hills or is your property flat?
What do you plan on doing with it? Mowing, Plowing snow, tilling the garden, etc?
What can you get the best service on in your area? (What do the servicing dealers in your area promote and support?)
Do you have slopes and hills or is your property flat?
- Thread starter
- #9
I guess I have decided on the D120. I have just under a acre to mow. There is a good discount on it until 31 MAR and interest free for a year. So tractor, bagger, and Maine sales tax I am looking at $2100 or $181 a month for a year.
