glc24
Platinum Member
If you are referring to the 300 series,that is the way it should be.They were (and IMHO still are) the best that JD ever built. I'll put my 24 year old 316 up against anything new.
Greg
They don't build them like they used to??
- Thread starter bxowner
- Start date
- Views: 12371
Greg
Agreed. They are nice machines. But, close cousin (317) is a pile that should only be used for scrap...If you are referring to the 300 series,that is the way it should be.They were (and IMHO still are) the best that JD ever built. I'll put my 24 year old 316 up against anything new.
Greg
NickTaylor
Bronze Member
Easy on the 317s.... I put a new Kohler KT17 Series II engine in mine (full pressure oil system) and it's a real workhorse now.
PapaPerk
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2004
- Messages
- 2,293
- Location
- USA
- Tractor
- Kubota L3830, Ford Golden Jubilee, 1939 Sears Economy, Polaris Ranger 400, Honda Foreman 450 ES, 2004 Dodge Diesel 3500
Yes JD garden tractors are very cheap nowadays. Not cheap in price mind you but cheap in quality! For some reason Deere thinks this is a good idea to cheapen stuff up... but in the end it will bite them in the butt.
I think the best option with garden tractors is to buy used. There's many good deals out there. If mowing is your thing then look for a low hour zero turn. Many of these units are of high quality. Major brands are ExMark, Kubota, Grass Hopper, etc.
I will never buy a new Deere product until they start making quality equipment. Apparently the bean counters are holding down the engineers and making them design everything cheaply and sub par.
Good luck and I feel for you.
I think the best option with garden tractors is to buy used. There's many good deals out there. If mowing is your thing then look for a low hour zero turn. Many of these units are of high quality. Major brands are ExMark, Kubota, Grass Hopper, etc.
I will never buy a new Deere product until they start making quality equipment. Apparently the bean counters are holding down the engineers and making them design everything cheaply and sub par.
Good luck and I feel for you.
Mistyridgefarm
Silver Member
Old is sometimes better but choosing the right machine for what you want to do is a bigger factor in overall satisfaction. I bought a 345 20 years ago. It has mowed at least 3 acres every week since then. Batteries, blades, belts, and deck wheels is all it has needed. I sure wish I had jumped to the 400 series (best mower JD built IMO). I paid just over 7k for it back then.
About five years ago I took over payments on my mothers GX345 to help her out and I pay someone else to mow her lawn. It is basically the same as my other but has rear diff lock which comes in handy.
Still a well made machine. Both mowers still working 3+ acres a week. My brother just got a Z910 last year and I use it quite a bit on the farm. Heavy and capable machine, love the 7 iron deck. Great on flat smooth areas but hills and bumps are tougher than on the tractor.
So here is what i've discovered - no one seems to remember why the bigger Deeres have a full floating deck. Set your Gage wheels and lower to the ground. The difference in cut will be very apparent. I will say the newer machines wear out the wheels quicker but a set every couple of years is small price for golf course.
Didn't mean to get on a stump but stick to higher end lines, and remember that in the old days salesmen actually took the time to learn their product. In zero turn, 900 series. In garden, X500 or 700 will do you proud. However, a good 345 or 400 series taken care if will do as well and about half the price. LOVE my Deeres!
About five years ago I took over payments on my mothers GX345 to help her out and I pay someone else to mow her lawn. It is basically the same as my other but has rear diff lock which comes in handy.
Still a well made machine. Both mowers still working 3+ acres a week. My brother just got a Z910 last year and I use it quite a bit on the farm. Heavy and capable machine, love the 7 iron deck. Great on flat smooth areas but hills and bumps are tougher than on the tractor.
So here is what i've discovered - no one seems to remember why the bigger Deeres have a full floating deck. Set your Gage wheels and lower to the ground. The difference in cut will be very apparent. I will say the newer machines wear out the wheels quicker but a set every couple of years is small price for golf course.
Didn't mean to get on a stump but stick to higher end lines, and remember that in the old days salesmen actually took the time to learn their product. In zero turn, 900 series. In garden, X500 or 700 will do you proud. However, a good 345 or 400 series taken care if will do as well and about half the price. LOVE my Deeres!
Imagine if someone came here and said, my new JD is great, I just had to replace the engine! The machine was a flop due to its lube issues. It had much of the same mechanical strengths as its brothers.
The issue is you compare a $1,500 2011 mower to a $1,200 1974 mower. It is called inflation. Deere has attempted to enter the "Home Depot" segment. High volume, low margin, low cost. As I mentioned compare the old 110 to say a 216, then maybe a 316, and you have today a 5XX mower in value, cost (inflation adjusted) and quality. To be honest you pay for the color, the badge, the yellow doe, but you get tradition, prestige, and (in some models) quality.
Truer words have never been spoken. This man knows his stuff.
PapaPerk
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2004
- Messages
- 2,293
- Location
- USA
- Tractor
- Kubota L3830, Ford Golden Jubilee, 1939 Sears Economy, Polaris Ranger 400, Honda Foreman 450 ES, 2004 Dodge Diesel 3500
Prestige and tradition doesn't get my work done.... a good quality reliable machine does! John Deere has lost much credit from many people by producing cheap "Home Depot" machines. Even the dealers hate the cheap buggers.
The 318, 420, 430 John Deere garden tractors are awesome machines. Metal bodies, quality power trains, and awesome accessories. A real machine. The new Deeres cheapened up versions that are designed to make as much money as possible...
sgoldste01
Silver Member
I love my 2003 GT245 with a 54" deck, which I bought used this year for $2000. Seems like a robust tractor to me. I think it has the K71 tranny in it, which is supposed to be pretty bulletproof.
5030
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,993
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
Personally, I believe new tractors are built better, at least big ones. I have no idea about lawnmowers. I have a CC 60" tank zero turn and it's an excellent lawnmower.
Mistyridgefarm
Silver Member
I was one of the first people to fire off a letter to JD when they came out with the Sabre line. Oh the injustice of going cheap just to appease the cheapskates
They did respond with a good reason, but they quickly saw at least one problem I pointed out. So they switched to a real badge and now you have the entry level JD at HD and such. I still don't like it but from what I see, they are still better than a Murrey!
Maybe it will bring a few people to the club, maybe it won't. Nearly every company out there that used to make ONLY the best now has multiple lines from cheap to Cadillac. Nikon, caterpillar, etc all have to do it to stay in the game. We have to take a moment and ensure we get the level that suits us.
As far as JD, the same happened with the 5000 series. I bought a 5300 many years ago. About the only options as far as internals was a choice of TSS or sync trans. Wet discs, planetary drive, etc was standard. Now, there are three levels - 5E, 5limited, and 5M. There will be a 5095M around this farm soon. To get the same internal qualities as the 5300, I need to go to the M series, with hefty cost of course. If you want the same quality as the old days, look to the highest models in the series.
One last note- I can still go to my local JD dealer and have any part on my 20 year old products the next day. Try doing that with just about any other color. I paid $18k for my 5300 w/ loader 20 years ago. Today I can sell it for around $15k, maybe a little less. Not withstanding inflation, that is a pretty good retention of value.
They did respond with a good reason, but they quickly saw at least one problem I pointed out. So they switched to a real badge and now you have the entry level JD at HD and such. I still don't like it but from what I see, they are still better than a Murrey!
Maybe it will bring a few people to the club, maybe it won't. Nearly every company out there that used to make ONLY the best now has multiple lines from cheap to Cadillac. Nikon, caterpillar, etc all have to do it to stay in the game. We have to take a moment and ensure we get the level that suits us.
As far as JD, the same happened with the 5000 series. I bought a 5300 many years ago. About the only options as far as internals was a choice of TSS or sync trans. Wet discs, planetary drive, etc was standard. Now, there are three levels - 5E, 5limited, and 5M. There will be a 5095M around this farm soon. To get the same internal qualities as the 5300, I need to go to the M series, with hefty cost of course. If you want the same quality as the old days, look to the highest models in the series.
One last note- I can still go to my local JD dealer and have any part on my 20 year old products the next day. Try doing that with just about any other color. I paid $18k for my 5300 w/ loader 20 years ago. Today I can sell it for around $15k, maybe a little less. Not withstanding inflation, that is a pretty good retention of value.