John Deere's current quality and manufacturer support?

AuCivil · Mar 26, 2016

I'm apparently sitting on two JD time bombs: 345 Mower with the plastic gear in the Kawasaki engine and a MX6 cutter with the Spain gear box. Looking at getting a new garden tractor style mower but I don't want another "Failure waiting to happen" machine. Logical question would be "Why consider JD" - I like green paint and the units I currently have preform to my satisfaction.

Considering the X700 series - are there any models to stay away from? Has JD started backing their products any better (bad taste from the MX6 debacle)?

jenkinsph · Mar 27, 2016

I have two x7xx machines with no problems that I can think of. All four of the Deere's I have now have been pretty good. I did buy an MX6 about 12 years ago and sold it before it had a chance to break the shaft. I have had a few small warranty claims in the last 12 years but all were handled by Deere.

Gittyup · Mar 27, 2016

I had a 425 with the plastic gear. It lasted 19 years, and 1000 hours before it failed. Not a great thing. But, in the 19 years I spent $75 total on repairs until the CAM gave out. I would say it was a great tractor that I worked pretty hard. Cam gear repair, along with a bunch of other parts that maybe didn't need replacing was like $600 (I did the repair). So 19 years and under $700 in repairs, I'd say that's about as good as one could expect. So, I sold the 425 to its new happy owner and bought an X739. So far so good, going on year 3.

4570Man · Mar 27, 2016

I'd run the time bombs until they fail. If your gentle they might last a while. Then I'd buy a used machine some. I'm generally not a fan of garden tractors. For just mowing I'd recommend a used commercial grade ZTR.

AuCivil · Mar 28, 2016

4570Man said:
I'd run the time bombs until they fail. If your gentle they might last a while. Then I'd buy a used machine some. I'm generally not a fan of garden tractors. For just mowing I'd recommend a used commercial grade ZTR.

I also use it to pull a sprayer, sweeper and a trailer. I think driving a ZTR with one hand would be difficult.

Xfaxman · Mar 28, 2016

AuCivil said:
I also use it to pull a sprayer, sweeper and a trailer. I think driving a ZTR with one hand would be difficult.

Not if it has a steering wheel

.

4570Man · Mar 28, 2016

AuCivil said:
I also use it to pull a sprayer, sweeper and a trailer. I think driving a ZTR with one hand would be difficult.

I use my ZTR to pull trailers and it does wonderful. The design of the handles on my ZTR allows me to drive it with my knees. Probably not approved by the manufacturer or safety police, but it works.

AuCivil · Mar 28, 2016

4570Man said:
I use my ZTR to pull trailers and it does wonderful. The design of the handles on my ZTR allows me to drive it with my knees. Probably not approved by the manufacturer or safety police, but it works.

I have some very steep slopes to mow. It's not too area much but it must be mowed. I mow straight up the slope with my 345 (when it's wet it just spins out and I have to circle and go down). Too steep to mow across without rolling over.

With the rear engine in a ZTR I guess you have to mow down and back up. How do you mow steep slopes?

Xfaxman · Mar 28, 2016

AuCivil said:
I have some very steep slopes to mow. It's not too area much but it must be mowed. I mow straight up the slope with my 345 (when it's wet it just spins out and I have to circle and go down). Too steep to mow across without rolling over.

With the rear engine in a ZTR I guess you have to mow down and back up. How do you mow steep slopes?

I mow this 50% grade, 26.57 degree slope, with a 20 year old 4WD TORO 325D, commercial out front 6' deck.

Don't worry about it rolling over, but it does tend to slide sideways a bit.