Which is better riding mower, JD or Husqvarna?

[two_bit_score]

Anyone have experience with both JD & Husky riding mowers?

I'm looking to replace my Cub Cadet which is NOT easy to work on and to make things more of a hassle they changed deck arrangements about every 6 months so it's hard to find out how to reassemble the deck after replacing the belt, spindles, blades, etc. so an easy to work on mower is in the forefront of my interests in looking for a replacement.

So I'm looking at JD & Husky and maybe Craftsman. Which are easier to work on--deck belt replacement, blade removal and replacement, etc. Which are more reliable? parts availability, cost? Anyone have experience with both?

Thanks.

Pilot

From what you say you want to do probably either one would be about as good as the other. I'd stay away from craftsman since sears is selling that line and they have been terrible to change belts on in the past.

Check out Airens if you haven't already. Ariens | Lawn & Snow Equipment | Zero Turn Mowers & Snow Blowers Made in Wisconsin.

I don't buy the hype about how a $5-10,000 lawn mower is necessary for a homeowner with a few acres to mow. Unless you are in a lawn service business it's not necessary to pay more than $1500-1900 for a mower and in a lot of case you can get by with one for around $999. Just change the oil, plugs, blades and filters as needed and you can get 9-10 years out of them. Then buy another nice new updated mower.

I mow places in east Texas where the grass grows fast and thick, in the Hill Country where it's pretty sparse and down in south Texas where it can be pretty thick depending on the weather any given year. It's not necessary to have an expensive lawn mower to get the job done.

TBS

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I have bought higher end Deere mowers since they started making them and don't regret that for one minute. It is not to impress anyone because if I wanted to do that I would just hire a lawn service to come out with bikini clad girls and let them go to town mowing.

Wait! What?!

I didn't even know that was an option!

DANGIT! I shouldn't have bought all this equipment!

 

[PJSprog]

No personal experience with Deere mowers, but everyone I know who has one loves it. Of course, same opinions from Husqy owners. My Wife had a Husqy before we were married, and it lasted about 12 years before repairs started getting expensive. We just replaced it with another (YT42XLS) two seasons ago. We mow 2-1/2 acres a week, and it gets nearly as much work as the zero-turn ... especially now that the ZTR is down. It pulls a small dump wagon for light landscaping work, and we are definitely not on flat ground.

Honestly, if you take good care of your equipment (be religious about regular maintenance) and don't abuse it, just about any brand will serve you well for cutting grass.

 

[RSKY]

Honestly, if you take good care of your equipment (be religious about regular maintenance) and don't abuse it, just about any brand will serve you well for cutting grass.

Good advice there!!

Also, "you get what you pay for". If all you want to do is mow grass, anything with a blade will work. The choice is spending $2000 for a mower that will last ten years or $7000 for a mower that will last twenty years.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Get what you pay for, but buy what you can afford.

Even the cheapest lawn mowers should last 10 yrs.

 

[weathda]

Honestly, if you take good care of your equipment (be religious about regular maintenance) and don't abuse it, just about any brand will serve you well for cutting grass.

This sums it up well!

Back in 2003, I bought my first house and the lot next door - small yards. Read online about what type mower to get. At the time, gardenweb forum was ablaze on the cheap HD mowers that JD had ashamedly placed their name on. I went to the dealer, looked at the LX and GT mowers. I wanted one, but I just couldn't justify $4-5k+ for the higher end small mower. After all I wasn't cutting rough new ground or a huge yard. I also knew this wasn't going to be my forever home or my forever mower as my mowing needs would only get bigger if my goal of having more land allowed.

So I took the risk and bought a box store JD L120 brand new in early 2003. It's definitely a cheaper built mower, but it cuts grass reasonably well. After I sold the lot next door, it only took me about 20 minutes to cut my remaining yard. I didn't mow (many) roots and I didn't run into stumps. Kept it in a garage. Blew it off after every mow, washed a couple of times a year. 14 years later and it still looks brand new and starting it's 15th season. All I've done is regular maintenance, replace mower belt and blades once as well as replaced both valve cover gaskets.

Wife and i just moved to a 14 acre place and so its mowing duty has tripled. I'm now pre-shopping for a commercial ZTR, but will run the 120 until it pukes. I've lucked out I guess. I've gotten my money's worth out of it and the money I've saved in the beginning allows me to spend more on something that's updated and fits my needs better now.

These cheap mowers have their place and if taken care of most will last a long time.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

This sums it up well!

Back in 2003, I bought my first house and the lot next door - small yards. Read online about what type mower to get. At the time, gardenweb forum was ablaze on the cheap HD mowers that JD had ashamedly placed their name on. I went to the dealer, looked at the LX and GT mowers. I wanted one, but I just couldn't justify $4-5k+ for the higher end small mower. After all I wasn't cutting rough new ground or a huge yard. I also knew this wasn't going to be my forever home or my forever mower as my mowing needs would only get bigger if my goal of having more land allowed.

So I took the risk and bought a box store JD L120 brand new in early 2003. It's definitely a cheaper built mower, but it cuts grass reasonably well. After I sold the lot next door, it only took me about 20 minutes to cut my remaining yard. I didn't mow (many) roots and I didn't run into stumps. Kept it in a garage. Blew it off after every mow, washed a couple of times a year. 14 years later and it still looks brand new and starting it's 15th season. All I've done is regular maintenance, replace mower belt and blades once as well as replaced both valve cover gaskets.

Wife and i just moved to a 14 acre place and so its mowing duty has tripled. I'm now pre-shopping for a commercial ZTR, but will run the 120 until it pukes. I've lucked out I guess. I've gotten my money's worth out of it and the money I've saved in the beginning allows me to spend more on something that's updated and fits my needs better now.

These cheap mowers have their place and if taken care of most will last a long time.

Usually the tranny's need rebuilt.

 

[Teachu2]

I got a L120 as part of the sale when I bought my current home. A 2002 model, IIRC. The property is 5ac of wooded foothills, with some steep slopes. The original owner had spent the cost of this mower several times over in repairs and attempts to make it climb steep terrain, often driven by his wife. It was also completely rewired after mice moved in. My wife used it aggressively as a field mower, rock locator, and stump banger. I repaired the mower deck with reinforcements off Ebay, belts, pulleys, electric clutch for the mower PTO, and blades. We'd spent more on parts last season than the market value of the machine. The only reason I kept pouring money in it was the Kohler Command engine ran great. Finally, she broke it two consecutive mowings. That got her wanting a new, better machine.

I welded up the deck to get it back in service and started shopping. When I went to the local dealer to order the new one, a guy walked in looking for a used riding mower to cut a half-acre of flat lawn. The shop owner told him that he didn't have anything at the moment, but pointed to me and said "He might!". I told the guy it's history and condition, and if he could wait a week to get it, I'd sell it to him for his stated budget of $400 cash. I trailered it to the dealer when I picked up the new one, and the buyer met me there. He's happy as can be with it, and it will probably last a long time for his use. I'm happy that it went to a better place and made room for my new Husqvarna GT48DXLS, which is far better suited to my needs and terrain. Built like a tank and climbs like a mountain goat with it's locking differential.

 

[Teachu2]

Usually the tranny's need rebuilt.

Funny, I was talking about that last year with the owner of the indy shop near me. My L120 was having a hard time moving uphill, especially when hot. After reading all the posts on the web about the K46, I figured it needed a rebuild. The shop owner (25+ years in the business) told me he'd NEVER seen one that needed a rebuild. I took it in and he found that it needed a drive belt and new pulleys - they were too worn to get a grip. Ran much better after that. Climbed the hills with the wife aboard, but with me - not so much. The new Husky will climb places that are scary - gotta go easy or it pulls the front off the mountain.

 

[weathda]

Usually the tranny's need rebuilt.

That's what I've heard. I've got the K46 rebuild thread bookmarked.