5 Year Old LT133 or New L110 ??

[Mainuh]

Was wondering what you experts out there thought... have an opportunity to pick up a 5 year LT133 in good operating condition at $900 (approx 200 mile drive out and 200 back to pick it up) or just have an L110 delivered to my home at approx $1800

As far as I can see, the L110 is a hydro unit and the LT133 is not... The LT133 is significantly older with a 13hp Kohler in supposed good condition (approx 140-160 hours). The L110 is brand new... The LT133 is supposed to be a more durable unit and from what I hear, many of you experts don't particularly care for a the L100 series...

I have 3/4 acre of mowing.. live in florida so no snow blowing.. probably won't be doing any towing or anything.. just mowing...

Would like a quality machine. From what I've read the many of the experts out there prefer the higher end units to the new cheaper L100 series...

Given what I've mentioned above, which way would you guys go.. is the 5speed LT133 so much of a better machine (at half the price and long long drive) to forego hydro in the L110 with "somewhat" lower durability and questionable long term quality.

Experienced opinions greatly appreciated...

TO update this thread a bit (5.5 years later!) I was in the same boat, looking at the newer stuff and reading all the issues folks were having, or saving some $$$ and going with old iron. I ended up with a 2001 LT133, now 10 seasons old. Engine is in great shape, no weeping or smoke, starts great. Saw some L105's on sale at $1364 but opted for this LT133 fo $650 (Note; saw some for less than that out in midwest but they seem to hold their prices a little higher here in the east, not sure why... maybe just more of them out west?) I have a small <1/2 acre lot and a dedicated snowblower, so this thing will just mow and haul around a garden dump cart with mulch or whatever.

I did the first full mowing of the lawn last night. Hydro probably would have been nice as it seems an ideal speed would be somewhere between 2nd and 3rd, but since you can shift on the fly, I just drop it down when needed. I'm hoping this was a good decision. A new shiny tractor would have been nice, but I did go discuss the LT133, vs an L108 and L110 (both used also) with my small engine guy (not a JD dealer) and he said if in good shape and the transmission wasn't jerky in the most used gear and seemed solid with no leaking anywhere that the LT133 was simple and durable and should give me many years of reliable service... not to mention I won't have to listen to him whine about my old beater rider and how much he hated working on it. He's been after me to "go green" for years. I hope it was worth it... time will tell.

So replying to this old post for the benefit of those like me who are lurking and doing searches for info on these older models. I think I can find something to do with the nearly $1000 saved over buying a new one!

Don

 

[WayneB]

TO update this thread a bit (5.5 years later!) I was in the same boat, looking at the newer stuff and reading all the issues folks were having, or saving some $$$ and going with old iron. I ended up with a 2001 LT133, now 10 seasons old. Engine is in great shape, no weeping or smoke, starts great. Saw some L105's on sale at $1364 but opted for this LT133 fo $650 (Note; saw some for less than that out in midwest but they seem to hold their prices a little higher here in the east, not sure why... maybe just more of them out west?) I have a small <1/2 acre lot and a dedicated snowblower, so this thing will just mow and haul around a garden dump cart with mulch or whatever.

I did the first full mowing of the lawn last night. Hydro probably would have been nice as it seems an ideal speed would be somewhere between 2nd and 3rd, but since you can shift on the fly, I just drop it down when needed. I'm hoping this was a good decision. A new shiny tractor would have been nice, but I did go discuss the LT133, vs an L108 and L110 (both used also) with my small engine guy (not a JD dealer) and he said if in good shape and the transmission wasn't jerky in the most used gear and seemed solid with no leaking anywhere that the LT133 was simple and durable and should give me many years of reliable service... not to mention I won't have to listen to him whine about my old beater rider and how much he hated working on it. He's been after me to "go green" for years. I hope it was worth it... time will tell.

So replying to this old post for the benefit of those like me who are lurking and doing searches for info on these older models. I think I can find something to do with the nearly $1000 saved over buying a new one!

Don

Don I just sold off two LT-155's, one I purchased new ten years ago and another one I picked up last summer for parts. Turns out the guy I bought the second one from more or less hide a few problems with the mower so I ended up deciding to sell both of them and buy something newer.

Only problem I had with the LT series is the parts seem to be a bit costly. Also the mower deck is a stamped deck and had problems with leveling wheels and spindles.

I was told the LT series was something John Deere introduced while redesigning their GT series and was a short term product offering. How true that is I am not sure.

My advice is to check the wheel welds on the deck and remove the deck and clean the spindles. I was good at using them, but not so well with the general maintenance!

Back when I purchased the mower (LT-155) new I over paid for it, $2600 from a dealer, but for that price he did include the bagger system.

I sold it for $550 dollars ten years later. The second one needed a bit more work and I ended up selling it for $350. Ended up buying a LA-145 with the 48 deck and only 17 hours on it. Seems to be a good mower so far. Oh, I over paid for it, but did get the trailer, bagger, thatcher and seeder with it for $1,500.

Oh and the guy I sold the LT-155 to ended up doing a bit of cleaning and waxing and sold it for $1,100 so there is a (AS&) someone for every seat!


Wayne