Deere Getting Out of Walk-Behind Business

[sklunk]

I know this is a tractor forum but I thought this was newsworthy. Deere is ending production of walk-behind mowers and snowblowers and will be selling Honda through Deere dealers:

Deere Dealers to Sell Honda Products in U.S.

We just bought a JS26 in May. I hope Deere will still stand behind it!

 

[Dutch445]

looks like a similar situation as stihl, they stopped offering hand held
products and stihl got in bed with JD to have dealers stock their stuff.

the JS mowers really weren't Jd machines, they came out of
the B&S umbrella, probably produced by Simplicity for JD. Sort
of like the walk behind snowblowers that are out there branded
JD.

I wonder if this brand new aluminum cast deck model will be fazed out?
JD just brought that back after a few years without it, but at quite a
price jump from the old JX75.

 

[jd670]

Makes you wonder how much longer they will keep the Gator line. For all I know they might be outsourced already to Polaris or Can Am. On another note....I did hear a JD dealer at our local county Labor Day fair say that Jd is looking into replacing the Yanmar engines in the CUT's with Powertech engines by late 2012 or early 2013. When they revamp the 2000 and 3000 twenty series line. Now I'm not saying this is true, just reporting what I heard.

 

[Dutch445]

I think with the coming models of XUV they seem to be moving forward in R&D. I would bet sales have increased greatly since they brought XUVs to market, and they seem to be ever expanding the lineup.

 

[jenkinsph]

I remember a couple of years back when Deere dropped the front caster wheel model JS45 and replaced it with the JS46. I quickly found a leftover JS45 and bought it, these are very handy for trimming and I haven't had any problems with mine.

So far I have had good results with the Stilh products, backpack blower and string trimmer and Honda engines on the pressure washer. There is lots of good equipment available today by several manufacturers.

 

[ctlguy]

Not to say anything bad about the js mowers (they are a decent unit, I have a js40) but I don't think Deere has had a premium and affordable wb mower since the 14sb. Now that was a fantastic mower imo, folks had one for nearly 20 years and my mom could still start it with one pull. Alas it finally wore out, needed a new clutch and crank seal so decided it was time to retire it. But for a couple of hundred it could have been brought back to life. When they went to the jx for a premium al deck machine I think was the start of their wb downfall. Honda certainly makes a good product though.

 

[jd670]

I have a js60 that I've for years without any problems. Good mower. Have had the Stihl Farm Boss saw for 5 years now. Never misses a beat. Honda does make good products. I raced their ATV's in the mid to late nineties with very few problems. Honda's R&D is legendary in the ATV world. It should be a good fit.

 

[TractorTidy]

I don't see them "farming" out the Gator. That is too big of line for them are they are putting more and more in it to expand their line.

 

[ctlguy]

I agree w/ tidy, dealers are selling more machines with the 825i in the last number of months than they have sold in the last few years. Can't wait to see how the Razor style machine works once they finally release it. Deere did everything they could to lose as much market share as they could in the utv world glad someone finally looked around and thought wow, we are missing out here. Don't see that side being farmed out they are trying to take away sales from the other big dog's in the utv world and I think they are starting to get their foot in the door.

 

[OneMarineE5]

I too remember the JX75 and regretted not buying one as I liked the al deck and the Kawasaki engines.

Funny I just learned 2-weeks ago of the new line of commercial al deck wb and got excited seeing they too have the Kaws

......now y'all show me this. Ah, I couldn't afford that $1,100.00 wb anyway!

Hey Steve, I also have a JS45.....that is agreat wb!

Thanks for post sklunk:thumbsup: