JD L120 and L130 Horror Stories HELP!

[Green09]

I posted a bit earlier and now I have some more questions. I keep reading horror stories about the "L" series for the John Deere. Once in awhile I read a good story but they are few and far between. I was seriously looking at one but now I'm not sure. Can anyone expand? Are the LT Models any better??? I'm going to be using a riding mower 8-10 hours per week so I need something reliable!

HELP!

Thanks

 

[TimberXX]

Welcome to TBN. We have all heard the stories, but there are people out there that are happy with them. I do have a few questions. The first is how many acres are you mowing? terrain? 8-10 hours is alot. Have you looked at used machines? Try lawnpower.com. They have great prices. You can also look at machinefinder.com it is run by deere. You are looking at 320- 256 hours/ year (with 32 week cutting season & 1.3 gal/ hr). That is alot. As for the LT's I don't know. Hope this helps.

 

[Green09]

Thanks for the help! The acreage is slightly different depending on what I'm mowing. There are different lots that I'll be mowing. Plus, the mowing will only be done for about 15-20 weeks. Pretty easy mowing though...Just looking for something that will cut grass and be reliable. I used to work for the county and the JD's were always reliable.

 

[uptaker73]

I was looking at the l120 for a long time. A friend of mine at the dealership kept telling me that I would be dissapointed if I got one. He sells them and he wouldnt recommend them. I know people who have them no major problems yet. I went ahead and purchased the Lx280 it drives and handles like a dream. I would seriously consider the LT models over the L series. They operate a lot smoother.

 

[johndeere2210]

I have had two L series mowers. I like them both. It seems to me that the people that down grade the L series do not or have not owned one. I have 75 hours on a one year old L118 and I have not had one ounce of trouble. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[gatkins94]

I can tell from experience that depending on your expectations you might be happy, and you might be disappointed. I bought an L110 a few years ago, and for what I paid for it, I was impressed, I thought it was a great mower but I wanted the bigger L130. So I sold the L110 to a friend (Which I would never do if it was a dog) and went straight to the Home Depot (First mistake) and purchased an L130. From Day ONE I hated it. The biggest problem is that I had a comparison, and one that should have been a downgrade, but I can tell you that the L110 would cut my grass faster, better, and used less gas. I had absolutely no problems with the 110 but nothing but problems with the L130 including John Deere finally just buying it back. A few things I realized through the process. The engine on the L130 is about a $1700 purchase if you buy it alone....now if that's the case, how much quality can be built into the rest of the mower if it sells for $2500???? how long are the moving and spinning parts going to last if you can't grease them, if you purchase it from Home Depot, instead of the local John Deere dealer, but have to take it to the John Deere dealer for service, why not purchase it from them, it's the same price anyway, and they have an interest in taking care of you. I also talked with the service manager at the dealership where I took my mower, and he told me to look around the lot to see what was being serviced......mostly OLD John Deere's and a bunch of the L series mowers.....he told me that anything above the L series is a much better investment, so I'm going with his recommendation.

 

[Green09]

Thanks for the input guys...I appreciate it. I wish the LT160 would come with a 48" deck. That would make my decision pretty easy right now!

 

[unreconstructed]

I bought an LT 133 in 1999. Have about 1/2 acre in bermuda grass and some in pasture "bunch" type grass. I have never had any problem with the LT 133 whatsoever. I have another two acres in the pasture grass ( and weeds) which I usually have had hired mowed. I couldn't find anyone to mow it this year so I mowed it with the 133 about a 1/4 acre at a time when I had time to fool with it. The grass and weeds were knee high and the machine took it in first gear just fine. I don't plan to do that again as this machine is not made for such heavy duty work, but my point is that it worked. I think it would handle 8 hours a week, but can't say for sure. Anyhow, I have been happy with mine. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Dutch445]

They used to put the 48" deck on the LT166, which was 16hp, but a V-twin. You can get the 48" on the LT180, and in MHO get a nicer motor in the Kawi Twin. It's only a few hundred more, but , bigger deck will save you time mowing, and with that Kawi, it should last you a long long time..

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[timb]

Talk to your dealer about the 48" on the LT160. Somewhere in one of the manuals it states that it actually will mount but due to the PTO design, the LT160 can't retract (raise) it as much as the LT180. That means you'll always have the deck in cutting position - or nearly so. Depending on what you'll use the LT160 for - and what your yard looks like, that may not be too big of a deal.

As far as power to run it - the single-lung 16hp Kohler on the LT160 has the same peak torque as the 18hp twin Kawasaki, so it will probably run it just about as well or close enough anyway. The Kawasaki is going to be smoother and a little quiter though.

I ended up going for the LT160 over the LT180 because I was trying to keep the price down - going to the LT180/48" was nearly $1K more at the time - and then at that point you started getting into price/mission creep looking just a little beyond the LT180 to the LX series. Also I have an old 318 with a 50" deck (that needs a remotor job one of these days) so in the long run I didn't really need a bigger lawn tractor around.

Side note - the 48" deck is also a 'higher quality' deck than the 42". Heavier gauge steel and greasable spindles if I recall. The 42" is 'lubed for life'.