JD & Titan Tires

rockyridgefarm · Dec 26, 2003

I bought an orange JD at HD, when they were being badged Scotts. Its fine for what I wanted. I didn't realize at the time that I could get a Deere for a little more. If there had been green ones at the Depot, I probably would have checked a Deere dealer and bought there.

JDgreen227 · Dec 26, 2003

You make a good point about HD selling the entry level JD models and Deere getting their foot in the door for possible future business. My feelings are, if a customer buys a green lawn tractor and is happy with the reliability and the parts and service available for their machine, they will become repeat buyers.

I seriously considered a new Kubota CUT because there is a dealer less than five miles away, however, there are FIVE JD dealerships within half an hour of our home, and my favorite parts counter is only ten minutes south of us. If Kubota and NH had the multitude of sales/service locations and the online parts system John Deere offers, it may have convinced me to buy one of their products instead. But I doubt those companies will ever catch up.

Old_Hickory · Dec 26, 2003

( Yes but Japan owns the company. The tires were mfg and sold according to their specs. They were the ones responsible for the cost cutting measures that led to the failures. )

Everyone PLEASE correct me if I am wrong,I thought the problems with the Firestone tires was because the workers were on strike and management was trying to run the production units during the lockout and made mistakes in production that caused the tire failure problems. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

KubotaBling · Dec 27, 2003

we don't make trans.. tuff torq or splicer by dana does.. same as a murry or sears whatever.. sorry pal.. if other manufactures ain't up to snuff... Not our prob. we run them in for 10 sec if they pass there on too hd..

I know there's junk out there. When u build 460-500 in 8 hrs at 33-35 cycle times with approx. 35-36 stations what do u expect? it's not a BMW.. horicon builds 160-180 a day the l100 plant builds approx. 2K a day.

yellowsocks93 · Dec 27, 2003

Why don't they put the better engines in them like the Kawasaki motors? I bet the Tuff torq transmission is better in the higher models like the GT or GX or even the Tuff torq trans in the Gator. John Deere is still going to be blamed if a customer had a problem with the lawnmower and they are not going to write to Tuff torq saying thier transmission blew. They are going to go back to the dealer and get a new one or sell it and get another brand. Why is John Deere going so cheap these days. When I was a real young lad everything was built exceptionally well. Like the 320 and the older GT series garden tractors.

KubotaBling · Dec 27, 2003

because JD was losing major $$ in the millions a year about 3 yrs ago... hints the revamp products/cheaper products. It's basicaly the same trans. Actualy it is the same on the G series.. The same engine also except oil cooler on 25hp.. so ur assumptions are incorrect. The kaw. engines aren't that great.. the 23-25 hp kohler will run circles around them.

There not that bad the figures on warranty and customer sat. show there alot happier than most of the old legacy tractor lines so. It's not that bad. Just remember there pumping out 400-460,000 mowers a year in about a 8 month time frame an amazing site.

yellowsocks93 · Dec 27, 2003

I know it is an amazing plant. A lot of good products come from there and that mower deck press is cool. What do you mean by same engine with oil cooler. If you are talking about the GX there is only Kaw. motors available and on the smaller GT and E equipped model the Kohler motor is only available. It is when you get up to the best GT model you get the Kaw. air cooled. How are my assumptions wrong. Or are you talking about the G100 with the bigger Kohler? I know all of these statements to be facts. I had a GT225 with a Kohler motor and it does not even come close to running as good as my GT242 with Kawasaki motor. I sold the GT225 as soon as possible. A Kohler motor will not run circles around a Kawasaki. Explain your side. All the good Z tracks use Kawasaki but most of the cheaper LT garden tractors use the Kohler. I wish they would change those back to the Kawasaki motors. I did not know that JD was losing so much money a year. That explains a lot then. I think if you would have bought a Deere compact that might help sales out a little! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

deere955 · Dec 28, 2003

I agree totaly with yellowsocks, the kawasaki engines are way better than koller or briggs. I have had both the koller and the kawasaki engines apart, and the kaw is built way better than the kollers or briggs engies. They also run alot smoother.
Jonathan

yellowsocks93 · Dec 28, 2003

Thanks Johnathan. I use an old F525 front mower when I mow the grass at the dealership and it's got over 1,000 hours on the original Kawasaki motor. I am not a mechanic but I have seen some Briggs and Straton motors apart on the cheaper JD push mowers. The really good ones for 700 bucks use Kawasaki and I see far fewer of those in the shop for repairs. I did have a Briggs apart in shop class but could never get it to run.