New L110 or 5 Year Old LT133

[Dutch445]

But, Orbith,
with all due respect,
the L100 series frames are not bolted together:
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The L Series Lawn Tractor frame material is 12-gauge (0.11-in., 3.0 mm) steel.

Full-length robotically welded frame design with high-strength steel rails for added strength and long life.
One-piece fender deck is bolted to the frame.
)</font> direct from Deere sales manual, it sounds like you have these tractors confused with another brand.

and as far as Homelite..
Deere sold the Homelite business back in 2001, CNN press release and then it was only hand held equipment, not riding lawn equipment.
It sounds like you certainly don't want to be selling Deere products. If a consumer makes a decision to buy your L100 over a craftsman or MTD at wally world, are you going to turn them away and not take their business,which would let them see what type of dealer service your store provides over the box stores? There is something very confusing about your statements regarding Deere equipment, and now you open up that you are in "parts and sales", where initially it seemed that you representated yourself as a "dealer", (meaning owner or dealer principal).
I myself have similar time with a Deere dealership, and I have to admit there was a lot of hesitancy to accept the Home Depot situation at first. After seeing the sales figures of RLE explode, I can now see what Deere is going to accomplish, and that is market share. They didn't have the numbers, and the L100 series is a way to get them. I won't deny that these machines aren't an LX or GX, but they certainly make a nice mower for the money. And when a customer buys their first John Deere tractor, and it happens to be an L100, we welcome them and offer the same service and customer satisfaction as any other customer that we have. This could be their first experience with John Deere, and it is a way to develop customers for the long term, by treating them with respect and service, which they will never get in a box store.

Anyway, this is getting way out of hand... but I don't like to see potential customers given wrong information about Deere tractors. Hopefully JR is learning what he needs to make the informed decision about his mower purchase.

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[KENSFM]

Dutch445,
You state that the JD L110 has "an electric PTO, just pull the switch". I do not believe that this is a correct statement. The L110 has a manual PTO. Go look at one.
Ken /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Dutch445]

oh crap,
i got carried away,,


sorry



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[TMcD_in_MI]

<quote>( That '65 JD112, with regular maintainance, ran like champ until 2004 when 2nd gear finally gave out and my Dad traded it in on a new GT235. )</quote>

Let's hear it for the 112! My 112 is still going. I bought it used about twenty years ago for $1100 with a mowing deck and a snowblower and it's been working ever since, mowing, blowing, hauling firewood, and even pulling out wild cherry saplings.

I've had to replace a part or two from year to year and it's a pain to try to get to all the grease fittings tucked up inside the frame, but I sure can't complain about the $1100. It is semi-retired now, being used only for mowing, so I think I will get a few more years out of it before it goes to that green and yellow place in the sky.

Just for fun, I attached a pic of the 112 and my grandson on his mini-Gator.


Tom

 

[jrbek]

Very informative for me guys... Thanks!

I'm actually now contemplating either the L130 with the Kohler V-Twin or the LT150... They are both the same price.. approx $2500.. I really don't have the bucks to go for something higher priced as I just bought a house and really do have competing priorities here... Again, I've only got 3/4 acre of flat land here and it's really just mowing...

With both of these machines at the same general price point, which way would you recommend I buy... Cheaper build quality and a better 23 hp Vtwin Kohler engine in the L130 or better build quality and a single cylinder 15hp Kohler in the LT150... What do you guys think?? Which is the better investment?

Also, does the LT150 come with the mulching cover or do I have to pay extra for that? It's not really clear on JD's web site... If not included, would anybody know what it runs...

Many thanks again for everyone's participation. This has been a great learning experience.

Regards,

JB

 

[Cliff_Johns]

I don't know if the "freedom" deck is an option on the those machines, but I would consider it. It doesn't have any discharge chute at all and mulches exceedingly well. I "mow" my leaves every fall and it's very effective. You can mow very close to objects on both sides.

Cliff

 

[Dutch445]

Hmm,,
38" vs. 48"
38" is 20% less cut, should translate to 20% more time..
so, 60 mins mow turns into 75 mins roughly?
(probably actually less time than that)

what's more important, seat time or beer time after?

the taller tires of the L130 won't matter on flat ground, unless it's bumpy.

you will put less hours on the L130, but probably burn a lot more gas doing it with that twin.

the mulch cover on the L130 is not standard on the LT150, you would actually have to buy a "tricycler" mulch kit to mulch with the 38" deck ($95). (the cover for the L130 is just that, a cover, not a complete mulch kit, a high performance blade is available to increase performance if needed)

hydro with cruise vs no cruise on the LT
the L130 actually has a Heavier transmission (K46C vs K46HD)

Manual PTO-LT vs Electric PTO on the L130 /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

What features are more important to you?

Also, you should be able to find a very nice LX255 or LX266 for that kind of money. (might as well add to the confusion!)

Either way, it sounds like you are going to buy a mower that will treat you well over the years.

oh, don't forget to go DRIVE both and see what differences you notice while doing that. that could be the most important factor, your feel and comfort in the seat.

Let us know how you make out

good luck!

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[Stephanie]

Does deck size matter to you?
The L130 has a 48" deck whereas the LT150 has a 38" deck; which unfortuantly does not come with the Mulch-only Freedom deck. You can buy a seperate mulching attachment for it though.

Just to add my 2 cents.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I think you would be fine with any of the L100 series over the used LT133. We sell a lot of L100 series and our customers are seem to be very happy with them. Personally, where I start to see value in the LT series is when they start putting the Kawasaki engines in them (LT180 & LT190)

(Alright - it seems as though I added my post at the same time as Dutch... I share the same views!!!)

 

[Dutch445]

Great minds think alike!, eh?
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[johndeere2210]

I already voted for the L series on your post in the other thread. I will vote the same on this thread. I use my L100 to trim in the road ditches and steep areas that I can't or don't feel comfortable taking my 2210. I also use the L100 to help the Mrs. bag leaves in the fall. After two seaons of hard (and I do mean hard) use, it has held up real well. I think the L series mowers have taken a bum rap. I maitain my mowers and keep them looking good. There is nothing wrong with an LT series mower but the price differential made the L series more attractive for what I was going to use it for and I have not been dissappointed. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif