[JDH]

I'm needing to replace my STX 38 with a 42" mower but all I've read about the L or D series JD's are horror stories: frames cracking, deck cracking, motor making terrible noises.

I've got a smallish flat yard, just a little big for my energy level and a push mower and I'm wanting something used and don't need anything high end or fancy. Just reliable. A used L or D series off Craigslist seems to fit price wise but I've read enough complaints online to make me a bit spooky.

Is it just that people who love them don't post and the only ones that do post are the ones who've had bad experiences?

Is there a different JD series I should look at? Couldn't get parts any longer for the STX, not even on ebay or through the dealer.

 

[davidg]

plenty of folks have, me included. My L130 was perfect when i bought it, its problems were soley because my needs changed but i did not step up to bigger machine when they did. This line is great when used for the designed purpose.

Keep in mind that folks post more to complain or ask help with a problem(which draws complainers) than they do to praise a machien that does what it should.

 

[Leinie]

Test one for an hour on some smallish slopes before you buy it. If all seems fine, I wouldn't be afraid to buy with your uses in mind. It will probably last a long long time if maintained. You could buy new with a warranty if your nervous about the past use or condition of the machines available to you.
I opted for an older LX series but I'm sure the days of easy to get parts are counting down.

 

[mrbeef]

I'm needing to replace my STX 38 with a 42" mower but all I've read about the L or D series JD's are horror stories: frames cracking, deck cracking, motor making terrible noises.

I've got a smallish flat yard, just a little big for my energy level and a push mower and I'm wanting something used and don't need anything high end or fancy. Just reliable. A used L or D series off Craigslist seems to fit price wise but I've read enough complaints online to make me a bit spooky.

Is it just that people who love them don't post and the only ones that do post are the ones who've had bad experiences?

Is there a different JD series I should look at? Couldn't get parts any longer for the STX, not even on ebay or through the dealer.

I think that hits the nail on the head. They at great mowers for mowing. If that's all you need I say you are along the correct lines of think. Maybe look at new since they have warranties and if its like around here people seem to think their 1500 purchase is still worth 1500 even thought it has 200 hours on it

Good luck!

 

[Jimbochap]

Go check out this one if it is close to you.

Might be a steal.Power steering, Power lift ! Can't beat the price.

http://limaohio.craigslist.org/for/3924392966.html

or this one
http://limaohio.craigslist.org/grd/3963230825.html

If you get a 345 just make sure it is a 20hp, rather then the 18hp which might still have a plastic cam gear. 20's are steel so no worries.

 

[MichaelTJD60]

I just lost a blade on my LA150. This is one of a long list of issues I've had with mine but it was a lemon from the factory. It all depends on how well you treat it.

 

[JDH]

Go check out this one if it is close to you.

Might be a steal.Power steering, Power lift ! Can't beat the price.

http://limaohio.craigslist.org/for/3924392966.html

or this one
http://limaohio.craigslist.org/grd/3963230825.html

Nice mowers but too wide. I've got a place where 42" barely fits through.

My STX didn't have an hour meter on it so I'm not used to judging by that. What's a good number to look at on L's and D's and if it's much more I might want to walk unless it's a steal?

 

[davidg]

I just lost a blade on my LA150. This is one of a long list of issues I've had with mine but it was a lemon from the factory. It all depends on how well you treat it.

aren't you using yours to cut grass commercially? if so then you fall in the class of folks using it beyond the design intent. These machines are made for urban/suburban lots and not made to cut grass daily.

 

[Jimbochap]

Here is an almost new D100....... Offer less though because you can go to Lowes and buy a brand new for $1399 plus tax.

One has no hours and the other one nly used 1 time to mow and acre and half

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/grd/3898386352.html

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/grd/3892912632.html

 

[JDH]

Here is an almost new D100....... Offer less though because you can go to Lowes and buy a brand new for $1399 plus tax.

One has no hours and the other one nly used 1 time to mow and acre and half

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/grd/3898386352.html

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/grd/3892912632.html

Nice. We're near Columbus and someone here has one for the same price and it includes a NIB dual bagger.

Sounds like the hour meter is like mileage on a car. So average hours would roughly be 1 hr per wk x mowing season of 24 wks = 24 hrs per year? Is that a reasonable way to calculate?

 

[davidg]

yeah, BUT keep in mind that on entry level deere and many other machines the hour meter goes by the key being on. So someone could leave a key on while the machine is on a battery charger for the winter and really rack up hours. flip side is it can be easily unplugged and not rack up the true hours. The meter is best used just for reference in doing maintenance, the best way to decide on a machine would be look at its overall condition.

check the oil, look to see if the filter is new if the oil looks fresh, pull the air filter and look into the carb-if you see dirt in the throat then the air filter was never changed and the rings may be work. grab the blade and see if the spindles wiggle. drive it around, cut a little grass and look at quality while listening for odd noises. in other words, keep in mind that folks will often make something look well maintained when they know it has problems.

 

[JDSTX38]

Parts seem to be still widely available both new and used for the STX, so I have to ask what part on your STX could you not get? Maybe someone here can help find you the part.

 

[Jimbochap]

Nice. We're near Columbus and someone here has one for the same price and it includes a NIB dual bagger.

Sounds like the hour meter is like mileage on a car. So average hours would roughly be 1 hr per wk x mowing season of 24 wks = 24 hrs per year? Is that a reasonable way to calculate?

Here is one for $650, might be worth a shot looking at this one and the price is even Negotiable! Probably already sold?
http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/3965865559.html

 

[JDH]

yeah, BUT keep in mind that on entry level deere and many other machines the hour meter goes by the key being on. So someone could leave a key on while the machine is on a battery charger for the winter and really rack up hours. flip side is it can be easily unplugged and not rack up the true hours. The meter is best used just for reference in doing maintenance, the best way to decide on a machine would be look at its overall condition.

check the oil, look to see if the filter is new if the oil looks fresh, pull the air filter and look into the carb-if you see dirt in the throat then the air filter was never changed and the rings may be work. grab the blade and see if the spindles wiggle. drive it around, cut a little grass and look at quality while listening for odd noises. in other words, keep in mind that folks will often make something look well maintained when they know it has problems.

Good good advice. Thanks. I might not thought of all that.

 

[JDH]

Parts seem to be still widely available both new and used for the STX, so I have to ask what part on your STX could you not get? Maybe someone here can help find you the part.

It's gone. I sold it to a guy that has a mower junk yard. He roams around Ohio picking up riders. The problem was the transmission. I think I posted on here earlier about it but it's been a while.

As I remember, the spindle (maybe that's not the right name - shaft?) wore an oblong opening in the crankcase, and of course some of the gears were screwed up. I needed a number of transmission parts but can't remember which ones were completely unavailable.

I liked the mower because it was simple enough that I could work on it. I'm kind of nervous about these newer ones, not sure I have the ability.

 

[JDH]

Here is one for $650, might be worth a shot looking at this one and the price is even Negotiable! Probably already sold?
http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/3965865559.html

Good price! Do you know what the difference is between the 100 and the 110?

And BTW, is there any way to multi-quote here? Another forum I'm on that uses the same forum software has a multi-quote icon in the lower right.

 

[Jimbochap]

Good price! Do you know what the difference is between the 100 and the 110?

And BTW, is there any way to multi-quote here? Another forum I'm on that uses the same forum software has a multi-quote icon in the lower right.

http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US...0_series/d100/d100_lawn_tractor.page#viewTabs

http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_AS...ment/lawn_tractors/d100_series/d110/d110.page

You can multi quote by clicking the icon to the right of the quote symbol.

 

[JohnnyReb]

The fact that complainers and help seekers are most of the posts online it makes perfect sense that happy owners typically don't post information. Also the majority who buy these lower end mowers aren't tractor enthusiast like this group is and don't spend time online talking about them....unless they have problems. I had a cub cadet ltx1050 from Home Depot and couldn't find one positive thing about them online. After using it and studying it awhile I concluded that the happy owners just weren't speaking out.

That being said I'm sure there are thousands of happy owners out there. For what your going to do with it I wouldn't hesitate at all. Follow the maintanence schedule to a tee, blow it off and keep it clean and out of the weather, take pride in it....and you can't go wrong.

Also, IF IT WERE ME, I would buy a new one. The warranty is well worth it in my opinion for as cheap as a new one is. Of course cheap is a subjective term and its easy to spend someone else's money. As long as you can afford a new one the warranty and a few extra spent is worth the peace of mind

Good luck! :thThumbsU

 

[Hugh-SS/16]

We sell plenty of D series and service many L series. If you have less than an acre of flat grass, and maintain it the way you're supposed to, it will last. If you have a big yard or hills, forget it.

Also, go for the twin. Intek engines are junk. The D130 and up have the Briggs twin and its not a bad little engine.




Sent from the MTF Free App

 

[JDH]

My sister has an L100 but she uses it in a backwoods kind of place with hills, potholes, stuff hidden in the grass and she ran into something hidden and cracked the deck. Cost too much to get another and for whatever reason they weren't inclined to weld it back so they threw it out(!!!) and she just uses the mower as a tractor to haul her horse s**t to her dumping spot.

So what everyone is saying is that an L or D would fine for my application but way too weak for hers.

Other than a bush-hog on a tractor, is there any rider (used) in the $1500-$2000 range that would work for her?