[jimbo316]

Q from 1979:

- how many years does a John Deere Garden Tractor last ? (see ad/pic)

anyone ? anyone ??

J

____

2017 John Deere X738 60" auto-connect deck, johnny bucket, purchased sept 2017
1986 John Deere 316, 50" deck, purchased jan 1987, B43e onan died 2017, re-powered w P216
2010 Cyclone Rake Z10 - retired 2022

 

[Sergeant]

I have the following
1964 110RF
1969 112SF
1974 140H3
All did need some Maintenance to keep them running this long

 

[mopar65pa]

As long as you kep them running. An old Kohler singe will last almost forever if taken care of. The JD drive train will do the same.

 

[Alien5044]

Proper and regular maintenance on anything built pre 1980 will outlast us all. Pressure oiled engines more so than splash, and operating them within their design spec limits. IMHO

 

[MiniHomesteader]

My current fleet(all used regularly), ‘66 110, ‘67 112, and a ‘66 60. The 60 has had an engine swap, but the rest are original. Oil and grease is cheap, and so is knowing the limits of equipment.

My personal montra… Real Deere have 4 legs.

 

[tm10058196]

That was then, this is now. Cheap hydros, plastic camshafts, consumer grade stuff disguised as John Deere garden tractors. If I was seriously in the market for an actual garded tractor I'd probably look at something else.

 

[Yohawhn]

My son is development engineer for Ford High Voltage Batteries. He grew up using Deere, Stihl, McCullough, Toro etc. ICE equipment. His educated choice of lawn care and landscape maintenance equipment - Electric (EGO). I have used his EGO chainsaw which is impressive. I prefer my Stihl for numerous large diameter cuts, but the EGO saw is more than enough for an average homeowner. His EGO push mower is an outstanding machine with superlative engineering. Check out the 'soon to be available' Deere Z370R Electric Zero turn. A paradigm shift from ICE indeed...

 

[MARK (LI)]

In the last few years I have had Simplicities, SEARS, Allis Chalmers, Cub Cadets, and some JDs from the '60s...the stuff was all built much better back then, but to answer your question....they will last as long as you use them without too much abuse and you maintain them properly

 

[tnt_motorsports]

That was then, this is now. Cheap hydros, plastic camshafts, consumer grade stuff disguised as John Deere garden tractors. If I was seriously in the market for an actual garded tractor I'd probably look at something else.

All John Deere riding mowers are made by John Deere in John Deere facilities. They do offer the entry level equipment at HD and Lowe's to compete with other entry level offerings. If you want a better machine visit a Deere dealer.

Just my $0.02

 

[tm10058196]

Every time I look at some battery lawn equipment I think double price and 5 year lifespan. My old JD self propelled mower is 43 years old and still runs a couple hours a week all summer. Wheels and gear box bushings other than tuneups and oil changes. Don't want to discuss the L130 rider though.

 

[Frogmore]

That was then, this is now. Cheap hydros, plastic camshafts, consumer grade stuff disguised as John Deere garden tractors. If I was seriously in the market for an actual garded tractor I'd probably look at something else.

What exactly would you look at?
How does it compare in cost to the Deere machine you are saying is "consumer" grade?

Deere calls all of their machines Lawn & Garden tractors, but they most definitely come in varying grades of capabilities with prices to match (or exceed) the increases.

The cheap hydros (K46 and below) are in all the machines until you get to the mid X300 series. But, you really need to get to the X500 series to get a real ground engagement capable transaxle. The thing is most lawns/people don't actually need that, so why should they have to pay for it?

The plastic camshaft gear was a Kawasaki idea, from what I have heard. I am sure it seemed like a good idea (to someone) at the time, but turned out to not be such a good idea. But, if new ideas were never considered, a garden tractor today would probably be something like an X700 series machine and cost even more than they do today.

Deere has lots of models from which you can make your choice. Many people make poor choices because they might not realize there needs are far above the norm. That will generally lead to bad results no matter the product.

 

[MiniHomesteader]

Deere also make the change years back, to have a 10 year lifespan of equipment. A long ways from the quality old equipment.

 

[Frogmore]

Okay, let's play that game. Tractor Data says this about the 111:

Original price was $2,279 in 1983

Inflation says the equivalent price today would be almost $7K

$1 in 1983 → 2023 | Inflation Calculator

The 2.80% inflation rate means $1 in 1983 is equivalent to $3.02 today. This inflation calculator uses the official US consumer price index published by the Department of Labor.

www.in2013dollars.com

The X570 list price is $7,800 today, so about 12% more than the adjusted price of the 111 from 1983.

In 1983, you got a 11HP engine, 38" deck, 5 speed gear drive transaxle and manual steering. In 2023 you get more powerful twin cylinder Kawasaki, 48" deck, ground engaging transaxle, but still manual steering (you can get power steering for only a little more).

Now, if you compare the 111 from the 80's to the S100 series of today they have similar prices in "dollars" but a dollar today is worth a LOT less than it was in the 80's. I am pretty sure there will still be lots of X500 series machines around 30+ years from when they were made, but probably not so many of the (letter)100 series machines. You are correct that most of them have a design life of a decade or so. While you might be willing to pay what it costs to buy something that really lasts, most people are not. They focus on the initial cost and don't think of the total lifecycle cost and also don't really want to have to take care of something. For them, the disposable lawn mower is exactly what they need/want. Deere makes those and they are very popular. Just don't confuse them with the products that are made for a different target.

 

[Sergeant]

Deere also make the change years back, to have a 10 year lifespan of equipment. A long ways from the quality old equipment.

Deere will continue to manufacturer parts for 15 years after a part has left normal Production, They did not actually implement that low of a lifespan That was mentioned years ago about going to lower lifespans. The follow-on CEO's stopped that idea of that low of a lifespan for support. Deere used to manufacture parts for former models until the 20-year Mark across the Board, and they found on Unpopular Models that did end up costing them money by having to sit on a part's for such a long time In the parts warehouse's after production had ended. Going to the 15-year mark on production still allows many machine to be supported Beyond the 20 plus year mark, But it also depletes the parts inventories fast enough to still be deemed profitable

 

[mopar65pa]

Nothing runs like a deere. An older Deere.

 

[Frogmore]

Deere will continue to manufacturer parts for 15 years after a part has left normal Production,

I don't think he was referring to the support life, but rather the design life. Having said that if the support life is that long, there has to be an expectation that the design life is at least that long. So that is good to hear.

As far as the really old Deeres go, some of them look nice and might be fine, but I like the new ones too. The old ones are much less expensive, until you get into the collector models in pristine shape.

 

[Sergeant]

I don't think he was referring to the support life, but rather the design life. Having said that if the support life is that long, there has to be an expectation that the design life is at least that long. So that is good to hear.

As far as the really old Deeres go, some of them look nice and might be fine, but I like the new ones too. The old ones are much less expensive, until you get into the collector models in pristine shape.

Well Deere was Talking about support Life in that original statement

 

[Sergeant]

Nothing runs like a deere. An older Deere.

I have several modern Deere tractors that haven't given me any real trouble either, the 3 older ones did need some work. Many of the Gaskets and seals are replaced In the 140 Transmission along with the Head Gasket In the Kohler, the Head Gasket was Replace In the 112SF Many parts on the Tecumseh as well. Motor/generator On the 110RF did have to be replaced. So it Has gotten expensive to Maintain those Old Deere's time will tell On these 1999 and Later Deere's



24-year-old Sabre 1542HS replaced traction drive Belt and deck Belt once



19-Year-Old GX335 replaced traction drive belt once, don't know if Previous owner did or Not. Replaced power steering Ball Joint. Ball Joint was $30 something, Traction drive belt was $70 something. So a Little Over $100 is what I have spent On the Tractor in the 7 years I have owned it. Not Including Maintenance Kits or a New Battery last year or some of the Upgrades I did



11-Year-Old X748 hasn't been an Issue Maintenance Kits, Trans fluid and coolant, same for a Previous X485. Both have been very reliable Machines

 

[8808hill]

when on of my three gives up i'll let you know

 

[TooFast]

LX280, bought new in 2005, regular annual maintenance, stored winters and still running strong.