John Deere lawn tractors....help?

KFC911 · 10-19-2017, 02:38 AM

My dad is 81....he's been using a POS (imo) Cub Cadet 2542 for a few years now, but I want to buy him something better. Don't want to break the bank....maybe 2-3K...could go a bit more. He's used old Allis-Chalmers, Simplicitys, back when (still has a 50 yr old AC), and is old school....KISS. Wants a three blade....42" is what works great for his needs.
Don't really have/want to go new....older machines are great imo. He'd shoot me if he knew what I was fixin' to do

. Point me in the right direction guys....thanks!

KFC911 · 10-19-2017, 03:09 AM

JD LT180....2005 w/ 48" deck...650 hrs....$1750.

Worth going to look at?

ckelly78z · 10-19-2017, 03:09 AM

I have an old school JD 214 (with a 39" rototiller, 47" mower deck, and 48" snow blade) and love it, but it is gear drive, and probably harder to work on, and ride on than some of the newer ones. You can't go wrong with a 318 twin especially in that price range....hydrostat to boot, with power lift.

ckelly78z · 10-19-2017, 03:14 AM

On the newer John Deeres, the "LT" (lawn tractor) series, sometimes labeled as Sabre, is a lightweight/cheaper built, department store tractor. The "GT" (garden tractor) series is heavier, better built units that are generally sold by a John Deere dealership.

KFC911 · 10-19-2017, 03:17 AM

JD 318 w/ 46" deck, 1200 hrs /w bagger....good for leaves? - $3500

KFC911 · 10-19-2017, 03:55 AM

See a couple of more 318s w/o a bagger in the $2500 range... bagger has my interest if it is a decent leaf vacuum in the fall, and is fairly easy to remove....hmmmm

?

Time to go...thanks Chris! Keep the replies coming guys...

LakeCleElum · 04:27 AM

I've had JD's for years 316, 318, 160, LT 155, g100 (replaced the GT275).
All good. The 316 and 318 are getting dated and often new a $2,000 "repower" with a honda engine. The GT's (Garden tractor) are good for adding implements if you want to blow snow, blade, rototill, etc.

If just cutting lawn, you can't beat something like a 10 year old LT 155, 165, 180, etc. (I have a bagger I don't use and will give you)
Stay away from the newer D110, 105, 120 etc.

Last year, someone on here asked this same question. I ending up looking at adds and G100 followed me home. 54 inch deck, 250 hrs, 2 cylinder 25 hp Kohler, all for $950....Just stay away from the the newer, cheap end stuff and you can't go wrong.....

VincentVega · 10-19-2017, 05:39 AM

I went through this last year. The trans in the LT isnt great and is under stress if you pull. A loaded leaf collection system is heavy. Some do it and it works great, I read enough stories about bad hydro to skip the lower end stuff and ended up with a used x520. Overkill but used it was sub 2k. I spent more on the Cyclone rake but the setup just plain works.

I was looking for a 318 but kept finding used up or $$ stuff. I realized I didnt want to tinker with it, I have too many projects.

targa911S · 10-19-2017, 06:49 AM

I have a 1980 JD 330 diesel. Paid $2000 for it 10 years ago. Its a real Deere. Has the plate on it, made in Moline. The BEST tool I have ever bought. I upgraded the front hydraulics to H2,so I have lift and angle on the blade..

VincentVega · 10-19-2017, 07:42 AM

ha, you are the one!

What a great machine. I remember your posts from a while ago about it, I want!

Something to look out for are implements. I bought the $$ leaf vac. Now I'm looking at carts/trailers, soon an aerator. Not a cheap tool.

Rickysa · 09:09 AM

I've had an LX-277 for I don't know how many years. I've tried to kill it, but can't. It has a 48" mower deck on it. I've beaten the crap out of it and it still mows like a pro. It's ugly (no foam seat, missing canopy, etc.), and I just put a new carb on it...

Come get if for free.

I'm heading home for lunch and I'll snap a few pics.

Rickysa · 10-19-2017, 09:08 AM

Here are some pics:

I busted off the part that holds the deck to the front of the mower a couple of weeks ago, but I just found it today.

Seahawk · 10-19-2017, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

he's been using a POS (imo) Cub Cadet 2542 for a few years now, but I want to buy him something better.

I thought (I have never owned one) that Cubs were good machines - shaft drive, hydro-static, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

JD 318 w/ 46" deck, 1200 hrs /w bagger....good for leaves? - $3500

1200 hours on an air-cooled engine riding mower is a lot and as you know maintenance is everything...and not just the engine: Hydro-static transmissions need care and feeding.

What is wrong with the Cub, again?

The 330D is the business.

ckelly78z · 10-19-2017, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I thought (I have never owned one) that Cubs were good machines - shaft drive, hydro-static, etc.

1200 hours on an air-cooled engine riding mower is a lot and as you know maintenance is everything...and not just the engine: Hydro-static transmissions need care and feeding.

What is wrong with the Cub, again?

The 330D is the business.

The Cub Cadets from the 60s, and 70s up until the and of the quietline (1650) series, were tough as nails Cast iron motors, on big bulletproof cast iron axles, and heavy steel frames, with metal bodywork. We don't actually know how long most of these tractors last because they started making them since 1962, and most of them would still be mowing/plowing weekly if the owners changed the oil on a somewhat regular basis (nothing seemed to break).

The new Cub Cadets are built by MTD, and really suffer from plastic body panels, lightweight components, oil starvation, and poor reliability.

Seahawk · 10-19-2017, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

The new Cub Cadets are built by MTD, and really suffer from plastic body panels, lightweight components, oil starvation, and poor reliability.

Copy, thanks.

Never mind

KFC911 · 10-19-2017, 11:13 AM

Thanks all! Ricky, that is simply an outstandingly generous offer, but I think I'll pass....I think I'm gonna go look at a 318 with 530 hours, new deck, and looks like new though it's still original paint. I also like the cyclone rake idea...was thinking of one anyways, and can use it on several properties I have and also with my Scag z-turn.

The Cub...it's just not a well designed mower, two blades, doesn't have a nice cut. Though its a step up from the 1500 series, it's just not much

. High center of gravity. When my dad takes it down one of his wood trails, the slghtest bump will disengage the exposed hook underneath (three times now) NO BRAKES

. Oil drain plug is a plastic fitting...sucks...I could go on....
My uncle kinda inherited one just like it...shares the same opinion...samo for a friend in S. GA....he bought his (used) without knowing my experience....he concurs

. Might have been decent once. Dad bought it on reputation, and has regretted it ever since he saw it chained to a telephone pole two blocks from his house with a for sale sign....and it followed him home.
When I show up at his house with a JD, I'm not sure who he'll want to shoot first....me or the Cub

. The CC does have a great Kohler 23 hp engine....just don't like anything else about it.

Oh yeah....emergency brake has never worked.

David, I'll give you $2100 for yours....that's a hunnert dollars profit man....take it or leave it

!

So....2500 for a JD 318 w/ 530 hours, new deck, looks like new. If it checks out in person...worthy?

KFC911 · 10-19-2017, 11:17 AM

Damn...my fingers are tired...I was just tryin' to save you heart ache Paul....did I mention that the Cub is a POS

?

74-911 · 10-19-2017, 11:21 AM

My 13 YO JD LT160 is still going strong with 800+ hours on the clock. Replaced the pulley on transmission input shaft a couple of years ago (not difficult but a pain) when the splines on the pulley rounded off then finally just spun on the input shaft. Other than that just routine maintenance every spring. 42" deck only has 2 blades however.

The older LT series were only available through JD dealers. The big box versions are / were definitely inferior. As the dealer told me at the time, the big box versions were made to price compete with Sears lawn tractors and it showed in the quality and life span.