Brand new John Deere D160

This will probably turn into more of a rant than a question, but, does anyone else have a new JD mower that the front wheels don't point straight ahead? I know when they delivered it they were straight, and the guy that mows with it at work has only used it twice (12 hrs.) I can't see anything glaringly bent, just cheaply constructed. I added a washer to take up some play in the steering gear and that helped. Thinking of sending it back, tell them to make it right.
I've got 3 Gravelys at home, ranging from 38 years old to 42 years old and the steering is fine on them. Guess they don't build 'em like they used to....

Brand new? Is it a little or way too much bent?

The JD Dealer sells a different qaulity mower than home depot, etc.

Yeah, take it back if you are unhappy with it being bent. Ask them to make it right.

Yeah, it's the cheap ($2500) one from a dealer. Same one you can buy at Lowes. We bought a commercial one about 6 years ago, but thought since THIS one was only going to be used for an acre, it would be good enough.....guess not!

ouch!

The dealer should make it right unless you are being super picky. I wouldn't do anymore repairs to it. Let the dealer mechanic look it over.

Good luck with it.

First of all, a D160 from a Deere dealer is built EXACTLY the same as a D160 that is sold through Lowe's or Home Depot.

The D Series are entry-level tractors that are designed to sell for a specific price-point. So yes.... the components chosen for such tractors are not as strong as components used on the X-500 or X700 Series.

If the tractor has 12 hours on it, then it is still under warranty UNLESS it has been damaged by some sort of abuse, such as ramming into something that did not move out of the way. The dealer will investigate and find which part or parts are causing the problem. That part/s will be examined to see if it failed due to a manufacturing defect or from collision. If a manufacturing defect is found, then warranty will apply. If not, then the customer must pay the repair bill.

There's nothing new in any of that.

So, let's not blame John Deere until the evidence is in. If you want warranty, then the dealer must do the repair. That is how it works whether it's a car, truck or lawn tractor.

Comparing an entry level lawn tractor to a Gravely garden tractor is like comparing a F-150 Ford pick up truck to a Mack dump truck. They are not in the same league nor in the same ball park price-wise. Whomever bought the D-160 got exactly what they paid for. If it isn't robust enough for the job, then trade it in on a $10,000.00 X-700 Series.

It is up to the customer to choose the correct tool for the task at hand.

Didn't mean to rile you up Tom,
Didn't intend to imply John Deere doesn't make a good tractor, we bought a X300 about 6 years ago and it has mowed quite well ever since. The idiot that mows at work won't grease anything, so spindles on mower are replaced yearly, transaxle has been replaced, so I wouldn't doubt that the moron ran it up over a curb and bent something....it's just I'm not seeing anything bent.
Granted, you get what you pay for and it would've been nice to have a X700, but it hurts more when an idiot ruins a $10,000 tractor. My boss is worth dang near a billion dollars, but that doesn't mean he likes to spend it...

Ray,
I am not offended by what you wrote, nor am I upset. I just wanted to provide my opinion on the matter.

Thanks for posting.

I find it very common that the front wheels on these cheaper series John Deere's have the front tires pointing somewhat towed in. There's no real adjustment on them, they are just built that way. I hate it but that seems to be the way they are. The only way to adjust it is to do some bending. Now your dealer may well be willing to do that for you on warranty and I think they should but its too bad they didn't design them a bit better. Now if you buy something like the x300, that's a much better built machine. Like already was said,cheap is cheap, better costs more money. Good luck..

you have already tried to fix it,they will not take it back most likely. I know if you had bought from my shop warranty is only done when owner brings it back and DOES NOT TOUCH TO FIX warranty void otherwise. where you located come try out Dixon tractor line, have went over real well and are priced in the lower end catergory and still have 3 yr warranty.