Lowe's or HD JD riders

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Are the quality of these riders the same as what the dealers offer or are they made with a little less quality as one dealer told me. The dealer is over 50 miles away where Home Depot is just a mile. thanks
 
If you are going to spend the money, and want a quality piece of equipment don't get one from Lowe's or Home Depot. They have thinner metal on the frame, deck, etc. The motor is designed to run for 300ish hours and has no rebuilt kit. Lowe's and Home Depot offer a two year warranty, the dealer offers a four year warranty.

If I was going to buy a new one I would spend the coin and go to the dealer for a quality piece of equipment and not the harry homeowner piece.
 
In 2009 we bought my Father a JD X300 from a local dealer. This was after looking at the models from Home Depot. We could have gotten more HP and a bigger cutting deck for the same money as the X300. When you put the two side by side however this is no comparison. The X300 is better built by leaps and bounds. The metal is thicker, plastic parts are not chincy, and the motor just sounds like it is more heavy duty. My Father has 350 hours on his X300 and it is 5 years old without a single issue.
 
The same models are identical between the dealer and the box store. A D170 at the dealer is going to be exactly the same as a D170 at Lowes/HD. The box stores, however, only carry the low-cost line (D series).

The X300 series is the next step up, and is of much higher quality. Only a dealer sells the X300 (and X500 or X700). Of course, those tractors have a higher price.
 
As I am typing this, I am sitting at my desk, in the factory where those lawn tractors are built. Yes, the mowers at Home Depot,Lowes, and the dealer are exactly the same.
 
If you need any warranty work done they will send you to the closet Deere Dealer to have it done anyway.
 

Which factory Jason S? The factory where they build the 100 series or the one where they build the x series?

Correct me if im wrong but this is what ive learned about them over the last 13 years ive been working at a dealership. When John Deere decided to get into the cheap mower buisness they bought the Scotts lawnmower company. For a few years you would see Orange Scotts mowers that said "Mfd by John Deere" on them. They they went to the lime green Sabre mowers that were also at dealerships. Also with "Mfd by John Deere" on the hood. Then around 2002-2003 John Deere came out with the 100 series. All they really were were Sabre mowers with JD green plastic instead of lime green.

A John Deere built out of the Tennessee plant is the same weather it is at Lowes or at the dealer. The Select series built out of the Wisconsin plant are built to a much higher spec and are not available at Lowes, etc.
 
Bought a Troy-Bilt [think it's a MTD] at Lowes about 14 years ago, and after the plastic pieces fell off, the belts started wearing out to where I got good at replacing them, a spindle died, etc. it has finally selttled down to be a heck of a good tractor. Kohler Command engine, runs like a champ, I change oil every year. Hi-Lo transmission, no trouble at all. Starts at the first touch of the starter in spring. You gotta learn to change oil / plugs / filters / pieces and parts though.
 
Have my x304 for about 6 years now. Great to mow with. I can"t believe the cheap thin plastic cover on the seat. Dealer gave me a new one at about 4 years and now that one is cracking and ready to fall apart. I noticed they do sell covers at the dealer but I expect much better from John Deere. Shame on them.
 
I work at John Deere Power Products in Greeneville TN. Deere never bought Scotts mowers, the Sabre mower came out in 1995 which is when I started here. The Sabre was based on the John Deere STX series of mower. Ever notice the similarities between the frames between an STX and the original Sabre? The Scotts mower were exactly the same as the Sabre series just a different color. I have one myself a 25hp, 46" cut hydro. The L100 series was a new design from the ground up and of course Deere would later drop the Sabre and Scotts names and go with John Deere.Starting in the fall, all zero turn mowers will be built here both residential and commercial.
 
(quoted from post at 09:03:13 05/20/14) I work at John Deere Power Products in Greeneville TN. Deere never bought Scotts mowers, the Sabre mower came out in 1995 which is when I started here. The Sabre was based on the John Deere STX series of mower. Ever notice the similarities between the frames between an STX and the original Sabre? The Scotts mower were exactly the same as the Sabre series just a different color. I have one myself a 25hp, 46" cut hydro. The L100 series was a new design from the ground up and of course Deere would later drop the Sabre and Scotts names and go with John Deere.Starting in the fall, all zero turn mowers will be built here both residential and commercial.

Thanks Jason. I was close but not 100%!
 
Father-in-law bought a JD L100 at Home Depot about 10 years ago! The B&S engine seized about 3 years later, and he had a local independent service put a replacement engine in it. It has been virtually bullet proof since.
The interesting thing was, when you tipped the seat up, there was a decal for the local JD consumer products dealer! Apparently the JD dealer uncrated & assembled the tractors for Home Depot!
 
(quoted from post at 14:37:19 05/20/14)
(quoted from post at 09:03:13 05/20/14) I work at John Deere Power Products in Greeneville TN. Deere never bought Scotts mowers, the Sabre mower came out in 1995 which is when I started here. The Sabre was based on the John Deere STX series of mower. Ever notice the similarities between the frames between an STX and the original Sabre? The Scotts mower were exactly the same as the Sabre series just a different color. I have one myself a 25hp, 46" cut hydro. The L100 series was a new design from the ground up and of course Deere would later drop the Sabre and Scotts names and go with John Deere.Starting in the fall, all zero turn mowers will be built here both residential and commercial.

Thanks Jason. I was close but not 100%!

I should add that we do build a few models of the X series here also and all baggers,blowers,etc... for all Deere mowers are built here.
 
(quoted from post at 08:21:15 05/20/14)
(quoted from post at 14:37:19 05/20/14)
(quoted from post at 09:03:13 05/20/14) I work at John Deere Power Products in Greeneville TN. Deere never bought Scotts mowers, the Sabre mower came out in 1995 which is when I started here. The Sabre was based on the John Deere STX series of mower. Ever notice the similarities between the frames between an STX and the original Sabre? The Scotts mower were exactly the same as the Sabre series just a different color. I have one myself a 25hp, 46" cut hydro. The L100 series was a new design from the ground up and of course Deere would later drop the Sabre and Scotts names and go with John Deere.Starting in the fall, all zero turn mowers will be built here both residential and commercial.

Thanks Jason. I was close but not 100%!

I should add that we do build a few models of the X series here also and all baggers,blowers,etc... for all Deere mowers are built here.

I have a X595 that I have had for about 10 or 12 years and it's been a great mower. I did not know they were built in Tennessee.
 
(quoted from post at 16:29:15 05/20/14)
(quoted from post at 08:21:15 05/20/14)
(quoted from post at 14:37:19 05/20/14)
(quoted from post at 09:03:13 05/20/14) I work at John Deere Power Products in Greeneville TN. Deere never bought Scotts mowers, the Sabre mower came out in 1995 which is when I started here. The Sabre was based on the John Deere STX series of mower. Ever notice the similarities between the frames between an STX and the original Sabre? The Scotts mower were exactly the same as the Sabre series just a different color. I have one myself a 25hp, 46" cut hydro. The L100 series was a new design from the ground up and of course Deere would later drop the Sabre and Scotts names and go with John Deere.Starting in the fall, all zero turn mowers will be built here both residential and commercial.

Thanks Jason. I was close but not 100%!

I should add that we do build a few models of the X series here also and all baggers,blowers,etc... for all Deere mowers are built here.

I have a X595 that I have had for about 10 or 12 years and it's been a great mower. I did not know they were built in Tennessee.

All of the X series aren't built here. I honestly can't remember how many X models are built here and how many are built at Horicon. Way to many models to keep up with anymore. When I first started there were only 3 models!
 
i have a la130. nothing like the x series from the dealer. dont waste your money. take a look at the craftsman mowers. very similar to the 100 series.
 

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