John Deere Differences

Hello all. Thank you in advance for your reply.

My understanding is the JD Mowers/Garden Tractors one would buy at a big box store do not compare in terms of quality to those one would purchase from a dealer. Is there a way to know which is which? Looking at auctions and used equipment sites and I would prefer to spend a little more on a better machine.

Thank you!

Dealers also sell the same ones you can get
at box stores, mainly the 100 series
mowers, they are the cheaper ones to
compete with the other brands at those
stores. To get a much better one, look at a
300 series or bigger, they also come with a
much higher price but also better quality.
If you look closely at the 100 series
compared to a Craftsman or Husqvarna they
are the same thing only minor differences
because they are built for John Deere

John Deere builds their own tractors but they bought a closed MTD plant to build
the new line of box store LGT's. That causes endless confusion, making people
think JD is selling MTD's with green paint and JD hoods.

The current model box store LGT's are better than other brands - if you really
like green paint. I agree on the X3## series or up if you really want a better
tractor.

I bit the bullet and bought an X700 series this
spring. Don’t regret it a bit now. As mentioned, a
300 series and up, and you will have a reliable and
operator friendly mower for years to come.

The 100 (L/LA/D/E) series are identical whether you buy them at a dealer or box store. They are the cheapest line of mowers, designed to compete with the other mowers at the box store.

They are built at Deere's factory in Greeneville, Tennessee. It is the former Homelite factory (Deere bought Homelite in 1994).

Many many years ago I heard that rumor. I shopped both sources and found the mowers the same....JD set the price to protect the dealer. My L110 was
purchased from a big box because of convenience. I think the sticker was under the seat mounting plate that gave the name of the local JD dealer for
service.

Some 1800 hours I'm still using that little sucker. Since I have half a dozen or so mowers, reason is to address the many variables I have in usage
requirements, I have removed the deck and added a basket over the engine cover for carrying things you wouldn't believe, a 4 gallon sprayer behind the
seat for spraying Fire Aunt mounds which pop up everywhere, and she is still going strong. I'm sure you have heard of the JD Gator all purpose vehicle.
This is my "Gator-ette".

I converted the single 17.5 to a V twin 18, just because I found a great deal on new V twins on ebay for replacing a crapped out 20 hp Kohler Command
on a Husqvarna and just decided to put a V twin on the L110 too, repaired the TT transaxle, replaced the front forks, gone through 3 or so seats and in
the process added soft springs for a comfortable ride. Installed studded snow tires all around, running about 5 PSI for riding comfort in my lumpy
fields and all. After awhile you just get attached to things. Grin