Piece of c__p John Deere

john in la · Jul 13, 2014

Paid about $4000 for this over priced X320 mower 47 months ago.
Had to change the battery this past spring (3.5 yrs old); did regular oil changes; sharpened the blades once a year; and fixed more than my share of flats cause a dumb roofer left a bunch of nails in my yard when he replaced my house roof.

Still got 2 more payments to make before it is paid off (special Deere financing) and the hour meter only shows 120 hrs.

Now I am out cutting grass this afternoon and the primary drive belt for the deck breaks. The one that goes from the engine to the deck idler.
Part # M154897

Local dealer has it in stock per J.D. web site. I guess this junk breaks so often they sell plenty of them.

With a cost of $48.87 for a simple fan belt I guess I am gona really learn; and fast; how over priced this green piece of junk is.

But seriously.......
Other than a battery this is the first break down in 4 years and 120 hrs.
I was kind of scared paying that kind of price going into this but (knock on wood) this mower has served me well and was well worth the extra cost over the box store cheap mowers.
If I had it to do again I would not hesitate to get the 320 again.

Chris English · Jul 13, 2014

I'm a little dizzy now! I guess you like it? My deck belt is upwards of $55. Was going through about one a year. I have a x300 and currently need new blade spindles. The deck is stamped steel and is a source of constant trouble

GaryinKs · Jul 13, 2014

Only $12.50 a year for parts and you are complaining? It isn't John Deeres fault you ran over nails.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 13, 2014

I have a 2003 LX 279 JD with a water cooled Kawasaki engine and 48" deck. I paid about the same as you. It has 820 hrs showing now. I'm still on the original belts. I always blow out the deck and radiator after mowing. Sometime it isn't the belts, it's the operator. Just sayin!

john in la · Jul 13, 2014

Yes I like it.
It was just a sarcastic way of saying it.

Everyone is always putting down on this brand or that other brand; and how much parts cost.
My first Deere and it has served me well so far.

rrlund · Jul 13, 2014

I believe I'll stick with my new Allis Chalmers.

Charlie M · Jul 13, 2014

For something like a belt I would check with NAPA for someplace similar first. JD dealer wanted $48 for 2 spark plug wires for my 318 - got them both for around $4 at NAPA. I've got an Onan engine and I guess the wires were coming from Japan.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 13, 2014

Do you idle down to engage mower deck. If not, you will go through a lot of belts.

wisbaker · Jul 13, 2014

I'm mowing with a Cub Cadet 70 that has a K301 (12HP) engine. It's about 50 years old, it gives me some problems, but it's old, easy to fix and a lot of the parts can be sourced other than Cub Cadet.

RayP(MI) · Jul 13, 2014

A few years ago I was beating up on my JD 140 and mower big time. Went through several drive belts. Found that the ones I got from other than Deere weren't as durable. And Deere's were actually cheaper.

bison · Jul 13, 2014

Hmm,..my $50 JD 112 tractor mower was born in 1972 and has faithfully cut my lawn for 22 years and is still doing great.
Couple bearings belts and some blades other little things. Oh yeah , and 1 engine(my fault,..forgot to check the oil:wink

Great cheap tractor for sure

showcrop · Jul 13, 2014

I like the older proven stuff. With the internet it is so much easier to find out what has a good rep and what doesn't before spending your money.

old popper · Jul 13, 2014

I too wondered about cost (bought a used X304 4 years ago. (42" deck). It replaced a Snapper zero turn. I am a firm believer that the Deere does a better job of mowing, and with 4 wheel steer is almost as maneuverable.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 13, 2014

I can't afford the new ones. Ran a Cub Cadet 149 for 11 years and gave $150. for it. No problems, just a couple belts and a set of blades. Currently for the last 7 years have been running a CC 782 that I gave $200. for. Just normal maintenance. I usually run about 5 1/2 - 6 hours a week mowing. They have been a lot more economical to run than the Deere's I ran before them.

Chris English · Jul 13, 2014

Well I think the extra belt wear came fom when my Dad would run it. I could never get him to use the overide switch when backing up. So I would hear him engage the blade about 50 times while mowing

gtractorfan · Jul 13, 2014

Bought a J.D. 275 new in 1998 and it's seen a lot of use. Nothing broke so far (hope this isn't a jinx) Replaced the battery this spring and used a maintainer during the winter, am told it's not too unusual for garden tractor batteries to only last 1 year.

MeAnthony · Jul 13, 2014

Two years ago I bought a clean, used Scotts (built by JD) 17 HP 42" mower for $400. Halfway through the first season, the deck belt broke. No way was I gonna pay $50 at JD for a new belt, so I picked one up at the local industrial supply outfit for $28. At the end of the same season, it broke. So I saved $22 but only got 1/2 a season out of it anyway. Fast forward to this spring, roll the mower out of the garage, clean it up and service it, install another new belt that I got from the other local industrial supply (no way was I gonna pay $50 at JD for a new belt) for $22...didn't get half the yard done and it broke. Went to local JD one day after work, paid the $50 and now have several weeks of trouble-free mowing on it.

Slightly different scenario: we have a JD 425 at work, starter is going bad. I called JD, replacement one is $311. I spent about twenty minutes looking online and found the same starter for $57 at another parts house in Florida(I think).

Dachshund · Jul 13, 2014

The belt on my 5 year old Poulan Pro 54" deck mower finally broke a couple weeks ago. Priced one through the company at $60. Priced one at the local CarQuest - $35. Went to an Amish neighbor that buys belts/bearings/etc, and paid $15.

fixerupper · Jul 13, 2014

John I wouldn't buy a bargain belt. It might last only 30 minutes. BTDT! jim

john in la · Jul 13, 2014

Jim
I'm not gona.

I ordered the belt and a home maintenance kit that includes all filters; plugs; and oil from green farm parts. All are genuine John Deere parts.

Don't really need the maintenance kit right now but it brought my order over $75 and made it free shipping.

Delivered right to my door and about $24 cheaper than my local dealer.

JD Seller · Jul 13, 2014

John I bought a new JD 325 in 1995. It has over 800 hrs. on it now. It has always mowed 2-3 acres every week. I have replaced the primary belt once. The deck belt is still the original one. I have had two hydro belts but this lawn tractor mows steep yards and has always had the tires loaded.

I gave $4500 for it then. I bet that I have not spent $500 on it since then. So lets call it a round $5000. So it has cost me less than $7 an hour to mow until now and I still have a good mower.

cannonball · Jul 14, 2014

must have been greenfarmparts.com

Billy NY · Jul 14, 2014

At first, it sounded like you were really unsatisfied, and I was thinking, those are typical items with these, I'm on my 2nd JD mower, not an X series, both came from the dealer, the current one is just an LA 135, an '08 with 146 hours now. Same belts, I put a JD strongbox battery in it, in '11, one front tire has been plugged, tiny little leak before, original blades, just sharpened as needed, have a new spare set since '09, oil changed precisely as called for, I use the JD filter, (B/S twin anyway) specified oil, lube the front end, pivot pin and mower spindles/mandrels, and its kept inside the garage, heated in the winter. 22HP twin, with a 42" deck is nice as if the lawn goes weeks, gets thick, I can blast through it on usually the same height, I dry the cuttings like hay almost and tow a sweeper for garden mulch. Comfortable high back seat, leg room, easy to operated, probably just as good as any, but I have to say its a nice little lawn tractor, uses more fuel than the other previous one. Strong box battery held up great, I start and run it periodically during the off season. At least an 1.5 acre lawn 15x per year, + sweeping now, neighbors 2 acres periodically and areas down the back of the hill near the pond I will mow after I use the rotary on the ford 850, sweep as much as I need now, and dry like hay or close, so much lighter and easier. Only wear is on the steering pinion and sector gear, I can see those being replaced at some point, hard to keep that lubed, one thing I hate on all of these, why the stamped sector and open gear, not a u-joint or something better ?

Sorry about the double post !

Billy NY · Jul 14, 2014

Deleted double post

W_B · Jul 14, 2014

I know the MTD built, big box mowers are basically crappola, but if you take care of them and can fix their little problems they can be a good value.

I paid $1,500, cash, for a 46" cut Huskee (TSC brand from MTD) with a B&S twin, non-hydro trans, in 2002. I've only had issues with the exhaust valve guide on one cylinder (removed head, peened the thing into place with a chisel and bolted it back on), replaced starter gear and did starter alignment (with a hammer) so it didn't break again, two front tires, a deck belt, a drive belt, a broken deck bracket (a quick weld with my cheapy 120V mig welder), and a thingy on the front steering arms (don't recall what it's called), a set of blades and a battery. That's it for 14 years of use on about 2 acres, and it's still going, used it this weekend. Obviously most of that is normal and expected maintenance. And, it could just crap out completely at about any time but at this point I don't care.

Russ from MN · Jul 14, 2014

Bought a new Husqvarna in 01, 42 inch 15 hp Kawasaki. 456 hrs and one belt and a set of blades, very happy with it. We buy most of our parts online, even a big belt for our Woods belly mower.

bja105 · Jul 14, 2014

My only green tractor is a 1999 or so LT155. Dad bought it new and babied it until he died, then I took it over. I used to think it was a piece of junk, but then I realized that my use of it is why it was always breaking. I mow the fence lines, mow down gardens, brush hog with it, trail ride with he kids in the cart. Not what a lawn tractor is for. Over 600 hours, still the original hydro belt.

Besides oil, flters and spark plugs, I have broken blades and spindles on rocks, broken a couple mufflers, and broke that junky plastic front bumper/hood hinge dumb idea. That thing always runs, and best of all, my wife likes to mow with it. Now that I have a couple heavy old garden tractors and a big tractor, the lawn tractor leads an easier life.

C Kain · Jul 14, 2014

Well, I love my 70's Case mowers.. Mow with a 1972 220 & 1975 444. A couple pulleys & belts, that's all the parts. I use the Kevlar belts from TSC. Reasonable price & They run 3 to 4 years for me.

ertl collector · Jul 14, 2014

I wish they would have painted em Orange a black alis Chalmers isn't really an alis ain't it

Piece of c__p John Deere

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