The Saga of the Elusive Lawn Beast

[SPKmes]

 cos here in England the weather is fickle, some might say inclement, when it rains for 10 days and you cant cut it but its growing  you get outta sync..
I have lots of lawn..mow a fair old bit..
I actually like walking an old briggs & stratton cricket pitch mower as you end up with beautiful stripes..
I used a pedometer once and I walk 12 miles doing my lawns..
I`ve done plenty of "research" lol

But AKP...its lovely and I hope they sort ya with it soon..
Great to have  top kit and will save lots of time.
and get your kids off the grass and raking the stuff!  jk 
I have come over a slight shade of green...Beer Holder 
<S> Jimmy

So you only mow the front lawn then 

[B-17]

Naw... was gonna see how it does mulching first.  Looks like I am gonna see how it does scattering it first though!  lol...  But I already have 2 outstanding "collectors".  My two teenagers just LOVE raking grass

I was doing that... until I was given the task of moving 10 tons of dirt... in 3 days. -.-

I used a pedometer once and I walk 12 miles doing my lawns

Well that's because you all live in bloody castles, isn't it?

[Shuffler]

The John Deere LT series (the ones you see in Lowes, etc) are made in China, really no different, (although they prolly have better customer service) Look at any consumer forums about the John Deere consumer series of mowers....rare they go 2 seasons with crap falling off

I will never buy another john deere. I have a tractor (40 horse) and most every implement for it. At the shop I also have a zero turn mower. Was happy with all. So I bought a mower from lowes for the house. I have always been a craftsman guy but they have trouble getting you the right parts delivered.

Well second year the john deere fuel tank splits. Third year the engine seizes. I went down Saturday and bought another craftsman. I should have stayed with them as they last over 10 years and I sell them when I decide to buy a new one.

My john deere dealer said that all the dealers are mad at john deere for making what they call a mower to compete with craftsman and such. Their mower does not compete with any makers quality... just the price. I told him i will no longer be buying john deere equipment and he can pass that up the ladder.

[Babalonian]

Not trying to offend anyone or spill the pot - just stir it a little.

Maybe it's the bit of city slicker in me (I've never needed a mower larger than one I can lift with both hands) - but I just have never seen the value behind the John Deere name that most everyone else in this country has.  It's American, patriotic, yes - but relatable and common in every house....  .  Unless you're a large land-owning farmer (and I suck at math, but I'd bet a nice lunch on that being less than 1% of our population) or just someone with a fetish for lawn-green colored caps - what's the REAL value in the name/brand TO YOU?

Now, I know/own/use/trust brands I actually posses or have expereince with using in one capacity or another - Honda and Craftsman being amongst them and direct competitiors against JD....

I think John Deere's marketing team should get a really big cookie, they sold a lot of equipment to a majority of people whos only direct experience with the company beforehand was a green cap made in China or India by the lowest bidder....  Shuffler sounds like an honest rarity in my book, him and his brother owns one of their tractors for some reason (and again, not to be insulting at all), but I suspect you bought it for a few loose odd-end jobs that you have, ie: 2nd-hand from a farmer/owner who was previously using it every day and to make a living.  (otherwise, not impossible but just as rare (IE: most contractors/builders I know can't even afford to do anything but rent the equiment when they need it), you and your brother would be in the group of JD owners that has the job/need/demand/resources for one in new or good condition, and busy enough to be out on the job with it every day paying the bills).

The point I'm trying to get here is this - common sence begs that the more you calim to "know" and trust John Deere the company, the more you "know" how wise a decision it is to purchase a missively produced home consumer product from them... imho  (I think all those d!@# caps were cutting off the circulation to your brains )  The company built its name and reputation off supplying specialty heavy-duty industrial (aka: very big and EXTREMELY expensive) equipment to the farming and earthwork industry.  When you need five umpty-million-dollar-pricetag machines capable of harvesting X-thousand-tons of grain off Y-million-acres of land in only a matter of Z-days - you call John Deere.  When you need a shovel to dig a 8'-wide, 50'-deep, 10-mile-long trench - you call John Deere.  And they make how many of these massive specialty tractors/machines a year?

[AKP]

I was looking at a John Deere before I went with the Craftsman.  I called the JD dealer in my area to ask about their service, the mower, etc.  When I told him I have just under a 1/2 acre of FLAT lawn... he told me straight up I didnt need a JD for that, and that a Craftsman would do the job just as well for about $1000 less.

Oh... and its 4:46pm.   The "Lawn Beast" is supposed to arrive between 4PM and 6PM...  my son is already planning on what to do with one of the $50 gift cards, since he is sure it wont show again. 

If I win... he is going to be getting first hand experience with the edger

[Babalonian]

I was looking at a John Deere before I went with the Craftsman.  I called the JD dealer in my area to ask about their service, the mower, etc.  When I told him I have just under a 1/2 acre of FLAT lawn... he told me straight up I didnt need a JD for that, and that a Craftsman would do the job just as well for about $1000 less.

Oh... and its 4:46pm.   The "Lawn Beast" is supposed to arrive between 4PM and 6PM...  my son is already planning on what to do with one of the $50 gift cards, since he is sure it wont show again. 

If I win... he is going to be getting first hand experience with the edger

Good luck, but I think your son just won a $50 shopping spree (and got out of edging a lawn).   

Speaking of kin and edging house lawns - I begrudgingly moved back home about a year ago, after a failed marriage and hard economics blah blah, and nobody had edged the ol' lawn since I last did it 10-years before.  Got over a foot or so back on the patio, but I still don't think that I've found or gotten it all the way back to the original edge (not that a consistently pressured son would lament on such trivial things later in life ).

[Shuffler]

Not trying to offend anyone or spill the pot - just stir it a little.

Maybe it's the bit of city slicker in me (I've never needed a mower larger than one I can lift with both hands) - but I just have never seen the value behind the John Deere name that most everyone else in this country has.  It's American, patriotic, yes - but relatable and common in every house....   .  Unless you're a large land-owning farmer (and I suck at math, but I'd bet a nice lunch on that being less than 1% of our population) or just someone with a fetish for lawn-green colored caps - what's the REAL value in the name/brand TO YOU?

Now, I know/own/use/trust brands I actually posses or have expereince with using in one capacity or another - Honda and Craftsman being amongst them and direct competitiors against JD....

I think John Deere's marketing team should get a really big cookie, they sold a lot of equipment to a majority of people whos only direct experience with the company beforehand was a green cap made in China or India by the lowest bidder....  Shuffler sounds like an honest rarity in my book, him and his brother owns one of their tractors for some reason (and again, not to be insulting at all), but I suspect you bought it for a few loose odd-end jobs that you have, ie: 2nd-hand from a farmer/owner who was previously using it every day and to make a living.  (otherwise, not impossible but just as rare (IE: most contractors/builders I know can't even afford to do anything but rent the equiment when they need it), you and your brother would be in the group of JD owners that has the job/need/demand/resources for one in new or good condition, and busy enough to be out on the job with it every day paying the bills).

The point I'm trying to get here is this - common sence begs that the more you calim to "know" and trust John Deere the company, the more you "know" how wise a decision it is to purchase a missively produced home consumer product from them... imho  (I think all those d!@# caps were cutting off the circulation to your brains )  The company built its name and reputation off supplying specialty heavy-duty industrial (aka: very big and EXTREMELY expensive) equipment to the farming and earthwork industry.  When you need five umpty-million-dollar-pricetag machines capable of harvesting X-thousand-tons of grain off Y-million-acres of land in only a matter of Z-days - you call John Deere.  When you need a shovel to dig a 8'-wide, 50'-deep, 10-mile-long trench - you call John Deere.  And they make how many of these massive specialty tractors/machines a year?

Tractor was bought all new and impliments (grader, sprayer, brush hog, finishing mower, auger, box blade, forks, front end loader) bought as needed. Two farms and 10 acres at the shop.

I have used it at home doing a little dirt work but I only have 3/4 acre there.

[Tupac]

any word from the keepers of the Lawn Beast?

[Maverick]

I've had a few months (about 4 total) use of a John Deere Gator. One was a 4x4 the other a 2 wheel drive. Both were noisy, slow, uncomfortable with lousy suspension and no real ventilation of the glass egg drivers compartment. Overall they were generally reliable but not fun to drive around even on pavement. Being it was Washington in the Spring I was happy it had a roof, doors and even a windshield wiper. When it got warm outside the egg was simply too hot and way noisy. You needed ear plugs to drive the darn thing.

It would haul a decent load and the tilt dump bed was slick, until you needed to lift it just to check the oil. Then you had to unload the bed for that job.

[flight17]

Half Acre and you need a tractor? lol

While this craftsman says its hydrostatic, is it belt driven or does it have an actual driveshaft between the engine and the rear transmission?  If its belt, its not a true hydrostatic and you wont really gain anything from it as the belt can still slip. However, since you said its flat land, you shouldn't have any problems unless you try to pull something heavy behind it.

I have a 1986 CubCadet 1812... 1600-1800hrs on it with the original Kohler engine still in use. 52in Mower with hydraulic lift, 50 in front snow blade with hydraulic power angle, 70lbs wheel weights and chains (for winter). Its a true Hydrostatic tractor, meaning it has an actual drive shaft going from the engine to the rear transmission and is all metal, not like this POS stuff they make today (not talking about craftsman specifically as they are all going to plastic for fenders, etc). It weighs about 1000lbs. The only thing that lets it down is that its only two wheel drive.

My Dad bought it new from a dealer. I would highly recommend going the ways of dealers for their tractor. IIRC, the warranty is much better than anything you can get at say Home Depot or Sears. However, if there is a major special going on at the stores you have to weigh the two. I have seen deals where you could get 500 dollar gift card, etc, which in that case, it might be better. Us people that have bigger garden tractors that the Home Depots and Sears cant legally sell call those Home Depot/Sears tractors throw away tractors as they are built cheap and will only last a few years.

However, you need to find a good dealer, one you trust and don't be afraid to have to travel a little to get there. Our Cub Dealer is about 45min away, but its a great, honest place.

We are looking at getting a new Tractor and are currently looking at the CubCadet Yanmar Sub Compact 2400. Its bigger than what we have, but its the only thing comparable to the 1812. All the new Garden Tractors are too lightly built. We would get the 60in mid mount deck, the front loader and front 60in blade. http://www.yanmartractor.com/pdfs/sc2400.pdf

As for John Deere... Its not just John Deere, the other big ones are CubCadet, Yanmar, New Holland and Kubota. Typically, areas are all one type due to the dealership. For Example, when driving to the Cub dealer on a summer day, you will see a lot of Cub cadets along the way. Driving to a Deere Dealer, you will see a lot of Deere tractors in the yards. As for quality, they are all pretty much the same, every model is going to have some issues compared to another and it comes down to a few things: comfort, financing, and Brand(personal reasons).

When i say brand, i don't mean the John Deere effect. For example, My Grandpa served in WWII. My Uncle who lived with my Grand Parents, would have never been allowed to have a Kubota or Yanmar, because they are Japanese built.

So did it come yet?

[AKP]

YES!    The "Lawn Beast" arrived at 5:55pm!  Just in the nick of time for me to keep my $50 gift card, and my son to learn how to edge this weekend 

I like it already.  Took it for a quick spin around the yard.  Cuts great... rides nice... and its very easy to use.  Its the first rider I have ever had, but then again... this is the first yard this big for me.  I just bought the house in November... and my last house had a yard about the size of a phone booth.

Half Acre and you need a tractor? lol

Yeah... I really do.  I have a bad knee from a car accident a few years ago, so a walk behind isnt really a good option for me right now.

[flight17]

Yeah... I really do.  I have a bad knee from a car accident a few years ago, so a walk behind isnt really a good option for me right now.

Well at least you have a good reason lol 

[j500ss]

Not trying to offend anyone or spill the pot - just stir it a little.

Maybe it's the bit of city slicker in me (I've never needed a mower larger than one I can lift with both hands) - but I just have never seen the value behind the John Deere name that most everyone else in this country has.  It's American, patriotic, yes - but relatable and common in every house....  .  Unless you're a large land-owning farmer (and I suck at math, but I'd bet a nice lunch on that being less than 1% of our population) or just someone with a fetish for lawn-green colored caps - what's the REAL value in the name/brand TO YOU?

Now, I know/own/use/trust brands I actually posses or have expereince with using in one capacity or another - Honda and Craftsman being amongst them and direct competitiors against JD....

I think John Deere's marketing team should get a really big cookie, they sold a lot of equipment to a majority of people whos only direct experience with the company beforehand was a green cap made in China or India by the lowest bidder....  Shuffler sounds like an honest rarity in my book, him and his brother owns one of their tractors for some reason (and again, not to be insulting at all), but I suspect you bought it for a few loose odd-end jobs that you have, ie: 2nd-hand from a farmer/owner who was previously using it every day and to make a living.  (otherwise, not impossible but just as rare (IE: most contractors/builders I know can't even afford to do anything but rent the equiment when they need it), you and your brother would be in the group of JD owners that has the job/need/demand/resources for one in new or good condition, and busy enough to be out on the job with it every day paying the bills).

The point I'm trying to get here is this - common sence begs that the more you calim to "know" and trust John Deere the company, the more you "know" how wise a decision it is to purchase a missively produced home consumer product from them... imho  (I think all those d!@# caps were cutting off the circulation to your brains )  The company built its name and reputation off supplying specialty heavy-duty industrial (aka: very big and EXTREMELY expensive) equipment to the farming and earthwork industry.  When you need five umpty-million-dollar-pricetag machines capable of harvesting X-thousand-tons of grain off Y-million-acres of land in only a matter of Z-days - you call John Deere.  When you need a shovel to dig a 8'-wide, 50'-deep, 10-mile-long trench - you call John Deere.  And they make how many of these massive specialty tractors/machines a year?

I work for a John Deere construction equipment dealership, at 1 of our branches we are also a consumer products ( mowers, gators, all that fun stuff) dealer...  Your right!!  Give the marketing guys their cookies, Deere's #1 profit margin line is not farm equipment, it's not construction equipment, it's not OEM engines and transmissions....... It's the consumer products division hands down!

So far as their mowers go, well I tend to give this advice.  If your dealer has the same one the box stores have, buy it at the box store.  Last I was aware though, some models are not available at box stores, those are the ones you should be looking at