Lawn mowers to avoid!
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- Опубліковано 9 тра 2024
- As a mechanic, I work on many brands of residental and commercial mowers daily. Here are the used residential lawn mowers I'd recommend you avoid. If you already have one of these mowers, you may not like this video. This video will still be helpful if you choose to keep one of these mentioned mowers.
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• Best Zero Turn Mowers ...
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I knew a guy that told me you can paint an out house green. Call it John Deere and people will buy it.😂😂
You could paint a dog turd green and yellow and JD fan boys would not only buy it, they would eat it and say it was great.
I was a Tech and a Service Manager for many years at a GM garage . This Man took the time to make this video and share his mechanical experiences , what he sees as common failures & I appreciate his opinion and experience very much . Some people who own the models mentioned may never have a problem BUT why take the chance ? We experienced this too on GM cars that had expensive common failures . Occasionally one of these cars would perform great with no issues . Thanks for the video , we will be shopping for a mower soon .
Thank you Private data for that comment!
What better place to get good advice? This man works on these products he knows them. Thank you sir I will keep this in mind
I am not questioning this gentleman's conclusions however the only way you can know the failure rate of these mowers is to know how many are being sold and how many of those are failing. JD knows those figures and I would have to think that that percentage has to be at acceptable level or JD would not allow their name to be tarnished with a bad product. It is all about the numbers and we really don't know those numbers we only know that some bad ones are showing up at this mans shop. Is that 30% or 3% of the ones sold?
@@markp.7165it's really bad. Them mowers are junk. My neighbor bought one of the John Deere ones. Everytime it broke and he got it fixed he thought it should be good now. It just got worse and worse. I believe his deck broke at the welds were the anti scalp rollers are very early on. I bought an exmark because I got over 2 acres to mow. 1100 hours and still going strong. This junker has 7 hours? My other neighbor across the road bought a big commercial 72" John Deere powered by yanmar diesel because he had about 4 acres to mow. It was in the shop 5 times in the first season. And that was supposed to be a good one he paid probably 15-17 thousand for. I'd buy a used commercial grade scag, exmark or toro before a new residential class junker. There is a reason the professional landscapers use exmark and Toro.
That is a very important question.
Hey give him a big round of applause.
He is honest.
Thanks for your honesty. I was questioning why a neighbor's JD yard mowers were constantly having the same issues you covered here. Very informative.
Their tractors were good but the zero turns dont seem to be.
The d series tractors are the best.
If you buy a Z-Trac zero turn from a JD dealership, you get the real deal, but not at the big box stores, those mowers are not the same even though they look like them. They cheap them down for those stores. I have had my Z335E for 8 years, no problems at all. I bought mine with a rebate that brought the price within a couple hundred dollars of Home Depot and Lowe’s, and better service from the dealer if you ever need it. This fact is common knowledge on the internet, don’t buy a JD from a big box store, you will have higher chance of problems.
Great video, and solid criticisms about the cheaper JD's, especially coming from someone who works on these day in day out. Like a lot of commenters here I too own a Z335e that has been faultless, used it on a couple of commercial jobs too. But it's food for thought when it comes time to trade and upgrade.
Really appreciate your honesty! Anyone with a good common mechanical sense should notice those signs.
I can relate to the cam issues with compression release not working. I have a craftsman rider with a Briggs engine 9yrs old. I have had to replace the cam twice now. Your spot on with your video and warning viewers to stay away from these single cylinder engines. And agree, its not fun to replace the cam. Time consuming. Thanks for your video.
59 years old I've had many mowers. I remember when there were lawn tractors instead of lawn mowers. Like everything they built things cheaper and charged more. On a small flat lawn and if you take it easy with the mower you'll probably be ok with the cheaper mowers with proper maintenance. But if you have hills and large areas to mow, you would be better off spending the extra money. Thank you for this video great information!
I have a z355r and it has 70 hours on it no issues. I mow 5 yards with it and its held up well so far. The castor bearings on mine are metal. It definitly seems like a very fragile machine but im glad to hear that the engine is decent on it. I have to run it to mow yards in my side gig till i can afford something better but ill definitly keep in mind to be extra careful not to bend the deck. Its a 2018 model
I'm an eetc certified technician, I work for a national small engine repair company for many years. That plastic transmission was used by Husqvarna for several years, it had so many failures they ultimately quit using it. As far as the compression releases go, in my experience I noticed the ones that failed more often were the ones that lacked regular maintenance such as oil changes. The 31r Briggs engine was Notorious for those to fail regardless of maintenance
I agree on not changing oil and cam failure
Even had a Honda GX 390 compression release stick and had to dis engine and free it up
Change the dam oil people
@@philliphall5198 also, on the smaller engines like on lawn mowers and pressure washers the gcv160 and gcv190 with lack of Maintenance I found the exhaust valves would stick, sometimes breaking the rocker arm
My craftsmen 18 hp ohv intek engine has that small problem but after buying it from the woman she had it over filled with oil the oil level was to the middle of the dipstick so i drained it down to the right amount and let it burn off whatever was left from being to full and then noticed i had to spin it clockwise a tiny bit it starts right up
So the craftsmen 18 hp ohv intek has that problem what causes it though you think its from people not changing the oil
I'd almost think it could get that way from people not adding any oil to it when its low on oil then that part on the camshaft heat up and warp then break it has to somehow because even old oil still lubricates the parts
I’m glad you’re willing to tell us the good, the bad and the very ugly. You’ve saved me from buying something that will be difficult to work on. I’ll subscribe purely on that.
I have a much older JD Z225 (about 12 years old or so) that I bought new and it has been awesome. The JD zero turn you show here looks like the newer ones I've seen and they look much lighter built than mine as far as the frame goes. So much so, I ruled them out as an option when I was recently looking at new mowers. My deck is in bad shape, and they are expensive to replace so I decided to buy a new mower instead. Amazingly, all parts on mine are original except for blades, battery, air/oil filters, oil, spark plugs and one of the mounts for the steering levers. Never changed a deck spindle or bushing/bearing anywhere on that mower and it has definitely not been babied in the least. It has only been used on my property (2 acres) and not used commercially, but for a residential mower it gets treated pretty harshly at my place LOL! I noticed the stamped steel steering arm mounts on the one you showed where mine were cast...those stamped steel new ones look pretty flimsy. I did manage to break one of my cast ones after several years, but I was also using them to help me pull it out of a muddy ditch on a regular basis...yeah I abused my mower! I was so happy with my old one, the residential John Deere zero turns were the first ones I looked at when I started shopping for a new mower. I was really disappointed that I was able to rule them out within a couple of minutes of looking at them.
My neighbor just bought a z335 and he loves it. But it's brand new and I wish him luck! Thanks for the honest review
🤣 keep us posted. If you like him tell him to grease those front bushings, never step on the deck and cut high and nice and slow.
I appreciate your honesty and I hope you don’t get fired.
Haha I'll be okay either way. Thanks for watching 🍻
I haven’t bought one yet but have been looking at all I saw on the John Deere I’ve heard that the metal is lighter duty And I have to thank you for your info thank you very much
Thank You for providing this information, my next door neighbor has a John Deer Riding Mower, he mowed lawns for income when he was a college student, he mows his neighbors (older folks) lawns (no cost) when he mows his own.
Other than the issues with the front tires not holding air, I have nothing but good things to say about my 335E. I've mowed 2 STEEP acres for the past six years with no problems at all.
Get rid of it while it's still working. Lol
Quite often, it's the operator, NOT the machine. Some people should not operate machinery.
@@stuartbear922Plastic bushings is a pass for me
@@stuartbear922 Yeah. They'd screw up an anvil.
I have a 2022 Z345R. Only complaint I had was, the oil filter location. At best, it drains oil all over the frame floor when I take it off for service. I went to Briggs and bought a remote oil filter kit (part number: 594271) and relocated it to the rear, where it now drains between the frame floor and the rear bumper. Much, much better.
I have a 345R , LOVE IT. 3 years, no problems front tires hold air. Deck seems solid, pulled deck to rust proof it, belts went back on easily. Was told it came from a John Deere plant. Will keep an eye on front bushings, so far they seem good.
I have the same mower I bought new about 3 or 4 years ago with the 21.5 HP engine. I haven't had one issue with it, so now I need to go check it out and see if it has those plastic bushings on the front wheels. ***UPDATE*** I just checked and it does :( However, I take care of my tractor and try to never cut in the rain. Not sure if that matters but I am sure I will have to replace them when they break :( Other than that it has been ok. I also put the engine guard on the back as well as the mulching door.
I have a 345R also. The only thing I noticed on mine is that one side seems to go faster than the other with the handles all the way forward. Adjusting the steering handles with that stop bolt on top is useless. If anyone has any suggestions on that it would be greatly appreciated. Other than that I have had no issues with my mower.
I've had my Z235 for 8 years. A few years ago, the front caster wheel pivot bushings got a little loose. Replaced the fiber bushings with brass bushings and drilled and tapped for grease fittings. Still tight years later. Almost 400 hours and the upper pto clutch bearing started getting a little noisy. Removed the clutch, popped the sesl out and injected some grease into the bearing. Sounds good. Nothing wrong with these mowers.
I agree I had one for 9 years and one dry summer cutting around a tree the roots were more pronounced because of the dryness and my blades cracked into my deck! STAMPED DECKS ARE TRASH!
having just retired after a great 40years plus doing this work i will say that you are right on the mark. the small single cylinder intek engines are prone to lots of troubles, just like the customers that walk into the shop with what we used to refer to a weedeater in a bag and want it repaired for 20 buck. all one has to do is look at the zero turn and it even looks like it would break if the wind hit it. anyway good information young fellow.
I appreciate your video, however...My Z335E has nearly 500 hours on it with out fail. I do an annual maintenance on it myself. I did put a pair of bushings in the casters last year along with installing a grease zerk for them. I installed some "flatout" in the caster wheels and never looked back. No bent deck so far and it sure is heavier than those Cub Cadet/MTD junk mowers. This past winter I did replace the bearings in the deck spindles. The bearings didn't lock up but were sounding rough. I already had the deck off for annual cleaning and checks anyway. The bearing replacement was only about a 30 min job. I've been pretty happy with my Z335E so far. I bought my Mom a Z235 years before this one, and hers is still running and mowing fine. Basically the Z235 is the same mower. She is able to steer the Z235 without hurting her arthritic hands so much. She's 88 and still enjoys cutting her grass when she can.
I see so many replies referring to the Z335, what about the Z315E which I just purchased. What's the difference?
I've had a Z525 for a few years now on 1 acre. Went with the bigger model primarily for the bagger and side blower attachment. I bag around 30 bags per year and this thing handles it like a champ. I can do the heaviest part of the season at about 22 bags in 3 hours. The price has been worth it for that alone. It's a bit heavy as a mower and prone to adding ruts in the yard if you're not careful about changing mowing patterns in softer soil. I only have that issue in part of the yard, so I change it up with 3 patterns. I can mow my acre in about 30-40 minutes. The biggest gripe I have about the mower is that I can't buy tweels for the rear tires.
I have a Z425 I bought new. I have had nothing but good service out of the unit. No problems at all for 3 years.
Wow! Perfect timing finding this video. I'm looking to replace my 2007 - 42 inch cut Cub Cadet ZT mower. You've got me now considering keeping it a bit longer and making minor repairs on it. Thanks for this video! (Just subscribed also)
Your 2007 was probably built better. This new stuff is built so cheap
Ya keep your cub cadet I had a John Deere every year has to replace something. Bought a cub cadet love it and half the price
Awesome content. I have a JD LA125 it lasted 12 years before I had to replace the head gasket! After I changed it, running better than ever! 👍
Looking into my first ever riding mower and watching a review about that exact one!
In Canada here, I have a LA125, I’m mowing an acre, I’ve had it for 17 years. I do the maintenance every spring, I blew the crankshaft before the warranty expired and John Deere replaced the briggs and straton motor. It’s been reliable for over 13 years now with regular maintenance. I changed the drive belt every 5 years and the deck belt every three, replaced deck bearings and some bushings. Easy maintenance and a reliable machine, I will be buying another one soon.
appreciate the info...I have a 235z home edition since 2014 and has had no problems. I service it every 2 years because I'm the only one uses it. It has 140 hrs on it and never replaced battery. Hope it last another 8 years. thank you
Thank u for your good feed back for all garden lovers.
I've got a Z335E used with the property. Served me well for 4 years, but I can see what you are saying. Although mine has taken quite a bit of abuse on 30+ acres where I had to use it to mow the pasture a couple of time. Got lots of hours on this thing and it's time for some much needed maintenance and love.
It's far beyond "much needed maintenance". MAINTENANCE MAINTAINS MACHINERY IN "LIKE NEW" CONDITION. IT CANNOT BE "DEFERRED" AND THE DAMAGE DONE BY ABUSE ON TOP OF "LACK OF MAINTENANCE" UNDONE BY "DEFERRED MAINTENANCE" AND THINKING FINALLY "MAINTAINING" IT WITH "LONG OVERDUE" SERVICE - LUBRICATION, CLEANING ESPECIALLY BEYOND "SKIN DEEP" TO GET "GRASS CLIPPINGS" OUT OF EVERYWHERE UNSEEN THAT MUST STAY CLEAN TO AVOID FURTHER ABUSE DUE TO OVERHEATING (EVERYTHING ON THAT UNIT IS "AIR-COOLED" ESPECIALLY THE TRANSAXLE) AND SERVICING IT WITH THE CORRECT - NOT "CLOSE ENOUGH" - LUBRICANTS AND PROCEDURES AND PARTS "OVERPRICED" OR NOT IS SHOWING IT SOME KIND OF "LOVE" AS SOMEONE DUMB ENOUGH TO MOW 30 ACRES OF "PASTURE" IS NOT GOING TO HELP THAT "RESIDENTIAL" LAWN MOWER ONE BIT.
CERTAINLY NOT THE WAY YOU REALLY WANT IT "MAINTAINED" WHICH IS IN "RESALE VALUE". DUPONT OVERHAULS AND A LITTLE "MAINTENANCE" AND SUPPOSED "LOVE" DON'T FOOL LAWN EQUIPMENT "STEALERSHIPS" AND THEY DON'T TAKE "TRADES" WITH NO "MAINTENANCE RECORDS". IT ALSO TAKES 2 MINUTES TO GOOGLE EARTH YOUR HOME ADDRESS AND SEE JUST HOW "RESIDENTIAL" YOUR PROPERTY IS.
I've had a 335 E Z-turn for 5 years now. I cut 3 hilly acres with it every week during the summer. Only issues to date is I had to replace the drive belt once, took like 5 minutes to do. Been very happy with this machine honestly. And yeah MTD makes these.
i just feel personally if im getting mtd quality why not just buy a cub cadet and save the wallet and not buy the green and yellow markup
@@harleythrelkeld7587 When I bought mine the Cub Cadet version was actually $100 more. Looking now, 5 years later, the Cub Cadet version is $100 less.
@@Zappy1210 thats shocking honestly lol normally the cub, troy built or whatever else are a few hundred cheaper than the green counterpart
@@harleythrelkeld7587 They all run for about $3400 currently apples to apples.
@@Zappy1210 in ohio here a 54 inch cub is actually 3800 with a kohler engine and 4100 with a kawasaki deere is priced the same as the kohler but doesnt outright list engine manufacturer
I have a 335E and my tires front and rear have not lost any air in 3 years. I have had no issues with it at all. I only have about an acre to mow, and so far am very happy with it. Time will tell.
Same here! Same mower. Have 41hours on it. Been very blessed no problems.
Thanks buddy! I'm in the market for commercial mowers but I didn't know about the plastic transmission.
I have 365 hours on a z355e. They must not be too bad. I will say the drive belt and deck lift cables do suck to replace. 😅 I'm not complaining that they lasted so long, though. I retired it with a z530m this year. Hope it lasts without much fuss.
I have had that exact Z335E for over 5 years, mowing 1 to 2 acres every 2 weeks most of the year. Wet, dry, too tall, it just goes and goes. I do keep it clean and well maintained. I will admit the front caster bushings are junk, and the drive belt is hard as hell to replace.
You are very correct.. the 1s you showed are bottom of the line box stores.... they are are all made by mtd... I was a master small engine mechanic with my own shop... I mainly did 2 strikers..also a chainsaw race builder... didn't take long to figure most people bought junk... I didn't want to get married several times a day that's why I stayed with 2 strokers...great job sir
I own a z335e and absolutely love it. I installed an optional foot controlled deck lift kit that bypasses the hand operated one and allows me to use my foot to raise the deck while avoiding scalping the lawn when encountering brief high ground. The engine is strong, the speed is exceptional and the entire unit has been an absolute joy to own and use. I am finishing my second season with it and would never consider getting rid of it.
Wonderful. Sssssssuper. Today you love it - when it breaks (and breaks often) you will "reconsider."
I purchased a "residential" 42" Toro Timecutter with a fabricated steel deck and the "My Ride" suspension system a couple of years ago to replace a 42" Timecutter with a pressed steel deck. The only complaint I had with the old machine was the pressed steel deck... which is why I purchased the "same" machine only this time with the fabricated steel deck (which they call "iron forged"). I had to do some repair work on the pressed steel deck because of stumps I ran over, bending/breaking some parts underneath. (Also destroying the blades) I appreciate your taking time to make this video and will agree that there are some real pieces of junk out there. That being said, I will stand behind the quality of my most recently purchased machine FOR RESIDENTIAL USE... indeed, the next step up would have been a commercial unit although the machine I purchased does come in 46" and 52" 'residential' as well. Toro has made many improvements over the years, and if you purchase the dual bagging system ($900) it simply cannot be beat even by powered vacuum systems- it picks up everything. I did sell my old Timecutter to one of my neighbors for $400, and he's still using it. While Toro is the company's main brand, they also include commercial equipment like Exmark, Ditch Witch, Spartan as well as some of the finest rough, fairway and greens golf course maintenance machines available. I also have a 22" "Personal Pace" walk behind manufactured by Toro. MTD did make entry-level garden tractors and walk-behinds for Toro a few years back- whether they do or not now, I am not sure. Most of the "pieces of junk" you refer to in your video are manufactured by MTD. I think MTD is associated with (or owned by) Murray. It all boils down to "you get what you pay for"... As a side note, I will never buy another pressed steel deck zero-turn machine. The difference between one of those and the fabricated steel deck I now have are day and night.
I agree ... and the reason I bought a smaller residential zero-turn from Bad Boy Mowers .... fabricated EVERYTHING .... HEAVY-DUTY design and production. I thank my salesman everyday for recommending it.
Had mine 3 years zero issues so far works perfect.
Hopefully you will not have any issues. Sounds like you know how to use and maintain one properly.
I have a five year old 345M with a 42 inch deck. It runs fine. I have the foot pedal to assist in lifting the deck. I have no need to need to step on the mower deck when climbing onto the mower. I've replaced the front tubeless tire with tube type and that's all I've done other than routine maintenance like blade sharpening, oil and filter changes and such.
What zero turn do you have?
U don't have any grass to cut and u know nothing about mowers.😅
Thanks for the video. My 2005 L120 lawn tractor, after replacing the PTO, has been very reliable with regular annual maintenance on 3 acres. Very difficult to buy equipment these days with 30-day limited warranties.
Bought my Z235 from JD dealer here in South Dakota. NO problems at all in 7 yrs, except for ME hitting a stump and damaging the deck. Glad I went to dealer rather than Lowes or Home Depot (closest is 120 miles away). However, thanks for pointing out the differences and potential problems.
Ive had Deer stuff so 14 years ago i bought a BAD BOY MOWER i finally have had my first problem a squeaky spindle they are great mowers there like tanks !!!
I've had the Z335 for 6 years and use it every week on 1 acre. I did replace the front wheel bushings last year only because I noticed some noise from them. So, except for regular seasonal maintenance I've spent a total of $15 in repairs. The unit's been the best mower I've ever owned and the price was reasonable. I wish I had bought it sooner!
I know a 90 year old that smokes and drinks. One!
Had my Z track for about a year. Same here too. I love mine.
Just bought a z325e and everything he said about that mower does not even look close to what he is saying. Not sure what year this mower is but the things he points out are completely wrong. My mower works great.
5 years in I haven’t had one good year with the same mower.
haha same here - all I've ever had to do on mine is replace/sharpen the blades every few seasons, and change the oil and air up the tires once a year. I hope I haven't jinxed myself....
My cub cadet has been doing the compression release thing every once in a while. Took it to a dealer and they said it was a starter solenoid and replaced it. Got it back and it still does it randomly, thank you for helping me find my issue!!!
Thanks for watching Derek
This makes me glad we bought a D100 years ago. It's still going strong. With one caveat - the Left mower braking arm has a rubber piece which wears every time I get off before the engine has completely stopped. Eventually it wears enough that it flips past the point where it's dragging on the pulley, and then it destroys the blade drive belt. I replaced it once. The second time it wore out I removed it.
In contrast to the E100, the D100 drive belt takes some effort to remove the deck, but it's not a nightmare job.
I recommend the John Deere S240. You get a 300 frame, front axel, rear axel and a a Kawasaki V twin engine.
And it’s a beast of a mower
I've owned mine for seven years and had zero issues. One belt and one battery ..Love my Deere.
John Deere Z245 zero turn here....2008 model. Absolutely no issues since new. Replaced a few batteries as normal, keep serviced and still as new.
I love mine! I use it on 2 acres. Never have ANY problems with it...
Man I must have gotten lucky. My 335e has over 100 hours and just recently the starter solenoid failed. But that's it. Thanks for the video.
He's just full of hot air
Way back in 2005 I purchased a Cub Cadet ZRT mower. As I later discovered, It was their entry model into the residential ZRT market. There was nothing good about that machine. It's cut was horrible. The deck was just not designed very well. The blades set way too deep up in the deck. It also had a defective Kohler engine that blew head gasket at 90 hours. I replace the head gasket once on it but it did it again. Absolute junk. I ended up taking it to a friend of mine that was an really good with small engines. He was able to fix the head gasket issue. He found a buyer for me and I let it go. I ended up buying a low hours commercial Bob Cat ZRT that needed some simple stuff done to it like tires and a good cleaning. I still have that unit today.
I have a Z345M and the first two things I did was replace the front tires with solid tires and bought the deck foot lift kit. I never step on the deck and I am so glad you said the engine was good or I'd take your advice and get rid of it - but I think I've solved several of your criticisms except for the front swivels or "bearings". I'm in the market for decent replacements if they ever become available.
If you put some grease on those caster fork spindles it will help them last much longer and they are easy and cheap to replace. Just a silly idea they had in an attempt to save a dollar by putting those plastic bushings in there. Thanks for watching!
I have a z 425 that I’ve had for 14 years and have only replaced one deck bearing and need to replace a wheel bearing on the dolly wheel. Still has the original belt on the deck, uses no oil and the deck is in great shape. Mine has outlasted any mower I’ve ever owned.
I am in New Zealand and I have had a Z355 E for three years and the only thing Ihave replaced is the deck belt. It is a great machine that mows over 2 acres of lawn weekly over the summer. Mows at great speed and leaves a great-looking result.
Thats good. It seems moslty more recent / newer mowers are having issues. We are seeing spindles and idlers with less than 10 hours on them have bearings making noise and feeling rough.
@@Mechanical_Mind kubota are best wich i been using kubota zds there been great powerful mower with no issues and kubota transmissions are soild steel
@@michaelmactavish4445 Good to know. I've had really good luck with my older Kubota T series lawn tractor very solid. Wasn't sure how the new ones were. I've heard the JD trans weren't the best overall but maybe that has changed.
I LOVE mine!
@@jameshill4900 the kubota still useing solid steel transmission plus the old t series mowers transmissons are still avaliable even parts as well like all the older kubota models from 1986 they still make parts for it as well wich deeres allways discontinuted makeing there parts for older models wich why kubota allways keeps there great value on there product when time trade the kubota dealers gives great trade in value like my neighbour got $10,000 for a small older g2160 with mower,blade,blower with cab wich he got more for trade in then he thaught the deere dealer here was gonna give him $300 to $500 on the whole thing wich was kinda rip off
I've got about a 10 year old D100 that has the 5 speed metal DANA rear and 17.5 briggs. No starting issues after almost 300 hrs. but the transmission tends to be a little finnicky going into 4th gear every now and then. Just have done basic maintenance on it and replaced the battery and starter at about 230 hrs. can't complain
I have a d100 I bought 3 years ago the belt came off with 20hrs no adjustment so I bought a smaller belt for a MDT fixed problem I wish this video would have been out before I bought it thanks for the information take care.
Thanks for your honesty!
A couple of observations: (1) The B & S 17.5hp engine is not unique to John Deere products. It is an engine widely used on many other tractors of that same price range - Craftsman, MTD, Troybuilt, etc. It is the same 500cc engine, with minor variations, such as electric start vs. rewind start. I have a 26 year old Exmark Viking, 36" w/b. It has mowed commercially for thousands of lawns. It has no hour meter, but probably has over 10K service hours. I wore out two Kohler Pro Command 15 engines. Four years ago (Fall 2018), I needed a replacement. Kohler no longer makes Pro Command 15. The only single cylinder engine available, fitting the bolt pattern and space envelope was the B & S 17.5hp engine. I knew it was a consumer grade engine, but I needed something to get me through my work season. I put on a 31R976-0016-G1, rewind start. It not only got me through the rest of 2018, but is now working in the 2023 season. I suspect it has well over 1,000 hours, far beyond expectations. It starts well and has good power. The only thing I have done is reseal the valve cover (no gasket, just sealant). I have maintained several Craftsman tractors with the same series of engines (the cheap Craftsman line, 42" decks). All have worked flawlessly, but the owners are only using them 30-35 hours per season. I have never heard of one engine having a problem with the compression release feature.
(2) I would agree the JD consumer ZTR is not a very good mower. In the end, you only spoke of the front caster bushings as being a problem. "... the transmission is plastic, ... don't buy it..." Sorry, but this provides no reasoning. I have used Honda HRX217 hand mowers (high-end consumer) for more than 15 years, all plastic decks. These mowers have been outstanding in service, despite seeing commercial use - all with plastic decks. Calling the JD ZTR mowers "junk" without a reasoned argument is not meaningful for your viewers. People need to know "why" in order to make use of your assessment. As for the hydro drive belt coming off at 7 hours, a reasoned explanation why would make that part of your video useful. Just making the observation is not meaningful. The fact that it happened MUST have a reason - wrongly assembled, broken idler spring, misaligned idler, bad pulley, etc. Coming off the pulley does not happen without reason. I run a JD 717A, 13 years, over 5,000 hours and have had two hydro belts wear out, now starting to run on the third one. Over all those hours, I have had the hydro belt jump off the pulley twice - both times when running over a stick and getting the stick pushed up against the belt. The belt was off and the stick still firmly in place. This is no fault of the mower.
@@michaelrichards2440 not negating any of your input but he did say lots of these parts are used by lots of brands in the first few minutes. He also did give a reason for not liking the plastic transmission was if it breaks it’s very expensive to replace, likely more than the value of the mower itself.
I have a Z345R, with 10 hours on it. Use it on a .75 acre lot. Run's like a Deere. Cuts like a Deere. Starts after being stored for a season. I have zero problems with it so far. Could go down hill I guess but hasn't yet. Maybe it's how people use them? Maintain them? I'm very happy with mine. BTW, I looked at a ton of reviews from people who live in the Florida area I do and most were positive. Thanks for the heads up though.
My z335e mower works great and cuts smooth, I greased the bushings on the front 1 time using it to mow yards and it now has 60 hrs and still going strong, small enough to get into back yards it's definitely paid for itself! My opinion it's pretty good! Idk maybe I got lucky
I have a z355e for over 6 years and I only had to change the deck belt once. Nothing else has ever happened to it. The machine is a beast and cuts great. It still has the original battery in it as well. I also have a larger zero turn ariens, but I prefer to use my z355e its just so much easier and less bulky than the ariens. Like many in the comments the tractor with the plastic transmission is garbage, but the zero turns are great and very reliable.
No the z355e is trash.
@@jamesstewart2560ut, the OP said his has been great for 6 years..If an owner likes their equipment, and it hasn't been bad for them, why bash someone else's stuff? Seriously man.
Just came across your video in a random search; good honest review; big manufacturers like JD need to stop cheapening their products for a larger profit margin. People will pay more for a quality built USA made product. Also agree it’s stupid for JD to even think a plastic transmission would have any long term durability but then again like car makers, the engineers design flaws in certain key parts to break so the consumer is more swayed to just buy a whole new mower every 2yrs vs keeping a well built machine for 20.
yeah kubota has the soild steel transmission on theres wich why kubotas are made solid strong beast mowers
I’ve had the Z335e for about 7 years and all I’ve changed is the belt. Been a good mower for me
Hi I am contacting you about your riding mower’s extended warranty lol. Very good and informative video thank you and you have a new sub looking forward to more videos and will be checking out your old ones.
I have encountered that starting problem with a couple of mowers I had in the past. The last one was a new Cub Cadet with a Kohler twin cylinder. Now I understand what was happening. BTW, the engine went out after about 1 year. Fortunately, the local box store, not Lowes or Home Depot, stood behind their sales and gave me my money back. The Husqvarna with the Kawasaki V-Twin has done well over this first year. No more Cub Cadet or Kohler engines for me. They do not honor their warranties.
Usually that was the starter. They spec an updated one for them now. I have a 15 year old Kohler Command engine on a Cub 2554. Zero problems other than just replacing the main seals last spring. Fairly easy job. Just now ordered a voltage regulator for it. That's it. The Kohler Courage engine had it's share of problems however. Apples and oranges. Someone GAVE me a JD with the water-cooled Kawasaki. Oh gees... Head gaskets blown, water pump leaking, this, that, the other thing. Why in the world complicate things with water cooling on an engine that doesn't need it?
Love my husqvarna z54.2900.00 3 years ago. 23 hp kawasaki. Easy to maintain
Just bought one. The 10 year old jphn deere motor locked up. Trying the cub cadet. With a knoler engine on it brand new
Kohler usually doesn’t have to warranty there engines, because they usually make it years out of warranty before they ever present a problem. I bought my wife a cub cadet xt1 lt46 brand new in 2015. It’s had a deck and drive belt replaced once, and regular services every year, and runs perfectly with 351 hours. I bought myself a bad boy zt elite60 with a kohler, because I trust them to run and get the job done.
Kawasaki Engines all day long!! :)
So just to speak up as an owner of the Z335E - Have had the mower a year. Have not had to add any air to the tires, nor have I had any issues with the mower. I mow a 1/3 of an acre and help my neighbor mow sometimes, she has a large yard. I do have the plastic casters, but they were greased from a factory. I never have a need to adjust the deck on the fly and do it when the mower is off from a standing position. I never EVER STAND on my deck. My deck is rinsed after each use and looks brand new after a year of use. You made me feel good about the engine though that was my only worry. If you have a rough, uneven yard, maybe it's a bad mower, but for me it's been reliable and makes mowing MUCH faster and easier. That said, I would NOT Pay the current prices for any of these mowers, I would find a good used mower that has low hours. The price has increased 15 percent since I bought mine, and I also got the 10percent veterans discount at Lowes. So, I paid 1000 less than what you see today. Buy what works for you. My mower cuts beautiful clean paths through the yard and I have no complaints yet.
Update - I ran into a stump yesterday at half speed on accident with the deck. The deck did not take any damage, even though it stopped dead and I almost came off the seat. Not sure what this guy is talking about. Other than the front wheels which do nothing. No issues with mine they are just cheaper designed like he says.
I have the Z345R with 180 hrs. No issues, but I do wish I went with a different brand. I do all the maintenance and I feel like they make it purposefully difficult. Oil drain hose is to short, spindle grease fitting are difficult to work with, deck leveling has plastic in the way for standard tools.
I have a z335E. Going on 8 years. Never had an issue. (Knocking on wood)
Same here had mine for over a year no issues!
Damn you paid $10,000 for it?
I have the John Deere X739 4x4 and I would not trade it for any other Mower. I mow several acres every week and a couple of those acres have steep inclines. This tractor has been working this land hard and does the Job well. The four wheel steering is fantastic and it operates just like a zero turn mower.
Granted most folks don't need a tractor like this just for mowing but some of us do!!!
I bought a used John Deere Z445 zero turn mower about 4 years ago I use for my lawn care business, only problem I have had is I replaced the spindles ( one was bad but went ahead and replaced all 3) looking to get a new Kabota 422 by the end of 2023
I have a six year old Z335E that mows two acres of rough terrain…it has been a great mower under harsh conditions. NW Missouri.
A six year old machine is built better than current models. I should have mentioned that in the video.
I thought about getting one of these or maybe a larger zero turn, but now I think I'll stick with my 1986 JD 185. Been mowing 2 acres for the past 20 years with few problems, same engine, never been rebuilt, still uses no oil. Kawasaki 17 hp single cylinder, 46 inch deck.
In 86 the good mowers started with the 300 series. The 318 is in cult status, I have a 332
I totally agree, I bought one from Lowe’s and kept it for 4.5 hours and had them come pick it up!!! Not worth $2k let alone the $4300!!! So happy I returned. After looking closely at many many many riding lawnmowers, Cub Cadet looks the best so far!!!
13 year old Z920 owner here with 1900 hours - Definitely go top of the line. Go balls out. You won’t regret buying the best of the best.
Great honest review. I'm glad I watched your video. I think a lot of ppl don't realize that there is a big difference in zero turn commercial units & for most ppl a lawn tractor will take more abuse.
Not sure about the Z335E line but I bought a Z355E from Lowes way back in 2019 and it's been solid as rock for 115 hours. Perhaps in the last few years they cheapened up some but I've had nothing but good to say. Starts up quick, no issues with wheels, tires or spindles and the deck has taken some bad beatings and still looks great. Informative video though
I got one in 2011 that I just sold running and bought a new Z355E. I added the foot pedal deck lift and fabricated two more anti scalp wheels for the back of the deck. I love them and I feel confident ti could replace anything on them if I ever had to.
I hate to say this but 115 hours isn't a whole lot for a mower. I do hope your luck holds out.
@@sunnybeech74 Ironically, we sold it to a relative as we needed a bigger mower for a larger yard since moving. Bought a used 2021 Z530M 54" with 54 hours for about half the new price. Still have faith in these mowers.
Ah OK. Well I hope both mowers hold up well for you all. The newer mower you purchased probably wasn't made by John Deere either though but I'm not 100% sure.
I've got a 2004 Dixon SpeedZTR 42. Been mowing 1.34 acres for years with it. I've literally replaced the drive belt ONCE, and the blade belt TWICE. Just this year I noticed one of the spindles seems loose, so it keeps throwing the belt. I'm hoping I can tighten in on the deck, because you can't find that replacement spindle ANYWHERE. All in all, this has been one hellava mower!
This is why I actually went to a John Deere dealer and bought an S240. Aluminum transmission, heavier frame, and Kawasaki 2 cylinder engine.
One word of advice for all yard equipment, if it is available in your area, use non ethanol gas only, for your equipment.
I like the S240s
Shade tree here. Ethanol gas keeps me busy fixing the neighbor's equipment. I had a brand new mower given to me last week. The carburetor was full of jelly caused by ethanol.
Good rule of thumb .... if it's got a carburetor = use NON-ethanol gas ..... old car, old truck, lawn equipment, go cart, etc..... NON-ethanol gas only. I also use Sta-Bil gas treatment all the time .... keeps the headaches away !!
May I ask what you paid for it?
@@oilfieldman1209 I paid about $2300 about 8 or 10 years ago at my local John Deere dealer. Looking on their site now, they are asking $3450. They have made some improvements to the deck, so between that, and inflation, I guess that justifies the price hike. I think they have added a lever operated mulch changeover so you no longer need to buy the mulch plug.
You are absolutely correct and spot on! I had a John Deere Z540M zero. 176 hours and both hydrostatic transmissions have gone out. $1200 a piece and John Deere doesn’t stand behind. After the second one I got rid of it and will never buy another. Listen to this guy and stay away!
I use a Hustler dash 34 inch and its the perfect size. Its great for both big and small yards.
We have a 525 and it gets alot of use. Had it a few years. No problem so far.
🤷🏼♂️I have a Z335E and for the last three years it has run 💯 to my satisfaction… really some of the issues you identified are small or have never happened to me. I mow about 1 acre of lawn weekly for 6 months of each year 👍👍
The broken camshaft issue is not just on John Deer mowers. This is a Briggs & Stratton engine issue. If you do replace the camshaft, make sure to use an OEM part. The cheap Chinese parts will not last and you will be tearing the engine down again possibly in the same season. As an alternative solution, a local repair shop advised me to look into a high torque starter which would eliminate the need to use the 'burping' camshaft design altogether. I think it was about $189 for that starter so a much more expensive option.
My craftsman suffered the same problem. I agree a Briggs problem.
335e owner here. Almost 7 years, 150+ hours, and no problems whatsoever other than blade replacement and yearly routine maintenance. I use it to mow approximately 2-3 acres once a week during Spring/Summer. Have never seen the stuff you mentioned in the video...
Right
you cant be mowing 3 acres weekly, for seven years and have only 150 hours. Seems low or your acres are super flat and even, no trees and nothing to go around, just full throttle and done in half hour?
@@hermanmunster714 Yep, you pretty much nailed it. Flat, open, and full speed the whole time. And lately I've only been doing all of it biweekly, so I'm putting even less hours per summer. Also, I guess I didn't mention that - I only have to mow during the summer months.
I currently own a e120 john deere tractor I noticed when I 1st change the oil on it the 1st 8 hour oil change it leaked had to take it to john deere dealer to fix it after that no problems so far hopefully when I do my 50 hour oil change it won't leak bad again fingers crossed and good video
My z335e was the first mower i purchased, got it when i got my first house and it's been lovely thus far. Now you've got me worried.
Ive got the 335E. One of the first zero turns Ive bought. 500 hrs. Change the oil grease it up and change belt and air filter every year. Not one problem. I have more trouble out of my Husky 454 and 60X series. The wife loves the JD. Im a big guy and cant fit on it. Only dowside Ive seen.
I have the S100 from Lowes and it has the metal transmission. John Deere went back to the metal transmission due to a lot of warrantee work done on them. Dealer told me out of 10 mowers 8 of them will soon have trouble problems. And I think they improved the cam also. I could not complain, I bought my for $1499.00 because it was priced wrong, Then I had a 10% off coupon which was another $150 off and they had to sell it to me for that price. Plus, John Deere had a promotion when you buy one of these mowers you got a free cart plus free shipping. I turned around and sold it for $200.00 Could not pass it up.
I noticed they ditched the plastic transmissions recently. We had a mountain of plastic transmissions at the dealership years ago from all the warranty replacements
I have a 2007 Xmark 36 inch walk behind I love it I bought it in 2020 from a dealer in Maryland and I work at a home depot in Baltimore Maryland and I build the tractors there and I love the cub cadet zero turns and the lawn tractors they are easy to assemble and my costumers are happy with them
I have had a JD 335 for 7 years. My tires never leak air. My bushing are fine. The mower deck is the same 42” deck they put on all their residential mowers. I have never had an issue in 7 years with mine.
Great video and good advise. Went with a Bad Boy ZT Elite 60' deck and 747CC Kohler engine (avoid the Suzuki engine. Their advice). 0 disappointment. Super easy to work on, not that it's needed much. 100% designed to be be easy to work on and the deck even has "Step Here" decals. Been so impressed with it, picked up[ a 3026H Tractor as well. Same thing, super easy to work on and just hands down reliable. Word of advice, any mower that has a stamped deck instead of a welded one is one to avoid. For those not in the know or new buyers, if the deck is nicely rounded, contoured to the blades and the bottom of the deck is curled up, it's stamped. That means it's cheaply made and thin. A welded deck is much more angular, thicker will last much longer and usually has a reinforcement, visibly welded bar on the bottom. You get what you pay for.
I appreciate that info!! Thanks!!! Looking to buy my first riding mower after buying a house recently.
I guess I've been pretty lucky with my Z425. I've had it for 14 years with over 600 hours. I've changed the belts, both drive and blade and changed the crankcase gasket just last summer. Overall I find it a very DIY friendly mower. I started doing my own work on it after my very first maintenance at the dealer cost me over $300. I think I'll keep it until the government tells me I can't burn gasoline anymore.
Mowers back then were built better
14 years ago, it was probably made a lot better than they are now.
2009 Z425...replaced battery one time and belts. Awesome machine.
@@1red_nextview740 That's the common feeling. I just got back from Lowes and looked over the new models closely. I'd venture to say they are built as good, or better, today. I wouldn't hesitate to buy new but I plan to use my current 14 year old Z425 and my 15 year old LA145 until I can't mow anymore.
Quite often, it's the operator, NOT the machine. Some people should not operate machinery.
😢 but true. Thanks for sharing this video with us.
A frequent failure of the compression release can also be excessive valve lash. That's what I experienced on my Gravely zero turn. If there's excessive lash, the little nub lifter can't reach the valve stem.
One problem I had is on my z375r was getting good replacement belts. After finding at the time that they were out at the warehouses, I checked repair shops and they couldn't believe how thin, and narrow the belt were on such a long belt. I finally got some in but they kept breaking. After the third one I added two chain links to the spring, and no more breaking. Now you may think I just was getting the wrong belt, but I was getting it from the dealers. I mow about four acres, and no more problems.The frame seems weak but it seems to be holding up okay, so far. I am on my second year, my first one was not a zero turn but last 25 years, same size engine.
Make sure the belts have Kevlar in them. They last.
@@finfan1009 At the time I was hurting for a belt, dealers, and warehouses were out. I even tried to match it from other brand lawnmowers. I mow about 4 acres, and it was getting high. From now on I will check for kevlar thanks!
Tractor Supply sells Kevlar belts. It solved my belt problem on my Dixon 311.
I have a Z365r and belts are hard to find. I like mine. 2 of my dogs ride with me as I cut 2 1/2 acres a week with it. I have gotten my money’s worth out of it. $3500 Home Depot
I’ve had great experience with my 335e so far. Tiny little mower that’s great for small yards that Commercial mowers just won’t fit.THAT BEING SAID mine was assembled at the Deere Dealership meaning someone who knows half a fart put it together. I hear that if you buy them at big box stores. They are assembled in house. Meaning the kid making 16 an hour at Home Depot or Lowe’s is probably throwing it together. Mine has over 400 hours runs strong. And I mean you get what you pay for. If you want a ten year mower you gotta pay ten year price 2500-3k out the door for a zero turn in general is a steel. Walker mowers are 20k out the door no attachments it’s all about the way you look at it
Thanks for the comment Matt. I see a bunch of guys trying to use the 335 beyond what it was built for because most of my customers are commercial landscapers. They abuse and neglect their equipment. Im glad you mentioned the Dealership vs Hardware store mowers. I need to do a video on that topic. Thanks for watching! 🍻
I was told to avoid all the big box store Deere's made in Tennessee, and to only buy the Wisconsin-built ones at Deere dealers!
Well to late lol I have a z345R and absolutely love it. Of course I only use it on my lawn and it does a fantastic job. I do appreciate the information on what to look out for!!! I do a full service every spring on my zero. I mean Everything new spark plugs, air filter, oil filter and oil and fuel filter.
Hey guys, thanks for sharing your experience on these mowers! Have a question: the 2023 z320r, seems on the surface to have addressed a lot of the things you brought up in the zero turn section - beefed up front end, new tire, bearing in spindle, new access to engine/deck, Kawasaki engine, deck lift is a foot+ spin wheel. Deck still looks to be 12 ga stamped, but I am a home owner not hitting stuff at a strangers’ property - have you checked them out? Any thoughts on the upgrades? Still same assessment?
Sorry, just seeing you’ve got a few people below that have brought this up. Will look forward to a new review. Been enjoying your videos! I’ll keep the comment here to keep the traffic coming. Have a great week and thanks again!
Hey Cody, I have noticed some models with the bearings for the caster forks. I havent seen any issues with those yet. I would imagine the deck uses the same spindles and pulleys which seem to be hit or miss. I just posted a video about one that had less than 14 hr on it and already had a bad spindle and a bad pulley. In my opinion the 300 series zero turns are over priced and under built. Id rather have a S130 or S140 or a X300 is far far better. Just my opinion. I apperciate you watching! 🍻
I have had a Z 425 for over 10 years with no issues, of course I serviced it regularly a haven’t abused it.
A ten year old Z425 is a completely different mower and far better made then the late model z335e I talk about in this video. These things always have the same problems. But for the 2023 year model John Deere has solved 4 of the 5 things I mentioned was a problem with the Z335. Thanks for watching
@@Mechanical_Mind You’re right the newer units are built on the cheap I see it in my shop.
Have a toro 50 inch zero turn, 15 years. 1 acre lot. Replaced belt twice and spindles once. Just replaced starter solenoid. Best purchase I ever made.
I bought a Cub Cadet LTX 1040 42in cut with a 19hp Kohler back in 2011. It has never let me down, ever. It still has the original deck belt on it! That being said, it is getting long in the tooth. I have a new Cub coming today, hopefully it lasts half as long.
Have mowed two yards pretty much year round with a z335 300 hrs zero problems. Only changed oil and blades