John Deere Or Cub Cadet

12 years ago

Hi Everyone,

I'm going to be purchasing a new tractor this Saturday, but I'm sort of confused on the brand. Right now I have an OLD Craftsman that I purchased used 4 years ago. I mow aprox 1.5 acres. I have not only mowed my lawn with that, every weekend I would haul tons of dirt, gravel, etc... it has stood the test of time. It still does... I plan to keep this for my heavy duty hauling. But I prefer something with a larger deck to get the job done quicker. I have two options: (I need to purchase at home depot since I have 10% off)

Cub Cadet LTX 1050

24 HP Twin Kohler Courage Hydrostatic

50" cut

12" turning radius

John Deere D140

22 HP V-twin

48" cut

18" turning radius

Just comparing all 3 items above, my gut tell me to go with the Cub Cadet.

The main reason why I like the Cub Cadet is for the looks. I know this should be my last concern, but I spend a lot of time outside. After all you wouldn't purchase a car unless you like the look would you? The 12" turning radius is also a huge plus. Right now I have an 18", and have to keep backing up. However, I have heard a lot of bad complaints about Cub Cadet mostly on there lower end 19HP models.

On the other hand, the John Deere is well a John Deere. Top of the line, great brand. Not to many complaints.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

aws425
12 years ago
Buying a riding lawn mower from a big box store will not hold up over time. If you want a real John Deere you have to go to a dealer...
0
ricksample
Original Author
12 years ago
I know... I'm on a limited budget though.... around $1,900 out the door. I priced some real nice John Deere at a local dealer... it was $3,500 + tax. If I had the extra money, I would jump on that. However, I'm not looking for one that will last 15-20 years. I spend so much time on my tractor and outside that I look at my tractor like a vehicle. After so many years of use, you have to step up to the newer designed models. I don't think I could drive the same tractor for more than 10 years.

My craftsman that's at least 10 years old is holding up great... it's nothing fancy. 42" deck, 19 HP Kohler. The last 3 years I've hauled tons of stone, dirt, etc. I don't think I have ever replaced anything on it, other than gereral maint.

On this new one I would probably spend about and hour maybe an hour and a half per week. So probably 5-6 hours per month. The new tractor won't be hauling anything heavy, I'll keep that to my old Craftsman. However, the new tractor will need to pull a 15-20 gal tank that I use to spray my lawn which isn't to much.
0
Related Discussions
John Deere vs Cub Cadet Lawn Tractors
Q
Comments (2)
Thank you. Going to go for the JD D120. Now if this white stuff would only stop falling. After this storm we will have somwhere in the vicinity of 6' to 7' on the ground and it's onlky February 1st. Won't have to worry about any lawn watering restrictions this summer.
...See More
How can you tell a 'real' JD or CC?
Q
Comments (22)
The questions from a previous post are answered - But which is "real"? Does the tractor have a cast-iron steering sector and front axle assembly? My 1996 John Deere GT275 has a Stamped Steel Front Axle Assembly! My 2002 Craftsman DLT2000 has a Cast Iron Front Axle Assembly! Does it have a welded frame made of solid metal, or a stamped sheet metal frame? My 1996 John Deere GT275 has a Stamped Steel Frame with rear Fenders and Dash Assembly Spotwelded to the Frame! My 2002 Craftsman DLT2000 has a Stamped Steel Frame with rear Fenders and Dash Assembly Bolted to the Frame! Does it have a real draw bar or a funky piece of bent metal? Both GT275 and DLT2000 have a piece of bent steel for a Drawbar the Craftsman appeaars to be thicker but I did not use micrometers to check! If its really important I can check and post the results. Does it have the ability to support a sleeve hitch and/or 3 point hitch? Both GT275 and DLT2000 have the ability for a Sleeve Hitch Attachment DOes it have provisions for PTO supported accessories such as a snow blower or tiller? Both GT275 and DLT2000 will support these accessories! How big are the wheels? The GT275 has 23" wheels on rear will have to check front size! The DLT2000 has 20" wheels on rear will have to check front size! If its really important I can check tire sizes on both and post the results. Answers to the above questions will pretty well determine if it is "real" or not. Not sure any modern Cubs qualify, though certainly many of the older ones do. Many JD's qualify as do older "Classic Series" Toro Wheel horse as well as C Series Wheel Horse products. In addition to the above; The John Deere has a combined Choke/Throttle! The Craftsman has a separate Choke and Throttle! The John Deere has idiot lights for battery charging indication! The Craftsman has a ampmeter gauge for battery charging indication! The John Deere does not have any indication of time use! The Craftsman has a hour gauge for indication of time use! Both GT275 and DLT2000 have Electric PTO clutches! Both GT275 and DLT2000 have pedal operated hydrastatic transaxles! The GT275 is Green and Yellow! The DLT200 is Red, Black and Silver! Been working in the sun today, extremely hot out there must have damaged the thought process, its still not clear what the questions and comparisions mean, other than the GT275 is rated as a GT and the DLT2000 is rated as a LT. The morning comes early maybe get to work earlier and quit sooner be in the cooler part of the day. Goodnight and sweet dreams BTW What can I compare my JD 2040 to, I want determine if its real since it has a German name plate? Oh yeh, its really Green and Yellow.
...See More
John Deere Or Cub Cadet?
Q
Comments (126)
Hey off_ltd, I bought the JD S240 from a local JD dealer. I didn't buy the extended warranty because it's basically a waste of money. My final considerations, after much research, were the JD 155, the JD 170, the JD S240 and the CC XT2 LX46. I went with the JD S240 because of the upgraded deck and transmission, which are the same as on the X300, and the Kawasaki engine. I prefer the Kawasaki engine over B&S and Kohler engines, although I will admit the B&S and Kohler engines offered in the models I was looking at are good engines. I've had B&S and Kohler engines before and I never had any problems with them. If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with the JD D170 with the 54 inch deck or the CC XT2 LX54, even though I don't really like the boxy front ends of the new CC lawn tractors. Oh well, to each his own. The 42 inch deck on the S240 just doesn't give me a wide enough cut. I'm not dissatisfied in any way with the S240. It seems to be a decent lawn tractor, although I wish these companies would put some kind of suspension on these lawn tractors. I put a mulching kit on it, the one that has the interior deck insert and I went with a set of Gator mulching blades. It does a really good job mulching and I get a nice, uniform cut. I'm thinking about getting a twin bagger attachment for it but I refuse to spend $350.00 for a few pieces of molded plastic. I won't buy it unless it's on sale at a much lower price. I think the CC LX2 would have been a nice lawn tractor. I think I would have bought it if it had a different style but then again, as I've said, to each his own. CC offers a better warranty than JD.
...See More
Lawn tractor
Q
Comments (3)
I am retired, however, I spend a lot of time at the local repair shop - helping the newer technicians with troubling shooting problems. All of these have similar problems - many which are created by the owners. Most of these are purchased at the department stores and are about equal quality. The 200 series JD are higher quality than the JD offered by Lowes and Home depot. Older JD 100 series was better quality but most of that is now over 20 years old. 1. . Most problems are related to lack of maintenance. Owners state they take good care of their equipment, however, our inspections indicate otherwise. Equipment has been stored outside and is very dirty and usually corroded. Fuel tanks are full of old contaminated fuel. Engine oil levels are frequently low and air filters dirty. My opinion is the JD and the craftsman (ayp/Husqvarna) are about equal quality. I would probably buy a larger craftsman because I think it is easier to repair. The MTD brands are usually lighter duty. John Deere - I see occasional problems with wires to the electric clutches snagging and breaking. Also the brace for the clutch breaks off. Front wheel bearings seem to wear quicker than the other brands. JD advertises an upgrade bearing kit for this. Spindles on the decks also seem to wear quicker than the others. Plastic throttle controls break more frequently than the controls on the other brands. 3. Craftsman made by ayp/Husqvarna - seem to have more electrical problems on ground connections. The packer wire terminals sometimes corrode and break - causing intermittent starting / electrical problems. Steel front wheel bearings wear on the axle shaft if they are not lubricated properly. Steering on the larger garden tractors is not aligned properly from the factory. Belts on these are usually easier to replace than the other brands. 4. Craftsman made by MTD - These are all lighter duty. The front axle is very light duty. Belts are more difficult to change than other brands. Decks are more difficult to remove and reinstall than the other brands. Cub Cadet - this is made by MTD. I believe Market share is less than the other brands. I believe the cub is generally much better quality than the basic troybilt / bolens MTD models. Some models have experienced electrical problems. The old cub cadets were great quality, but about 30 years ago, they were acquired by MTD and redesigned for the consumer market. I believe large cub cadet tractors are owned by a different company.
...See More
javert
12 years ago
You might want to consider the Husqvarnas, too. Which is best? I have my own idea, but this is something of a Chevrolet-vs-Ford question. I can't figure out how they compute turning radius; none of mine turn anywhere near the claimed amount - for really short turns you need a ztr.
0
deercub
12 years ago
I hope you bought a used GT.
0
karter56
12 years ago
I just bought a Cub Cadet LTX1042KW with the Kawasaki V-Twin. Do yourself a favor and look at the LTX1046KW and LTX1050KW. They are a little a couple of hundred more but well worth it for the reliability and quiet running of the Kawasaki. Also they are only available at an independent Cub dealer. Great service and a better machine than a Deere for the same money. Deere is overpriced because of the name and uses practically all the same parts as the other brands. The Cub has a heavier gauge frame and, of coarse, the Kawasaki.
0
ricksample
Original Author
12 years ago
I went last Saturday to pick it up. It's the Cub Cadet LTX1050KW. I was going to get the Kohler, but the guy talked me out of it and said to get the Kawasaki... it was the same price. I had a 10% off coupon... total was $1,900 out the door.

I sat on the 48" John Deere they had beside the Cub and didn't like it at all. Very uncomfortable and the John Deere overall was much smaller. It felt like it was the same size as my 10 year old Craftsman. Another thing was John Deere's headlights... they really need to rethink those. The cub sat up at least 3-4 inches higher... its like sitting in an SUV compared to a car.

If I had another thousand or two to spend on a tractor, I probably would have went to a John Deere dealer and picked up one of those nice 4K models that I've seen pictures of. The cubs can't even compare to those. As of John Deere at the big box store... I think they should rethink the design of those or pull them all together. I can't think of anyone who seen these two mowers side by side would get the Deere instead of the Cub... especially since they are the same price.
0
gdj204
12 years ago
John Deere is getting out of the OPE business (since they don't manufacture any of it - it is all re-branded stuff). I don't know if that will include their throw-away tractors or not (which are also re-branded stuff). They will start selling Honda OPE next year.

The only good stuff John Deere makes is the stuff they actually make (like those 4k+ tractors).
0
engine_tech
12 years ago
The above ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ is B.S.

JD is doing like they did with weed wackers and chainsaws when they partnered with Sthil a few years ago, they are doing that with Honda on push mowers and generators.

If you can ride on it, JD makes it in a JD factory in the USA.
0

John Deere Or Cub Cadet

Comments (8)

aws425

ricksample
Original Author

Related Discussions

javert

deercub

karter56

ricksample
Original Author

gdj204

engine_tech

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

John Deere Or Cub Cadet

Comments (8)

aws425

ricksampleOriginal Author

Related Discussions

javert

deercub

karter56

ricksampleOriginal Author

gdj204

engine_tech

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

ricksample
Original Author

ricksample
Original Author