This isn't necessarily pointed at tractors.

I've heard that a lot of name brand stuff is a model made exclusively for Lowe's or Home Depot. For instance, if you were to buy a Moen faucet from one, which looked like one at the plumbing store, the inside could be totally different, so replacement parts could not be had from the plumbing store. ?? Do you suppose the tractors are a bit different than the dealer's, even though they look the same?
I've also heard, that the Lincoln welders aren't the same, as the ones available at the welding supply shops.

Stanleyjohn - if you have had good luck with your purchases, does it really matter what others think?

No tractor is cheap. Some are less expensive than the others. Big box branded tractors are a price point product that was created in response to consumer demand, well maybe more of a trend then demand. They work as advertised nothing more or less.

The local long-time Toro dealer tells me that he sells the same model that HD sells and for the same price. It's the lowest quality model.

One difference: There is a sign at the counter that states that they will NOTdo any warranty work on any Toro purchased from HD.

I wouldn't do it . My dad and I had already gone that route from a Huffy , to a Murray , to a Craftsman , then finally long term quality with a Honda and now I have a Simplicity . Had the Honda 20 years and the others about 4-5 and they were sold when they started to develop problems . Coming from a 20 year old tractor to a box store unit would be a step backwards . But for the others who buy them and get the job done with them , that's fine too . At this point I want a reliable comfortable machine , a smooth engine , and not having to worry about things like excessive steering slop after a few years and other problems that will eventually crop up with a budget machine.

When i started this thread i might of been alittle hot under the coller with some of the posts i read around here.Ill get over it but i do get alittle tired of some people bashing low priced tractors and calling them names like junk or POS.I dont go around bashing on what others bought,thats not me.People on these forums do a great job and have been very helpful.I might have a bit to much pride in what i buy and that fuels the fire when i hear bashing.People who bash are decent and have the right to say whats on their mind!I just got to learn not to let it bother me sometimes.

Six years ago, in June 2001, I bought a Yard Machine (MTD) riding mower (Tecumseh single cylinder 13 hp OHV engine) at Home Depot. Price was $1100 including a rear bagger and tax. I also bought a dump cart for $90 including tax. At the time, I did not know anything about riding mowers or tractors.

Turned out that was the right purchase for me. I have a relatively small yard (just over 1 acre), and it is mostly flat. The Yard Machine has been used for mowing and light hauling. As I mow at least 40 times a year, and that it takes me two hours to mow the lawn with the 38" deck, I have at least 480 hours on that tractor, not including hauling things around the yard. By what some say on this board, this Yard Machine should be toast, but it is still going strong.

That being said, I probably take better care of my machinery than most people. I do clean the mower everytime after I use it with compressed air or/and pressure washer, as required, I change the oil at least once a year. I oil everything that should be oiled regularly. I check the air filter after very use. I keep the riding mower in a garage all the time when not in use. I added a fuel shutoff and a fuel filter (the mower came without that). I clean the fuel tank once a year and I filter the gas I put in the tank. I use Castrol HD 30W in the engine, which I believe is a good quality oil. Of course, the climate here in So Cal means there is little risk of rust.

I only had a couple of problems in six years - the starter motor came loose a couple of times (blue loctite rectified that), and I had to replaced the bottom half of the carburetor twice ($30 total cost for parts), and that's all. Yes, the steering is sloppy, but I don't think it's worse than it was 480 hours ago.

So is it junk? It is definitely light duty, but I feel I would have been wasting my money if I had bought a more expensive machine.

stanleyjohn..... please see rcmoser's reply and take it to heart for the duration of your stay here at the forum.

Just as in all aspects of life, there are rich snobs in the L&G tractor world too. Around here, statistically speaking they are in love with themselves, and their JD's and to a lesser extent their Cub Cadet tractors. And for some reason they feel that it is their sworn duty to insult and degrade anyone who does not live up to their personal standard which is a $3500+ lawnmower. They would like to claim that thier's is better, but when properly maintained even the so called "cheap" tractors will last over a decade or beter. I'd bet the farm that half the folks who typically trash out so called "cheap" LT's, live on less than an acre, in a subdivision with no yard, and went and bought a JD rider because everyone else in their neighborhood did, and you know they have to keep up with the Joneses. Just like women who have to drive the biggest gawdiest 4 wheel drive SUV, just so they can keep up with all their girlfriends, guys are the same with LT's. There are yuppies everywhere.

P.S. They just delivered the 4th new cub cadet tractor to my neighbor yesterday, who has now had three lemons go back to the dealer. He cut his grass with it yesterday, and was very happy with it. He went to start it today, and it would not crank. He verified that the lights were not left on, and then verified that the battery is totally dead. The dealer will not return his phone calls. I guess you get what you pay for eh?

nothing wrong with staying within your budget and needs and standing firm on how much you want to spend. truth be told, I know a lot of folks who have better equipment than I do, but I get the job done with what I have, and what I have is paid for. And I don't have a big fat payment book with any of it, I did not take out a second mortgage or put any of it on a home equity loan either. and my mommy and daddy did not give me a big wad of cash. I think maybe there are a few dealers who cruise this site from time to time and interject a little of their livelyhood in addition to their wisdom into the discussion. just take what you hear with a grain of salt and consider the possible sources of what you hear. anybody can give you info, but you must make the right decision for your own personal needs, and budget. heck if I would have listoned to what I was told to buy every time I made a purchase, I would have declared bankruptcy long ago. if someone don't like it, tell them to go pound salt.

Most manufacturers as a condition of getting the franchise force their authorized dealers to do warranty work on the manufacturer's product regardless of where it was originally purchased. Warranty work in general is a cash cow profit center for dealers. I assume that Toro sets the reimbursement rates such that the dealer should not lose money on doing warranty work irrespective of where the tractor was originally purchased.

This is behavior of the part of the dealer that should rightfully cause Toro the company to pull the dealer's Toro franchise.

I see Ace Hardware is selling the same Toro models HD sells. Will this dealer work on Toros bought at Ace Hardware or not, or is he angry at just Home Depot?

I'd venture a guess that the gross margin on the sale of the tractor is lower han the gross margin on the warranty and service work and the service department is the real cash cow in the business.

D

I just like to get the most for my money, and for this reason I have never owned a new tractor. Some could call the Big Box shoppers snobs for thinking they are too good for used equipment and must have brand new? If everyone felt like I do there wouldn't be any good "used" equipment left, so I am happy that there are many out there who go out and buy a new tractor every 3-5 years. I do the same with cars, let someone else drive it off the lot and get hit with the instant depreciation. It makes it harder to make fun of someone else's purchase when it might be my purchase in a few years when they get tired of it.

I prefer having a dealer behind me. A dealer treats you right. He wants you back, so he'll go out of his way to give you a good deal, and make sure you are satisfied. I can call my dealer with questions and he'll help me. He knows I'll be in to get any parts I may need.

Box stores? Its a sale. Thats it. They don't care if you buy it or not because another cheap-sheep will come along and buy it. Ever try getting help from an associate at a box store? Or better yet, get parts?

Remember. You get what you paid for.

I bought a John Deere LA140 from a John Deere dealer a few months ago.

I considered buying one of the X-series but I figure at age 54, I probably don't have too many more grass-cutting years ahead of me before I kick the bucket.

Were I a young buck, I probably would have gotten the more durably built mower. But as it is, I figure this was the best compromise.

Wankel, my Dad is 89 and he still mows his own lawn with an old RER (however, he drastically reduced the size of his vegetable garden this year...he said it was too much work) He does his own maintenance, too. He replaced the steering sector a couple years ago.

Heck, you'll be 89 in 35 years!

-Deerslayer

some people put a value on items and some do not. some people lease ford escorts, and some people lease lincolns. when i plan to purchase something like a tractor, i usually buy something used and learn how to use/care for it, then wait a few years and buy it new. i did this with a snowblower and tractor.

Stanleyjohn, I joined this group to learn about lawn tractors and to ask a few questions. I looked around everywhere and liked the JD LA machines, especially the dealer. It is affordable and, based on the good posts here, suitable for the job. Yes, the colour is nice but the construction seemed comparable to other machines within a couple hundred dollars and if need be, it might be easier to sell. On this forum I discovered the unusually strong sentiment you describe and it had the reverse effect. I have to say it turned me off so badly that I considered NOT buying John Deere because of a few people. However, there were others with really sensible advice, especially davidld, who believes Craftsman ( Husqvarna ) are right now probably the best buy for your money but they don't drive it down your throat AND even think JDs are pretty good machines as well- thanks davidld. The LA120 gets delivered on Tuesday.

"Low cost" is a relative term. I wouldn't call tractor that costs in excess of $1000 "low cost". If you paid $1000 for a refrigerator for your house would you consider it "low cost" or "cheap"? How about a set of tools to work on your car or tractor? A clothes washer or dryer? How about a $1000 dishwasher? My 2000 Scotts 1642 cost $1699 new with another $269 for the bagger. Including tax it was over $2000. NOT low cost OR cheap in my opinion! Did I expect it to be the same quality as the $2,800 LT160 that it most closely compared to? (HP, deck size and Hydro). Of course not. But it really didn't matter because I didn't have $3,000 to spend at the time (price with TAX and WITHOUT the bagger) and I still don't. For some reason, the dividing line for "low cost" seems to be around $3,000-$3,500 in this forum. (The price of the entry level x300) Get the best tractor you can afford, take good care of it and it should last you quite a while.

Docspanky, it appears to me that you feel that it is your sworn duty to insult and degrade anyone who has a $3500+ lawnmower. Why do you feel compelled to bash Cubs? To imply folks here are JD snobs just proves you don't get it. A snob won't bother to comment. What we have here are JD fanatics, Wheel Horse fanatics, Simplicity fanatics, Kubota fanatics. All VERY loyal (yes, maybe to a fault) to their brand. And yes, the JD folks are the most outspoken.

With regard to the OP's question: low cost does NOT equal junk. Tractor cost usually means usable capabilities not general worth. In other words, I buy a tractor based on it's capabilities, not what someone else thinks it's worth. As I've said before, I have friends that love their 1000 dollar Craftsmans. It has capabilities that are perfect for what they need. Who cares what others think it's worth?

-gh

I bought the cheapest tractor that Sears sells. With my discount I paid approx. $850.00. The first thing I did was order and install an hour meter so I could keep track of oil changes and maintenance. It was delivered January 14th 2007 and I now have 1.4 hours on the meter. I'm wondering if I should have held out for something cheaper. Maybe I'll change the engine oil for its first birthday. Praying for rain hasn't worked here in So. Calif.

Whether its a $1000 or $4000 Tractor lets respect that it does what it is made for.I wouldnt buy a $3000 Lawn tractor or Garden tractor!For what i intend to use my tractor for it is the right choice for me.For someone else a $3000 tractor would be right for them!There is no wrong.Lets respect each others choice!Im not about to say that someone who spends $3000+ on a tractor is a spoiled rich kid or one who spends less then $1000 is buying a piece of junk.Lets be happy with what we got and use this forum to help each other out and have fun chatting about our tractors. StanleyJohn!

I have a 1970 Ace Hardware deluxe (MTD) still has the
original belts and runs like new---no plastic!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awwww, greenhobby is upset. I make it a point to fire shots back, because usually all you JD snobs and Cub lovers do is spend your every waking hour starting threads and hijacking threads that have to do with how superior your JD's/Cubs are to every other form of LT on the planet. Your snobbish at best and usually personally insulting at worst comments get old after a while. Look at the threads on this forum and many will have to do with "how long before your cheap LT fell apart", or "my (enter name of "CHEAP" tractor here) has a problem, what do I do" and guys like you come along and attempt a fatherly lecture about how if we had just gone out and spent our children's Christmas money, birthday money, and a sizble portion of their inheritance to buy a JD/Cub whatever, that we would be so much better off. Well here's reality bub, I make under $25,000 a year, have a wife with heart trouble, and two kids. I drive two cars the youngest of which is 7 years old with 145k on its odometer. I have slept in mudholes, and got shot at so folks like you can come here and insult me because I am ecstatic I got a 14 year old riding mower that was a massive upgrade from the 1978 mower that I had. I come to places like this to find every way possible to keep the machine that I spent a very large portion of what little expendable income I have out cutting grass for a few more years. How bout we try something new. I'll start a thread asking for help with my tractors problems, and you JD snobs and Cub lovers just keep your 2 cents to yourself, and let me try to get a helpful answer versus what usually happens where I or others like me have to pick through your love stories, and degrading insults to try and find the tips and tricks that keep our so called "cheap" machines going. Cause I gotta tell you, a normal thread without the JD/Cub lovers interference would be an annomoly around this place.

Rant over.....

Williston said,
"Low cost" is a relative term. I wouldn't call tractor that costs in excess of $1000 "low cost"."

Well I would. I bought a 10hp 36" Craftsman for $999 back in 1978. Sears still has tractors priced for $999, only now they have 18hp and 42" deck. In 1978 you could buy a new car for $4000. That car would cost over $16,000 today.

So how does Craftsman give you a 1978 price 30 years later?
I don't know. Magic I guess. But my 1978 only held up for
the first 5 years. After that it was $70 for a new this and $50 for a new that. Sort of like a kit tractor.

hmmmm... Upset? Nope. It would take much more than you and your name calling to get me upset. Just giving feedback on how off base you are. Classifying everyone who owns JDs or Cubs as this or that is just ignorance pure and simple. It's like classifying race or religion. Somebad apples, but please enough...

By the way did you READ my post? How was my post insulting in any way towards your 14 year old tractor? I truly enjoy breathing life into older machinery. By the way my car is 11 years old. Your life (income, health, family) is very private and NONE of my business. If you were in the service, then we owe you a sincere "THANK YOU". Not sure you want it, but I said it anyway...

My point is this: I don't care whether you have an old JD 318 or an old Craftsman Suburban. I don't care if you have an old tractor because that's what you can afford or you just enjoy workin on em. People talking about tractors and keeping them alive is what this site is (mostly) about. As I said in my post, who cares what anyone else thinks it's worth.

-gh

Usually you get what you pay for. Murrays are very inexpensive compared to the benchmark manufacturer, Deere. A murray has a realtively flexable frame, shorter-lifespan engine, lighter-duty xmission than say an X-304. Having said that, a Murray may be all that you need if you have a smaller, relatively flat lot. If you are mechanically inclined and are willing to do mnx yourself this may be even more true. If you have a bigger area, rougher terrain, or plan to do other things with it than a normal home owner would, then the Murray's lighter construction would really become an issue. It depends alot on what you intend to do with it as to what is the best for you. It would be better for a cardiac defibrillator to be built like a JD 2 series than a Murray because a failure would be catastrophic, but a failure on the Murray would probably just mean you have to watch the grass grow while it's getting fixed. In summary, it's a value decision you need to make for yourself. Do you shellout the bigger bucks for a machine that is more durable and possibly more than you need? Are you unable to do mnx and need dealer support? If a light duty mower will fit your needs then you can buy one and put the extra cash into your kid's 529 plan or buy a granite counter-top for the kitchen. It's a decision you need to make that gived you the most utility for your money. Either answer may be best for you. You may not need an expensive tractor to do your work just like you may not need a Hummer H1 to take the groceries home.

I agree with docspanky: it is wiser to live within your means and buy a low cost tractor than to overextend yourself and buy more tractor than you cannot afford. There is no shame in that and it would be silly to do otherwise. How big is your yard? A small yard doesn't need an expensive tractor. So it breaks down once in a while and your grass grows tall... so what? What is going to happen to you? Nothing.

Besides price is all relative. To me $4,000 is still a cheap tractor. Or lets call it the high end of a low end product. Whether it is a $1,000 or a $4,000 lawn tractor, in that price range we are talking about differences in durability not function. Until you move to a utility tractor with a front & rear hydraulics, 3 point hitch, rear PTO shaft and a front loader, it is still a riding mower. A gussied up $4,000 riding mower. And that includes the X320 Deere and everything else in that price range. The reason people get into those arguments is it is people with lawn tractors arguing with other people with lawn tractors.

"Until you move to a utility tractor with a front & rear hydraulics, 3 point hitch, rear PTO shaft and a front loader, it is still a riding mower."

Aren't you forgetting GTs?

-Deerslayer

Not being smart, just don't know the answer: What are the differences between an LT and GT?

Back when I bought my Toro HMR, I decided it didn't make sense to me to have a "tractor", when all I was doing with it was mowing lawn. (I have the Ford NAA, for the tractor work.)

GTs (Garden Tractors) are rated for ground engaging attachments. These include, cultivators, harrows, and moldboard plows. For example, the JD X700 line is rated for ground engaging implements.

GTs normally have 12" or larger bolt-on rear wheels, a rugged frame (often channel), and a heavy duty tranny.

-Deerslayer

John Deere classifies it as a riding mower.

"John Deere classifies it as a riding mower."

JD no longer has a GT category. Look at the X700 attachments. They include a Cat 1 3-Point Hitch, Cultivator, and Disk Harrow. If you know anything about tractors, you'll consider the X700 a GT not a riding mower.

-Deerslayer

>> The LA120 gets delivered on Tuesday.

You'll enjoy it.

Right on docspanky.
Your not the only one getting tired of listening to this JD crap in almost every single post.
Before I joined this group ,I thought JD's were nice but expensive tractors.
Now you couldn't pay me to be part of that green and yellow cult.

Dynamike...give it a rest....We all enjoy to boast a little. Most of the threads here are just a little stupid. If someone has a real question we all will pitch in to help (without bias) Lighten up and have some fun....Jd, Simplicity, Cubs, Craftsman...we all have our moments...its not popularity contest...we all just love our tractors and the fun we have with them....Don't take every post so seriously...

{{gwi:340209}}
How can you hate John Deere's?
Please...Won't you spread the love...seriously...:-)

lildeere, I have and love kids... But what happened to the saucy vixen hangin' off the Deere???? Did the stretch police show up?

-gh

A "saucy vixen hangin' off a Deere" and you end up with with 6 kids hangin' off a Deere!

Cost is oftentimes translated as quality. I for one think you can get a very high quality used tractor for a lower "cost" than many new "low cost" tractors, which is why I have never bought a new tractor and probably never will. I think a low cost Big Box tractor (which the OP is eluding to) can be an option, but isn't necessarily the best or cheapest option.

Do you think that buying a low cost tractor means its junk?
Posted by stanleyjohn
****************************************
For the intent / purpose of this thread what tractors are the cheap ones and which ones are the good ones?

lb-stanleyjohn bought an LA series JD recently and has started many of these threads to help ease his mind about the longevity of his purchase. Some of the threads are:

Do you think that buying a low cost tractor means its junk?
How long before your CHEAP lawn tractor fell apart.
JD LA100 jerks alittle moving foward
The LA100 Transmission
Newer Lawn Tractors vs Old Lawn Tractors
My JD LA100 died today! real bummer

What he really wants is a little moral support from his peers to tell him he didn't make a bad decision purchasing a box store JD.

awww!! You have done your homework Metal.I might seem alittle insecure at times!Hope it dosnt show too much.

Thought the Vixen was too "provocative"....we may see her again this weekend....