I believe Deere still makes their own stuff up is Wisconsin.
(Except for the engines and trans.)
And it is pretty good stuff.
The problem with them is they keep everything just a bit off “standard.”
This goes from belts to tires and wheels.
You have to go to Deere for any parts.
And are they ever proud of their parts.
Belts can be twice the going rate.
If you are only looking to need it for a year I think any of the cheapies will last that long.
I would go to one of the big box stores and get one of the big brand names they sell.
The brand name will impress any future buyer even though the big box ones are not the same as the dealer ones.
Wrong on pretty much everything.
My last 2 (and only) lawn tractors have been Craftsman GT5000's with a 26hp(?) kohler/hydrostat. I've been reasonably satisfied - the first one lasted about 5 years and that was with extreme use and my failure to keep the oil level up is the only thing that put it to it's grave. Deck held up except for a couple of spindle replacements. Second one has had about 4 years of on-/off use and still working fine.
They are good for max. 2 acre areas IMO........anything beyond that gets the New Holland or Ford 8n tractor.
as a long shot - have you ever considered an 8n? You can pick up nice running examples for under $3k usually......and there's the cool factor of mowing with something 60 years old. I used to run mine over about a 10acre area with a 6' finish mower and it did fine. parts are readily available - either used or repops. As long as you buy it right, you can prob mow all season and sell for what you paid.
Yellowlakewelding - your JD is very neat - nice restore.
IMHO, an 8n is a horrible choice for just about anything other than for the fun of it.
no live pto, no live hydraulics, no power steering, can't handle a loader for squat. They're just not a good choice anymore, especially with their popularity raising their price range into proximity of mid 70's 40 hp diesels that have power steering, live pto's, live hydraulics, bigger tires for loader use, and built heavier.
Just for the record - I own a Home Depot Deere - an L110. I've had it for 8 years. It has I believe about 230 hours on it at this point. Had a no start problem during the first year that was taken care of the day I brought it in at the local Deere dealer. Beyond regular maintenance items, the only thing that has been replaced is the deck belt. Spindles are original. Currently only mowing about three quarters of an acre but geez - a 2 to 3 year mower????
I really don't get why people think a cheap mower is going to explode after just a few years. To the OP - you can go as cheap as you want if you just need a mower for a couple of years.
I rebuilt my 318 last march at 1100 hours...it has 150 hours on it after 1 year. After 2 years, I'll have more hours on it after the rebuild than your 8 years. When that mower has 1100 hours, let us know how it's doing, and if it's worth rebuilding.
The Craftsman one I had for 2 years had to be fixed after 90% of the times it was used. The frame cracked, holes wore out, linkages wore through, steering gears wore and slipped, carburetor sucked and needed constant fiddling...With 1100 hours on the 318 before rebuild, and 150 since...guess how many times I've fixed it since the rebuild? None, and it was worked on very little before the rebuild.
I'm not saying a Craftsman doesn't fit your purpose, it obviously does. However, any time somebody wants to try and compare the two, I'll be more than willing to chain the two together.
The JD salesman told me I was spending too much money overhauling the 318, and I should just buy a new 300 series. I told him I would bring the 318 down, we would chain them back to back in the middle of the parking lot, and whichever one drug the other one to the end, I would take home. He quickly declined.
My Bolens ran from 1968-1999 before an engine overhaul, and up to 2004 before I put it away until it got some care. You just can't compare them.
As for the original topic, just buy some cheap p.o.s. off craigslist and take a chance if it's for a year. Hell, for the cost of a new one, and what you would lose in value after a year (at least half), it might even pay to hire a lawn service for the year, if that's a possibility where you are.
