How To Start and Operate John Deere S220 Lawn Tractor

[@Steve-lh3zy]

Brad, This is an excellent, easy-to-understand video. Just bought an S220 and have been reading the operating manual. Your overview is a great help. Thank you!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Hi Steve, I’m glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind comment! Please give this video a like, subscribe and tell your friends about my channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated:) Thank you for watching!

[@lindaatoler1541]

I just got me a New 2023 220 thank you so much for your video or I would of been aweek getting this bad boy in my garge .You showed me how to run it and understand the controls which the dealer did not he just handed me a booklet .I ask him many questions why'll purchasing the mower but by the time I got it home I had forgotten most details , again THANK YOU

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Your very welcome:) thank you for watching and the kind comment. Please give video a like, subscribe and tell your friends about the channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated!

[@ludblight]

I just took delivery of an S220. Thank you for explaining the mow in reverse feature. I thought I had to hold the button while I was mowing in reverse. Great video!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I'm glad it was helpful. I will have more to come on this machine. Preventative maintenance and more. Please give this video a thumbs up, subscribe and tell your friends about my channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for watching!

[@denniskoenig7218]

Just bought this tractor, first time ever owning one. It seems I bought it from the same company too, judging by the tag on the back! Thanks for the video, as someone who has never owned a riding mower, this was super, super helpful!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Hi Dennis, I’m glad it was helpful. It sounds like you may be close to me so if you need any work or have any questions feel free to reach out to me. Please give this video a thumbs up, subscribe and tell your friends to help my channel grow. It would be greatly appreciated.

[@dr.nadeemsikandar7591]

Excellent - just bought it and you made it easy for me before the first use. Thank you

[@thomaslyon2112]

Thankyou for showing the S220 as I own one. Looking forward to your next video on the S220. I was wondering about that spring loaded choke lever,but you cleared that up for me. Thankyou!👍

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Hi Thomas, I’m glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind comment. Please give this video a like/thumbs up, subscribe and tell your friends about my channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions about a video you may want to see about this machine, let me know and when one comes into the shop, I will try and get it on video for you. Good luck with the new machine! Remember to grease all grease fittings and try not to wash the tractor as it will ruin mower deck bearings!

[@jantheman419]

Thank you very sincerely. Just bout the s220 today!!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I’m glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind comment. Take care of it and it will take care of you!!

[@natanpierce495]

I like you. Very understandable. Now I can go have fun on my S220

[@rickhjazz]

Thank you ! This is very helpful.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I’m glad it was helpful, Please give this a thumbs up and tell your friends to help my channel. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for watching.

[@johnj2327]

Great video, thanks. I did not know that the operator can leave engine running without siting on it. I bought JD S120 last year and recently noticed there is a squeaking noise from rear side of the mower when it is moving forward or backward. I am trying to contact dealer for repair, but just noticed that your mower also has the similar noise. Is this normal? most likely the noise comes from transmission.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

It may have the noise at low throttle as the hydro transmission is struggling without the needed horsepower. Try to run engine at least 3/4 throttle to full throttle at all times and the transmission with be much happier!! :)

[@johnj2327]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines Thank you so much and that saves me lots of time by saving a trip to take it to the dealer.

[@charlaneporter5977]

Excellent video. Explained so much better than the manual!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I’m glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind comment. Please give this video a like and tell your friends about the channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for watching:)

[@DanVillanuevaZ4]

Thanks for this!! I'm looking for a replacement to my old Simplicity Regent and your video is very thorough.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I’m glad it was helpful. Thank you for watching and the kind comment.

[@kirkwise6118]

This may be a silly question, but if the deck rusting out is a long term issue, would applying something like pickup truck bed liner be worth the trouble? Or would it cause problems of it's own?

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I have heard from many that under coating the mower deck with everything you can think of will work. The strange thing is, I never hear any updates on how long lasting the products they use are doing. My opinion is if you stay away from washing your machine, keeping the blade hubs greased and try not to cut wet grass. You should also before storing your machine (depending on where you live) for the winter months, make sure you clean the mower deck so no grass it stuck to the bottom. If you keep up the maintenance on the mower deck, you most likely will be good unless the environment you live in is moist or salty. I would say anything you put underneath on the mower deck should also be very smooth so everything will just sling off and put the chute easily or it may just get caught up under and pack up. Not sure if bed liner is smooth or textured? If you do try it. Let me know how you make out.

[@kirkwise6118]

Thank you for the reply, I think most applied bed liners have a pretty rough texture (good for non slip, maybe not so good for grass discharge). Guess I will pass.

[@cardiackid48]

Excellent video!!! thanks very much for all the info...

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I’m glad it was helpful. Thank you for watching and the kind comment. Please give this video a like and share my channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated.

[@jeffdurling100]

I asked about the Cub Cadet recently. For this mower, how do you feel about the S240 with the Kawasaki and heavier duty transmission. Is it worth the extra few hundred dollars? I have a smallest yard wich these may seem overkill for But knocking my mowing time down to 30 minutes vs an hour is worth it to me. Plus, I plan to start doing a lot of landscaping and having something that can tow is helpful.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I think the S220 is a good all-around machine for the money.

[@jeffdurling100]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines ended up buying the S240 this morning. Dealer took $200 off which made it only $200 more than the S200. I figured for the Kawasaki engine and heavier duty transmission it was worth it.

[@ciphercode2298]

The s220 and s240 are great values for the avid homeowners who dont have deep pockets. You still get a great cut and only miss out on a few high end amenities. I dont mind the build quality of the 100 series john Deere's, I think for the money they're pretty darn good. I own an 8 year

[@ciphercode2298]

Cub cadet,and although it still runs good the cut quality was never as good as a john deere and I've had to do alot of little things just to keep it together. Cables have been replaced, the pto engagement handle has bent over years of use,the deck mounting system is pretty sloppy and the deck bounces around quite a bit. You can adjust it all day long,but its movement leads to a noticeably uneven cut in anything but a golf course like yard.

[@Rhinom11]

Good Video. Do you have any understanding of how this would perform on a sloped yard? Also I'm interested in its towing capabilities.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

They are questions for a John Deere dealership to better answer. I just work on them.

[@ciphercode2298]

Western equipment has a good video on these mowers. I think the tow capacity was listed at 500lb and its rated for slopes no greater than 15 degrees. You can also download a pdf of the manual, if I remember correctly. That way youd be for certain. What I told you was from memory, so take it with a grain of salt.

[@bcbabiesmi]

Well done, vsery informative, easy listening, very comprehensive. THANK YOU

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I’m glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind comment. Please give this video a like and tell your friends about my channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for watching:)

[@peteryork6910]

thanks for the video

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I’m glad it was helpful

[@samuelrodriguez9155]

Good video, first time ever. I have made some mistakes, misfires, and today 11/03/22 overheated with dry leaves and flames came out of the muffler. The tractor died, I was shocked. Any thoughts?

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

How do you know you over heated it? It sounds like you ran out of gas? How many hrs. are on the machine? First check the engine oil to make sure it’s in between the safe mark on the dipstick. Make sure you have a full tank of gas , then try and start it. If nothing happens when you turn the key? Make sure your PTO switch is in the off position.

[@samuelrodriguez9155]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines So I let it cool down all has been fine. Maybe it was over heated and air filter was overwhelmed. The engine is 7.3 hours old.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear. Just try and take it easy on it :). These newer machines cannot take a lot of grunt work like the older tractors.

[@ciphercode2298]

Brad,what's your opinion on the tlt200 transmission these come with? I'm seriously considering getting one of these. I know they come in alot of entry level tractors,just wondering if people have much trouble with them.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

So far so good on my end but it is how you use your tractor that will be the factor on how the transmission holds up plus if you have large or steep hills that will also play a role.

[@ciphercode2298]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines All I do is mow. There are a couple small hills but they aren't bad and 2 or 3 passes with the mower and they're done. I do have one bad steep hill to mow,but I'm not killing myself. I just get it with my Honda hrx217 push mower and string trimmer.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

The S220 should be good then. I have many customers who own them and like I said, so far so good. All customers seem to be happy with there choice.

[@ciphercode2298]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines Thanks alot I'll keep it in mind.

[@Dave77770]

17 year old L111 running like a new one,only had to have the deck welded back together. How often should have to adjust the valves? Now days it seems to have a hump it’s got to get over to start. Here in Bama we tend to bag not mulch….. which would be best? Anyway love the Videos, keep up the great work!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

We adjust valves when needed I would suggest to adjust your valves and make sure your battery is 285cca minimal and the battery should be under 5. Years old. That should help with the bump your having. Worst case after doing the valves and checking battery, you may have a bad cam but it doesn’t happen often. It’s up to you how you cut your grass. I’m just someone who repairs mowers. Thank you for watching and supporting my channel.

[@ciphercode2298]

With this mower having their accel deep deck you could opt for their mulch control kit where you can open the chute to discharge or shut it to mulch at the flip of a lever. Imo as long as you're cutting the grass regularly mulching is healthier for the grass. Dont expect good mulching results if you try it on taller grass. Bagging is ok as long as you're fertilizing aerating,etc.

[@tommywwalden1599]

yeah that is a good looking mowing machine...I am running a 2017 D110; it has the same gas gauge set up. And I am not a fan of it at all either. This mower looks to be a good replacement for my D110. Good to know that front wheel bearings are back. And I like the deep deck design. This should bag grass clippings even better. I appreciate you sharing this JD mower with us! thx, tommy

[@geraldmessier9495]

Just bought one thanks for the great video, I had a craftsman and it went a lot faster than the 220, the 220. Seems slow.

[@MarquisMurray]

Great video! The best one out there. Thanks so much for this!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Hi Marquis, I'm glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind comment.

[@kusala_tv]

Start instructions at 5:00

[@tonym6920]

Controls are very similar to my 16 year old Model 135. Not liking the “floating” gas tank business. Thanks for the review! 👍👍

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Hi Tony, I did find out that they went back to ball bearings in the front wheels!!!! WOW, I’m impressed, on the less expensive machines, so many years with the metal bushings and now they put the better ball bearings back. I guess time will tell how long the newer ball bearings will go but at least you do not need to keep on greasing the front wheels so they don’t fall off.

[@ciphercode2298]

Almost all the 100 series now have digital fuel gauges. The s220 is an exception because it's a value driven hybrid. You get the accel deep deck from the x300 series,but on the s100 chassis. Its $1k less than the x330,but offers the same cut quality. You'll burn through about a gallon of fuel an hour,so as long as you're conscious of when you start and how long it takes to mow your property you'll be fine.

[@claudepoulin1670]

Thank you !

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Your welcome! Please give this a thumbs up, subscribe and tell your friends to help my channel grow. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for watching!