The Truth About John Deere Commercial Mowers

Hear what loyal customer and friend, Jacob Autrey has to say about mowing with a John Deere zero-turn.

[@williamwallace4879]

I have a 2008 JD 830A 1100 hrs, absolutely love it, ready to pick up other JD. Good video Thanks

[@engineer8057]

I've got a 2004 757 Ztrak that I bought new, don't know how many hours is on it, didn't come with a meter. But it's almost 16 years old and last year it dropped a valve but that's the only major thing that ever went wrong with it. This season I'll be buying a new one, looking at getting the 970 with the 72" deck and hope I get another 16 years outta the new one.

[@davidnicholson1102]

I agree the Z930M is an awesome machine and the mulch on demand is one of it's best and distinguishing features. However I have had one problem with mine which really bothers me. I use mine to mow only 3 lawns, my mother's, brother's and mine, it has less than 400 hours after 5 years of use. In year 4 it started to leak hydraulic fluid from the right rear transmission so I took it to my dealer. I was told "our back log is about 3 and a half weeks", iyt was early July. After 3 weeks they said "we don't fix leaks we change the transmission" so I asked how much", the response $1700.00". I said "that crazy, it has less than 400 hours, it should be considered a manufacturing defect". They said sorry"its too old". So I had a friend who can fix anything remove the transmission, a 2 hour plus job [the first time] and he found the leak was a plastic plug. A $3.00 part, [from John Deere $8.00] is all that was wrong. Far from the $1700 the dealer wanted to charge. So if you get a leak fix it yourself or pay a mechanic $300 don't get taken advantage of. David in Massachusetts

[@dennishouk7943]

John Deere dealer close to me does not want to fix any thing they want to sell you a new one.I am getting pissed with JD their stuff is not as good as it use to be

[@seabass22]

Dennis Houk they don’t make anything for these mowers apart from the deck and frame. The engines and components are just rebranded. My dad has a John Deere ztrak. It says John Deere on the engine badges. Lift the seat and look on the back of the engine and it says Kawasaki lol. They make a good mower. But they are incredibly hard to work on. My scag tiger cat is easy as hell.

[@midgebarker4022]

Yes JD is a great product but post-warranty mechanical issues thru the dealership is sky high from my experience with my local dealer. I would recommend do-it-yourself maintenance as much as you can. I'm glad you was able to save tons of money going the route you went.

[@glengg6925]

Thanks for the information 👍

[@willydiesel2081]

So that's a John Deere dealer problem not a John Deere problem It sounds like

[@maplewoodeasthomeownersass4578]

Original purchaser of 2012 JD Z920A/ 54" Zero Turn. At just over 3 yrs/ < 200 hours), Dealer (SunSouth, Brundidge AL) completely serviced @ $414.00. Brought unit home, parked in barn on concrete floor. Pool of Hyd fluid on floor next am. Returned to SunSouth, another $330.00 later they stated "Dry rot" hydraulic reservoir plug..6 weeks after warranty expired. Have not/will not return to SunSouth since. Buy all parts online, self service or Indy when needed. Last GREEN product I'll own.. Great Mower BTW. "Runs Nothing Like a Deer"

[@johnbouwens2024]

I work for the 5th largest collage in the state of Oregon we have a J.D. bat wing .... A J.D. 72" fastback... And a J.D. ztrak 930m WITH A 17 bushel hopper and blower fan for pick up.... I use it the most.... In the maney years of working there we have had so maney mowers you name we wave worn it out.... Its gonna be john deere from now on .... Got a 3 walker mowers that never leave the shop now....

[@elkinsmowing184]

I’ve owned my z950m with tweels and the 72 inch deck and love that thing, never going back

[@bagger2013jm]

Any issues with the 27hp engine not being enough for the 72" deck? I'm kinda stuck between the Z950m and the z960 with the 31hp

[@elkinsmowing184]

I’ve never had any issues at all, it goes through anything. I just got a z950r with rear discharge and that thing cuts better than the side discharge

[@jdurrant421]

Fixing to get my first zero turn and it’s a Z920M. I’ve had 42” riding mowers forever and been wanting to start my own Lawn care business plus keep my 1 acre up also. Felt very welcomed when I went to look at the 920 and my salesman came outside when he seen me looking and sitting on one and explained to me all about the JD zero turns. Hoping this one is just one of many more to get.

[@ryanshadders750]

Thank you for the video. I am about to buy a used z970r from someone. It's way more than I need, but I've always wanted something commercial grade for only 3/4 acre yard. It looks it looks to be in great condition for a 2017 model with 2098hrs. It's only for my personal use. Anything I should be looking out for?

[@joelholt9547]

So informative

[@markbesserman7523]

I will never own anything else! I love my 930 have had it for 5 years, may trade it in for another in about 5 years, maybe!

[@larryselfridge6733]

How are they on hills compared to Scag

[@jspope2008]

I would love the 930 but unfortunately my pockets aren’t deep enough 😟

[@noladude5046]

😂

[@brandonmurphy4657]

Love my z950 m

[@MrZipperhead16]

JD makes very good mowers. They also make very EXPENSIVE mowers. That said their quality and durability is fantastic. Dealer service is pricey as are parts but if you take care of them you won't need to worry. My biggest complaint is they have shitty soft blades and as soon as they wear out, which will be very soon, toss them and use Oregon blades instead. You get a lot with a John Deer and you pay for it too.

[@MBarker397]

You said nothing has gone wrong with these mowers, "Nothings messing up on these mowers, Im putting them through the ringer." then right after that you said "If I'm down a mower or if something tears up I call one of the sales guys, they keep me going". How would you know if nothing goes wrong with the mower???

[@noladude5046]

This guy is being paid! It’s basically a commercial for JOHN DEERE!

[@Gamebreaker08]

Everything thing tears up, I guess he was trying to sell you his opinion that John Deere is more reliable than other brands.

[@hairycods2273]

Hey gets his turd meat warmed up by John deer

[@willydiesel2081]

You must listen with blinders on. Use some common sense. You're trying to hold this kid's feet to the flames because you like a different mower. Act like a man and listen to an adult conversation not as a child

[@MBarker397]

@willydiesel2081 Yeah, I'm trying to hold his feet to the fire. And no, I don't like other brands grew up with John deere, I own a deere zero turn and tractor.

[@johnnymerritt9544]

Good video and John Deere mowers are great but when it's time to buy parts you will get your head ripped off at the dealership on parts prices i know lots of pro lawn care businesses and they tell me that's why they don't run JD but good mowers though until you have to start replacing parts

[@caelibliss7372]

Johnny

[@rodneyturner6411]

You still run 930 mower

[@kristensdad6828]

Current have a Z930M MOD 60". Its been is the shop for two months with electrical issues, 320hrs. The dealer has been great, John Deere not so much. They have done what the factory has told them to do. The engine has been taken apart 3-4 times. Just throwing parts at it. Voltage regulator, battery, new flywheel/stator. Now new wiring harness. I have owned this thing since July 2020. I have a Toro G3 performance with 60" that is 10 years old and has 5023 hours on it. Use it every day. One engine replacement. It will run this John Deere in the ground just like it did the Hustler Super Z Hyper Drive that I have. We are John Deere so tough, deal with seems to be the attitude of the factory. Buy a Toro or Exmark. Just speaking from experience. Not happy.

[@TheSwampChicken-II]

I avoid John Deere because my JD dealer is a DB.

[@everlastingvideos4970]

You can get a Kubota diesel for the exact same price as that 9:30 with the suspension seat the Michelin Wheels and if my John Deere dealership up here would have let me demo the mower I would not well sorry I didn't have a choice but this is just my personal experience and opinion I also have a 9:15 that piece of crap has 40 hours on it and it just sits because it's not even worth running I can't even start mowing and kill about 9:30 10:00 when the dude gets off the grass because they just leave clumps everywhere and the grass getting stuck in my deck it has been to John Deere several times they had to replace the whole fuel system on my 9:30 a.m. at 2.3 hours but everything is man-made I've been on x marks that the left side hydro pump went out the first day we had it that's what I was working with another company nothing cuts better than a Scag cut quality Watts I personally do not like Scag but they do leave a nice cut but I am glad you are happy with your machines

[@everlastingvideos4970]

Scag has a mulch on demand exmark has a mulch on demand John Deere has a what they call mod deck but you can't get one these days come hop on my 9:30 see how much you love the wet grass getting stuck in the corner of the deck it has 200 hours on it still looks brand new I've ran every name out there but John Deere was the only ones willing to finance also have a 652 r with the mod deck I had them take the $800 wheels off AKA tweels on a stand on just a waste of money in my personal opinion I do have them on my 9: 30m but not my 930 r and honestly I'm in North Carolina not much of a difference between the $800 Wheels other than flat tires of course but I'm glad they're working out for you good luck getting parts considering the whole plant shut down I bought sorry finance another mower it's a 652r as well but it has the EFI engine and I wanted mulch on demand well I'm paying for the more currently and I won't see it till midsummer they are estimating I don't know if you ran the newer exmark stand ons which was the s series but they had an electronic mulch on demand or you can just pay $200 for a quick shoot on there and you have the same thing if you have a John Deere without the mulch on demand throw a quick shoot on there mow with John Deere's mod deck and make a path right beside it with a $200 quick shoot there's no difference other than John Deere's price again these are just all my experiences with John Deere but I can't say my salesman is a heck of a guy and of course also have a w48m hydrostatic walk behind I'm just wondering when they're going to do away with the pins to raise and lower the deck that gets a little aggravating but I am slowly going to be switching over to wright mowers I personally haven't ran a stand on that comes close to comparing to the standard x sorry if this is misspelled I am talk texting on the way through my next property I don't know maybe you got paid to do this video and don't even get me started on their $1,200 for year service plan and another thing I dislike for the 9:30 you can only get Gator blades or standard blades you can't get high lift for the w48 you can't even get a gator blade

[@Gravesfam]

I’ll stick to my turf tiger 2

[@giii7599]

You have no idea what putting a mower through the ringer is. I am cutting 27 rental property's here in North Myrtle Beach. Most of it is weeds and sand. It is hell on equipment.

[@herman5eight]

there are just too many other Commercial mowers out there that are better cut and quality than John Deere, not to mention the Class action lawsuits that farmers are bringing against John Deere for keeping farmers from working and fixing their own equipment. Farmers have to work on their own equip. to expensive to have JD fix it

[@yewwtooob]

Good point. I fix them anyway. Sad they tried to alienate the buyers

[@paulthompson1654]

Alloy or steel spindles ?? Tapered roller spindle bearings ??. Alloy housings and ball bearings are throwaway .

[@SunSouthJohnDeere]

Hi Paul! The spindles are cast-iron that have been cold-forged and heat-treated for strength. Each spindle has precision ball bearings that are greaseable with a pressure relief valve to help prevent overfilling with grease and keeps debris from entering the spindle housing.

[@paulthompson1654]

@@SunSouthJohnDeere Tapered roller are best for load by a big margin and best for shock load wear and tear . But at least the housings are steel vs alloy which wear and stretch causing poor fitting bearings . Toro Grounds Master 597D has 1 .25 spindle shafts in big steel housings . [[upgrade to most machines with Turbo Force decks .] Looking for alternate machine as Toro service is pathetic in my country .

[@cb7pwn]

Here's the truth, ALL makes and models are grossly overpriced, and John deere quality has gone down the shitter sadly

[@andybub45]

Not compared to other companies

[@hankhaddock3881]

BS

[@iwanaGoFast2010]

Junk, Swisher is where its at.

[@andybub45]

Who wants to buy a mower named after a toilet? Lol

[@shanepipkin4041]

have one built great but way to rough

[@lionlegacy6652]

Damn it Exmark is the best!

[@andybub45]

Toro/Exmark has gone down hill in their ZTR line. All of their Kawasaki models are being replaced with Toro Chinese engines.

[@fredhinck8847]

Truth in a commercial?????? Get real

[@brandonmurphy4657]

I do not like m. O. D deck