What was the best JOHN DEERE GARDEN TRACTOR ever made???

In this video we compare some of the most popular John Deere garden tractors ever made! The 140h3, the 318, and the 420. If you are interested in checking out our other “Tractor Talk” videos, please click on the links below!
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[@benschlechter]

My grandparents (who started Everglades Equipment Group, a John Deere Dealorship in Belle Glade, FL in 1963), had a John Deere 318 lawn tractor on their property in NC in the early 80s. After my grandfather passed, my uncle, who took over the business after he retired, brought up a JD 420 in 1989. Then, in 1988, brought up a JD 455, a diesel.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Very cool history. Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@benschlechter]

@@BuildALotAcres You're welcome!

[@Joesworld4419]

I have a 332 and love it. One nice thing about the 420 and 430 is they have shaft driven mowers.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@Joesworld4419 👍

[@DanLamey-qk7se]

i would say the 318 are awesome i have two of them but would to buy a 420 loved ur video

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@DanLamey-qk7se Thank you sir 🙏

[@drewr13NJ]

Hands down I would say the 318 is one of the best Deere Garden tractors ever made and I would like to own one someday. Perhaps a 332 because its a diesel? I mowed my grandfather's lawn may of times with a 318 and it was nice. I really like the effortless power steering and the independent brakes on it. They are legendary and have a colt following. I like the diesel garden tractors too, but they are kind of in a different class. I think the support for the 318 is really good to since so many were made, and many people are still running them.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@drewr13NJ Great points 👍

[@GardenTractorBoy]

I am back on KZbin and I am looking forward to catching up with your videos, I hope you are well and everything is good with you. We have a cigarette lighter on our 1968 Wheelhorse Raider 9. I really like the looks of the 140. I do not know much about JD garden tractors so this was very interesting and a great video, thanks

[@BuildALotAcres]

Welcome back Joseph. Hope all is well on your side of the pond 👍

[@GardenTractorBoy]

@@BuildALotAcres Everything is good thanks. It is great to get back into the workshop after the school exams

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@GardenTractorBoy 👍

[@jasoncalder2386]

The 420 was a tank. My GTX-18 is a very capable garden tractor also. Good job guys

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@jasoncalder2386 Thank you very much 🙏

[@klikliks_service]

140s look amazing. However its hard to go back to them after having a 318 or 420.

[@BuildALotAcres]

I agree. The extra features and options are easy to get used to 👍

[@klikliks_service]

​@@BuildALotAcres I have a 318 and 420. The 420 is my favorite.

[@klikliks_service]

I have the 46 in blower. It's single stage

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@klikliks_service Thanks for the info 🙏

[@ryanvalleyirrigation]

I bought a johndeere 318 from perry michigan October 26 2023. I bought the snow plow from Hutsonville mi took the old paint off Prime it up then paint it. Bought a snow blower in October took the old paint off and prime it up and paint it up i love my johndeere 318 i put on new mulch blades it does a great job in the grass i use it in the snow last winter we had deep snow and the 49 snow blower working good can't wait until winter time.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Very nice 👍

[@49commander]

318 popularized hydrostatic power steering on a mid sized garden tractor! The most important feature ever introduced on a garden tractor!!!!

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@49commander Great point 👍

[@ahighervibe4086]

I think you have to put the 445 on that list… THAT imo might be the best Garden Tractor Deere ever made !

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@ahighervibe4086 👍

[@jonathonrossebo1783]

The X700 series made today comes standard with a 12 volt charge port, AKA lighter socket. Also did any of them have an ashtray😜?

[@BuildALotAcres]

The wind in your hair was your ashtray 🤣

[@motownXJdad9565]

im going with the 420, id like the diff lock and 20 hp Onan. ive owned several Deeres, 210, 212, 214, 314, and a 316. theres nothing like Onan power in a garden tractor, my 316 was a great tractor, especially for mowing hilly ground, the govenor on the Onan works awesome, you never have to throttle up for hills it does it all on its own.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@motownXJdad9565 I’ve owned/own a few Onan powered machines. They’re little torque monsters for sure!

[@iowafox2206]

I've got a 1978 John Deere 316K the one year only 316 with a Kohler 16hp. Rebadged JD 300 but I love mine and it's my dedicated mowing machine and does a beautiful job. I'd love a 318 next but this 316K has a long term home with me. I call the 1978 316K the poor man's 318 lol

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@iowafox2206 Very cool 👍

[@irish5359]

I think the 318 is a nice middle ground. Plus lots of parts.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@irish5359 True 👍

[@jamesgarland4990]

I would pick the 140.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@jamesgarland4990 Old school classic 👍

[@TheRestored87Warrior]

I have a 318 and a 110, but both need rebuilt, and the 318 doesn't have a deck. I'd like to restore the 318 but i don't know if it's worth it. I also want to save up for fixing my 12v for a first truck. So I've been debating on fixing it or not.

[@TheRestored87Warrior]

If you see my one video, you can kinda see the 318. I have no video of the 110 yet.

[@jonathonrossebo1783]

332? Yes, absolutely.

[@BuildALotAcres]

👍

[@jdtractorman7445]

I'm kind of partial to the 318, because I have one. 🤣 It is hard to say which one is best. Each model has something a little different than another model. The 420's have differential lock, a little more hp than the 318, a third hydraulic spool as well. Then there are models that are either air cooled or liquid cooled engines. Air is more simplistic, yet liquid cooling maintains engine temperature better. Liquid cooling also means radiator, water pump, hoses that can go bad or leak over time.

[@BuildALotAcres]

All great points 👍

[@greasywrenchgarage3152]

Out of your options, I would chose the 420. But in reality I chose the 430. I have a 1986 430 with 44 Loader, 47 2-stage snowblower, 3-point, I have a 42" hydraulic tiller I am going to adapt as well. As for your question about what blowers were available for the 420, There is the single stage model 46 and the 2 stage model 47.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@greasywrenchgarage3152 Thank you for the information 👍

[@mosfet500]

Anyone of these is a great GT. My pick is the 445/55 for the balance of size, easier to get implements that the 420/30 which were attachment specific.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@mosfet500 Very true 👍

[@TODinWY]

If you took care of them you wouldn't have to worry about hunting up parts. Great stuff. 420 hands down.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@TODinWY Amen 👍

[@chadbinette3201]

Sub compact tractors have become a lot more popular and basically all the brands Deere, Kubota, ls, Massey, and on make a small sub compact 18-25 HP tractor. I'm sure that was the beginning of the end of the garden tractor. When spending that much for a garden tractor can spend a little more and get a loader , maybe backhoe and more attachments.

[@chessiekid4018]

I bought a 420 back in 1984 replacing my 212. I now have 2500 hours on my 420 and it is still running today. I paid $6400 plus $1,000 for the 54 inch deck. The deck has rotted out but I still have the 54 inch hydrolic blade I keep on it. I now have a x730 which is crap. I have 828 hours on it the quick connect on the machine wears out and loses the deck. I love my 420. Best John Deere ever built. My friend has the 433 diesel and it is a fabulous machine also.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@chessiekid4018 Very cool history! 40 years of toughness!!! 👍

[@chessiekid4018]

@@BuildALotAcres I gave it to my boy when I bought the x730. Not enough garage space. lol.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@chessiekid4018 Lucky son 👍

[@firewoodathome]

👍👍

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@firewoodathome 🙏🙏

[@daver6564]

People must have had much more disposable money back then.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@daver6564 I think when people bought a new garden tractor they intended to keep it for multiple decades. It was a lifelong purchase. My wife’s uncle has a 318 he bought new in probably the mid-late 80’s. Still looks and runs like new almost 40 years later.

[@eltorito1011]

Anybody like their 445

[@wrench3r]

455

[@BuildALotAcres]

👍

[@danielbowman4819]

Add another $4000 to that $21 thousand and buy a subcompact 4 wheel drive 1023r John Deere tractor.

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@danielbowman4819 I agree. These days it wouldn’t make sense to spend the 21 grand

[@kevincris0615]

318/420 are practically the same when it comes to maintenance. Shitty onans. 332 all day

[@BuildALotAcres]

Parts can be tough to get now, but at the time they were top of class engines

[@DanielWoodenJr.-cm4qd]

That would be None

[@BuildALotAcres]

@@DanielWoodenJr.-cm4qd They made some nice machines over the years

[@DanielWoodenJr.-cm4qd]

@@BuildALotAcres I've had to work on them for almost 30yrs. professionally and hate them for that reason alone. I've worked on practically every make and model of garden tractor out there...and they are one of the worst out there.

[@garypaul1033]

@@DanielWoodenJr.-cm4qd You mean that you do not consider any of the John Deere garden tractors (machines that can do ground engaging work) worth their salt in ability to do the job they were intended to do?? Within the wolrd of its competition at the time, wasn't the John Deere 140H3 (triple hydraulics & hydrostatic trans) for example at the top of its class for a 600-700 lbs garden tractor, & also pretty easy to maintain. (For reference I have had a 125 (12 hp) Cub Cadet, manual lift, same in family sisnce new and they are pretty darn easy to maintain for a simple homeowner man). With your experience what would you list as the weak points of the 140 model? Or do you mean that they (or all of the John Deeres) were overpriced for the value they delivered or do you mean only the John deere Garden tractors from later on with their added complexity and fly-ball issues and troubles for the homeowner trying to change the geared starter without moving up the engine a bit, etc? It would be enjoyable to hear your take on this as I do not have your experience. As a contrast, if you have the time, which garden tractor since the late 60s do you consider a darn good machine to own, maintain, least of a hassel to repair for the common man at home, and are worthy of doing a real ground engaging work in a competant manner? The Power King Series with the Kohler engines? The J.I. Case 644 FEL industrial garden tractors (even though they could not apparantly use a mowing deck)? The Cub Cadet 169 (16 hp Kohler) hydrostatic? The Gravely machines like the 14G (14 hp Kohler) which were heavy and well built gear drive units. I know you have an ability to repair almost any concern but for the average homeowner man wiithout your skill and tools, which would you think is the better machine?

[@DanielWoodenJr.-cm4qd]

@@garypaul1033 Here's the thing...you have good and bad in all garden tractors and any tractor for that matter...lawn mowing, garden tractors, combos, small to medium utility, and even medium to large farm tractors. I've owned 3 JD mower/garden tractors---210, 320, and 455. The 210 was simple did good for what it was. The 320 also but had electrical issues and Kawasaki liquid engine issues at the time. I did like the set up and operation of the 455 with factory 3pt., dual spd. pto, and aux. hydraulics. But the Yanmar desiel was a peice of junk. I retro-fitted a Kubota 21hp in it's place and still have it. And it works fine but isn't my go to tractor. So I didn't mean to offend you. Maybe I need to explane more from where I'm coming from. I was a dealer mechanic for a large lawn and garden repair, sales and service shop for 8yrs. Worked on all kinds of equipment-trucks, tractors, heavy equipment and ect. I've been self employed now for over 20yrs. and have training and experience in engines, drivetrains, hydraulics, electrical, fabrication, and machining. So I guess why I dislike JD so much is from a mechanics aspect.

[@garypaul1033]

@@DanielWoodenJr.-cm4qd great to hear from you. I know it takes a lot of time but your experience is so interesting because you can dig down to the truth about which machines were the best to maintain and repair for the common man. I favor the simpler 1 cyclinder air cooled Kohlers (K Series) even though the ones I favor & own are mostly splash lube & I wish they had pressure lube. I am aware that even those had troubles with the 17 hp models lube isses and sometime I do not even understand why certain features were added (like the balance weights on the 14 hp K-21 since they do not seem to do anything and if it is rebuilt without them it appear to operate the same. WHY were they put in their in the first place?? Maybe I am missing something). Anyway I would find it interesting to hear about your experiences. I think it would make an interesting KZbin to help guide men who want good solid garden tractors that are easy (relatively easy for an amature that is!) to repair and manitain. My My 1968 Cub Cadet 125 is on its 2nd 12 hp engine but the hydrostatic has never ever been serviced except just to change the fluid and filter & extra simple with a spring assist lift mechanism for the deck and snow plow blade. I did have to insulate the fuel tank becuase it is right under the engine & I did not like it boiling the fuel when I would check it on a very hot Michigan day of 94 F mwing the lawn! The insulation did the trick and keeps the fuel cooler (I wrapped the tank in it). I guess it is not dangerous as I have seen others talking abut boiling gas on hot days but I didn't like it and I don't see any negatives from doing this! Again I am not professional so I'm just trying do what I can to keep it good and perjhaps make it a little better. I know you are busy, so no need to reply Mr Daniel!