John Deere vs Cub Cadet

[Desert_Eagle02]

I’m in the market for a new rider lawn mower. I’ve narrowed it down to these 2 brands. Was wondering if anyone had experience with one or both. I’ve heard you pay a premium for John Deere, but they are quality tractors.

Thanks

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Desert_Eagle02

I’m in the market for a new rider lawn mower. I’ve narrowed it down to these 2 brands. Was wondering if anyone had experience with one or both. I’ve heard you pay a premium for John Deere, but they are quality tractors.

Thanks

if you are looking at box stores, they are likely the same mower with minor differences. for box stores, big names will sometimes license their brand to a factory which specializes in inexpensive production. look for obvious things like deck pulley/belt layout, or other things that arent easy to change like spindles or hydrostat motors.


this is manufacturing in 2020, look at washer/dryers and see the striking similarity of layout and features, or do a search on earphones and get the same "beats" as generic $10 earphones without the logo.

my MIL just replaced her 15 year old JD 100 series with a new box store JD and the new one is a piece of junk compared to the old one.

for mowers, look for welded decks over stamped decks, stamping requires thinner and softer metal and you will run a higher risk of needing a replacement down the road. Look at the engine and if it says B&S or B&S for lowes, or any kind of E-series (e for economy)


I used to work in car stereo and this happened in the 90s, good names like Phoenix Gold or Precision Power sold their name/brand to cheap manufacturers and for a while it was tough to get good stuff.

If you are at the John Deere or Cub Cadet dealer, and arent buying the lowest priced or entry model, disregard.

[67C10Step]

I have a John Deere LT133 hydrostatic rider that I purchased in 1999. Other than the stupid plastic hood falling apart (which is way too darn expensive to replace) it has been a solidly great mower. Still use it some to mow but mainly to pull a sprayer now that I have a zero turn. It was even under 54" of water once when my father in laws place flooded. Bought it at the local John Deere dealer.

The quality of both units at an individual dealer is typically better than the models you will get at the big box stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.). But, as with anything maintenance is the key to longevity. My JD still has its original deck but that is because I clean it out every fall and don't let the dead grass rust it up.

[72c20customcamper]

What models you looking at ? But I would buy from a dealer rather than a box store . Although the dealers sell the low end models too like lowes or home depot . But they have more options on commercial grade units . My brother in law is still using the one my dad bought in the early 80s, a 430 great machine

Box stores sell the low end models . The D series has a Briggs n Stratton as apposed to the dealers X series which has a Kawasaki engines

Never owned a club cadet so I cant say good or bad.

My tractor is a Kubota BX25

[A1971Blazer]

Kubota and don't look back

[Dead Parrot]

When I did some lawn tractor research about 2 1/2 years ago, it seemed that most of the low end box store tractors used the same drive axle, one of two motors, etc. The hydrostatic drives had issues with overheating if you had a long up slope. It really didn't matter what color paint or logo was on the tractor. After pricing a couple of tractors that were upsized enough to avoid the small drive axle, it was about the same price to buy a mid-range zero turn John Deere mower. It gets the job done in about half the time compared to the old Murray lawn tractor the previous land owner had left behind.

I kept the old Murray as it has a real geared transmission. It gets used as a light duty brush hog for those areas I don't want to take the new mower.

Try to avoid the John Deere "Easy Oil Change System" (or whatever they call it). It is a bit pricey compared to the standard filter and 2 quarts of oil system.
https://www.amazon.com/John-Deere-Ch.../dp/B079TB9KXM

[Palf70Step]

I have a John Deere D110. It has been a great tractor mower. The biggest question is how much do you mow and what else to you want to do with it. I mow two 1/2 acre lots so my 42" deck is perfect and mine gets stored in the shop so rust isn't a big deal. I grease mine about every other mowing. I also use mine to pull a trailer and actually move broke trucks around with it.

Cub Cadet is basically the same as MTD. Troy Built and several others. They pretty much are all manufactured under the same giant corp. I have had snapper, Husqavarna, Craftsman and Troy built mowers. So far I like the John Deeres the best. If I had a bigger area to mow I would get a professional style Kubota or similar mower to hold up better.

[Desert_Eagle02]

Thanks everyone for the info. I’ve always suspected that of the big box stores. I will be getting one from a dealer. Have both dealers not for from my location. Kubotas are nice but unfortunately out of my price range.

The models I’m looking at are
John Deere S240, X330
Cub Cadet XT1 GT50

I’d like to keep the tractor price around $3,000 and powerful enough to use to plow snow. It will be stored inside.

[flashed]

Kubota's are usually 0 money down and no interest if that helps , love my Kubota Zero Turn and my tractor with loader .

[dave6672]

Definitely stay away from "lawn tractors" if you mow much on hills. As mentioned, regardless of brand they have weaker transaxles (no oil filter, no way to change the oil, essentially a throw away unit). A "garden tractor" has a much beefier transaxle with a spin on filter, etc. and can handle pulling hills and other harder work. Of course you get what you pay for so a garden tractor is much more expensive that a lawn tractor.

I bought a 54 inch cut Husqvarna lawn tractor from Lowes a few years back to mow my hilly yard but after one year, the transaxle was shot. Thankfully it was replaced under warrantee, but I knew I had to get something else. I bought a used Cub Cadet garden tractor with 600 hours on it. It pulls the hills with authority and every year I change the oil and filter in the transaxle and have had no problems.

[LS short box]

If you are just mowing grass really consider a zero turn. Our JD zero turn which is a commercial grade has been bullet proof for over 12 years. 23 Kawasaki air cooled Runs perfect. We mow 3 acres.

[Nut Case]

I have owned Cats , switched to Kubota and never looked back.

But you got to find a good dealer..

Find a dealer and go look at them talk to them and let them advise you about which modle for your lawn

Valley Kubota
Heber City

There the best


Nutz

[72c20customcamper]

Kubota , Fred approved

[The Rocknrod]

Of the two John Deere all the way!
I had a Cub Cadette and I had a John Deere.

[Gotenntitans]

I have a Husqvarna lawn mower. Not a zero turn, not a tractor, but a 42" cut riding lawn mower. Have had no trouble with it at all. Mowed with it yesterday......best mower I have ever owned.

[Bigdually]

Between John Deere and Cub Cadet, definitely go with the Deere! I have owned both, the Cub Cadet was the biggest piece of junk I ever had the displeasure of owning. Bought new at the dealer and literally fell apart, the hood melted off from exhaust heat!!! Have had a John Deere X540 and an X720 since, and they are tough, reliable, excellent mowers.

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by Bigdually

Between John Deere and Cub Cadet, definitely go with the Deere! I have owned both, the cub Cadet was the biggest piece of junk I ever had the displeasure of owning. Bought new at the dealer and literally fell apart, the hood melted off from exhaust heat!!! Have had a John Deere X540 and an X720 since, and they are tough, reliable, excellent mowers.

I didnt want to go there but, Ya.

[67swb72klb]

I bought an old JD 314 With a Kohler engine hydrostatic 54" hydraulic lift blade and mowing deck the thing is like a tank with only chains and no wheel weights I have pushed 9" of snow with little effort
About the best $1000 dollars ever spent

[whitedog76]

I don't know what model you're looking at, but the JD lawn tractors that are sold at Home Depot, Lowes, etc... are actually built by Husqvarna. In my opinion, the JD mowers have better decks and cut better though. They may also have some other proprietary components, but I`m sure it's minimal.

Go green.

[CG]

I always got hand me down riders from my FIL. Finally bought my JD 4 or 5 years ago. Its a basic 110 model. Hate to admit it but I haven't treated as nicely as I should have. But its still going strong!

Im going to drop the deck and clean up some surface rust and chipping. Ill reshoot it with some JD yellow. Time for new blades, oil change, and basic tune. I ran in to the rear bumper of my truck going to fast and trying to cut the corner. The cowl is just sorta sitting on there, grill is busted, but you cant tell until you really check it out. I may fix that too.

EDIT: Ok Ive had it much longer than I thought. I posted this YouTube video 8 years ago. Our granddaughter will be 15 in July haha!

Isabellas ride - YouTube

[Boog]

This is interesting info regarding who makes what as of 2020.

https://todaysmower.com/riding-mower-brands/

[Desert_Eagle02]

Originally Posted by Boog

This is interesting info regarding who makes what as of 2020.

https://todaysmower.com/riding-mower-brands/

That is interesting!

I had the chance to look at a few Cub Cadet models yesterday. The dealer was closed but there were some parked in the front. I have to admit, I was not overly impressed on the build quality. I didn’t look them over in depth, but from a quick once over they seemed kinda cheap for the price tag. They look nice though with their LED headlights lol

I’m leaning towards and probably will go with JD. Unfortunately the dealer in my area has their show room closed and is doing curb side parts pick up only. So I’ll have to wait for all this going on to settle down before I can check out their models.

Might check our Husqvarna for the heck of it in the mean time.

[whitedog76]

According to the article, JD makes ALL their own lawn tractors. Having owned a Husqvarna and a JD, I can't help but think there isn't some sort or relationship there. Maybe Husqvarna does some stamping for JD?

I'm not impressed with the current Cub line of machines at all. The ones made 10-15 years ago (the beige & yellow ones) weren't bad machines.

[Jeffh]

Originally Posted by Bigdually

Between John Deere and Cub Cadet, definitely go with the Deere! I have owned both, the Cub Cadet was the biggest piece of junk I ever had the displeasure of owning. Bought new at the dealer and literally fell apart, the hood melted off from exhaust heat!!! Have had a John Deere X540 and an X720 since, and they are tough, reliable, excellent mowers.

That X540 and X720 thats the good stuff. You'll pay for it but you'll love it.

[Matt Man]

I work at Home Depot in the Garden section and we sell both the John Deere and Cub Cadet models and we always have tons of Cub Cadet lawn tractors and zero turns being returned and hardly any John Deere products. The John Deere E100 or E120 are good units and the quality is much higher on the Deere when I assemble them.