I bought one, had it for 120 hrs and it was a nightmare ownership story that ended with a letter to the CEO of JD Mr Samuel Allen, a sale and an upgrade.
The list of issues:
1. First off it is underpowered and cannot cut 3 feet of grass with the 5 foot Frontier bush-hog. The engine bogs down or the cut is very uneven.
2. The manual throttle handle comes loose but can be re-tightened with a nut, I have had to tighten it so many times it has bottomed out and I cannot tighten it anymore.
3. The engine overheats easily and I have to stop cutting every 15-20 minutes so it can cool down to an operating temperature.
4. The front end loader control handle does not center when raising the loader so the loader just keeps going up all the way to it's limit. With a load in the bucket that is very dangerous if I make a turn or if I am on a slope.
5. The right rear wheel has developed a knock in it, I don't have any idea what that is about or why it's happening but it sounds like internal breaking or damage.
6. The seat is very very uncomfortable, I'm an old guy and that is important. You have to sit in a reclined position to get any back support while driving. You have to recline back so far to get any kind of support it makes driving the machine difficult.
7. By the end of my work day the seat belt would not retract and was stuck in the full extend position. I ALWAYS use my seatbelt, even on flat surfaces and now I have no confidence in this belt system.
8. The lack of telescoping links makes attaching the bush hog or box blade quite difficult by myself.
9. I don't have an indicator for the 4 wheel being engaged, and it drops out of 4 wheel drive whenever it feels like it, so I don't even know if I am in 4 wheel drive or not.
10. The fuel gage will come flying off when you open the hood. The hood is manufactured to close to the gage and the gage snaps onto its sending unit. When I opened the hood, because the engine had overheated again, the gage grabbed the hood and it went flying off. I went to the dealer and bought a new one for $28 because I lost it after it flew. Now when I open the hood I make sure to hold down the gage and keep it in place saving me another $28.
11. I was not aware this was a Yanmar powerplant, when I think of Yanmar I think gray market item and I really don't like that. With the extensive engine options John Deere has why use a Yanmar?
I didn't get an answer from him but this is a partial cut and paste of what I sent him.
Just wanted to share a bit
The list of issues:
1. First off it is underpowered and cannot cut 3 feet of grass with the 5 foot Frontier bush-hog. The engine bogs down or the cut is very uneven.
2. The manual throttle handle comes loose but can be re-tightened with a nut, I have had to tighten it so many times it has bottomed out and I cannot tighten it anymore.
3. The engine overheats easily and I have to stop cutting every 15-20 minutes so it can cool down to an operating temperature.
4. The front end loader control handle does not center when raising the loader so the loader just keeps going up all the way to it's limit. With a load in the bucket that is very dangerous if I make a turn or if I am on a slope.
5. The right rear wheel has developed a knock in it, I don't have any idea what that is about or why it's happening but it sounds like internal breaking or damage.
6. The seat is very very uncomfortable, I'm an old guy and that is important. You have to sit in a reclined position to get any back support while driving. You have to recline back so far to get any kind of support it makes driving the machine difficult.
7. By the end of my work day the seat belt would not retract and was stuck in the full extend position. I ALWAYS use my seatbelt, even on flat surfaces and now I have no confidence in this belt system.
8. The lack of telescoping links makes attaching the bush hog or box blade quite difficult by myself.
9. I don't have an indicator for the 4 wheel being engaged, and it drops out of 4 wheel drive whenever it feels like it, so I don't even know if I am in 4 wheel drive or not.
10. The fuel gage will come flying off when you open the hood. The hood is manufactured to close to the gage and the gage snaps onto its sending unit. When I opened the hood, because the engine had overheated again, the gage grabbed the hood and it went flying off. I went to the dealer and bought a new one for $28 because I lost it after it flew. Now when I open the hood I make sure to hold down the gage and keep it in place saving me another $28.
11. I was not aware this was a Yanmar powerplant, when I think of Yanmar I think gray market item and I really don't like that. With the extensive engine options John Deere has why use a Yanmar?
I didn't get an answer from him but this is a partial cut and paste of what I sent him.
Just wanted to share a bit