Lawn tractors: Buy John Deere GT275 or LX188??
Patrick M. Thompson
I have just purchased a home with a two acre lawn. The lawn is
relatively flat with randomly planted pine trees and other shrubs. I'm
planning on buying a John Deere LX188 or GT275. There's only about a
$100 difference between them in price with the LX having the lower
cost. The GT weighs about 60 lbs more than the LX, has a little larger
outside deminsions, has cut steel gears, internal wet-disk brakes, a
little bigger tires and gas tank, and an electric PTO. Both have
hydrostatic drive and 17 hp engines. The GT has a single cylinder/air
cooled engine while the LX has a twin cylinder/liquid cooled(both by
Kawasaki). BTW I don't have any immediate plans for attachments. I
like the twin cylinder for smoothness and less noise. However I think
the frame and other components on the GT may be a little
stronger(???). Which ever one I get it will have the 48 inch mower
deck. Anybody's thoughts or comments about which one to buy would be
appreciated. Comments from people who have one or the other would be
most appreciated. Thanks.
Regards, Pat Thompson
Rob Gray
Hi Pat,
If you are willing to look a bit, you may be able to save yourself alot
of money. If you buy a used mower of a very high quality make, you will
be better off. A good example is a Gravely. Gravely makes arguable the
highest quality lawn mowers. They makes several varieties. Their older L
models are either walk behind or can pull a "sulky". You can get these
machines for a pretty good price. I own a 1961 model, which runs great.
I used it to mow 4 acres until a year ago, when I bought a Woods mower
for my Ford 8N tractor. New Gravelys are VERY expensive though.
It is just my personal opinion, but the riding mowers being sold today
are extremely expensive for what you are getting. If you are out in the
country, you may even consider bying an IH Cub, although 2 acres is a
bit too little lawn for a Cub, but you may want to look at one anyway.
Hope This Helps,
Rob Gray
Ken Gehring
Pat
If you are thinking about adding attachments (such as a rototiller
etc.) then you need the GT275. The LX really only a lawn mower (I know,
I have one and I love it). The only reason I went with the LX188 is
I already have a 855 with the attachemnts I want :-).
The LX188 is REALLY quiet. Especially when compared to the old
Sears Craftsman 14HP mower it replaced (maybe it'll make a good
racing lawnmower.... ;-)).
You may also want to consider a 42 inch mulcher deck rather than a
48 in deck. I have the 48 inch deck and wish I had the 42 inch one for
easy of getting between trees.
Either way I think you'll enjoy your tractor.
Ken Gehring
geh...@arc.ab.ca
Harold Arnold
>I have just purchased a home with a two acre lawn. The lawn is
>relatively flat with randomly planted pine trees and other shrubs. I'm
>planning on buying a John Deere LX188 or GT275. There's only about a
>$100 difference between them in price with the LX having the lower
>cost. The GT weighs about 60 lbs more than the LX, has a little larger
>outside deminsions, has cut steel gears, internal wet-disk brakes, a
>little bigger tires and gas tank, and an electric PTO. Both have
>hydrostatic drive and 17 hp engines. The GT has a single cylinder/air
>cooled engine while the LX has a twin cylinder/liquid cooled(both by
>Kawasaki). BTW I don't have any immediate plans for attachments. I
>like the twin cylinder for smoothness and less noise. However I think
>the frame and other components on the GT may be a little
>stronger(???). Which ever one I get it will have the 48 inch mower
>deck. Anybody's thoughts or comments about which one to buy would be
>appreciated. Comments from people who have one or the other would be
>most appreciated. Thanks.
Though I have no experience with John Deere machines, based on my long
use of similar sized Sears machines, I think the additional $100 for
the GT275 is well worth the additional price. I think you hit the
nail squarly on the head when you picked out the advantage of the twin
cylinder machine over the one lunged one. Also I agree that the extra
weight will be a plus.
I used my Sears 16 HP machines to maintain about 3 1/2 acres around
my house for about 12 years before I replaced it with a lighter but
more powerful, 18 HP. This area is mesquite prairie involving a
constant battle with encroaching mesquite brush. The present tractor I
have used for the last 5 years. Though I am generally satisfied with
the replacement, I suspect this relatively cheaper, and lighter
machine will not last as long as its predesessor.
H.
P.S. Gonser-Fujimoto
Just be careful We own 2 1/2 acres. We bought a "lawn tractor". We
bought the warrenty also(I know) but they would come to the house
instead of us having to drag it in. Well, we had them come out and they
were going to nullify the contract. It would seem that, when they say
lawn tractor they mean GRASS. regular lawn. NOT one thing else. I was
under the asumption, that since it had attachements, that would mean
small tractor. WRONG. So make sure you have in writing what you can do
with what you buy.
just a note..
Pat
George Lansing
Rob Gray wrote:
>
> Patrick M. Thompson wrote:
> >
> > I have just purchased a home with a two acre lawn. The lawn is
> > relatively flat with randomly planted pine trees and other shrubs. I'm
> > planning on buying a John Deere LX188 or GT275. There's only about a
> > $100 difference between them in price with the LX having the lower
> > cost. The GT weighs about 60 lbs more than the LX, has a little larger
> > outside deminsions, has cut steel gears, internal wet-disk brakes, a
> > little bigger tires and gas tank, and an electric PTO. Both have
> > hydrostatic drive and 17 hp engines. The GT has a single cylinder/air
> > cooled engine while the LX has a twin cylinder/liquid cooled(both by
> > Kawasaki). BTW I don't have any immediate plans for attachments. I
> > like the twin cylinder for smoothness and less noise. However I think
> > the frame and other components on the GT may be a little
> > stronger(???). Which ever one I get it will have the 48 inch mower
> > deck. Anybody's thoughts or comments about which one to buy would be
> > appreciated. Comments from people who have one or the other would be
> > most appreciated. Thanks.
> >
>
> Hi Pat,
>
> If you are willing to look a bit, you may be able to save yourself alot
> of money. If you buy a used mower of a very high quality make, you will
> be better off. A good example is a Gravely. Gravely makes arguable the
> highest quality lawn mowers. They makes several varieties. Their older L
> models are either walk behind or can pull a "sulky". You can get these
> machines for a pretty good price. I own a 1961 model, which runs great.
> I used it to mow 4 acres until a year ago, when I bought a Woods mower
> for my Ford 8N tractor. New Gravelys are VERY expensive though.
>
> It is just my personal opinion, but the riding mowers being sold today
> are extremely expensive for what you are getting. If you are out in the
> country, you may even consider bying an IH Cub, although 2 acres is a
> bit too little lawn for a Cub, but you may want to look at one anyway.
>
> Hope This Helps,
>
> Rob Gray
Can anone help me find product and market value information on the older
Gravely equipment? I have heard a lot of good info lately and would
love to learn more.
George
hailm...@aol.com
>Can anone help me find product and market value information on the older
>Gravely equipment? I have heard a lot of good info lately and would
>love to learn more.
>
>George
>
>
Please post the information on Gravelys' here.
Thank you,
Bill
Rob Gray
Bill,
First, you can get copies of old owners' and service manuals by calling
1-800-GRAVELY. I got a manual for my 1961 Model L1 for free.
Second, I found a WWW page devoted to old Gravelys with info on serial
numbers, etc. at:
http://www.iupui.edu/~harrold/Gravely/tractor.html
Third, you can visit the antique tractor page, and join the list serve
if you are interested at:
http://freenet.co.forsyth.nc.us/TRACTOR/atis.html
This is a great web site, and a tractor world unto itself. It is mostly
dedicated to larger tractors than the Gravely (like Fords, Deeres, MMs,
Farmalls, etc), but there is Gravely info available. If you need any
more info, do not hesitate in e-mailing me with any questions.
Hope This Helps,
Rob Gray
Al...@Injersey.com
hailm...@aol.com
>First, you can get copies of old owners' and service manuals by calling
>1-800-GRAVELY. I got a manual for my 1961 Model L1 for free.
>
>Second, I found a WWW page devoted to old Gravelys with info on serial
>numbers, etc. at:
>
>http://www.iupui.edu/~harrold/Gravely/tractor.html
>
>Third, you can visit the antique tractor page, and join the list serve
>if you are interested at:
>
>http://freenet.co.forsyth.nc.us/TRACTOR/atis.html
>
>This is a great web site, and a tractor world unto itself. It is mostly
>dedicated to larger tractors than the Gravely (like Fords, Deeres, MMs,
>Farmalls, etc), but there is Gravely info available. If you need any
>more info, do not hesitate in e-mailing me with any questions.
>
>Hope This Helps,
>
>Rob Gray
>Al...@Injersey.com
>
>
>
On behalf of myself and others. I thank you for this info, Rob. I at least, will use it.
Thanks again,
Bill
Ken Burner
George,
Info on older Gravely tractors is available in the Hot Line Farm
Equipment Guide (http://www.farmequipmentguide.com/). For walk-behind
equipment, you may want to check out classified ads or links to them
from the Irrigation & Green Industry Network site (http://www.igin.com/)
or Green-Net (http://www.aip.com/Green/Horticulture.html).
-Ken Burner
Excerpts from netnews.misc.rural: 1-Mar-97 Gravely Info? by George
Lan...@mnsinc.co
> Can anone help me find product and market value information on the older
> Gravely equipment? I have heard a lot of good info lately and would
> love to learn more.
>
-Ken Burner
Carnegie Mellon Computing Services
-------------------------------------------------------------
Interested in small tractors? Visit The Small Tractor FAQ at
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/kb13/TF_home.htm