John Deere is arguably the most famous brand in agricultural and landscaping equipment. The leaping Deere’s products boast peerless quality, attention to detail, and a level of durability other brands simply cannot match.
The average lifespan of a residential John Deere lawn tractor is 10 years or 5000 hours. Their commercial mowers are designed to be used more per week and take more abuse. A John Deere can regularly last four to five times the factory warranty if maintained and used correctly.
Join us as we zoom in on the company’s lawn tractors…and their longevity. Are John Deere lawn tractors actually worth the steep price? How can one prolong the lifespan of a Deere mower? Let’s find out.
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Gaging And Extending The Life Of A John Deere
Deere lawn tractors, like all riding mowers, are more of an investment than a simple consumable product. You will have to pay top dollar to get your mitts on one of JD’s famous landscaping solutions, so you better know what you’re getting yourself into.
That said, John Deere’s pricing, though steep, is somewhat justified. The brand has earned an enviable reputation over its nearly 200-year existence. As the “Mercedes-Benz” of agricultural equipment, JD has specialized in innovation, comfort, and the maximization of existing technologies to make the best tools for any job.
That same philosophy is also evident in the company’s landscaping products and services. Essentially, JD garden tractors are just as rock-solid and teched-out as their “real” tractors.
Now, on to longevity.
But first, if you like this article on the John Deere product lines, you will also like these…
- John Deer Mower Belt Keeps Coming Off
- Who Makes John Deer Lawn Mower Engines?
- Is A License Needed For A Lawnmower, Tractor, Or Farm Truck?
John Deere’s Warranties Don’t Tell The Whole Story
Like most manufacturers, John Deere offers warranties for all new products. For lawn tractors, the company (at the time of writing offers):
- 2 years (120 hours) – 100 Series
- 3 years (200 hours) – 200 Series
- 4 years (300 hours) – X300 Series
- 4 years (500 hours) – X500 Series
As you know, a warranty is based on the assumption that the mower is used as intended, and is not subjected to any major repairs or collisions. As long as you do not void the warranty (i.e., through major customizations or tampering), the manufacturer, or your dealer, will repair or replace the mower.
Of course, in most cases, your mower is not going to automatically kick the bucket the second your warranty expires. Products live long past their warranties all the time if they are taken care of properly.
If you use your mower appropriately, carry out maintenance on time, and store it safely, there is no reason why your mower shouldn’t last you 10+ years.
How You Maintain A John Deere Will Determine It’s Lifespan
However, once your mower’s warranty period has lapsed, you’re on your own. You will no longer qualify for any replacements, and you will have to carry out all services and repairs (big or small). If money is no object for you, it may be easier to buy a new lawn tractor every few years.
If you’re like the rest of us, you will probably want as much bang for your buck as possible. Luckily, there are several ways you can achieve this.
The first way is through routine servicing. Typically, JD mowers have a service interval schedule attached to the bottom of the seat. Services are split into daily services and periodic services.
Daily service includes:
- Tire pressure checks
- Brake test
- Fuel level check
- Oil level check
- Safety system check
Periodic service includes:
- Cleaning the mower deck
- Sharpening/ replacing blades
- Replacing air/oil/fuel filters
- Oil changes
- Spark plug replacements
- Lubrication of spindles, front axle, axle pivots, bushings, and pivot points
- Mower belt inspection/ replacements
- Mower belt tension adjustments
- Cleaning the engine cooling fins
- Battery terminal cleaning
Storing A Lawn Tractor Properly Extends Its Life
The second factor that can impact your lawn tractor’s longevity is storage. Ideally, you want to keep the tractor indoors when it is not in use. A dry shed or garage is recommended. Better still if the room’s temperature can be modified. If the mower is subjected to cold temperatures for too long, the battery might get damaged.
If you are storing the tractor for an extended period, such as during winter, you should drain the oil and hydraulic fluid. Store these fluids in containers that you keep somewhere cool and dry. This will prevent the fluids from losing their qualities, which, in turn, allows you to re-use them when mowing season returns.
Don’t have a picturesque garden shed to store your John Deere in? Here is a riding mower cover made to fit most John Deere non-commercial lawn tractors that I recommend from Amazon.
Reckless Use Can Lower A John Deere Mower’s Usable Years
Another important factor behind mower lifespan is how the mower is used. Driving your mower recklessly or cutting grass that is too tall or too thick may knock a few years off your lawn tractor’s lifespan. Consult your owner’s manual and your dealer for the most appropriate uses for your tractor.
This point may be a little harsh… but you ought to avoid lending the tractor to irresponsible folk as well, especially if you won’t be there while it is being used. These machines are expensive and many friendships have ended over much less.
Is 1000 Hours On A John Deere Lawn Tractor A Lot?
In warranty terms, 1000 hours is a lot. In fact, it is double the warranty limit for John Deere’s top range of tractors, the X500 series, which lapses at 500 hours.
However, in terms of real-world longevity, 1000 hours is not that much. Of course, you will have to adhere to the maintenance tips outlined above if your mower is to reach and exceed 1000 hours or more.
If well taken care of, not only is 1000 hours not a lot of use to get out of a John Deere lawn tractor. It is actually relatively low. Countless John Deere mowers will run from 4,000 to 5,000 hours. To reach this amount of time, adequate repairs and maintenance are a must.
I know of three homeowners off the top of my head that have 4,500 to 5,500 hours on their John Deere riders. These mowers were immaculately maintained and repaired though. Commercial models can get between 14,000 and 15,000 hours if the same care is taken.
Mathew Booe, 10 Years Professional Lawn Care Experience, Grandpa
If we buy mowers and only expect them to last for the designated warranty period we are paying an enormous price for these machines and letting these manufactures and riding mower designers off the hook entirely too easily.
When paying premium prices you are not only buying better performance, but also better parts and reliability.
How Often Do I Need To Maintain A John Deere Lawn Tractor?
As we’ve already seen, John Deere provides a scheduling guide for lawn tractor service and repairs. These schedules can either be found on the mower itself (usually under the seat) or they can be sourced from the manufacturer or dealer.
Daily Mower Maintenance
The first category of maintenance is daily service. This is carried out every day or every time you are about to mow your lawn.
This can be anything from checking proper oil levels, cable integrity, and blade condition to lubrication and tire pressure. Running a mower without doing these daily checks can cause premature parts failure and shorten the life of even the most solidly constructed John Deere riding mower.
Weekly Lawn Tractor Maintenance Increases Lifespan Exponentially
Periodic service is a bit more nuanced. There are services that you must carry out after the first eight hours of operation, such as the first oil change, belt tension adjustments, and axle/pivot lubrication.
Next, you have periodic services that should be carried out every 25 hours. This mostly includes the aforementioned lubrications, although you should feel free to carry out other inspections.
The 50-hour mark is the point where you can expect to carry out the highest number of services for your JD lawn tractor. Oil changes, filter replacements, belt tensioning, plug replacements, and mower deck cleaning are but a few of the maintenance measures you ought to take.
You also have a 200-hour mark. The main service required here is the adjustment of the engine valve lash. However, you must not neglect the other periodic services.
Also, with time, your lawn tractor might require service more frequently, so take heed. The mower’s paint job may also start to chip off at some point, which may be annoying to some.
Final Touches On The Life Of A John Deere Lawn Tractor…
We know just by experience that manufacturers of many products will underestimate the reliable service hours of machinery sold to the public. This is so that they can positively say that the product will operate as intended during this time, and so customers won’t have unrealistic expectations.
This being said, that same experience tells us that much more use from the product is understood.
This same understanding applies to the life expectancy of a John Deere lawn tractor, whether commercial or designed for home use.
You can expect generally around 5000+ hours and over 10+ years of use in general from a John Deere rider. The caveat here is the application of proper and regular maintenance.
This can even go up exponentially with commercial units.
When buying at premium prices, one can and should expect premium performance and durability. With John Deere lawn tractors, you will definitely find this and a customer support department to match.
Check out some of these other great articles on mowers and other topics…
- John Deer Mower Belt Keeps Coming Off
- Who Makes John Deer Lawn Mower Engines?
- Is A License Needed For A Lawnmower, Tractor, Or Farm Truck?
References
https://www.deere.com/en/parts-and-service/warranty-and-protection-plans/warranty-statements/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83cT0kyZ0rw&ab_channel=BrianCNC
