Question on John Deere lawn tractor engine oil drain plug (Page 4/4)
Raydar JUN 25, 08:20 PM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:

I can't contribute to this thread with any good information reference the mower being asked about but, I'm (somewhat) looking for a new mower. My current zero turn is like me, getting old and tired. I've come to the conclusion that just about any new zero turn mower made for the residential market is pretty much crap regardless of brand name. So, I started looking at commercial versions. My goodness, they are proud of those puppies.

You get what you pay for (as usual) but................................ Just curious but is there an American made mower out there? Or at least one assembled here?




We have a Grasshopper 225V. 61"(?) zero turn. We've had it since 2021, or so. Has a 22 HP vertical shaft Kohler V twin. Pretty sure it's made here. All SAE fasteners.
We drive it like we stole it. Regularly use it to mow about 8 acres. Sometimes more than that. Much of which is reclaimed pasture land, including the rocks. (We know where most of them are, to miss them. But sometimes, a new one will show up.) I have to replace the blades and blade bolts every season.

Repair items, so far - other than blades - have been a couple of deck belts, one drive belt, a pair of rear tires (my fault), a couple of discharge chutes (including the wingnut that holds it in place), the plastic shield that covers one of the deck spindles, and the replacement of a deck bolt that disappeared. I'm not complaining.
It's got under 500 hours, but they have been hard hours.
And fluids/filters of course. (FWIW, my brother-in-law found out that the fluid in the hydrostatic drive units (transmissions) is just engine oil. I forget the weight, however. The specified "hydrostatic fluid" is absurdly expensive.)

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 06-25-2025).]

Patrick JUN 25, 08:38 PM

quote
Originally posted by Raydar:

And fluids/filters of course. (FWIW, my brother-in-law found out that the fluid in the hydrostatic drive units (transmissions) is just engine oil. I forget the weight, however. The specified "hydrostatic fluid" is absurdly expensive.)



I bought a couple bottles of the stuff to have on hand to top up my John Deere. I don't know how the price here compares to down there, but it was $7(US) per 32 fl oz (946 ml) at the local JD dealership.
Raydar JUN 25, 10:01 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

I bought a couple bottles of the stuff to have on hand to top up my John Deere. I don't know how the price here compares to down there, but it was $7(US) per 32 fl oz (946 ml) at the local JD dealership.




32 fl.oz. is one us quart. $7/quart is not absurd, but it's not cheap, either.
It's actually quite reasonable (IMHO) for a JD branded product, from what I've heard.
I think my so-called gear oil was at least twice that much. "Grasshopper" branded.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 06-25-2025).]

Patrick JUN 25, 10:13 PM

quote
Originally posted by Raydar:

It's actually quite reasonable (IMHO) for a JD branded product, from what I've heard.



And for some reason, they even offer free shipping (which is handy as the JD dealership is at least a half-hour drive from me).
cliffw JUN 26, 02:50 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:



That would be either 10% to 20% oil viscosity. I have used it many times in the oil fields.

All rigs had "oil lubsters" which contained 30wt oil, diesel motor oil, non detergent oil, 90wt gear oil and hydraulic fluid. We would just go to the lubsters and fill up five gallon buckets of the type we needed.