Joined
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Disclaimer: This is an unbiased review of a product I purchased. I am not compensated for it in any way whatsoever.
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I was in need of a mower to replace my 42-inch MTD which gave up the ghost after 26-years of service.
After a lot of research, comparisons, evaluating needs, and test driving my neighbor's John Deere LA115, I opted for the John Deere E120 42-inch lawn tractor which I purchased at Home Depot (on sale I might add). Lowe's does carry John Deere lawn tractors with prices comparable to Home Depot, it did not however have the E120 model.
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This lawn tractor features;
The 20-hp V-twin Briggs and Stratton (Intek) engine with ReadyStart® technology
This engine provides automotive-style, no choke starting. It has electronic ignition, cast-iron cylinder liners, overhead valves, full-pressure lubrication and lower vibration and sound quality.
The battery, which is located under the hood, makes it easy to get to for replacement or removal for winter storage. I do have some concern on how the battery is secured. When I received the lawn tractor, the battery was secured with zip-ties. Online research showed this is just for shipping purposes. In normal operation, there is nothing securing the battery.
John Deere Easy Change™ 30-second oil change system
To change the oil, one simply twists on a new cartridge that contains both the oil and the filter. No oil drainage is needed. Changing the filter removes the captured contaminants and replaces about 0.8 qt of the engine oil. According to JD, this system is not a compromise just an easier way to change the oil and the engine still pasts all stringent testing. At $39, the Easy Change filter is $10-$15 more than the conventional oil change kit. For some the added cost may be worth it as there is no need or potential mess in draining and disposing of the old oil. For those who prefer the conventional oil change process, kit AUC12916 is available. Supposedly this is a John Deere authorized conversion so it should not adversely affect your warranty. I urge anyone considering this kit to contact JD and get confirmation of this.
Mechanical fuel level gauge
The 2.4 gallon fuel tank, which sits under the seat, is not bolted down. It sits on a spring-loaded pivot. As fuel is added, it tilts the tank which in turn moves the fuel level indicator located on the fender just below the seat. It is almost certain this gauge is not exactly NASA accurate, so I suggest you not rely solely on it. It would be extremely frustrating to run out of fuel at the far end of your property and have to walk back for more.
Hydrostatic transmission and side-by-side foot pedal controls
The Kanzaki® TLT200A Tuff Torq® hydrostatic transmission coupled with the side-by-side foot pedal controls gives automotive-style speed control and makes changing the direction of travel easy.
Frame and body
The frame is a full-length, robotically-welded design constructed of 12-gauge steel.
Front axle
The front axle is cast iron and features sector and pinion steering gears, single drag link with a tie rod and three grease fittings to allow for regular lubrication.
Ergonomics
The seat features a 15-inch seat-back which provides firm comfortable support with tool-free adjustability for optimal positioning. It sits on springs that have plenty of travel which adds to the comfort.
The ergonomics of the lawn tractor makes getting on and off very easy due to the ample room between the seat and console column. Once adjusted, the position and height of the seat in relation to the steering wheel, console and deck-adjustment lever made the lawn tractor comfortable to operate with the controls all in easy reach.
Evaluation
The engine starts easily and quickly without need of the choke. When adjusting the throttle, the engine changes speed smoothly.
The side-by-side foot pedal controls are easy to operate even while wearing my size-13 work boots. The pedals have enough resistance to prevent accidentally flooring it even in heavy boots. If you have a large yard, this model does have cruise control which helps relieve the need to keep pressure in the pedal.
The lawn tractor runs smoothly with practically no vibration even under the load of blade engagement or towing accessories. Steering is very easy and almost feels as if it was power assisted (it is not) with an excellent turning radius for a non-zero-turn lawn tractor.
The hand controls are smooth and can all be operated even while wearing work gloves.
I mowed my entire lawn and it was almost fun. The hydrostatic transmission takes some getting used to. My MTD had a 7-speed shifter and a brake pedal. To stop, or shift to a slower speed I had to press the brake pedal.
On the JD, when you release the pedal, by design the lawn tractor will come to a stop (unless you are on a hill). I had a tendency to push the brake pedal when I needed to stop. The other thing I had to get used to was using the Reverse Implement Option (RIO) Switch. I disabled this feature on the MTD. As a safety feature, if you try to engage reverse and do not disengage the blades or press the RIO button, the lawn tractor will shut off.
By the time I was almost done mowing, I was beginning to get the hang of operating these features.
The Attachment Lift Lever operates easily and can adjust the mowing deck from 1-4 inches in 1/4 inch increments. The blades cut smoothly and evenly, smoother than even the freshly sharpened blades on my MTD.
The anti-scalping wheels work properly. However, on my uneven yard, I would have liked four wheels as oppose to just the two it came with. Perhaps, adjusting them will help. I have not as yet made any changes to the lawn tractor as I wanted to see how everything worked out-of-box before I making any changes.
I took the opportunity to de-thatch my yard using my Brinly-Hardy 40 in. Tow-Behind De-thatcher
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I put 40lbs of weight on it and set it to the lowest level. The soil in my yard is clay-based, even so the lawn tractor’s 20HP engine pulled the de-thatcher (and me) effortlessly even when going up the slight slopes.
Following the work, I connected a hose to the wash port, started the engine and engaged the blades. It seems to do a good job of cleaning debris from under the deck however I found I had to run it for longer than the one minute advised in the instructions until the flushed out water was reasonably clear. The instructions made no mention of doing this but after moving the lawn tractor to a dry area of the driveway, I again engaged the blades for a minute to help blow out residual water.
Although I have only done one mowing, all in all I have been satisfied with my purchase.
It bears reminding that the 42” designation refers to “cutting width”. The mowing deck combined with the chute makes the deck 55.2 inches wide, a size that needs to be taken into consideration when dealing with gates and shed doors. I myself have to pull the chute up when going through my shed doors. I supposed I will eventually get a bungee to keep the chute up when not in use.
I had a bagger on my MTD and found it useful as my grass often grew quickly especially in the rainy season and I did like have clumps of grass laying on the lawn.
At this time I have no designs on acquiring a bagger for the JD.
Right now the only option I intend to purchase is the mulching cover. According to JD, the lawn tractor comes equipped standard with 3-n-1 blades so there is no need to purchase special mulching blades. Hopefully, the mulching cover will negate the need to invest in a $350 bagging system.
I have a whole season of mowing ahead. If there are any significant changes in the lawn tractor's performance, I will report them.
~~~
I was in need of a mower to replace my 42-inch MTD which gave up the ghost after 26-years of service.
After a lot of research, comparisons, evaluating needs, and test driving my neighbor's John Deere LA115, I opted for the John Deere E120 42-inch lawn tractor which I purchased at Home Depot (on sale I might add). Lowe's does carry John Deere lawn tractors with prices comparable to Home Depot, it did not however have the E120 model.
This lawn tractor features;
The 20-hp V-twin Briggs and Stratton (Intek) engine with ReadyStart® technology
This engine provides automotive-style, no choke starting. It has electronic ignition, cast-iron cylinder liners, overhead valves, full-pressure lubrication and lower vibration and sound quality.
The battery, which is located under the hood, makes it easy to get to for replacement or removal for winter storage. I do have some concern on how the battery is secured. When I received the lawn tractor, the battery was secured with zip-ties. Online research showed this is just for shipping purposes. In normal operation, there is nothing securing the battery.
John Deere Easy Change™ 30-second oil change system
To change the oil, one simply twists on a new cartridge that contains both the oil and the filter. No oil drainage is needed. Changing the filter removes the captured contaminants and replaces about 0.8 qt of the engine oil. According to JD, this system is not a compromise just an easier way to change the oil and the engine still pasts all stringent testing. At $39, the Easy Change filter is $10-$15 more than the conventional oil change kit. For some the added cost may be worth it as there is no need or potential mess in draining and disposing of the old oil. For those who prefer the conventional oil change process, kit AUC12916 is available. Supposedly this is a John Deere authorized conversion so it should not adversely affect your warranty. I urge anyone considering this kit to contact JD and get confirmation of this.
Mechanical fuel level gauge
The 2.4 gallon fuel tank, which sits under the seat, is not bolted down. It sits on a spring-loaded pivot. As fuel is added, it tilts the tank which in turn moves the fuel level indicator located on the fender just below the seat. It is almost certain this gauge is not exactly NASA accurate, so I suggest you not rely solely on it. It would be extremely frustrating to run out of fuel at the far end of your property and have to walk back for more.
Hydrostatic transmission and side-by-side foot pedal controls
The Kanzaki® TLT200A Tuff Torq® hydrostatic transmission coupled with the side-by-side foot pedal controls gives automotive-style speed control and makes changing the direction of travel easy.
Frame and body
The frame is a full-length, robotically-welded design constructed of 12-gauge steel.
Front axle
The front axle is cast iron and features sector and pinion steering gears, single drag link with a tie rod and three grease fittings to allow for regular lubrication.
Ergonomics
The seat features a 15-inch seat-back which provides firm comfortable support with tool-free adjustability for optimal positioning. It sits on springs that have plenty of travel which adds to the comfort.
The ergonomics of the lawn tractor makes getting on and off very easy due to the ample room between the seat and console column. Once adjusted, the position and height of the seat in relation to the steering wheel, console and deck-adjustment lever made the lawn tractor comfortable to operate with the controls all in easy reach.
Evaluation
The engine starts easily and quickly without need of the choke. When adjusting the throttle, the engine changes speed smoothly.
The side-by-side foot pedal controls are easy to operate even while wearing my size-13 work boots. The pedals have enough resistance to prevent accidentally flooring it even in heavy boots. If you have a large yard, this model does have cruise control which helps relieve the need to keep pressure in the pedal.
The lawn tractor runs smoothly with practically no vibration even under the load of blade engagement or towing accessories. Steering is very easy and almost feels as if it was power assisted (it is not) with an excellent turning radius for a non-zero-turn lawn tractor.
The hand controls are smooth and can all be operated even while wearing work gloves.
I mowed my entire lawn and it was almost fun. The hydrostatic transmission takes some getting used to. My MTD had a 7-speed shifter and a brake pedal. To stop, or shift to a slower speed I had to press the brake pedal.
On the JD, when you release the pedal, by design the lawn tractor will come to a stop (unless you are on a hill). I had a tendency to push the brake pedal when I needed to stop. The other thing I had to get used to was using the Reverse Implement Option (RIO) Switch. I disabled this feature on the MTD. As a safety feature, if you try to engage reverse and do not disengage the blades or press the RIO button, the lawn tractor will shut off.
By the time I was almost done mowing, I was beginning to get the hang of operating these features.
The Attachment Lift Lever operates easily and can adjust the mowing deck from 1-4 inches in 1/4 inch increments. The blades cut smoothly and evenly, smoother than even the freshly sharpened blades on my MTD.
The anti-scalping wheels work properly. However, on my uneven yard, I would have liked four wheels as oppose to just the two it came with. Perhaps, adjusting them will help. I have not as yet made any changes to the lawn tractor as I wanted to see how everything worked out-of-box before I making any changes.
I took the opportunity to de-thatch my yard using my Brinly-Hardy 40 in. Tow-Behind De-thatcher
I put 40lbs of weight on it and set it to the lowest level. The soil in my yard is clay-based, even so the lawn tractor’s 20HP engine pulled the de-thatcher (and me) effortlessly even when going up the slight slopes.
Following the work, I connected a hose to the wash port, started the engine and engaged the blades. It seems to do a good job of cleaning debris from under the deck however I found I had to run it for longer than the one minute advised in the instructions until the flushed out water was reasonably clear. The instructions made no mention of doing this but after moving the lawn tractor to a dry area of the driveway, I again engaged the blades for a minute to help blow out residual water.
Although I have only done one mowing, all in all I have been satisfied with my purchase.
It bears reminding that the 42” designation refers to “cutting width”. The mowing deck combined with the chute makes the deck 55.2 inches wide, a size that needs to be taken into consideration when dealing with gates and shed doors. I myself have to pull the chute up when going through my shed doors. I supposed I will eventually get a bungee to keep the chute up when not in use.
I had a bagger on my MTD and found it useful as my grass often grew quickly especially in the rainy season and I did like have clumps of grass laying on the lawn.
At this time I have no designs on acquiring a bagger for the JD.
Right now the only option I intend to purchase is the mulching cover. According to JD, the lawn tractor comes equipped standard with 3-n-1 blades so there is no need to purchase special mulching blades. Hopefully, the mulching cover will negate the need to invest in a $350 bagging system.
I have a whole season of mowing ahead. If there are any significant changes in the lawn tractor's performance, I will report them.
