The life expectancy of a John Deere lawn tractor or riding lawn mower is gauged not just by its brand name but also by its usage and maintenance. If you maintain it well, it will always give back with smooth operation and a longer life.

How long do John Deere lawn tractors last? On average, 10 years. A well-maintained John Deere lawn tractor will last up to 15 years and a meticulously kept one will outlast 20 years! Of course, you will have to spend a bit on occasional maintenance and small fixtures but it all comes down to how much you care for it as an owner.

Some other questions also come to mind when talking about the life expectancy of a lawn tractor such as what common mistakes do people make that can shorten the life of their lawn tractor, and how one should be maintained to get the most years out of it. We shall discuss all of these below.

John Deere Lawn Tractor Life Expectancy

A John Deere lawn tractor is built to give 500 hours with ease.

Considering a maximum 1.5 hours of use every week, and 8 months a year, this would make a total of 48 hours a year; 50 for the sake of approximation.

So a tractor should last well up till 500/50 = 10 years or more. Well-maintained tractors can deliver up to 1000 hours. That would make 20 years!

And this is considering the smaller horsepower mower tractors for small suburban settings. But the larger tractors could even last 2000 hours and more!

Mistakes that can shorten the life of your John Deere lawn tractor

Most people who complain that they did not get many useful years with their lawn tractor often do not realize that this is because of poor maintenance and improper use. If you really treat your machine like an investment and care for it, there’s little chance that it will give up its good performance any time soon.

There are some mistakes people often make without realizing that it can take a toll on their tractor’s performance. For example: mowing the grass after it rains! Someone might have warned you not to mow the lawn when it is wet, and there’s a lot of wisdom in that.

Not only does it give you an uneven cut, it puts a lot of strain on the engine and the wet soil can really bog the tractor down, again putting undue load on its parts, which can damage it (or shorten its life at the least).

There are other precautions to live by too if you own a mower tractor, like never doing a “full” cut. This means that you should avoid using the full blade to cut grass as this again puts a maximum load on the engine. Instead, doing 3/4th or half cuts, where part of the blade is on un-mowed area while the rest is on mowed grass, reduces the load on the engine.

The speed of the tractor should also be kept reasonable to give it enough time to cut.

People who do not use sharp blades for cutting are also doing their lawn tractor a disservice. A dull blade makes it hard to cut and wastes more energy.

All of the above is the simplest and oldest tricks in the book, and following them can really put more years onto your machine!

Maintenance tips for your John Deere lawn tractor

Here’s a small checklist of care tips to prolong the lifespan of your John Deere lawn tractor:

• Clean your mower tractor, especially its underside, after each use.
• Never let it get wet in the rain
• Check the oil and fuel level before starting
• Use a fuel stabilizer to prevent fuel from becoming stale and use high-level fuel
• Check air and fuel filter and clean. Replace once a year.
• Use a trickle charger
• Use sharp blades
• Clean engine fins and fuel tank often
• Clean or replace spark plugs every season
• Lubricate the relevant engine parts
• Check for loose parts, tire pressure, and battery health
• Follow the user manual

The right care will make your John Deere lawn tractor go a long way!

See Also:How To Clean The Underside Of A Riding Lawn Mower?

Related Questions

What is the most reliable riding lawn mower?

The best riding lawn mowers out there are the series manufactured by John Deere, Husqvarna, Troy Bilt and Cub Cadet.

Do John Deere lawn tractors have alternators?

Yes, they do. In fact, all riding lawn mowers do have alternators. The alternator is the component that works with the battery to power the engine in a lawn tractor. An alternator is essential to the performance of the battery and if it feels like your machine is not delivering its full power, there might be a problem with the alternator.

See Also:
How Long Does Lawn Mower Battery Last
Will Mowing Wet Grass Ruin Lawn Mower
9 Best Lawn Mowers For Different Uses
8 Best Riding Lawn Mower For Tall Grass