The John Deere D100 is no longer in production. You can check Amazon, Ebay or your local Craigslist listings to see if you can find a used or refurbished model.
Are you searching for a fun, lightweight tractor designed for ½ acre flat lawns? This John Deere D100 review will show you why this mower may be just what you need.
About the D100
The John Deere D100 is the smallest riding lawn mower among all the 100 series. The bigger models include the John Deere d 120 and the John Deere d110. Due to the cost and size of this lawn mower, most people would consider it to be entry size.
It is powered by the Briggs and Stratton 31 engine. The engine is a natural aspiration one cylinder engine produces 17.5 horse powers and has a displacement of 0.5 liters.
Most people confuse the John Deere D model tractors with the John Deere 100 series tractors. There are few differences between the D105, D110, D125, D130, D140, D155, D160, and D170.
The john Deere 100 weighs about 440 pounds which is super heavy for a lawn mower. It has a total length of 1.74 m and a wheel base of 1.24 meters which might explain the weights of the whole machine.
With the mower attached the width increases to 52 inches from 59. It is way smaller when the mower deck is not attached. If you are looking for a smaller John Deere D series the D100 might just be perfect for you. The John Deere d100 is proven to mow a normal or suburban lawn pretty well. It has a smooth underside that prevents any clumping or grass build-up during the mowing process.
What should you expect?
The John Deere d100 can carry a loan that weights more than its own plus the rider. This means that you can add a dethatcher, a small yard cart, a plug aerator and lawn sweeper. These loads are convenient for a flat lawn.
The john Deere d100 is a great lawn tracker but should not be expected to do almost all gardening chores. This lawn tractor is not a gardening tractor which means that you should not expect to pull some heavy loads with this machine. It does not go through the woods, use ground engaging implements or mow really steep hills. Basically, it is great at doing what it was designed to do and if overworked, it will fail.
If you use the D100 to pull heavy loads then the transmission will age faster than it should. The transmissions come in several models for different types of the John Deere series.
Features
The engine and transmissions
The John Deere D100 is a Briggs and Stratton 31 engine is air cooled and uses a cartridge air cleaner. You can simply replace or change the cleaner when you need to. The oil capacity of this engine is 1.4litres. The power is transferred to the wheels through the Dana 4360 transmission. A continuous variable transmission gives you an infinite choice of ground speeds.
The hydro automatic drive gives you an infinite choice of speeds which makes it pretty easy to change directions. You get one speed when travelling in reverse and 5 speeds while travelling forward. This machine can go up to 5mph which is pretty average for a gas powered engine.
The fuel tank is located under the seat to make it easy to add fuel. The engine one the John Deere D100 needs a 12 v battery charged by a 9 amp alternator in order to start. The maximum capacity of the engine is (2.4 gallons) 9.1 litres of gasoline.
The deck
The deck mower on this machine is 42 inches wide which is pretty wide and great for manoeuvrability speed and effectiveness. You get up to 13 different cutting heights on the John Deere. Each cutting height is 0.25 inches bigger of smaller tan the previous and the last. Basically, it has 54 inch 3 blades, 48 inch 3 blade and 42 inch 2 blade stamped decks.
One great thing about this machine is that it has a cargo mount system that allows fast detachment and attachment. You can add and remove many pieces of equipment including baggers, blades and snow blowers.
The unique styling and design
An attractive style of the John Deere D100 incorporates the full length air intake louvers and multiple features that give it a great look plus the excellent performance. It has a superior steering system that ensures easy and accurate turns. The hood of the mower is made of UV resistant. Injection moulded JD Loy polymer to prevent denting, rusting and to keep in the color for a longer time over any weather.
Finally, the frame is made from heavy welded steel in critical areas to ensure the tractor lasts you as long as it possibly can. To enhance your experience in the field, the Deere is made to be roomy and comfortable and the controls are designed and logically arranged for easy use.
Pros
- Works great on side hills and landscaping
- Comfortable seats
- Smooth control
- The cut height lever has 13 different cutting heights
- Easy to clean
- The operating system is pretty simple to understand
Cons
- Very loud
- The turning radius could be better
- Might lurch forward when you disengage the clutch pedal
- The deck wash makes cleaning the blades harder
Final Thoughts
The John Deere D100 is a basic riding mower that works for smaller ¼ to ½ acre lawns.
If you love putting around the lawn, you can attach a small cart to pick up the leaves and sticks, which makes the work more convenient. You also have the options of attaching a bagger or pulls sweeper but this can only come in handy when you are doing some fall clean ups.
Otherwise it will just be excessive weights on the tractor. One great thing about the D100 is that it offers a mulch plug, bagging blades and mulching blades.
This machine is not designed for hills and long slopes. Also, if you have very long grass and lush, you should probably go up to the D125 and D130. You should not expect this model to perform as great as the more expensive lawn mowers or even last you as long. The engine may pull a small yard cart but it is not designed for mowing on very steep slopes.
