Strengths Cup holder, comfortable seat, good motor

Weaknesses weak and unservicable tranny, reverse is useless on a grade, cheap steering gear, sucks gas, grass constantly clogs inside the blade pulley covers, fuel filler is inconveniently located under the seat, fuel line cracked within first year, standard "turf saver" tires are paper thin and puncture easily.

Overall I bought the L120 about 4 1/2 years ago and use it to cut 4-5 acres, haul a small JD lawn trailer, pull a spike aerator, and other light chores. If you realize that it's only a lawn tractor and don't push it too hard then it will likely perform well. It cuts 4-6" grass without bogging, but taller grass needs 2 passes. I am pretty methodical about maintenance and so far have not experienced the frequent breakdowns described by other reviewers. However, if you are even slightly mechanical, you can tell that pushing this tractor beyond mild lawn chores will surely break it. JD makes some fine tractors but why they choose to put their name - and reputation - on a cheapo lawn tractor comperable to a Murray is beyond me. One big gripe is with the cutting deck (and isn't that the main reason for buying a riding mower?). It easily falls out of adjustment; it doesn't discharge the cut grass very well; it's prone to clogging if the grass is even slightly moist; the jackshafts have no grease fitting; and you have to frequently remove the pully covers to clean out the grass clippings that pack in there around the pulleys. Then there's the transmission. Hydro trannys are noisy by nature but this one is overly loud, emiting a very unpleasant grinding noise particulalry a slow speeds. It's also not very smooth or strong for a hydro. Reverse gear is useless on a mild grade. Compare the size of this "heavy duty" tranny to a comperable Cub Cadet and you have to laugh because the Cadet tranny looks so much more robust. A lawn tractor tranny should outlast the engine, but somehow I feel this is not going to be the case. The tractor also vibrates a lot. I've lost screws that simply vibrate out while mowing. Bottom line, if think that because it says JD on the side that you're getting JD quality, think again. I put it in the same class as a Murray. You're better off spending the same money on Cub Cadet. Or spend less money and get a comperable but lesser brand name.

Strengths NONE

Weaknesses Transmission is junk! After 5mins you better be on flat ground. I have to hook 4 wheeler up to it just to get it back in the garage! DO NOT PURCHASE ANY OF THESE MACHINE FROM Lowes/Home Depot!!

Overall Worst purchase I had made in 30 yrs

Strengths the steering wheel...and maybe the cup holder

Weaknesses trany, belts, wiring

Overall home depot seems to be the origin of most L120s with issues is it possible Home Depot assembled most L120s...say for the last 4 years? oh yeah...they don't support them either. "we do not have qualified service people." I've had bicycles that have lasted longer

Strengths None - disappointment from the beginning. Purchase was based on reading Consumer Reviews

Weaknesses Issue: During the 07 cutting season the unit started experiencing a loss of power. The main drive belt was replaced since it showed signs of wear and was somewhat brittle; no improvement. The unit was taken to the dealer and they determine the transmission was ‘shot’ and replacement would be about $500.00. The dealer also said they have seen a lot of problems with transmissions on the “L” series of tractors. The unit has only 240 hours, approximately 50 hours per cutting season. A call to the John Deere Customer Communications Center was fruitless; the agent’s response to all of my questions was, “the unit is out-of-warranty.” Needless to say I will not pay $500.00 for another 240 hours of operation. I have owned many lawn tractors, mostly inexpensive, low end. The decision to purchase a John Deere was based on my desire to purchase a unit that last many years. Having a major component failure at 240 hours is unacceptable. The cost of purchase is over $9.00 for every hour of operation. To further exacerbate the situation I can purchase, through the dealer, the transmission for the same $500.00 to self install. I would consider replacing it myself if John Deere would provide one at dealer cost and not an inflated price. Nothing breaks-down like a Deere.

Overall Poor - High end pricing - low end performance and customer support

Strengths good for the price

Weaknesses its not a tractor

Overall MTD does not make this machine ! it was deeres attempt to get into the cheap line of grass cutting mowers such as MTD , therefore like the others they cut the same corners to keep cost down ,so everyone can own a deere , but to me , you get what u pay for ! if you want a deere go to deere not lowes or the home depot, and keep in mind this a lawn mower not a tractor !

Strengths All the creature comforts.

Weaknesses Just under 3 years and the transmission is shot! Now I work it, 2 acres and hauling wood, the transimission is unserviceable. Cannot even change oil. Only drain in the thing is the vent. $650 tranny

Overall If you have a 1/2 acre and pull only small children around, go for it. Anyone that needs to do real work, forget it.

Strengths None

Weaknesses After 210 hours I have had it in the shop 5 times. PTO clutch burned out twice, transmission is now out, belts break, mower deck won't maintain heighth, blades leave high grass and have to cut grass twice. Piece of junk that JD shouldn't put its name on. Don't waste your money on this machine.

Overall

Strengths powerfull, great for the first 9 hours without any repairs or something else, ease of use, maneuverability, comfort, the next Lowes store own most of the required parts and still in the internet you can find everything ...

Weaknesses gas tank is a little bit small also just for my 1 acre lot... also unfortunately the next JD dealer is 40 miles away ... hope I will never get problems with it...

Overall good mower for the price I paid for !!! off sale + Lowes 10% off ... :-)

Strengths Seat and controls properly located. Descent ride. No problem changing your own oil and filter.

Weaknesses Smokes on start up and sometimes back-fires. Don't like location of gas tank makes filling it very difficult. Hard on fuel! After the sale I don't think Home Depot cares about the customer.

Overall I have had no problems and this is my third summer. I have a large flat yard (1.5 acres of grass) and I mow it twice a week. I do clean my tractor often and I blow all the grass off the mower deck after each and every use. I'm holding my breath as I read the other opinions posted herein, but to date no problems with no trips to the JD dealer. I have lots of JD equipment (backhoes, farm tractors etc.) and they need to keep there reputation and if they are building "junk" they will loose market share if they keep adding unhappy customers as noted in this blog. Good Luck All !

Strengths Runs strong, very easy to use. great traction gutting up long steep hills. Plenty of power pulling 48" spike areator, 48" thatcher and 52" sweep unti.

Weaknesses Grass gets clogged in the shoot of the 2 bagger unit. I should have gotten the powered grass unit instead of the draft unit. Needs larger gas tank, I'll fill it at least twice, if not 3 times on a saturday in the spring, summer and fall. Not much issue in winter.

Overall Purchased it on 7/16/03 509 hours as of 12/31/07. Yes just over 110 hrs a year. It's been an awesome tractor. I've hauled 24 yards of crushed 3/4" stone with it, 200+ yards of mulch and cut 1 acre at least once a weak. 42” snow blower attachment is incredible with the drift bars it moves mega amounts of snow regardless of depths and weight. I have dropped 9 50+’ trees and hauled all the wood and brush up a hill to get rid of it. To date, I have replaced the battery, main drive and snow blower belt, nothing else. Perform routine/normal maintenance using the JD maint kit. Wish it had a faster top end speed, a form of “transportation” gear. When going down the road to a friends ¼ mile it takes a bit of time.