Strengths great Kawasaki engine

Weaknesses short lived mower spindles even greased regularly, transaxle operation slips when warm after 150 hrs, poor traction, what a horrible deck design, the 48" can't be cleaned good without removal. The 190 now has 151 hrs, and has turned 5 years old. Time to trade it for something.

Overall Overall I am not happy with the performance and reliability of this machine for the cost when new. Not sure of the brand I will purchase next, but I don't know if it will be another JD even with there better warranty now.

Strengths It's

Weaknesses The belt keeps falling off and the spring keeps breaking. We've replaced the spring several times and bought a new belt yesterday but it still keeps falling off which is very frustrating.

Overall I wouldn't buy another John Deere again. The local John Deere dealer is not very helpful and hardly ever open when you need them to be so finding parts and help is next to impossible.

Strengths Kawasaki 18 hp - great engine (could be quieter) Tight turn radius

Weaknesses Poor traction and no wheel weights are avaialbel for this model. Had to replace the idler puller, the other flat pulley (froze up) and belt (hell can you make the belt any longer?). Deck is hard to keep clean, grass accummulates to easliy on the deck and around the pulleys.

Overall Too expensive for it's category.

Strengths strong engine and quiet.Used un lawn care business.Also fuel fill is easy.

Weaknesses The 48 in deck is hard to clean without taking the deck off which deals with mhs.

Overall Great machine,mulches fine even with a 48 inch deck.

Strengths JD quality. Had an old STX46 until someone decided to steal it, this is my replacement. I have had this one for 3 years and am just now replacing the battery and the deck belt...although that was due to a small branch being caught up in the spindles and taking a chunk out of it. I like the fact that it can be pushed while not powered and the ability to reverse without killing the PTO...although that is sometime cumbersome when near branches. I use this for my 2.5 acres and it takes me about 2.5 hours to complete. Like the Kawasaki engine, very quiet.

Weaknesses Changing the belt was a bit of work, but nothing I could not deal with...I must disagree with the previous review in that I was able to complete a belt change myself in about an hour and without removing the deck. I could only locate the belt with the JD parts system, but I am thinking as these tractors age, maybe there will be an aftermarket belt made??? If I had to come up with one pet peeve, it would be the drain for the oil...the use of two wrenches seems silly just to remove a plug.

Overall What can you say, I will never use any other brand than JD to cut my yard...the others seem to have some mechanical issue arise way too quickly for me. The cost was not that much more than I paid for the STX46 13 years ago....

Strengths NONE- Its a Deere-There-that doesnt really count thought.

Weaknesses Too big engine, WEAK transmission, Low PTO power, poor cut, doesnt start in cold, overpriced, impossible to service, cannot pull 2 foot cultivator, HORRIBLE TRACION

Overall It sucks. You cannot use a snowblade with the plow. I destroyed the muffler trying to mow over corn stalks-which it wont do. I bought a 1984 Wheelhorse-11 HP, to replace it. The deere is the worst tractor I have ever used. Ever.

Strengths good turning radious, ease of use

Weaknesses power, torque,traction, apperence, suspention

Overall It sucks. I hate it, we never should have got it. We have a small hobby farm and you cannot mow any tall grass, use a cultivater, garden plow, or put a loader on it. If you are just mowing a small lawn, no mud, no stones, no anything but grass, great tractor, anything elce-worst excuse for a tractor ever!

Strengths Kawasak 18 HP engine is very strong and reliable.

Weaknesses Have had to replace deck belt 5 times in 80 hours of use. Belt costs $38.00 plus shipping and tax. Independent shop says the belt is only available through JD and is the longest on any mower they've seen. Single deck/deck drive belt is only seen on this mower and is virtually impossible for one person to replace. Stay away from this one!

Overall Fair

Strengths Extremely tight turning radius for a big mower, lubrication points for blade spindles ,18 hp Kawasaki is smooth,nice cut.

Weaknesses You cannot backup and keep the cutting blades engaged they disengage automatically :( New OSHA feature Im told.

Overall Im just coming from a 2002 Snapper 18hp - 48" deck that was a piece of junk for 3500 dollars. The blade spindles disintegrated 3 times over 2.75 years - So I sold it. First impressions of the Lt 190 Deere are it turns sharper than the Snapper, rides smoother (bigger tires), seat is larger, more comfortable, and hugs you,lubrication points are easier to get to than the Snapper (blade spindles do have lube points :) on the Deere ) , 48" cut is almost as nice as the Snapper but I had Gator blades on the Snapper - so the Deere may cut as well with a set of those on it. The Deere is slower than the Snapper on hills and straight aways but it only adds 5-7 additional mins to my 1.25 hr cut time on my 2.5 acres-no biggie. Steering is quicker and smoother on the Deere. The 18 hp Kawasaki on the Deere is an unknown to me but it isnt as loud as the 18hp Briggs Intek I had on the Snapper and overall doesnt vibrate the chassis as much. The 18hp Briggs was a great engine however on the Snapper - The Snapper deck however was terrible. On the Deere the fender gas fill is great, see thru tank allows visual gas level checks. The belt system appears much simpler than the Snapper as it had a myriad of tensioners, and snakey routing which had a tendancy to collect huge amounts of grass clippings in it etc. Simpler is better always in my opinion. Will update you as I put more hours on it....