John Deere 102

The John Deere 102 ride on lawn mower is the smallest model in the 2006 John Deere 100 series of lawnmowers.  Bigger models include the John Deere 115 lawn mower and the John Deere 125 lawnmower. The JD 102 has a Briggs and Stratton 1 cylinder engine. It incorporates their Anti Vibration System (AVS) technology allowing it to operate very efficiently. This 0.501 liter engine requires 1.4 liters of oil to be fully filled and allow for complete and efficient lubrication of the engine. It produces 17 hp to power the wheels and blade. The 12 volt battery used to start the engine is charged by a 9 amp battery once the engine is running.

The John Deere 102 is built on a 4X2 2WD chassis offering great support and strength. The frame has been built from robot welded steel, meaning that there is no potential for loose connections. Power from the engine is transferred to the wheels via a Dana 4360 transmission that gives the JD 102 5 forward gears and 1 for reversing. This transmission gives the lawnmower a top speed of 8 kph (5 mph). The fuel tank can hold up to 7.9 liters (2.1 US gallons) of gasoline. The total weight of the machine comes to 200 kg (442 lbs).

It has a wheelbase of 1.24 m (49 inches) and width of 1.31 m (52 inches) when the mowing deck is attached. This makes it quite steady, allowing you to operate on hills and inclines. The mower deck itself has a cutting width of 42 inches and is made from 12 gauge steel, helping to prevent damage and deflections from occurring. You will also find the turning radius is very reasonable at just 0.5 m (18 inches). When buying this mower new, it came with a 2 year warranty.

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6 Reviews of the “John Deere 102”

  1. Bobby says:

    Workhorse plain and simple. Tows and mows 2 acres for the past 14 years. Only repairs have been simple maintenance.

    Year of Manufacture: 2005
    Pros: Robust and sturdy, good manual transmission. Takes abuse and wants more
    Cons: hood is plastic, the brake went out
    Attachments: deck

  2. Jeff says:

    Bought this brand new in 2005 (its 11 years old) and I must say this has been the best tractor I have ever owned. I have done nothing to it except change the oil, buy a couple batteries and add gas! Have never even changed a belt yet! I live in western New York state and the winters here are usually brutal. I have plowed over a foot of snow with this tractor when I was told it would only handle 4-6 inches. I plan on keeping this tractor for as long as I can keep using it. It has NEVER let me down!

    Year of Manufacture: 2005
    Pros: Power, ease of use, and very reliable
    Cons: Brakes quit working after 8 years but they don’t last forever
    Attachments: 42″ mower deck
    48″ Snow blade
    Modifications: None

  3. Ryan Parker says:

    I bought this mower because it was a John Deere and I needed to replace my 1976 Snapper. Second year I owned it, replaced both spindles and added stiffeners to the deck, because it bends every time you hit something. I re-weld the cracks in the deck each spring and repaint the mower (spindles last about 2-years, so i replace them semi-annually). It costs about $100 per year in parts each year to keep running. I mow about 3 acres and mow once a week here in Florida for 8-months a year. The only good quality of the mower is the Briggs engine. I really dont like briggs engines, but this has been surprisingly good. Only work on the engine is change oil (no filter) and replaced the spark plug last spring.
    In short, shame on John Deere for selling such a low quality mower.

    Year of Manufacture: 2006
    Pros: Looks nice in the garage
    I gave it 4-of-5 for reliability, because it has only broke while mowing a couple of times. All other problems with it have been maintenance related.
    Cons: Crumby deck, crumby leveling system, poor quality of spindles and idler bearings. Plastic parts in the mower pulley system (shame on you John Deere).
    My wife weighs 100lbs and could not keep the mower running because of the sensor in the seat would not stay engaged. Removed it the first day, so she could use the mower (bought it for her).
    Modifications: Paint peeled off after about 2-years and pay $15 per can for John Deere green every other year to keep it fresh. Deck has been modified several times and reinforced to hold it together.
    I added $10 in 1/2″ steel rod around the bottom of the deck last year and it holds the deck together nicely. Also added a 1/4″ steel plate at the spindle connections to keep them from bending. John Deere should consider adding the same system to all of their stamped decks. I figure these two modifications doubled the life of the deck.

  4. dk campbell says:

    I hate this mower.

    Year of Manufacture: 2006
    Cons: The deck won’t stay level.
    If grass is over 4 inches tall it leaves a stripe in the middle of where you’ve mowed so you have to go back over it.
    Engine surges and mower jumps when you let the clutch out.
    It’s been this way since it was new.

  5. Jimmy says:
    Performance Not Rated
    Reliability Not Rated
    Safety Not Rated
    Overall Satisfaction

    Bought from a friend and I’m unable to locate the oil filter. Online says it’s located on the bottom of the engine. Is the plate on the bottom of the engine covering it up and do I remove it?

    Year of Manufacture: 2006

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