John Deere 170
The John Deere 170 is a ride on lawn mower built by John Deere at their Horicon factory in Wisconsin. It had a production run of just 1 year from ’89 to ’90. The JD 170 came with a Kawasaki FC420V engine. This is a natural aspirated, 0.4 liter, gasoline engine with just 1 cylinder. It’s air cooled and uses a dry foam air cleaner. This gives it a power output of 14 hp. The transmission is where the John Deere 170 gets very interesting. It is a Peerless 800 gear transaxle transmission that give 5 gears going forward and 1 in reverse. This transmission requires 1.1 liters of oil. With this transmission, the 170 lawnmower has a top speed of 5 mph.
This chassis on the John Deere 170 is a 4×2 2WD. It’s fuel tank holds 8.3 liters (2.2 US gallons) of gasoline. The mowing deck on the mower is 38″ and is adjustable from 2 cm to 10 cm (1 inch to 4 inches). Interestingly, the 170 has a front PTO that is available for a wide variety of attachments and implements such as a 38″ single stage snow blowers/snow thrower and brushes. It can also take a 42″ wide blade. The JD170 does not come with a cab, but you can get an optional one. The seat on the garden lawn mower is the traditional yellow that you will find on almost all JD lawnmower seats.
The shipping weight of the mower is 258 kg (570 lbs). It has a wheelbase of 1.13m (48 inches) and measures 1.65 m (65 inches) long. Due to it’s front PTO, the John Deere 170 is a highly flexible and versatile tractor capable of many different tasks from cutting lawns to getting rid of snow to moving (very small amounts) of earth. You probably won’t see this tractor in a commercial operation, but rather in a residential setting.
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Was reliable. Wish i never would have faithfully changed oil. 3rd time changing oil and engine ruined per John Deere. Problem is that there is no way to tell if the cartridge works properly and delivers oil to engine. It’s a twist off and twist on in blind faith. The last time of which failed. Ruined engine per John Deere and costs over 1700 to replace. So. Thise are the facts. Use them as you may.
Still like it overall. Don’t like having to fill tank after each use – Craftsman could do two cuttings on a tankful. Old key from my Craftsman or Cub Cadet fits this mower so not very secure.
Been mowing with it for 30 years, replaced an electric clutch for the blades, a fuel pump, pulley on transmission and after 28 years had to replace the belts. Now this year 2020 can’t get anymore out of the blades so need a new set. Hate the thought of getting anything new because everything today is engineered to the cheapest possible spec, most of the parts are china junk and made of plastic. At some point will need to upgrade will need to look for quality over a price point for profit plastic big box store cheap china junk unit!
Never buy anouther one I have 150 hours on motor plastic flywheel came apart in pieces knocked hole in cover and broke off alluminum piece that holds on starter and no wy to fix starter bracket now i have a choice BUY NEW MOTOR OVER 1,OOO DOLLARS AND LABOR OR SELL TIRES AND SET FIRE TO IT
30 years and still going. Replaced trans after 13 years while it was still cheap. Rebuilt the trans after 25 years. Trans acting up again. Motor still strong. Original bagger still working with all original parts. Relay fixed the starting problem. On 2nd battery. Was looking to replace it with a X300 but they seem to be cheaply made so I will bite the bullet and replace the trans again. The reviews above were for D170s which is NOT the same as a 170. My seat cover is pretty chewed up after 30 years and there are no cup holders But ‘come on’, I’m an old fashion guy.
bad
not good
Great residential machine. I would have used it for comercial service. The 38″ deck might be a little more mow time but quality mow time.
Original owner, seemed to be costly in 1990 at about $2500, but after 22 years of service, turned out to be a great investment. Other than routine maintenance, carburetor cleanings and a rebuild, and the occasional battery replacement, no other engine work ever needed. The engine is a Kawasaki FC420V, 14 hp. The FC540V engines were also used for lawn tractors with the 46″ mower. Replaced main & mower drive belts once about 5 years ago and the mower bearings about 3 years ago. The Electric PTO is still going strong even though it has rattled for years. The starter does exhibit a common trait with these engines in that the solenoid does not always pick up correctly and may click several times before the starter engages.
I love Johnny, he has been very good to us!