The John Deere GX85 lawnmower is not a particularly well known machine. Unlike practically all John Deere mowers, the JD GX85 has it’s engine located in the rear of the machine. One of the reasons for this is the simple fact that the engine is just not that big and so doesn’t take up that much space. It’s a 13 hp gasoline engine that is used to both drive the wheels and turn the blades on the mower deck. The engine was designed an built by Briggs and Stratton. This lawn mower is perfect for people who have mid sized to large gardens (0.5 – 2 acres) who don’t want the hassle of a walk behind machine.

Although the John Deere GX85 has a rear placed engine, this doesn’t preclude it from working with certain attachments. You can use an optional 7 bushel 2 bag bagger to collect all the cut grass clippings. There is also a front thatcher system that you can attach. Like with a lot of JD lawnmowers, the JD GX85 can take weight plates on the front to help it to maintain it’s balance when it’s got the bagger or other implement attached to the back.

If you are not planning on using the bagger attachment, then you can instead mulch the grass clippings. This will help to return nutrients to the soil as the grass clippings rot and decompose. If you are not a fan of the John Deere GX85, but want a John Deere mower with a rear mounted engine, then you should check out the John Deere SX85. It’s a very similar model to the JD GX85. The main thing to remember is that John Deere no longer produces this model, so if you are buying one secondhand, make sure to inspect it fully before committing to the purchase.

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