I’ve cut the grass twice now and overall I can definitely say it is an impressive machine. I ordered it with the deluxe seat, a striping kit (more on this later 👎🏻) and the MCS.
I have 2023 that I bought back in 2008 that I have been using for everything. I have a bucket, MMM, front PTO snow blower and a 3 bag MCS. It has been bullet proof (only a little over 400hrs in 13 hrs) but I get tired of taking the mower deck off or the MCS every time I want to use my 3 point hitch for my seeder, sprayer etc and especially the seasonal swap of the MMM and the front PTO driven snow blower. I have no complaints really. I just am to the point after 13 yrs I just want a dedicated mower. I’m spending more and more time, effort and money 🤣 trying to make my lawn look like a golf course lol. So a dedicated zero turn was the natural direction I guess. I was initially looking at a new 2038 with the same attachments that I have on my ’08 2023. My local John Deere dealership salesman came out to my house and looked at my property. First thing he said was that he would be happy to sell me a new tractor but thought I’d be happier with a dedicated mower, hence the m950. I initially had my mind set on a newer, bigger and better tractor but the more I thought about it, he was right. So I went and looked at what they had and ended up after much tire kicking decided on the m950 with the Kawasaki engine.
Pros
Cons
Overall is an extremely well made machine. The Cons really aren’t even cons as far as I’m concerned. Once I get a little more experience on using the choke, that will be a mute point, a new pair of ear protectors and that will be a mute point and well - I’m on the hunt for a striping kit that will fit my m950. So now I have another project lol.
Any experience/recommendations for a striping kit for this model? I hear the ones that have more of like a roller effect do much better.
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I have 2023 that I bought back in 2008 that I have been using for everything. I have a bucket, MMM, front PTO snow blower and a 3 bag MCS. It has been bullet proof (only a little over 400hrs in 13 hrs) but I get tired of taking the mower deck off or the MCS every time I want to use my 3 point hitch for my seeder, sprayer etc and especially the seasonal swap of the MMM and the front PTO driven snow blower. I have no complaints really. I just am to the point after 13 yrs I just want a dedicated mower. I’m spending more and more time, effort and money 🤣 trying to make my lawn look like a golf course lol. So a dedicated zero turn was the natural direction I guess. I was initially looking at a new 2038 with the same attachments that I have on my ’08 2023. My local John Deere dealership salesman came out to my house and looked at my property. First thing he said was that he would be happy to sell me a new tractor but thought I’d be happier with a dedicated mower, hence the m950. I initially had my mind set on a newer, bigger and better tractor but the more I thought about it, he was right. So I went and looked at what they had and ended up after much tire kicking decided on the m950 with the Kawasaki engine.
Pros
- Beautiful cut
- Seat is like riding in a luxury sedan. It is so so comfortable
- Easiest zero turn to control that I’ve personally ever driven
- Very well built. The MCS is a beast. The additional blower that shoots the grass up the shoot is super mowerful. you would definitely have to try hard to get the shoot clogged, which I for sure can’t say that about the MCS on my 2023.
- The MCS on the m950 holds as much if not more than the MCS on my 3 bag MCS on my ‘08 2023. I was pleasantly surprised. I actually think its a tad bit bigger. it has built in very solid metal handles/brackets to grab each bag from the bottom when you go to dump the clippings out. Much better than the synthetic made material/straps on the 2023 that eventually have all ripped off.
Cons
- It’s a little louder than I expected. I always wear ear protection and then have my ear buds in also and I can still hear it pretty good. I have Airpod Pros which have a little bit of noise cancelling yet I still hear it pretty good 😆. I may have to invest in a higher quality pair of ear covers as I do have a cheaper pair I bought off of Amazon for like $20.
- The striping kit is definitely not what I was hoping for. The kit JD sells for the M950 is the rubber hang down flap. It’s not adjustable and quite frankly does a very poor job. I’ve tried it at different cutting heights. The best I’ve found is 3-4, but still it does a very very poor job. The kit was actually back ordered and they just installed it this week. I cut my grass the day they dropped it back off after having the striping kit was installed and you literally can’t tell a difference. I called and told my salesman and he has offered to give me my money back considering it’s a $500 option that basically does nothing.
- It’s a little harder to start than I expected. I haven’t found the sweet spot yet on the choke, but am told that once I do it will be easier.
Overall is an extremely well made machine. The Cons really aren’t even cons as far as I’m concerned. Once I get a little more experience on using the choke, that will be a mute point, a new pair of ear protectors and that will be a mute point and well - I’m on the hunt for a striping kit that will fit my m950. So now I have another project lol.
Any experience/recommendations for a striping kit for this model? I hear the ones that have more of like a roller effect do much better.
