Are Home Maintenance Kits worth it?

In the past few years, companies like John Deere have been making what they call a Home Maintenance Kits that bundle all the filters, oil and sparks plugs into a convenient little package for your lawn mower. The biggest question we get here at Sydenstrickers is "Do I really save money on this by buying it instead of every individual filter? Well lets break it down.

For example, I am going to use the John Deere 425, made from 1992 to 2001 and is one of the more popular large lawn tractors John Deere has ever sold.

The Home Maintenance Kit for a 425 with a serial number less than 090419. The kit for that serial number is  Part Number LG187. This kit cost $49.96. Now let's break down the contents of this kit.

• Air Filter(Paper) MIU11376 - $19.54
• Air Filter(Foam) M76076 - $4.27
• Oil Filter AM107423 - $7.10
• Fuel Filter AM116304 - $4.55
• Spark Plugs AM101194 - $2.40 x 2 = $4.80
• Turf Gard 10w30 TY22029 - $4.95 x 2= $9.90

These parts purchased individually cost $50.16. So you don't really save that much by buying this kit. Let's take a look at a more popular consumer mower the LA125.

The LA125 uses the Home Maintenance Kit with the Part Number LG253. This kit runs for $40.76. Let's break this kit down and see it is actually worth it.

• Air Filter(Paper) MIU11511 - $13.52
• Air Filter(Foam) MIU11513 - $3.19
• Oil Filter AM125424 - $8.64
• Fuel Filter AM116304 - $4.55
• Spark Plug M78543 - $3.89
• Turf Gard 10w30 TY22029 - $4.95 x 2= $9.90

These parts sold individually cost $43.69. So you can save a little, but maybe not as much as you could if you would wait and purchase filters during the filters sales that your local John Deere dealer has twice each year. My suggestion would be to wait for that sale and then go purchase your Home Maintenance kit then. Many dealers will give you the discount that they give the filters at this time.


If you need a breakdown of your mower or the Home Maintenance Kit please feel free to comment and I will respond.