The p/n's in the website IPL are Homelite.

Here is a link that might be useful: John Deere trimmer

Homelite did/has a manufacturing plant in Japan? Agreed the part number prefix "UT" is shared with old/new Homelite equipment.

I just purchased one of these trimmers. The box (and the unit) says 'Made in Japan". All of the boxes for the attachments (and the attachments themselves) say "Made in Japan", except for the edger (made in the USA).

I was told their trimmers are Kawasaki. The big blower use the Kawasaki TK65 engine which is used in the Kawasaki KRB750 and Maruyama BL8100. I did the research on the bp myself.

I was told Maruyama made trimmers for them long time ago.

Thanks. Went to the Kawasaki website and their trimmers look exactly like the unit I have.

It is supposed to be a good trimmer. I read a lot of possitive reviews on both the Kawi string and hedge trimmers. They cost a lot less than the others also. It has a 26cc engine which is very big for trimmers and still weight lighter than most of the smaller trimmers.

I just picked up one off of Ebay last week - package deal from a Deere dealer. Model XT140SBLE 26cc split boom with trimmer, cultivator, articulating hedge trimmer, pole saw, and edger - all for $499. NIB with receipt, warranty, etc.

While I haven't had a chance to run it yet I am impressed with the unit. Obviously a good deal - I believe Deere is either reducing their handheld lineup or eliminating it altogether. Dealer claims they bought all of the remaining inventory from Deere.

fcarp63,

Who on eBay did you get that deal from? Sounds pretty good to me.

Thanks!

ensign:

Google "jdgreensells ebay" and you will find their ebay store. It is a Deere dealer in Michigan.

They have a different package this month without the split-boom trimmer. If you're interested in the split-boom, just call them and ask for Lonnie in sales - that's who I dealt with.

I just came across this thread and found it really interesting that the JD trimmers were made for them by Kawasaki. I lived in Hawaii where I bought two Marunaka trimmers (the brand was very popular there) that use Kawasaki engines and cannot find that brand anywhere here in case I ever need parts. Now I guess I can check with my JD dealer! Incidentally, one of those trimmers is 21 years old and the other is 14 and I've never done anything other than change filters and spark plugs and grease the power head. These had heavy weekly use in Hawaii because I had a large, steep hillside that I could only cut with a line trimmer.

I was at my JD dealer yesterday looking at an edger attachment for a Stihl trimmer, which they now carry as of a couple of weeks ago. They told me that JD is getting out of the handheld equipment business and made a deal with Stihl so they could sell Stihl equipment at JD dealerships. So I asked if that meant that I could go down the street to the local Stihl dealer and buy a John Deere and they laughingly said "No Way!"

Buy Kawasaki trimmers, hedge trimmers and blowers!!! They are very good and is a lot cheaper. Also Maruyama. Their blowers are exactly the same as Kawasaki. You can mail order on ebay, brand new for a lot cheaper and take your chance. You are talking about $239 for KGT27!!!! How often they break?!!