I don't know who makes the machine. The engine is great, lots of torque, but that was why I bought the tractor. That engine fooled me. The deck and the frame are sub-par. I have talked to JD about this and the local guys admit the machine was built to compete with the low end stuff at the big box stores like Lowes, etc. The problem is, there is no resale and the price drops like a bullet. I expect 10 to 15 years from a good mower with good care but this thing just breaks sitting there. The X series mowers cost 2x as much but that is what I need for my 2 acres with a few bumps and tall weeds. The worst problem I had was the wiring to the clutch. The clutch vibrates quite a bit and the 2 wires that go into the front would break off. I have replaced that about a dozen times, no exaggeration. At first I had JD do it then when they had found the problem, I did it. I finally cured it by splicing in a piece of braided wire. Also, the wires from the clutch to the back of the machine were exposed so I wrapped them in wire wrap to protect them. But those shivs just wear out. At least the idler shivs are cheap but you have to have them on hand or you will not get a days work done. I am going to keep a stock of the most frequently replaced items on hand. Oh, yeah, the paint is peeling off the mower deck. It appears to powder coat. That is a pain in the *** to remove and then recoat but it will have to be done at some point. Maybe 10% of the paint is gone from the upper middle of the deck and down the right side. I asked the guys what my 5 year old machine was worth and they said not as much as a replacement clutch ($500 or $600). I have an LX mower in the barn, been sitting there for 5 years. Good motor but the motor cover is destroyed. A new hood will cost $500. The JD guys said I should think about restoring that machine; better than the one I have now. Motor on.