Compare Mowers
List prices are the manufacturer’s published figures, re-checked daily; they exclude tax, freight and dealer setup.
A side-by-side reference of each model's stated specifications. MowerFacts doesn’t give opinions: where a published, spec-derived rule can separate machines we mark a Data Pick and show the rule; here, read the values and decide what fits your needs.
Best suited for
What each model is built for, from its duty class and key specs. This is a neutral reference — MowerFacts does not rank one model above another.
- John Deere S100 Lawn Tractor — residential: typical home lawns; 42-inch deck; gas powered
- Troy-Bilt Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower — residential: typical home lawns; 42-inch deck; gas powered
What’s different? The 5 differences that matter most, from the published figures.
- S100 Lawn Tractor has a Hydrostatic, 2-wheel drive transmission; Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower has a Troy-Bilt transmission. The transmission grade tracks duty rating and speed. Grade names are each maker's own and are not comparable across brands.
- S100 Lawn Tractor holds 2.4 gal (9.1 L) of fuel; Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower holds 1.4 gal (5.2 L) of fuel, a 1 gal difference. Tank size bounds how long a machine runs between stops. Consumption varies with engine, load and speed, so hours per tank are not fixed.
- S100 Lawn Tractor has a Steel, 13 gauge0.090 in.2.3 mm deck; Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower has a 13-gauge steel deck.
- S100 Lawn Tractor has Manual power take-off (PTO) drive; Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower has CVT drive.
- S100 Lawn Tractor carries a 2-year warranty; Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower carries a 3-year warranty, a 1 year difference. Warranty length is the maker's published term. Conditions and commercial-use limits differ between makers.
3 more differences, what isn’t comparable
Other verified differences
- S100 Lawn Tractor has a 17.5 hp engine; Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower has a 15.5 hp engine, a 2 hp difference.
- S100 Lawn Tractor cuts from 1 in (25 mm) to 4 in (102 mm); Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower cuts from 1.5 in (38 mm) to 4 in (102 mm).
- S100 Lawn Tractor has a 30.5 ci (500 cc) engine; Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower has a 33.4 ci (547 cc) engine, a 2.9 ci difference.
Not comparable
- Voltage: not published for S100 Lawn Tractor.
- Weight: not published for Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower.
- Bagger Capacity: not published for Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower.
- Blades: not published for S100 Lawn Tractor.
- Engine Make: not published for S100 Lawn Tractor.
- Fuel Type: not published for Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower.
- Discharge: not published for Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower.
- Start Type: not published for S100 Lawn Tractor.
- Price: S100 Lawn Tractor is dealer quote only.
Verified means each manufacturer publishes the figure. A bigger number is only a bigger number; nothing here says which machine is better. The full specification table is below.
Which is faster on your property? › Measure your lawn once and MowerFacts times all 2 against it.
| Spec | S100 Lawn Tractor John Deere · Riding (Lawn Tractor) |
Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower Troy-Bilt · Riding (Lawn Tractor) |
|---|---|---|
| List price | dealer quote | $2,099 |
| Engine | ||
| Power Source | gas | gas |
| Displacement | 30.5 ci (500 cc) | 33.4 ci (547 cc) |
| Engine Power | 17.5 hp | 15.5 hp |
| Engine Make | — | Troy-Bilt® |
| Cylinders | 1 | 1 |
| Engine Model | 31R977 (M31) | — |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | — |
| Start Type | — | Ignition Key |
| Electrical | ||
| Voltage | — | 12 V |
| Deck | ||
| Cutting Width | 42 in (1067 mm) | 42 in (1067 mm) |
| Blades | — | 2 |
| Min Cut Height | 1 in (25 mm) | 1.5 in (38 mm) |
| Max Cut Height | 4 in (102 mm) | 4 in (102 mm) |
| Deck Material | Steel, 13 gauge0.090 in.2.3 mm | 13-gauge steel |
| Deck Construction | Stamped steel deck shell | Stamped |
| Deck Gauge | 13 | 13 |
| Discharge | Side discharge | — |
| Cut Positions | — | 5 |
| Drive | ||
| Transmission | Hydrostatic, 2-wheel drive | Troy-Bilt |
| Ground Speed | 5.5 mph | 5.5 mph |
| Drive Tire Size | 20x8-8 | 20"x 8"-8" |
| Reverse Speed | 3.2 mph | 2.5 mph |
| Drive System | Manual power take-off (PTO) | CVT |
| Dimensions | ||
| Weight | 414 lbs (187.8 kg) | — |
| Fuel Capacity | 2.4 gal (9.1 L) | 1.4 gal (5.2 L) |
| Length | 69.7 in (1770 mm) | — |
| Width | 55.2 in (1402 mm) | — |
| Height | 40 in (1016 mm) | — |
| Commercial / Pro | ||
| Frame Construction | Full-length welded steel | Robotically welded |
| Seat Type | One-piece | Low-back |
| Commercial Warranty | — | No |
| General | ||
| Warranty | 2 yr | 3 yr |
| Bagger Capacity | 6.5 bu (229 L) | — |
Where these models differ, explained
S100 Lawn Tractor: Specs verified against the manufacturer spec sheet on Jun 6, 2026 — deere.com.
Pony 42 Riding Lawn Mower: Specs verified against the manufacturer spec sheet on Jun 6, 2026 — troybilt.com.
Independent reference database. Specs compiled from manufacturer sources and normalized for comparison; verify with the manufacturer or dealer before purchase.