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+--- Thread: Riding mower. (/showthread.php?tid=136075)
Riding mower. - DRR - 05-10-2012
Might need one this season.
I know it's not as exciting as a MAVIC GTI but unfiltered thoughts and feedback (brands, retailers, features to get/avoid, maintenance, etc.) appreciated.
Re: Riding mower. - lafinfil - 05-10-2012
How big of a yard ? Wide open & flat or lots of trees etc ... ?
You just mowing or do you want to run equipment (push or blow snow, tiller, etc...) ??
You in for cheap or want something for the long haul ? Budget ?
Re: Riding mower. - cbelt3 - 05-10-2012
I bought a used mower from a retired guy down the street.. He buys them as scrap and rebuilds them. It doesn't have any of the gizmos and gadgets on it, but it's simple and runs great.
I borrowed my neighbor's brand new Cub Cadet 52 inch wide hydrostatic tractor. I had to read the damn manual. All kinds of annoying nannyish safety bits get in the way. Want to back up ? Engine quits. Have to flip a 'safety switch' to get it to back up, have to turn off the blades, yadda yadda. Blech.
The more gizmos and whatnots you have, the more likely stuff is to break, and the harder it is to fix.
Re: Riding mower. - DRR - 05-10-2012
It's between a third and a half acre. Residential. Flat. Some trees.
Mostly mowing, if it had the ability to do a pull behind attachement like a spreader that'd be good, but not necessary. No snow.
I am looking for something budget friendly but am also looking to maintain it well so hopefully it'll last for the long haul. I'd put more stock in a JD or another company where I knew parts, supplies, and support would be easily and readily available.
$1000-$2000 would be the budget. Since it's a smaller lot for a riding mower I'm hoping I can get a smaller machine.
Re: Riding mower. - mstudio - 05-10-2012
lafinfil wrote:
How big of a yard ? Wide open & flat or lots of trees etc ... ?
You just mowing or do you want to run equipment (push or blow snow, tiller, etc...) ??
You in for cheap or want something for the long haul ? Budget ?
Those are all good questions.
The previous owners of my house left their John Deere that they bought in 1987. We've had the house for 16yrs and I mow 2ac. The only thing I've had to do is change oil regularly, sharpen blades, new battery and tires. It just keeps going and going, I have no plans on replacing it.
Re: Riding mower. - cbelt3 - 05-10-2012
Any fences or gates ? For a smaller lot, go for a smaller mower. While they sell on 'horsepower' and whatnot, it's not really necessary, and sucks gas wastefully. The smaller the mower, the tighter the turning radius (zero turn and specialty mowers are something you don't need).
Transmission is a big cost difference. Hydrostatic versus 'shift'. Hydrostatic is much more expensive, and will be more maintenance expensive. But you'll have to be able to shift 'gears' and use a 'clutch'. If you don't know how, it can be a pain. (Shift mowers usually use an adjustable sheave /belt design rather than actual 'gears'.)
Re: Riding mower. - haikuman - 05-10-2012
I loved my John Deer and I have had several Honda riding mowers that were awesome.
John Deer makes some very durable mowers.
For me mowers are all about blade revolutions per foot traveled and getting a clean cut.
Re: Riding mower. - lafinfil - 05-10-2012
DRR wrote:
It's between a third and a half acre. Residential. Flat. Some trees.
Mostly mowing, if it had the ability to do a pull behind attachement like a spreader that'd be good, but not necessary. No snow.
I am looking for something budget friendly but am also looking to maintain it well so hopefully it'll last for the long haul. I'd put more stock in a JD or another company where I knew parts, supplies, and support would be easily and readily available.
$1000-$2000 would be the budget. Since it's a smaller lot for a riding mower I'm hoping I can get a smaller machine.
With that budget you should be able to find a nicer late model Deere LA series with lower hours. (LA100, LA110, LA120, LA130, LA140 etc...) It will more than be able to handle light towing that you need for yard work (mulch, soil, aerator, spreader etc...) They can also be set up for bagging for leaves etc... You will be able to get parts forever or nearly forever. (I can still get parts for 35 year old Deere garden tractor)
A couple ways to go about it. If you have a local Deere dealer go check out their trade ins. They are probably priced a little high but it will give you a feel for what is available. Also check out craigslist, local newspaper, estate sales. You can often find a package deal - tractor w/deck, cart, spreader, MCS (bagger) for one price. Even if you don't need or want them all you can resell and off set your cost.
Things to consider - deck size, what is the narrowest space you need to mow. If you have lots of narrow spaces it is sometimes easier to mow with a smaller deck and use the push mower less.
Hydro or manual tranny ? Both are fine but a hydro will cost a little more. Maintenance about the same - fluids vs belts.
Deck type - some are mulchers and some are not (if that is important. I like a deck with anti-scalp wheels too (most Deeres should have them)
Re: Riding mower. - mrlynn - 05-10-2012
DRR wrote:
It's between a third and a half acre. Residential. Flat. Some trees. . .
That's all? If you can walk (yes, I realize some can't, for one reason or another), just get a 21" push mower for $150 and you'll get plenty of exercise while you mow the lawn.
/Mr Lynn
Re: Riding mower. - OWC Jamie - 05-10-2012
one acre is 90 yards of a football field.
30 yards isn't too bad.
cutting 50 yards of football field every 4 - 7 days, as much fun as it might be, by hand, gets to be time consuming .
Hold your beer. (or leave it in a strategic spot like you might with a push mower).
The mower vibrations will knock all the bubbles out if you leave it in the cup holder. :-)
absolutely check craigslist.
some people dump these to get rid of them at the last minute moving and there are also lost of repaired ones sometimes.