Deere, Cub Cadet, Ahrens? other?
Best lawnmowers?
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Mike,
Are you inquiring about riders or walkers?
I bought a Cub Cadet LT1042 three years ago, no problems (that I didn't cause) but I was surprised to learn that MTD builds all the major names lower end models, including John Deere, Toro & Cub Cadet, as well as some store brands.
If I had it to do over, I would have bought the Toro w/ the manual PTO control instead of the complicated electric one on the Cub Cadet.For the difference in price, I could have gotten the bagger kit & some other stuff.
Tony
Are you inquiring about riders or walkers?
I bought a Cub Cadet LT1042 three years ago, no problems (that I didn't cause) but I was surprised to learn that MTD builds all the major names lower end models, including John Deere, Toro & Cub Cadet, as well as some store brands.
If I had it to do over, I would have bought the Toro w/ the manual PTO control instead of the complicated electric one on the Cub Cadet.For the difference in price, I could have gotten the bagger kit & some other stuff.
Tony
OP
Riders.
The three things I like to talk about more than anything else are- guns, tractors, and chainsaws. I own lots of all three.
I am a die hard Deere man, and I've owned a bunch of them. Most were garden tractors, but I also owned until the recent economic downturn, a 4WD Compact utlity tractor. A 4500. I had lots of attatchment to go with it too.
The post above is right in that MTD makes lots of tractors. They have owned Cub Cadet for about 20 years, they own Toro now, White, Huskee, etc., etc. They DO NOT make tractors for John Deere though. That is an often repeated rumor, due to the fact that a lot of entry level tractors share almost identical features. Deere makes all of their own tractors. Sears doesn't make them for Deere either. You can call corporate for Deere, and ask them for yourself. They will tell you when they have something jobbed out to another company. It would be against both parties interest for MTD to make them for Deere though. I have called and asked by the way, and the person I talked to said they get asked about this quite a bit, so it must be a fairly common rumor. My local dealer, whom I knew pretty well before he sold out to a bigger dealer, has been to Deere's plant where they make the low end stuff like you see at Home Depot.
They use top flite engines, and transaxles in John Deere. The garden tractors and up especially so. You can't beat a Kawasaki engine and a Tuff Torq transaxle. I use mine more in one year, than most people do in a lifetime, and I have never been let down by them.
Simplicity is owned by Briggs and Stratton, but is allowed as per the buy-out agreement with Briggs, to run itself, like it did before the buy out. That is why you will see Kohler engines in a tractor that is really being financed by B&S.
I am a die hard Deere man, and I've owned a bunch of them. Most were garden tractors, but I also owned until the recent economic downturn, a 4WD Compact utlity tractor. A 4500. I had lots of attatchment to go with it too.
The post above is right in that MTD makes lots of tractors. They have owned Cub Cadet for about 20 years, they own Toro now, White, Huskee, etc., etc. They DO NOT make tractors for John Deere though. That is an often repeated rumor, due to the fact that a lot of entry level tractors share almost identical features. Deere makes all of their own tractors. Sears doesn't make them for Deere either. You can call corporate for Deere, and ask them for yourself. They will tell you when they have something jobbed out to another company. It would be against both parties interest for MTD to make them for Deere though. I have called and asked by the way, and the person I talked to said they get asked about this quite a bit, so it must be a fairly common rumor. My local dealer, whom I knew pretty well before he sold out to a bigger dealer, has been to Deere's plant where they make the low end stuff like you see at Home Depot.
They use top flite engines, and transaxles in John Deere. The garden tractors and up especially so. You can't beat a Kawasaki engine and a Tuff Torq transaxle. I use mine more in one year, than most people do in a lifetime, and I have never been let down by them.
Simplicity is owned by Briggs and Stratton, but is allowed as per the buy-out agreement with Briggs, to run itself, like it did before the buy out. That is why you will see Kohler engines in a tractor that is really being financed by B&S.
Crazy K38
Member
I did landscaping for a few years in highschool and the best I have ever used was a tie between a x-mark and a cub cadet zero spin
smith41mag
Member
I have owned 2 new Cub Cadet riding mowers and they both were JUNK. Their customer service was very very bad. I take care of my mowers too.
I finally bought a Kubota and I love it.
I would stay away from Cub Cadet as if were the swine flu.
I finally bought a Kubota and I love it.
I would stay away from Cub Cadet as if were the swine flu.
billhud
US Veteran
Kid down the street.
yugolovr
Member
I only use Snapper lawn mowers. Their rear engine rider is a great design.
greenmachine
Member
I use a John Deere 445 with a 60" cut and a 22 hp water cooled twin engine and love it (power steering and cruise control even). I trim with a Lawn Boy and a Stihl line trimmer. I'm having to mow every 4 - 5 days with all the rain we've been having.
Jack Flash
Member
We have a Craftsman riding mower we bought about 12 years ago (wife's idea). After about ten years, it needed to have the carb rebuilt, but other than that, no problems. Even that was probably my fault for not draining the gas tank every year. We run it about an hour a week every week during the summer. The engine is Briggs and Straton 19.5 horsepower.
I quit doing business with Sears, so if I had to buy another one, I don't know where I would go. I'll probably just pay to keep this one running forever.
I quit doing business with Sears, so if I had to buy another one, I don't know where I would go. I'll probably just pay to keep this one running forever.
Indiana George
US Veteran
Hi Mike!
I believe that you should start with a budget figure in mind. Residential riding mowers can easily range from $1500-12,000 or more!
When I am in the market for power equipment or tools, I usually go with what the pros use or recommend. You know . . . the guys who earn their living with equipment that gets hard and frequent use. Dependability and longevity is a key issue with me.
In our case, we are mowing close to 5 acres, so we chose a Toro Z-Master with a 27hp, water cooled Kawasaki engine. GREAT machine and after 500+ hours, absolutely no mechanical issues or repairs. List price was close to $11,000.
Would I buy another Toro Z-Master? Probably not. I would save $2000+ and buy an Exmark.
I believe that you should start with a budget figure in mind. Residential riding mowers can easily range from $1500-12,000 or more!
When I am in the market for power equipment or tools, I usually go with what the pros use or recommend. You know . . . the guys who earn their living with equipment that gets hard and frequent use. Dependability and longevity is a key issue with me.
In our case, we are mowing close to 5 acres, so we chose a Toro Z-Master with a 27hp, water cooled Kawasaki engine. GREAT machine and after 500+ hours, absolutely no mechanical issues or repairs. List price was close to $11,000.
Would I buy another Toro Z-Master? Probably not. I would save $2000+ and buy an Exmark.
tomf52
Member
Zero turn design can't be beat! I have a Gravely 1740. Ariens, partner company, also makes one).
If you've got an acre or more zero turn is the way to go. Dealer is about as important as the brand. Exmark, Ferris, Scag, Dixie Chopper, Toro, GrassHopper are all top quality. Deere is a player in zero turns now that they bought out Great Dane. JD used to be crap in zero turn. I prefer independent dealers to box stores and cash talks louder with an independent. There are deals to be made right now.
Jack Flash
Member
Indiana George brings up a good point. The more you set parameters, the easier it is to make recommendations.
For instance, if you plan on spending $11,000, forget anything I've said!
Mine cost about $1,200 twelve years ago.
Do you plan to run it about an hour a week or a whole lot more?
Do you have an odd-shaped yard with a ton of obstacles?
Do you plan to use it for other purposes (like snow removal in the winter)?
Just like when someone wants advice for what gun to buy, it helps to know what its intended use will be.
For instance, if you plan on spending $11,000, forget anything I've said!
Mine cost about $1,200 twelve years ago.
Do you plan to run it about an hour a week or a whole lot more?
Do you have an odd-shaped yard with a ton of obstacles?
Do you plan to use it for other purposes (like snow removal in the winter)?
Just like when someone wants advice for what gun to buy, it helps to know what its intended use will be.
OP
Jack, about 3/4 acre of grass. Mostly level, numerous trees, odd-shaped flower beds, 50 foot stone wall.
Right now I have a 12 year old Simplicity. I should have bought a bagger attachment originally but did not. Of course, now there is no attachment available, without rigging it up somehow.
My neighbor has the Cyclone Rake, but it's too big and bulky for my property layout.
Right now I have a 12 year old Simplicity. I should have bought a bagger attachment originally but did not. Of course, now there is no attachment available, without rigging it up somehow.
My neighbor has the Cyclone Rake, but it's too big and bulky for my property layout.
cshoff
Member
That is incorrect. MTD owns and builds the Cub Cadet brand, as well as the White brand, and the MTD branded equipment. John Deere is it's own entity and produces and manufactures ALL of the John Deere lawn and garden tractors, from the lowest priced on up to the most expensive. John Deere is NOT affiliated with MTD in any way.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
Pedro Gonzalez, 1/2 acre for $20 bucks every week, once a month off season. No maintenance. Insured. Works in the rain.
Jack Flash
Member
Mike,
For what you describe, I would think that $1500 or $2000 at the most will get something that will do the job reliably.
I know some folks have an "only the best" mentality, and it's hard to argue with them, except on price. My Dad bought a cheapie Yard Man (made by MTD I think) about 15 years ago. When he passed away, my brother took over lawn mowing duties (about 2 or 3 acres of lawn) for my Mom. The Yard Man was about 5 years old at that point.
Even though it was a bottom of the line riding mower, it has done an adequate job for a decade and a half. It had some cheesy ball and socket arrangement as part of the steering gear that my brother had to replace when the socket got wallowed out and couldn't contain the ball any more. I think the parts cost under $30.
It would be great to have one that can do zero turns, but when I priced them, they were all pretty expensive. In your shoes, I would just go with the "little tractor" type, hopefully with a brand name if you can find one for reasonable money.
For what you describe, I would think that $1500 or $2000 at the most will get something that will do the job reliably.
I know some folks have an "only the best" mentality, and it's hard to argue with them, except on price. My Dad bought a cheapie Yard Man (made by MTD I think) about 15 years ago. When he passed away, my brother took over lawn mowing duties (about 2 or 3 acres of lawn) for my Mom. The Yard Man was about 5 years old at that point.
Even though it was a bottom of the line riding mower, it has done an adequate job for a decade and a half. It had some cheesy ball and socket arrangement as part of the steering gear that my brother had to replace when the socket got wallowed out and couldn't contain the ball any more. I think the parts cost under $30.
It would be great to have one that can do zero turns, but when I priced them, they were all pretty expensive. In your shoes, I would just go with the "little tractor" type, hopefully with a brand name if you can find one for reasonable money.
The most serious part of a rider is the transmission. If it is an aluminum, non-servicable part made by Peerless, stay away from it. I believe MTD uses these on everything they sell. Also, while MTD doesn't make every lower priced model, there isn't much difference between them. They have to be about equal to keep them in the same price range.
I use an old Wheel Horse 857, made around 1965-67. I bought it used over 25 years ago and it still runs great. My wife doesn't like it because it only has an 8hp engine and three speeds. It cuts the grass all summer and blows the snow all winter, it's all I need.
I use an old Wheel Horse 857, made around 1965-67. I bought it used over 25 years ago and it still runs great. My wife doesn't like it because it only has an 8hp engine and three speeds. It cuts the grass all summer and blows the snow all winter, it's all I need.
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