Riding lawnmower recommendations?
- Thread starter ChuckS1
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I had a John Deere 12 HP for a 1/2 acre lawn for many years. They do last and are built strong. Home Depot sells JD so you may get a yr end sale price.
smokindog
Member
So what did you get??
Didn't want to hijack Cajunlawyer's mower thread, so I'll start my own.
My 42" Sears riding mower has finally bit the dust. Given that Labor Day's coming up, I hope to snag a sale at Home Depot, Lowes,or Sears. Also have a John Deere dealer and a Kubota dealer who sells riding mowers (the cream and yellow ones, forget the name). Got about an acre to mow, not all of it flat. Seems like most of the ones I've seen have hydrostatic transmissions, but not adverse to the manual one. Being the cheap bast**d that I am, I'd like to get the most mower for the least cost. But understanding you get what you pay for, I want something that's not gonna **** out on me two years from now. Really don't like the zero-turn mowers with the lateral controls, probably because it reminds me of driving M113s back in the day. Looking for a 42" deck. Don't need it to do much more than cut grass since I have a Kubota tractor and bush hog for the heavy duty cutting and snow plow work.
So, who's got opinions on what's good and what's not?
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All I can say is if you truly enjoy maintaining your own landscaping - go for it! If not, hire a landscaper! I know some people enjoy what others despise. There are a lot of people in my neighborhood who hire a snow plow service to clear their driveways, while I am out there with my 15 year old Toro Snow Blower - I love it. My Golden Retriever likes it too and he catches the snow from the shoot in his mouth while I am clearing the property. Lot's of yellow snow later on!
I had a Toro for almost 30 years...then about a year or so ago, I purchased a Deere 130. It's a dandy!
I have a Cub Cadet 2550 I bought new in 2006. Still runs
like a new one and has over 1100 hours on it. Never been
in the shop. Had to change a belt on the deck and battery
last year. It's shaft drive and has a hydrostatic trans. Not
cheap but you get what you pay for.
Dano
like a new one and has over 1100 hours on it. Never been
in the shop. Had to change a belt on the deck and battery
last year. It's shaft drive and has a hydrostatic trans. Not
cheap but you get what you pay for.
Dano
Mower
On the advice of a co-worker, I bought a Kohler (15 HP single) powered 42" JD LT155 14 years ago. IMHO, you pay a little extra for the name, but it's held up well--so far I've replaced the front tires (separated) and 1 ignition module. I mow (mulch) a half acre every 3 days, so it's had a workout--still runs great.
On the advice of a co-worker, I bought a Kohler (15 HP single) powered 42" JD LT155 14 years ago. IMHO, you pay a little extra for the name, but it's held up well--so far I've replaced the front tires (separated) and 1 ignition module. I mow (mulch) a half acre every 3 days, so it's had a workout--still runs great.
Filibogado
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My HUSTLER Fastrak 42" zero turn mower has never hiccuped in 4 years of mowing all year round in VA. Prior to that, I had a Sears Craftsman that broke down every other week. It's pricey but its worth it. Use the link below:
Hustler Turf Products - Residential Mowers - FasTrak
If you just type Watch Free Live Porn Online | Hustler - Best Online Porn Website, it will take you to the magazine with naked women, a no-no for us upright (no pun intended) citizens.
Hustler Turf Products - Residential Mowers - FasTrak
If you just type Watch Free Live Porn Online | Hustler - Best Online Porn Website, it will take you to the magazine with naked women, a no-no for us upright (no pun intended) citizens.
Brian41
Member
I simply wore out a Craftsman riding mower after ten years of cutting my one acre of grass here. I started using my 1979 Wheel horse garden tractor now and it hardly use any effort to cut the grass and was great too at plowing snow although I use my Honda quad for that now.
I'd look about for a good old garden tractor for a mower again for the simple ruggedness of them. Second choice would be a Cub Cadet tractor as it seems they are still sturdy mowers. The ones I saw at the local lawn equipment store my Wheel horse came from seemed a better built tractor than Home Depot sells though and more expensive too.
I'd look about for a good old garden tractor for a mower again for the simple ruggedness of them. Second choice would be a Cub Cadet tractor as it seems they are still sturdy mowers. The ones I saw at the local lawn equipment store my Wheel horse came from seemed a better built tractor than Home Depot sells though and more expensive too.
Filibogado
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Gee, I don't know what happened here - I just typed the word "Hustler" meaning the Hustler riding mower and the link for Bob Guccione's porn site automatically popped up. At least its not Larry Flynt's. I hope the moderator(s) can delete it. How embarrassing! Sorry, ladies.
25elk
Member
Just finished replacing the engine in my 42" Husqvarna mower at 212 hours. Be aware that almost all brands come with different engine choices, be it JD, Craftsman, Husqvarna, or whatever. Stay away from the Kohler 'Courage' engine models. Other Kohler engines are superior as are Kawasaki. Briggs & Stratton still makes a good engine but not as sturdy as in past years. Also, after dealing with all the mower shops and mower junk yards in this part of Georgia I have come to learn that ethanol in the gas is the repair shop dream come true. It absolutely trashes the small fuel lines and the dissolved gunk ruins the carburetor. Every shop I visited looking for a used mower or engine was so busy with engine repair work they didn't really want to take the time to talk with me. What ever you do, find ethanol-free gas or put one of the products on the market made to neutralize the ethanol into all the gas you use in your mower, chainsaw, tiller or any other small engine. Seriously, check it out.
gdnagle
US Veteran
I have 5 JD's one Scotts made by JD from 8-27 hp, but feel I made the right move going with the Bad Boy zero turn I have now. All the deer still run some smoke, but still run. I can still get parts for them from JD. I cut my cutting time in half with the zero turn. It's a 60" but the Scotts is a 54". The zero turn will move I just need to increase the speed now. I have bad knees so the hand controls are a big help for me.
I've been running a Hustler 52" for 9 years now. Mow about 6 acres and it really cut down on my time. Its been bullet proof.
Pilgrim
US Veteran
I bought this and have just about completed my 2nd season using it. 22 HP 2 cyl Kohler Professional grade, (IMHO much better than a Briggs), pressurized oil system, screw on oil filter, runs smooth, hydrostatic trans...it's well built and quality stuff. Fabric seat, not plastic, good visual gas gauge. Highly recommended.
Before buying, I compared it to the JD and this looked much nicer, heavier chassis, larger 2 cyl motor, and the dreaded plastic seat on the Deere.
Cub Cadet® Signature Cut™ 46 in. 22 HP* LTX1046 Lawn Tractor - Tractor Supply Online Store
Before buying, I compared it to the JD and this looked much nicer, heavier chassis, larger 2 cyl motor, and the dreaded plastic seat on the Deere.
Cub Cadet® Signature Cut™ 46 in. 22 HP* LTX1046 Lawn Tractor - Tractor Supply Online Store
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Another vote for a zero-turn mower. I have a one acre lot, but only about half of it is grass. Still, it took me about 4 hours to mow it with my lawn tractor, and it wore me out with all the flower beds, trees, etc to go around. I bought a Husqvarna ZT a couple of years ago, and I love it! Not only is it fun, but I can actually mow the yard in less than 2 hours, and I'm not worn out from fighting the steering wheel (my lawn tractor didn't have power steering.)
smokindog
Member
sqhead
US Veteran
snapper rear engine rider,so far so good ,but pricey.
