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Riding lawnmower purchase - need advice.

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#21 ·
4 years back I bought a john deere(120 i think). It was 18h 42". Took about 4.5 hours to cut my yard. I racked up some time on it for 2 years and even plowed with it(live in MICHIGAN). I sold it to a friend and it still runs great! I then bought a cub 52" ?hp. I cut once with it and took it back. I didn't like the foot control. Pretty cheap and my foot would get wedged in it. I then bought a commercial Gravely zero turn. Takes 1.75 hours to cut now.:thumbsup:
 
#23 ·
Steve Johnson said:
He's got .8 acre Jeff :D
Click to expand...
Thanks Steve. :thumbsup:

Point eight? Who the hell describes land like that? :noway: Just an FYI Mike - that's about an acre. Don't you have a girlfriend? Just buy two cheap mowers and $1800 worth of beer. Point eight... Geez Louise Nancy - push that thing. :D
 
#24 ·
#25 ·
Mike...my .02...my lot is a half acre and I mow using my 42" Sears rider with an 18.5 hp B&S w/cast sleeve. It's overkill, but I like it. I suggest you look at some pertinent features first...motor with at least 18-20 hp, at the bottom end get one with the sleeves if not a full on commercial engine, get a heavy gauge solid steel deck (compare the models when you look at them you'll soon see what I mean), get one with the anti-scalp feature (steel rolling bars). Also check out what extras the brand you're looking at offers (spreaders, dump wagons, brush bars, bagger attachments, etc.) and don't be sold on the fancy transmissions either...my six speed manual works just fine. Btw, I bought mine from the local Sears scratch & dent store for $500...looked like new (no scratches or dents) and less than 10 hours of run time...

...also my rider will pull the front wheels...my Chevelle won't.
 
#26 ·
I just purchased a Husquvarne. All these posts, and not one person talked about it. It is a very good company and the mower is outstanding. It is a 23 hp Briggs & Stratton and a 48" cut. It is very nice and easy to operate. I checked Husquvarne and there are no problems with them. Consider them. A little cheaper than JD and, if you ask me, better machine.
 
#27 ·
I just bought a tractor about a month ago.
I looked at the the different makes and I went with a JD. The models I looked @ (Did not look into a Husquvarne) I thought the JD were better built plus they had 0% down, 0% financing and no payment for 12 months.
I was a little more but went with a liquid cooled and 54 inch deck. It been working fine with no issues but it's only clocked 30 hours so far on the kawasaki engine.
 
Discussion starter · #28 ·
All good replies. Accept for Jeff making fun of my .8 acres. :D Sadly, I don't even push mow, it's a walk behind jobber. It's hot down here damn it! :yes:

I''ll go by the respective dealers and do some "deck" kicking and see what all I like. I"m no cheap skate, but money saved on the mower is money invested in the upcoming frame off. I have asperations... BIG asperations. :cool:
 
#29 ·
Don't forget Snapper!

Any of those MTD made machines (that includes JD from Home Depot) are a 10 year investment. A real JD or a Snapper is a 20 year investment.

You do get what you pay for. The others don't last.
 
#30 ·
I bought a rider from Home Depot. 14 HP, 42 inch...........I only mow 2 or 3 times a year, but live on almost 5 acres. The sand, after 3 years, blew a hole in the deck. I patched it, but that only lasted one mowing. I tried to order a replacement deck..........not available any more........bought the "replacement", three blades, not two. didn't mount the same, different size belt, just a major hassle. I'm gonna buy a JD from the local dealer, not the Lowes store. I'm getting it from the people that have to service what they sell, not give you an 800 number.
 
#31 ·
I can't believe no one has said anything about the simplicities. I have a regent with a hydrostatic trans and its a lot better then my dads john deere. He got his for around $1800 with the auto. Mine turns sharper, has better controls and the frame is better and just feels better.
 
#32 ·
2guitars said:
Don't forget Snapper!

Any of those MTD made machines (that includes JD from Home Depot) are a 10 year investment. A real JD or a Snapper is a 20 year investment.

You do get what you pay for. The others don't last.
Click to expand...
Thats probably true, but you can buy 3 of the 10 year ones for what you pay for a JD. What ever gets the job done.
Ron
 
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#33 ·
Am I the only one who noticed this?

BB_Mike said:
I don't want the zero turn because it requires two hands
Click to expand...
I guess Mikey will be cutting figure 8's into his yard:beers::beers:
 
#35 ·
I bought a Troy Bilt last year. I use it to cut weeds, grass and throw rocks around the yard. For $900 I am happy, 42" cut, 7 speed transmission and it has a built in cup holder :beers:

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#36 ·
Sometimes those inexpensive ones are hard to kill. In 1981 I bought a Murray 36" cut with 11 hp Briggs engine for $799. I had no troubles with it other than normal wear items and gave it to my bro-in-law in '96. It finally shucked the 3 speed trans in '05. No replacement parts could be found.
 
#37 ·
I've got a 17.5 hp Craftsman here with hydro-static drive. So far so good. I've had it going on 4 years now. I'll never push a mower again. I mowed enough lawns in high school to last me a lifetime.
 
#38 ·
I second Snapper. I have an '02 i bought off of Ebay from a guy who lived across town I did local searches on Ebay for mowers until i found a nice one and won it. He paid over 2k for it new and i got it in '05 for $800 delivered! Its 18 HP Briggs with 48" inch deck. I do like the Husquvarnas though. One thing is a nice wide deck is nice if your lawn is FLAT. If its got some dips and bumps you may be better off with a more narrow deck.Also look into attachments if you need them. I bought my Snapper when i lived in Louisiana.Now i moved to Pa i would love to have a snow blower attatchment but they don't make one for my model. So consider what attachments you may want in the future.
 
#39 ·
I bought a John Deere from a JD dealer back in 1998. This is a much heavier model than those at HD, Lowes, etc. It is a 345 model and has a 20 (22Hp?) Kawasaki water cooled engine and has a 52 inch cut. It cost about $6-7k back then. I have over 500 hours on it and it is going strong. I maintain it well changing the oil about every 25 hours and keeping all grease fittings well greased. I think this lawn tractor and deck will still be going strong at 2000 hours. I don't think those light weigth models will ever make it that far. This is just my opinion. However, I bought my mother in law a JD from HD and I can verify that the life of this light weight machine is limited. I can tell you that I still have a Cub Cadet from back in 1975. This was a heavy built lawn tractor sold by International dealers (the rear end looks like something out of an automobile). It is still running well (although it is on it's 3rd air cooled Kohler motor.) That mower cost about $1000 back then. I replaced it with the faster, wider, hydrostatic JD. I am keeping the IH hoping it will be worth something on the antique market (I am not holding my breath.)
 
#40 ·
I have an acre of hilly lawn. Bought a Cub Cadet 11 years ago and it was one of the best things I've ever bought. :thumbsup:I put on a snow blade & chains and use it all winter too. 13 HP Kohler engine starts every time. My neighbor is on his 3rd Sears tractor in the same 11 years. FWIW, I've looked at the Cubs in HD and they are inferior to mine...IMO. Mower decks are not nearly as heavy gauge as mine. Many of the other pieces...like suspension...are not as beefy either. I also have my father-in-laws 1973 John Deere Garden tractor. The mower deck on that thing weighs as much as my whole Cub!!:eek::thumbsup:

Whatever you get, make sure you do the maintenence. :yes:
 
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