Well, spring is falling, time to buy a riding mower, suggestions

[fsstnotch]

Well, I'm finally in a house that requires me to own a riding mower! The total property is 3acres, i'd guess maybe close to 1 of that is wooded and won't be mowed. We'll call it a total of 1.75acres mowable. So what riders do you all recommend? I'd rather not spend the extra money for the cadet or john deer names, my father in law swears by his kubota, he thinks I should buy one just like his which would end up running me over 15k so that's a no! I don't have an abundance of storage so i'm thinking maybe somehting in the 46" range? It might take 1/2 a day to mow but that's ok.

No need for 0 radius mowers since I don't have many trees or anything in the yard. i'm just looking for a traditional riding mower.

I'd say the front runner right now is the troy bilt 46" 20hp rider. Any suggestions?

[4RE KLR]

I bought the Sears Craftsman GT 6000

It has a Kohler 26Hp with a 52" cut. I love the thing. It is easy to get to to change the oil and filters and rides nice. I have had zero problems with it.

Can't remember what I paid for it. I bought it just as they were getting everything ready for Christmas, so I got a good deal on it. I have no idea what they cost now.

A neighbor bought a John Deer at the same time that he got rid of at the end of the first year because of all the problems he was having with it. However I do believe it was one of those Home Depot Deers and not a real John Deer. I did not know there was a difference but apparently there is.

If I had my choice I would have bought a New Holland. It cost a little over $10K at the time for a 52'' cut. That was a tad more than I wanted to spend. If you look in my gallery I have pictures on my New Holland TC45D farm tractor. It is the best piece of equipment I have ever owned, period.

[767Jockey]

I followed someones advice once and it was the best thing I ever did. Don't stress over brand name - just get something that is NOT belt driven. The belts will drive you crazy. Shafts, gears, discs, whatever are head and shoulders above belt driven. I ended up buying a mid priced Snapper. It has some crazy rubber covered disc drive. It's 14 years old and the only service I've EVER done on it is oil and spark plugs - the thing is tough as nails. My last mower was belt drive and every year I was under the darn thing.

[Paul F]

Most name brands are fine. Points to consider.

Name brand engine for parts and reliability. Most are using Kohler.
Hydrostatic transmission. Even if you are mostly doing the field, the hydrostatic is very nice. No shifting required, even when going to reverse. Just hit the reverse pedal. But you may prefer a shifter if you are doing just straight field work. You don't have to keep your foot on a pedal.
Big/wide tires - the bigger and wider the better. Smoother ride. I deflate mine to give more of a cushion over the gopher bumps.
Electric blade clutch instead of mechanical engagement.
Tight turning radius. Maybe you don't need this with the field cutting, but if you have trees or other stuff, this is a key feature.
Go for the widest deck. I cut 2 acres (some wooded, some is the yard) in 1.5 hours.
Even with 54", with the tight turning radius, I can get around the yard and the trees very well.
Adjustable deck wheels. Only if you are doing the lawn as well as field. They need to be adjusted to keep the deck from scarfing at the height you like for the yard.
Grease fittings on the spindles is nice. Most don't have it. But the spindles aren't that expensive to replace

[tfalk]

Nothing runs like a Deere...

[427 S/O]

I bought a commerical 'ransomes' with a bad motor, it's a super heavy duty 48". Put a new 12 hp briggs and I can cut my lawn in twenty minutes. Best mower I've ever owned.

Get a free catalog from these guys, they have reasonable priced parts for everything to do with your lawn or machines, engines, whackers, edgers, spreaders and on....and on..


Greenline 800-356-0171

[fsstnotch]

I was thinking about putting a deck on this?




I hadn't thought about sears. I'll have to check them out!

[Sharroll Celby]

Geez, after a few mows of the yard, there wont be ANY grass left, after all the burn-outs!

[1ntCobra]

The commercial grade zero turn mowers can cut grass at 10mph, which can be far more important than the maneuverability. Unless you really like being out there all day.



I doubt that the home owner grade zero turn mowers that you buy at the big box stores are that fast.

[wtm442]

This would be quicker and a lot cheaper ....

[fsstnotch]

hmmmm... you may be onto something there Warren! lol

[427 S/O]

Warren is on to something, just ad water and put an electric fence around your shrubs.

[fsstnotch]

All the while doing your part to reduce emissions! haha

[Scott S]

I like my Kubota, it's easy to use and even better yet my wife likes it too!

Scott S

[wtm442]

Fsstnotch
The latest issue of Consumers Report has a comparison on lawn mowers, including lawn tractors. If you want, I can post the sheets here.

[fsstnotch]

Actually I've already got one. My wife talked to her brother nad he gave us one of his. He had 2 older john deere's. I'm not sure the deck size, but free is always good! haha I'll probably have to stick a new set of blades on it, but that's ok.