Riding Mowers-42"

[reiley99]

If your mowing grass for money don't buy a lawn mower like cub cadet john deere or any lawn mower that you can get from home depot or sears or a place likethat they won't last.Yes there fine mowers for the home owner but not for mowing everyday they won't last trust me on this.One big reason there mowing decks are stamped out one good hit and your cutting uneven.Spend the money on a good mower like scag, exmart,bobcat and my favorite is Wright Standard.Trust me on this I owned a landscaping business with over 50 accounts. And one more thing don't go over a 48 inch cut if your going to have only one mower anything over that likes to scalp the yard. 48 inch is a good size. small enough to still get into places but big enough to still do some decent size lots.As for hydro yes that's the way to go but be prepared to dish out some money if it goes down.What a would do if I was you if you don't have any huge yard to mow is go buy a used walk behind like a bobcat without hydros with the 5 speed trans they cut great and there cheap and easy to fix.I've bought them for 400-500 used them 40 hours a week by now their 10 years old and slill run great .just gotta remember to grease them and change the oil and take the cooling shroud of and blow the grass out of there to keep it cooling good.I changed mine every 2 weeks but my mowers were worked like dogs

 

[Magnumb]

A JD 335 or 325 can be had for $2500 used and is a solid and roomy ride.

 

[jr37]

Indy, I know I don't have to tell you this. But, if you maintain it good, it will last. After ever mowing I run it up on ramps and clean out the deck, blow it all off and check it over good. If you just put gas in and expect it to go every time, sooner or later there will be problems.

I know you are smart enough and will do enough research to make the best choice for youself.

Mezz, I like your way of thinking.

 

[ezra]

sadly if using it commercially it wont last! if it has a HR meter and you bring it back for work they wont do it if used commercially so un plug the meter after your first 10 hrs or so.I stoped and looked at the new JD when at home depot today what piles of crap they have goten cheeper than the pos I wrecked 4yrs ago.
it is sad when a old quality name sells out for the short term$$$

 

[MZEMS2]

I've got a 42" 18HP, Kohler, Full hydrostatic, 6 cut heights, full floating deck that's a snap to remove, Cub Cadet and have had no issues with it. I just couldn't justify buying the name "John Deere" or "Simplicity"

 

[reiley99]

I'm not knocking store bought mowers but if you use them commercially they won't last I don't care how good you take care of them.To give an example on an average, people mow there grass 25 times a year.And it takes you 2 hours to mow every week you only use in it 50 hours a year.And that's mowing your yard you know where all the hazards are so you don't tear up your deck.Now a commerercial mowers I ran mine a full 40 hours a week 25 weeks a year for a total 1000 hours a year and that with employees running into things and just not caring about the equipment and they last roughly 8 years.Like I said I'm not knocking everybodies home mowers but there ain't noway they'll hold up to that kind off work load.

 

[reiley99]

I'm not knocking store bought mowers but if you use them commercially they won't last I don't care how good you take care of them.To give an example on an average, people mow there grass 25 times a year.And it takes you 2 hours to mow every week you only use in it 50 hours a year.And that's mowing your yard you know where all the hazards are so you don't tear up your deck.Now a commerercial mowers I ran mine a full 40 hours a week 25 weeks a year for a total 1000 hours a year and that with employees running the running into things and just not caring about the equipment and they last roughly 8 years.Like I said I'm not knocking everybodies home mowers but there ain't noway they'll hold up to that kind off work load.

Any store bought mower will last if youtakecareof them **** my dad has a walmart brand mower hes had for 10 years and the thing looks and runs like new still but the thing wouldn't last weekmowing grass commercially.I'm sure some people will beg to differ on my thought seems like the in things lately but i've been doing landscaping and lawn care for about 17 years now so Ido know a think or 2 about this subject

 

[reiley99]

And one more little thing the 2 hours it takes you to just to cut your grass on a store bought mower it would take you 45 minutes on a commercial mower and probably have it weed wacked too.Like a said i'm not knocking anybody on this forum or there mowers.But in 17 years in the business the hasn't been tomany things i've haven't done or used.I'm just telling Indy what Iknow so he don't make the same mistakes I have.

 

[mezz]

reily, you may be correct, from the commercial heavy use stand point. I don't think Indy is into it that heavily. He is the only one using the equipment & knows the hazards of the lawns he is cutting. At 17, I think he is savy enough to do as he has been doing with a newer piece of equipment that won't break his piggy bank. I am certain that he will take care of whatever he decides & keep it running strong till he can upgrade it for what he will need later. He seems to be a good common sense kid, crap does &/or can happen, if it breaks, you fix it. I don't think he is looking to make a career out of it, he is just busy making extra $ to run his truck & to support his addiction-SNOWMOBILING.-Mezz

 

[timo]

he'll probably put hand guards, mirrors, and a thousand stickers on it.

reily, you may be correct, from the commercial heavy use stand point. I don't think Indy is into it that heavily. He is the only one using the equipment & knows the hazards of the lawns he is cutting. At 17, I think he is savy enough to do as he has been doing with a newer piece of equipment that won't break his piggy bank. I am certain that he will take care of whatever he decides & keep it running strong till he can upgrade it for what he will need later. He seems to be a good common sense kid, crap does &/or can happen, if it breaks, you fix it. I don't think he isn't looking to make a career out of it, he is just busy making extra $ to run his truck & to support his addiction-SNOWMOBILING.-Mezz

 

[Hoosier]

he'll probably put hand guards, mirrors, and a thousand stickers on it.

LOL. I'm thinking he'd like a stand up mower instead of one he has to sit down on.

Indy - have you checked the used market? Seems like there are always many of these kinds of mowers on craiglist. Maybe you're asking for problems going that route.

I used to cut grass in high school and college. I found a good way to get equipment is to get to know someone at a dealer, and then we get a decent trade-in, they can let you know

 

[indy_500]

reily, you may be correct, from the commercial heavy use stand point. I don't think Indy is into it that heavily. He is the only one using the equipment & knows the hazards of the lawns he is cutting. At 17, I think he is savy enough to do as he has been doing with a newer piece of equipment that won't break his piggy bank. I am certain that he will take care of whatever he decides & keep it running strong till he can upgrade it for what he will need later. He seems to be a good common sense kid, crap does &/or can happen, if it breaks, you fix it. I don't think he isn't looking to make a career out of it, he is just busy making extra $ to run his truck & to support his addiction-SNOWMOBILING.-Mezz

Very well put Mezz, not looking for a career here, just mow 2-5 lawns per week on average plus my own and 3 small lawns in a neighboring town (which I wont be using this for). All of the lawns in my neighborhood if the grass isn't overly tall take about an hour and 15 minutes with only 45 minutes on the riding mower. Most are between 1/2 and 1 acre.

 

[lenny]

here is my opinion. I agree with Ezra on this, buy an older commercial unit that is well built. Here is an example:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/130673224930

When I lived in Illinois my yard was 5.5 acres and I mower weekly. I searched and bought a Jacobsen Turf cat with a 23 hr diesel and 72" front deck. I ran that thing for 7 years and negotiated it into the price of the house when I sold the place. I paid $2600 for the machine and it has 1900 hrs, it ran as good as when I bought. By the way it was 10 years old when I got it

This was the model machine I bought:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jacobsen-Tu...324?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1577f394


I have a friend in Illinois that has 2 smaller Grasshoppers. I could see if he may be willing to sell one. He also has 4 older JD but probably like what you got now.


If you take care of a unit like this it will a very long time.

 

[lvr1000]

Go with a zero turn, preferably commercial and used. 9 years ago I picked up a 25 +/- year old Ransome 3wheeler, 18hp Kohler w/ 61" WELDED deck. Things built like a tank. Not used to the wide deck, I clipped a tree at full speed. Impact ejected me side ways my from the seat, but not before shearing the bolts from the seat. No damage to the deck or mower, 8" of bark removed from the tree and I limped for 2 days.
Use to take me up to 3 hours with a 20hp 46" box store mower (POS) that replaced belts every 2 years and 1 motor (briggs) at 6 years. The antique does it in 45 minutes and doesn't care if it's wet. I put Halogen lights on it and mow at night I put new belts on 9 years ago and last fall they still looked great. Big cast iron pulleys on 25mm spindles with 6305 brgs w/ grease purge. Oh and HD Eaton hydro w/ separate reservoir.
Current Riders in fleet:
Above mention POS 11 yr 20hp (2nd motor) 46" (shift on the go) demoted to fertilizing and rolling yard (WI)
The Ransome 34+/-yr 18HP Kohler 61" tank used on 1 acre (WI)
HD garden tractor 19yr 19.5hp Kohler 48" hydro demoted to plowing snow & fertilizing (hydro slipping when warm) (IL)
Zero turn 1 yr 25hp 54" twin hydro mows 3/4 acre with LOTS of obstacles (IL)

Only negative I find with a Zero turn is side hilling can be challenging, unless it is a 3wheeler, then no problem

 

[ezra]

ok go to this fourm and ask your question http://www.lawnsite.com/
they could use a good chuckel
check the used mowers may be a good used turf tracer stand up in your range

this http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=374851 littel 36 in MN looks like clean a quality mower in your range lots of mowers over there

in fact the more I look at that 36 the more I think the wife could do a great job mowing the lawn with that one

 

[russholio]

Don't forget the all-important cup holder!

 

[indy_500]

I have nowhere to store a mower any larger than 42", I can MAYBE get by with a 48". Anything larger is out of the question due to transportation and storage. Not sure if I mentioned that earlier but that is my biggest problem. I've been looking on Craigslist for the past month and haven't found a thing local. Any older quality/commercial mower is $2500+. My limit is $1500 and thats pushing it...

 

[ezra]

I think this 36 http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=374851 from above.
looks like a great mower has skully and bagger.if 1500 is your max offer 1250 spend 100 in fuel done deal prob last mower you will buy in your life.

 

[HardwaterHoosier]

I've got a 42" 18HP, Kohler, Full hydrostatic, 6 cut heights, full floating deck that's a snap to remove, Cub Cadet and have had no issues with it. I just couldn't justify buying the name "John Deere" or "Simplicity"

they are all made by mtd anyway

limited budget? go with a walk-behind or a hydro walk-behind
if you have a bit more to spend, look at a stand-on unit. Wright Stander was the original, but most commercial manf. make one now.


come to think of it, I have a 48" Encore WB that is ready to mow for $1000, sulky and catcher included. It would fit a small op perfectly!

 

[indy_500]

Picked up an almost brand new D140 22 hp V twin hydro 48" high seat 4 deck wheels, etc. for $1500 with 19 hrs. on it. It now has a scuff on the hood from our enclosed trailer (insert mad face)