Lawn Tractor

[AHarris]

Just bought a house with 6 acres up North and will need a lawn tractor to keep about 2 acres of it mowed. Consumer reports recommends the John Deere tractors available at the box stores (Home Depot or Lowes) and Craftman (made by Husquavarna). Looking to spend no more than $1600.



Any recommendations on good ones and ones to stay away from appreciated.

 

[JFought]

cough up more $
get a zero turn mower, even the cheep ones are pretty good quality.
it will haul butt, and pretty much mow at the hauling butt speed.

Especially if you have trees, you need to go this way. the ridding tractors suck going around trees.

 

[Hoefler]

Skip the big box stores. You can get the same machine at the John Deer, Cub Cadet, etc. . If you have a problem or need service you are going to have to take it there anyways Why not start building a relationship from the get go. And like said above, if you double the amount you want to spend, you can get 0% financing and wind up with a machine that will last a very long time instead of getting a disposable one.

 

[Blu-meanie]

My 11 year old MTD is getting up in age and I am looking around for a replacement. I am considering the Husky, Sears, and maybe one other in the 46 inch deck. Using a gps unit, one of my fields is 4 miles per mow, so these machines do get some miles on them. The Deer's want more money just for the green paint and the name.

I see they all have a cup holder now. What I mow, the contents would only end up all over the mower if the can/cup even remained in the holder.

 

[2Rowdy]

I had a Craftsman and was a very good mower from sears and when I did have a problem they sent someone out and repaired the ignition switch no charge. If you buy your lawnmower from a tractor dealership such as deere unless it is a consumer products store (lawn and garden) you will get second rate service. Someone with a broke down $200,000 tractor is going be put ahead of you every time. As it should be.

 

[rscurtis]

When it comes to OPE, you should think in terms of life cycle cost, not the original purchase price. Your $1500 tractor will be quickly used up on two acres of grass. CU tests OPE on how they work when new, not on how long they last. A check rated machine today could be scrap on its way to China in five years.



A used premium machine may be a better bet if your are somewhat mechanically inclined. I bought this Gravely 16G last year for $2000- it's already 20 years old. When last made in 2002, this was a $7500+ tractor. It will still outlast half a dozen box store tractors. Another used choice is the legendary John Deere 318, or their 430 series with its Yanmar diesel engine.

 

[Blu-meanie]

rscurtis:

How big is that mower deck. Careful wording was required for this question. LOL

 

[GaryOwen]

I am in the process of buying a used 1997 Cub Cadet HDS2185 with 400 hours. The owner of a local mower repair shop is going over it and will paint it too. I will end up with about $600 to $700 in it (he wants cost +$200). Sounded like the way to go to me.

 

[rscurtis]

The deck is 50", shaft driven, and uses Timken bearings in the spindles. The deck itself is just shy of 200#. A new mower deck by itself today is near $1500.

 

[Skydiver]

AHarris, take a good long look at how a cheap riding mower is built vs a commercial mower. I bought a few cheap riders to mow our 2. 5 acres in years past. They last 4-5 years. I am a maintanence man so the maint is done. I find the engines do fair. It's the deck and running gear that craps out.
I used a king cutter finish 5' mower behind my Ford 2810 tractor for 13 years. That set up was nice but really too big to mow around trees.
I finally said enough. I spent $10,400 on a Kubota ZD 326 ztr. I will never have to buy another mower. I have a comfortable quite ride that uses 0. 6 gallons of red diesel per hour swinging a 5 foot deck. To be honest, it's so nice that my wife does most of the mowing.
You can spend $1600 every 5 years or invest in a machine that will become your friend.
I would say to look for a commercial unit that has less than 500 hours for half the price of a new unit. Might find someone in landscaping that's going out of business".
If you ever use a ztr for an hour you will be hooked. 4 years ago I borrowed one from work. My wife used it for a day and she was hooked. Money well spent.

 

[SRath]

cough up more $

get a zero turn mower, even the cheep ones are pretty good quality.

it will haul butt, and pretty much mow at the hauling butt speed.



Especially if you have trees, you need to go this way. the ridding tractors suck going around trees.

+1 on getting a zero turn mower. I have a JD 420 and always figured I'd get some attachments for it, but they are mighty expensive so I just have a 60" lawn mower. A good zero turn could do the same job faster and cheaper with easier, less expensive maintenance. Not just a little faster, but a LOT faster. The "faster" part alone is worth the price if you are mowing 2 acres week after week after week. Think of all the fishing you will miss with a garden tractor mower.



John Deere builds pretty good stuff, but you pay deerely for that green and yellow paint every time you need to buy any part at all. It might as well say "Harley Davidson" on it.

 

[Skydiver]

Our company uses Hustler, Exmark and even has a small Husqvarna with gas engines. The first two listed consume close to 3 gallons per hour.
My BIL just bought a small home owner model 26 horse Scag ztr. Nice mower, but It does not have one grease zerk. That I do not like.
I can't remember which, but some ztrs have a tapered spindles with larger roller bearings that last much longer. Or is it the other way around?
Before I bought the Kubota I read about ztrs till my eyes crossed. Most all commercial units are very good quality. It's the box store type smaller units that won't stand up.
Tip: Small tires ride rough. Our Kubota has 25" rears and a suspension seat=smoother ride.
Oh well,,,got to go cut the weeds. 3 weeks of above 60F makes things grow.

 

[98ramtough]

What is your 2 acres that you are mowing like? Is it flat and pretty smooth? If so then by all means, get a cheap zero turn and replace it in 3-4 years.



I do like how people say that Deere is just paying for green paint. What a joke! You are also paying for the best service, and best quickest available parts. People that say this usually have Green envy.



My advise,



Buy a used JD 425, 435, 455 etc. They can be had near $2k for a good used unit. What does this get you? Power steering, liquid cooled Kawasaki motor that will last forever. Its quiter than the cheap briggs etc air cooled motors. Runs smoother, runs cooler so in the summer you don't get the heat. This also gets you a Shaft drive transmission and deck vs cheap belt setups. Oh yeah, and you can run it for a few years and when you sell it to upgrade, you won't lose any money.



Yup, just paying for Green paint... .



Here is my cheap $2500 mower.



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[CharlieFoxtrot]

The Craftsman, Husqvarna (Lowes) and Ariens (Home Depot) are all made by the same company. Only the hood and some dashboard details are different between the brands.



I have a 46" Ariens with a Kohler (24hp, iirc), about to enter its 3rd season of mowing my acre of crappy overgrown cow-pasture lawn. No problems with the mower or the engine. Based on reputation, as well as my excellent customer support experience with the plumbing division of Kohler, I swear by Kohler products.



I do all the maintenance myself, and have found that it's not even worth going to Home Depot or Lowes for parts - they don't have squat! I get mine at Sears or a mower shop.



I would have preferred a new or used zero-turn commerical mower, even a walk-behind, but the wife vetoed that idea. If my mower craps out in 5 years like Skydiver says, I'll say "I told you so!"



later

kevin

 

[AHarris]

X300 or D110

thanks fellas. Found a John Deere X300 (the better unit sold at the dealer and not the box store) with 67 hours on it, 2 years old for $1800 on Craigslist. The guy is out of town until 12 March. If that doesn't pan out I might get the JD D110 at Lowes for $1600. Consumer Reports rated even the Lowes JD mowers at the very top. More interested in a tractor so I can get the snow blower attachment and use it for light snow removal in the winter. My budget is under $2k for a lawn tractor right now at the very most.

 

[SRath]

What is your 2 acres that you are mowing like? Is it flat and pretty smooth? If so then by all means, get a cheap zero turn and replace it in 3-4 years.



I do like how people say that Deere is just paying for green paint. What a joke! You are also paying for the best service, and best quickest available parts. People that say this usually have Green envy.



My advise,



Buy a used JD 425, 435, 455 etc. They can be had near $2k for a good used unit. What does this get you? Power steering, liquid cooled Kawasaki motor that will last forever. Its quiter than the cheap briggs etc air cooled motors. Runs smoother, runs cooler so in the summer you don't get the heat. This also gets you a Shaft drive transmission and deck vs cheap belt setups. Oh yeah, and you can run it for a few years and when you sell it to upgrade, you won't lose any money.



Yup, just paying for Green paint... .



Here is my cheap $2500 mower.



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I'll bet you have a cute little John Deere mailbox, don't you? Maybe some John Deere boots, too?



I own a JD and have owned 2 others over the years. They get the job done, but you have more money than sense if you take it to a dealer for ANYTHING; and they definitely DO break. At the VERY least, avoid any air-cooled JD and spend the money for a liquid cooled. Those Onan engines are crap valve-in-block engines and they will puke exhaust seats and require a new block which will be priced higher than a replacement engine.



You definitely DO pay deerely for that green and yellow paint when it comes time to fix anything on it.

 

[Dl5treez]

thanks fellas. Found a John Deere X300 (the better unit sold at the dealer and not the box store) with 67 hours on it, 2 years old for $1800 on Craigslist. The guy is out of town until 12 March. If that doesn't pan out I might get the JD D110 at Lowes for $1600. Consumer Reports rated even the Lowes JD mowers at the very top. More interested in a tractor so I can get the snow blower attachment and use it for light snow removal in the winter. My budget is under $2k for a lawn tractor right now at the very most.

The 100 series JD mowers you buy at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc are exactly the same as the 100 series JD mowers you buy at a John Deere store.



Same price, too.



Just sayin' if you end up going to a 100 series if you buy through John Deere the price is the same, and any issues will be much easier to get fixed since you're a John Deere customer not a Lowe's or Home Depot customer.

 

[98ramtough]

Why make it a personal attack? What the hell does my mailbox or danner boots have to do with anything? If you want to really gather some facts, tell me this.



Take any 15 year old lawn mower brand, call the dealer for a part, and see what the lead time is on it. Tell me that the GREEN dealer won't have it quickest... . They will.



As far as liquid vs air cooled, I agree. But kawasaki air cooled is light years better than briggs.



In my neighborhood everyone has 2-3 acre yards. There are a couple Cheapo craftsman, husky etc lawn mowers around that break every three years and they get a new one. Then there is the 7-10 other people that have the Green crap that is 10-15 years old and continues to provide reliable service. Change the oil, grease the spindles etc and they run forever.

I'll bet you have a cute little John Deere mailbox, don't you? Maybe some John Deere boots, too?



I own a JD and have owned 2 others over the years. They get the job done, but you have more money than sense if you take it to a dealer for ANYTHING; and they definitely DO break. At the VERY least, avoid any air-cooled JD and spend the money for a liquid cooled. Those Onan engines are crap valve-in-block engines and they will puke exhaust seats and require a new block which will be priced higher than a replacement engine.



You definitely DO pay deerely for that green and yellow paint when it comes time to fix anything on it.

 

[bheiting]

Just bought a house with 6 acres up North and will need a lawn tractor to keep about 2 acres of it mowed. Consumer reports recommends the John Deere tractors available at the box stores (Home Depot or Lowes) and Craftman (made by Husquavarna). Looking to spend no more than $1600.

Any recommendations on good ones and ones to stay away from appreciated.

My son in law purchased the John Deere 304 a couple years ago and it's a great machine. Has four wheel steering - nearly as good as zero turn and you can mount attachments. It's top rated by Cons. Reports. The Kawasaki engine is a jewel. Someone recommended the 324 which has a better transmission. I believe you will have to fork over $1600 for a new one.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

It's alreaded been mentioned by the walk behinds are probably more popular than the riders. like Bobcat, Skag.