Riding lawn mowers

[E2360]

How about a little input from the experts out there. Looking into a rider mower. Have about 1/2 acre and will be doing the neighbors 1/2 also with hopes of a snow blower/ blade for winter (about 4000 Sq Ft drive)



Problem is not all straight cutting. It will be a lot of going around landscaping,decks and through fence gates.



Looking seriously at the Deere LT160 Freedom. All mulch deck so no worries about a big bagger or the side chute for around the landscape. . Deck will fit through gates.



No other Dedicated mulch decks that I found from other brands.



Any thought are appreciated about this unit summer/winter function.



Thanks

 

[MMiller]

Just my $. 02..... my grandfather has farmed since he was old enough to walk, and still does today, just on a smaller scale. I asked him why he did not use his mulching attatchment all summer. He said, you can do that, but you will end up with way to much mulch for the lawn to be happy. I know bagging is a pain, but he thought it was necessary.



I have his JD rider 225 with a 42" deck that does a real good job. I also have the tiller which works wonderfully, go right into sod and make a garden. It also came with the snow blower which is awesome. I no longer scoop snow, and can move the snow a long ways from the driveway. It does pick up rocks pretty badly though so be careful.



John Deere has always had high quality lawn a garden equipment. This comes from a farm boy that was raised on a farm with NO green tractors in the shed except for the lawn mower. EVERYBODY knows, cars are green, trucks are red and TRACTORS are YELLOW!



Michael

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

If your buying low-end keep in mind that the entry level Deere's are really no different than anyone elses. I've known quite a few people that bought entry level Deere's and weren't happy at all. I bought a Cub Cadet 1018 (they call it the 1042 now) and have been very happy with it. I've put 110 hours on it thus far mowing our 1 acre lawn. When I bought it there was a shortage of engines so they were putting 22 horse v-twins in them (should have an 18 horse single). One thing I'd highly recommend you look for if you are going to have to do a decent amount of maneuvering is a tractor with hydrostatic drive and one that has two pedals - one for forward and one for reverse. If you need to shift from forward to reverse it can be a great hassle. My last tractor (a 1973 14 horse Ford) had this and it was a deal breaker for it's replacement. This tractor came with a mulching deck and mulching blades already on it. I just had to buy a plastic plug to seal up the discharge outlet. So for I have had zero problems with it and have done nothing other than maintenance.

 

[MMiller]

If your buying low-end keep in mind that the entry level Deere's are really no different than anyone elses. I've known quite a few people that bought entry level Deere's and weren't happy at all.

Good catch Steve, I keep forgetting about the junk that JD is selling to compete with walmart.



Michael

 

[EBolgiano]

The LT 160 made by John Deere is a good machine. We have one at home. If you do decide to purchase one buy it at the JD dealer. As stated previously the ones sold at Home Depot are not the same quality as the "real ones". The thing we really like about the JD equipment is the availability of parts and at our dealer the LT mowers are treated like agriculture equipment.

 

[Slow Six]

I've been running Grasshoppers for close to 20 years and have liked them. They are lever steer so they are one of the most maneuverable machines out there. They come in different sizes, mulching, discharge or collecting, gas or diesel. You can get a blade or snow blower or a rotary broom. They have a pretty decent site on the net. Check them out. I use mine commercially so I put the hours on them. There is a real good aerator available as well.

 

[Cooker]

I asked him why he did not use his mulching attatchment all summer. He said, you can do that, but you will end up with way to much mulch for the lawn to be happy. I know bagging is a pain, but he thought it was necessary.

FWIW - Unless you are overfertilizing and causing the lawn to grow at an extremely fast rate, leaving the clipping on the grass is healthier for the turf.

 

[strokerschmoker]

Talk to your local JD dealer now because they should have some deals going on right now for year end clearance. You might be surprised at the deal you can get at this time on '05 models because they are wanting to get rid of them to bring in the new '06's. They have changed all the mowers for the '06 year.

 

[Babyfat]

Where Are You From?





Simplicity Broadmoor With Either A 38" Or 44" Deck And Gator Blades, Don't Get A Mulcher If You Have Thick Lawn Unless You Want To Mower Every Other Day

 

[JEastbourn]

E2360,



I am a lawn and garden mechanic at a JD dealership in NW MO. I think that the LT160 would be a good size for you but DO NOT get any Deere with the Freedom 42" cutting deck with a cogged timing belt that drives the blades. You will be sorry. Yes the deck will mulch but the belts break easily allowing the blades to destroy each other. I am not a fan of baggers either. As long as the grass isn't very tall and it isn't clumping up when you mow, then just let it get worked back into the yard and it will be fine. That machine would handle a little snow pushing if equipped with weights and a good set of tire chains. If you have any other questions let me know.

 

[Eric_B]

John Deere as well as many others = MTD ??

 

[JHofmann]

Do your self a favor and get a Simplicity!

 

[TowPro]

I realize we all tend to want to buy the best of everything we can (that's why we own CTD's ) But around 15 years ago I bought a craftsman GT-4000 Garden tractor (made by Roper) with a kohler 18hp magnum engine. For 4 years I was cutting around 15-20 empty Mobile home lots as a part time job with that tractor. I cut my own 1 acre of grass for 12 years (the rest of my land is woods). I snow plowed 2000' of driveway with it for 12 years. I used it out in the woods for bringing in firewood. I have 2 retrievers so my yard is full of sticks, logs, rocks you name it, so I have cut just about everything with this tractor. Its still going strong! Its not the prettyist thing in the neighborhood but its lived a hard life. The only thing I have had go wrong with it I caused. The only thing I don't like about it is the center hub on the mower deck is not rebuildable (pulley welded on) and I have had to replace it twice (because of rock damage). When I need parts I just look up the part number in the manual and call sears, its on my door step in a couple days. Parts are not over priced either. One time I broke a drive belt (and forgot where I put my spare) so I ran up to the "green" store. The salesman took a couple minutes to figure out what belt it was, pulled it down from the wall and proceded to tell me it would be $58. 00 :{ Needless to say the belt stayed there and I got the gates version from Sears for $18. 00.



The tractor was a good bit cheeper then the "brand names" at the time, and there is no way you could convince me if I had of bought the "brand name" 15 years ago it would be in any better shape then the one I am still running now. Snow plowing is the hardest on it. A couple years ago I bought an ATV to take over the snow plowing and moving firewood jobs so the tractor life has been extended.



My brother and Dad run those cheep MDT ones from Tractor supply. They cut grass fine but they have this system where the pullys change size to change the gear ratio. When ever they need adjustment they come visit me

 

[HParfitt]

Hi,

I think John Deere makes some great equipment. Unfortunately I think for the home owner, small tractors, they make average equipment and sell it at John Deere prices. I have a Cub Cadet. It was a 3 year leftover when I bought it and made a killer deal. It's an 1864. It has an 18hp twin Kohler on it. From what I'm told it's a decent engine. It's air cooled. One less thing to worry about. A lot of the small Deere's have water cooled Kawasaki's. Kaws are great motors but I didn't want to deal with another engine in the garage that is water cooled. More maintenance. The Cub has power steering which is great. Steer with one hand hold the beverage with the other. It is also hydro drive. Definately want hydro drive. Mine isn't foot operated it's a lever. I also got the smallest 3 blade deck. A 3 blade deck will cut a lot better than a 2 blade of the same size I was told by a friend. My deck is a 42". It also has hydraulic implement lift.



Some things I have learned. I have belt drive for implements. The new Cubs use a shaft drive for implements. It's a pain when you snap a belt 1/2 way into getting the lawn done. It happen once now I just replace it every other year. A small pain. Also I suggest you look at how easy it is to chage from the mower deck to the snow thrower. For me taking the snow blower off and putting the mower on isn't bad. Putting the snow thrower on is a 2 person job. It's big, heavy, and cumbersome. It needs to be aligned perfectly so the bolts can go in.



Also get the snow blower right away. Unless you have a 4 wheel drive compact tractor you don't have enought tractor weight to push snow with 2 wheel drive, even with chains.



If money is no object I'm told Kubota is the way to go.

 

[BlueKnight]

I have a John Deere GX355 Diesel with a 54in deck and 42in snowblower. What a great piece of machinery. I know its a lot more tractor than I need, but, all guys need toys.

 

[Rman]

I have a JD320 that I picked up at auction dirt cheap. Power flow bagger, 48" deck, hyrdaulic lift with hydrostatic drive. Nice machine. Check out the JD spin steer models, they turn excellent and would be a good match for what you need to do.

 

[JasonBrown]

I have a John Deere 318 about 25 years old. It cuts great but slow. My dad bought an Exmark zero-turn 60" deck 25 horse V-twin Kohler 2 years ago. This thing is unreal. It will cut 10mph and it looks like a golf course. amazing piece of equipment. It should have been though, it was about 7 grand. He always kids around about having 2 rules when using it.



1. ) It has a seat belt, use it!

2. ) If you mount it, you will destroy it.

 

[JJuday]

Why not get a 4 wheeler with a good sized pull type mower? Work and play, the best of both worlds.

 

[JoshPeters]

I have a John Deere 212 that was built before I was... . and I'm 27. I got it from my parents who bought it new. Maintance... what's that?! I got it from them because it wouldnt' run. My dad SERIOUSLY didn't know that it had an air filter! I pulled it off, and there was no where within the circular air filter that I could see the SUN! Terrible! I put a new air filter on it, changed the oil, and rebuilt the gear box. (shifter broke off because my brother kicked it) I bought the factory manual and it said these things came with 130psi compression new... . Did a compression test on this one, 127! Even with the lack of maintance it's perfect!



I've only broken 1 belt, and that was may fault. I got it jammed in the PTO/Frame when I was changing impliments. (blower to mower) The thing blows snow well, although I have found that I need more snow or heavy snow to throw it any distance.



This tractor although just a little 12 hp, has moved hay waggons, pulled trucks, Jump started cars, and been my "4wheeler" growing up.



If I every have to buy a tractor again, it'll be a Deere!



Josh