Buying a new riding mower

[RobMcBee]

Where do you find a good used mower? I'm not a Craigslist person and have no interest in browsing that website. My yard isn't big, and it's very flat. I use a push mower and can finish in about 2 hours, but I'm lazy.

I found my mower on CL. As bad as it is CL still has its uses. Also check out the Nextdoor app. If anyone around you has created a neighborhood it's a useful app. I was about to pull the trigger on a $2k mower but found mine for 450. Just like with anything else on CL do your due diligence to make sure your not buying a piece of crap.

 

[Blkvoodoo]

Using the numbers I've seen here and at the stores:

300 hrs for a $1000 box store
600 hrs for $5000 (and even $10,000) garden tractor.

Ya, I know where my money is going.

if you want to buy one mower and use it forever, buy a commercial grade mower, yes you will pay dearly for it, but if all you have to do is service the thing once or twice a year, maybe buy tires every couple years. you're money ahead.

my Kubota may not be the perfect mower for every application, but it suits mine well ( I have no trees to mow around ) its probably "too big" for my one acre (60" deck), but I spend an hour tops mowing the whole yard. I put fuel in it every 7 hours of run time. change the fuel filter, engine oil and filter once a year, air filter gets blown out every other cut replaced @ 100 hours
all grease fittings get hit every 3 cuttings 2 pumps each, fluid levels checked before every start up. replace the blades every other year.
currently has 1350hours on it, it is 18 years old, diesel, hydrostatic 4wd

I've replaced a couple seals, all the hoses for the loader, front tires, belts, converted it from dynamo to alternator ( free), replaced the mower deck belt and a couple wheels, re configured the starter wiring to eliminate a starting issue that is common with many machines. all since 2010, I fully expect to use this machine for another 15-20 years.

 

[jeepinmatt]

FWIW, Simplicity makes Ferris. You can get anything from a B&S 28 hp to a 35hp CAT Diesel as an option. I'd have loved to have gotten the 29hp FI Kohler though. Also...have any of you ever gotten off of a rigid mount ZTR on to one with full suspension? It's amazing how much better you feel after mowing...and the next day. A Snapper suspension seat doesn't even compare.

There are obviously reasons that Ferris is so expensive compared to the other zero turns. Suspension has to be killer on one. I bet it rides like a caddy.

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About a month ago, I ended up with a Ferris 61" cut, 28hp, and suspension. I'll never own a mower without suspension. It's soooooo smooth. And you can cut a 5ft wide swath at about 10mph

 

[RenegadeT]

Wait how'd I get accused of cruising around Boone in my Husqvarna?...I've never been out of guilford county.
I've got a 42" bought new from the local dealer, not Lowes or Sears. Dealer said I had a better front axle, deck looked the same as the lowes version, and I forget if he gave me any more specific differences. Dealer thru in a front bumper/push bar (well used now and highly recommended) and delivered it. Delivery was key at the time, saved me from borrowing a trailer from @drkelly . Mine also has a knob to adjust deck height so I can adjust anywhere between max/min, not just 6 slots for deck height.
When I mow, I skip the mow detent and push the lever to full blown travel speed. I try to keep the blades sharp, and mow often (at least weekly). I am very happy with his mower. So happy, that I just replaced the deck for $200, after one of the mounting tabs sheared off, and I discovered the deck was rusted paper thin. The rust could be my fault, leaving grass clippings stuck in there, not thoroughly cleaning it often enough.

My neighbor recently bought an ariens from Home Depot. One of the front axle spindle mounts sheared right off. The spindle mount is a sheet metal design, where 2 stamped pieces with half circles are welded together. I think mine is a cast piece there. Home Depot sent a truck out to pick it up, but he was out a mower for a couple weeks.

 

[Joe J.]

Just to put in my two cents about the toughness of huskys, my dad bought one new back when I was about 13 or 14 years old so, at least 17 years ago. I mowed with that thing like any 13 y/o would, wide tf open lol. Just got it as a hand me down last November when I moved into my own house and I'm mowing with it this spring with no issues. It's a little beat up and there have been some modifications done to it but it's still the original motor and drivetrain, deck and even the tires. I'll get a pic of it when I get back to the house.

 

[rockcity]

Hmmm. HD sells Ariens? Generally I try to stay away from buying power equipment from the big box stores as, while the name of tool is good, the tool itself tends to be cheaper than a local dealer.

When I bought my Ariens, they weren't sold in the box stores. I take back what I said about buying another Ariens

 

[1-tonmudder]

I have a JD and my wife works for JD but I wouldn't nessacarily recommend buyin a used JD mower.JD had issues with the hydrostat drive and the replacement parts are dealer only and around $1800.Some of the bigger ones might be better but my L145 is one of those that have the drive issue.If your lookin at a used L series mower do your homework.

 

[cgm147]

Where do you find a good used mower? I'm not a Craigslist person and have no interest in browsing that website. My yard isn't big, and it's very flat. I use a push mower and can finish in about 2 hours, but I'm lazy.

Check your local mom and pops repair shops. The local shop I worked at for three yrs always had some kinda of trade in for a decent deal. She would also have the current yr model demo's for sale..

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[drkelly]

I have a JD and my wife works for JD but I wouldn't nessacarily recommend buyin a used JD mower.JD had issues with the hydrostat drive and the replacement parts are dealer only and around $1800.Some of the bigger ones might be better but my L145 is one of those that have the drive issue.If your lookin at a used L series mower do your homework.

My father has owned three JD mowers over the past 25-30 yrs. All of them were the entry level models. I was not impressed with the lifespan of any of them. I think each one lasted around 8-12 years, which I guess is OK for what he paid for them, but being a JD, I expected better. Apparently their entry level stuff is just like all the other manufactures. Maulcruiser sounds like he knows what is up with the JD equipment and I guess like he said, you have to step up to the X300 line or above to get the higher quality normally associated with JD.

 

[drkelly]

Buy a real mower. Not a throw away POS from the big box. Sold my husvarna and bought a 20 year old toro that will mow circles around the husky. It does not bog down, clog up with grass, and I don't have to mow 2-3 times when the grass is wet.

John deere 345 has power steering, liquid cooled, heavy deck, goes more than 4 mph. 7-8 grand new.

John Deere 345 *Low Hours*

This is the bigger version of mine, about 6 grand new.


toro wheel horse mower

I emailed the guy with the JD345. No response, so it must be sold. I'm not surprised. That seemed like a good deal on a killer machine.

 

[TARider]

I emailed the guy with the JD345. No response, so it must be sold. I'm not surprised. That seemed like a good deal on a killer machine.

There's an X340 with 100 hours for $3,500 on advrider. I think you have to be a member to see the classifieds. It's in Illinois but the guy said he'll be in Atlanta mid June if you work something out.
It has me thinking about firing the yard guy.

 

[drkelly]

^^^I'm thinking about something like that. Something in the X300 series. They make four wheel steer versions which while I don't NEED it, does sound helpful in some situations.

 

[1-tonmudder]

I guess like he said, you have to step up to the X300 line or above to get the higher quality normally associated with JD.

Their quality isnt what it once was either,like most companies these days they are just riding on the rep from years gone by.

 

[RenegadeT]

get on the waiting list, ride the mower of the future...
Amazon.com : Recharge Mower G2-RM12 30-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Rechargeable Riding Lawn Mower : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[RobMcBee]

So as it turns out, I already own a Husqvarna. Apparently Husqvarna bought out Dixon and started painting them orange instead of blue. So another vote for Husqvarna lol