Riding mower on the semi-cheap?

Rich

Rich

Asshole at large
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Location
Central PA
So we're moving up to PA and I have about an acre of lawn to mow, as well as an acre of "grazing land" to just cut down (i figure just set the deck to the highest setting and go). Our budget is really tight right now - in about 2 years, we'll be going to a small tractor with a bucket and what-not, but for the time being, we just need something to cut the grass.

The yard is quite hilly, and if it was something with a little ass that could push a plow or a snowthrower, that would be good too, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

Budget is about a grand - any input as to what brand/model I should be looking for? (used, obviously)

Thanks...
 
hey Rich, I am in the same boat right now. i just bought a new house with about 2 acres to mow and i am going to buy a big tractor or im thinkin about a dixie chopper(fastest lawn mower made they claim). anyway I have a great Cub Cadet with a 42" deck that cuts great and is a few years old. i paid a little under 3500 for it and im sellin her for around 1500 ish

ill get you the specs later tonight ifn yer interested. call me after 8 and ill walk out and tell you what it is exactly. what i know...shaft drive...lotsa power and real nice and reliable.
 
The Husqvarna that we sell at Lowe's are good for what you described because they can tow one and half times their own weight and you can easily remove the cutting deck. What's your budget? I honestly have an John deere with a 42 inch cut that was 1899, but got returned and is now down to 1329. Let me know.
 
I bought a used Craftsman riding mower for $800 about three years ago. Some old guy had it, and it was like new cause he hardly used it. It is a 42" cut and has a 16hp Kohler engine I think. It has the hydrostatic drive and works great. I would recommend finding something similar to anyone looking for a sub $1,000 riding mower. I think you are going to want at least a 42" cut.
 
greg slade said:
hey Rich, I am in the same boat right now. i just bought a new house with about 2 acres to mow and i am going to buy a big tractor or im thinkin about a dixie chopper(fastest lawn mower made they claim). anyway I have a great Cub Cadet with a 42" deck that cuts great and is a few years old. i paid a little under 3500 for it and im sellin her for around 1500 ish
ill get you the specs later tonight ifn yer interested. call me after 8 and ill walk out and tell you what it is exactly. what i know...shaft drive...lotsa power and real nice and reliable.
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the dixie choppers are badass,my brother has three of them for his lawn main. business,one of them is a good 15 years old and it still will cut grass at what seems like 10mph,so yeah they are fast,on a side note there is a pawn shop here in town that has one someone pawned and never came back for it,it looks to be in great shape and its one of the newer ones by looking at the exhaust
 
my dad's got a Murray mower back in Edenton he's looking to sell for about $250. I can get you specs if you might be interested. PM me
 
StudNuts said:
just get a 4 wheeler and put the deck attachment on. Plus you can put a plow on it for the wintry months.
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Super.. find me a good utility 4-wheeler and a mower attachment for $1k total and we're good.. :flipoff2:

Honestly, not that I won't consider it, but I was more looking for brands/models. Trying to bring another big ass item up to PA will add another layer of complexity to an already complex move.
 
will use a bigger model scag. and its the best mower ive ever used. theres a guy down the road selling min donkeys.....you could get 2 and let them have at it! ^ the cub souds like it would do good.
 
Why dont you see what your neighbors in PA have or check some areas around there to see if there are any bargains? Im sure it will save ya some room on the move...
 
y2kcrawler said:
Why dont you see what your neighbors in PA have or check some areas around there to see if there are any bargains? Im sure it will save ya some room on the move...
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The sellers of the house have a Kubota, but all the cheaper tractors I've seen available have been rusted out POS's.. But I'm wanting to see what to look for or stay away from..
 
Rich said:
The sellers of the house have a Kubota, but all the cheaper tractors I've seen available have been rusted out POS's.. But I'm wanting to see what to look for or stay away from..
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Hey man, you'd better get used to it. Two years from now, everything you own is going to be a rusted out POS. :flipoff2:
 
STAY AWAY from murray,MTD, bowen, home depot or lowes john deeres, husqvarnas,huskee, and yard machines.

All are made at the same murray ohio crap plant and all are garbage.

I have a 3year old "premium" MTD with the 22hp tecumseh engine...the engine is still great, EVERYTHING else on the POS I have replaced. Cost 1800 new I have over 2k in replacement parts.....
 
Another thing to keep in mind, no matter what HP the engine is, get at least a 2cyl engine, the differance in torque is amazing. My old single cyl 12.5 hp Murray had a real tough time mowing over the septic field, even when the grass wasn't tall, it was just thick, the Troy Bilt (18hp oppsosed twin) I got from Rob takes the same area like it isn't there, even when its a foot tall. wet is another story.......

might ask the seller if they want to part with the Kubota, and forgo a few of the other things you want done, you may be surprised how soon you'll need it, With out 4x4, that driveway will be fun in the HD
 
my dad's Murray is about 15 years old, so it was built before the "garbage" line.:flipoff2:

Kevin is right though, the 12.5 hp single cylinder does have a tendency to bog down in a wet/thick grass situation.
 
stay away from anything sold at lowes or HD. They look very similar to the ones sold at lawn care/tractor dealers but are quite different. The transmissions and engines are different and they use cheaper components, etc.

find an older used dixie chopper, scag, gravely, or airens (parent company of gravely). If well maintained, you should be good to go. I have a 50" cut airens zero turn and can cut the yard (about 1/2 acre lot) in less than 20 minutes. I bought it new for around $3200 but I've seen used ones out there for half that or less in decent shape.

an old classic rear engine Snapper is always a good choice. they can be had for under $500 and work great. I just got rid of one that we got back in 1984 and really used it way more than normal (cut grass at multiple rental properties as a kid). It still had plenty of use when I sold it...
 
Rich,

You need the lazy boy lawnmower:

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Contact JT. I think it is still around and has a new engine. He might let it go cheap!

DK
 
Rich,
Just get a mower attachment for a tractor and hook it up to your rockwell axel on your FJ

I got my John deer lawn tractor on ebay for $500 it is a real JD not one from HD


When you moving?
 
Tractor Supply's line of supreme mowers are nice. I have a 42" cut 18 hp hydrastatic drive that I use on my 1.5 acre yard. New it was around $1500, have seen them used for half that.
 
I guess the lazy boy mower is a little red for you? You'll have 2 yankee neighbors that will complain about the junk you have now and you'll be begging me for the mower.:fuck-you:
 
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