So, I need To Buy A Riding Mower..

I've bought 2 new mowers in my life..a 1993 Simplicity Broadmoor. I replaced it with a 2013 Simplicity Broadmoor. I took the old one to the rental property, still mowing every week.

Simplicity makes a great riding tractor IMO.

freebe

freebe said:

I've bought 2 new mowers in my life..a 1993 Simplicity Broadmoor. I replaced it with a 2013 Simplicity Broadmoor. I took the old one to the rental property, still mowing every week.

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I've never actually gone out and bought a mower.

1. Got an old reel type push mower for free with my first house in 1998. Word is, it had been handed down from one owner to the next since it was new. The house was 1880's vintage, and the mower was probably 1920's (if I had to guess), but it was well-kept and worked great. A little grease on the gears and sharpening of the reel is all it ever cost me.
2. Broke my shoulder, couldn't push the reel type anymore (I actually missed the exercise), so a buddy gave me one of his 1973 Toro mowers with an aluminum deck. It's still my primary push mower, although I've upgraded it to steel wheels with roller bearings and hardened shoulder bolts for wheel axles. Total investment < $50.
3. Got an almost new 60" Deere ZTrak 757 "free" with my second house. In the back and forth of negotiations, I got the seller to throw it in. I think he paid roughly $8k for it, two years earlier.
4. Got a 72" deck free with my compact utility tractor. Prior owner never used it, and neither did I. It was sold on ebay.

I figure the two mowers I have now should outlast my mowing years, but we'll have to see. I put only 65 hours on the Deere each year, and it's design usage is more than that for every two weeks.

That's awesome Joful...Great story on the old reel mower.

Simplicity Prestige here, love it

I bought a 2002 AYP/Craftsman GT 3000 a few months ago with lots of attachments. I had to replace some steering parts that were worn, namely the bushings and the drag link but it's fairly easy to work on and the Kohler Command engine is strong. I wanted to get a JD 318 since they're built like a tank but one of those with a blown Onan engine cost more than I paid for everything I got including my 46" two stroke snow thrower which is an expensive attachment.

JustWood said:

2 things come to mind.
"You get what ya pay for"
and
" They don't make'em like they used to"
I bought what I thought to be a heavier duty model Cub Cadet 12 years ago. At 130 hours looking under the deck last weekend there are a lot of highly wore pins. I realize they are wear parts but more than I'd like to see at 130 hours.
Frame, deck , and engine are robust.

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130 hours on the machine in 12 years. Wish that was me. I have 127 hours on mine and this is my 4th season cutting with it. Use it a little to haul wood around the house too, but 10 hours a year mowing grass would be wonderful. Mind you, I have a John Deer Z445 zero turn that does 9mph. Should have bought something faster! Took the deck off a couple weeks ago to pull the blades and sharpen them and I am starting to see rust on the deck. So, I am sitting here wondering if I should take the entire deck off this winter, sand blast it down, and then powder coat the underside.

Doing The Dixie Eyed Hustle said:

Splitter is a Troy Built 22 ton, vert / horiz 3 years old with maybe a dozen cords through it.. I've had it here for 1 year.

Mower is a Craftsman 42" deck, Briggs & Stratton, 3 years old. I've also had it here for 1 year and have been using it.

Happy with both of them.

New mower $1000 - $1500

New splitter $1200 - $1500

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You might want to change the transaxle oil if it has never been changed. The owners manual that comes with the lawn tractor says something like the transaxle is factory sealed and requires no fluid changes. However, the maker of the transaxle (often Tuff Torq) says to change the fluid after the first 50 hours and then every 200 hours thereafter. And if you're using it for more than just mowing, you should use the recommended heavier duty oil (synthetic 5W-50 for mine).

I've learned the hard way that Tuff Torq is correct and the owners manual is hogwash. I just replaced a transaxle on a 5 year old (485 hours) Husqvarna lawn tractor. Note that your newer Craftsman lawn tractor and the Husqvarna lawn tractor are both likely made by AYP.

fabsroman said:

130 hours on the machine in 12 years. Wish that was me. I have 127 hours on mine and this is my 4th season cutting with it.

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I'd say you're still below average on hours. I do ~160 hours per year, between my mower and tractor. Usually 70 on the ZTR mower and 90 on the tractor. I don't think I'm an extreme case.

Joful said:

I'd say you're still below average on hours. I do ~160 hours per year, between my mower and tractor. Usually 70 on the ZTR mower and 90 on the tractor. I don't think I'm an extreme case.

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Thats why he said he has a zt that he uses mostly. At least thats how I took it.

I probably average 25 hours a year. I'd have to look at my hour meter to know for sure, but it takes me about 45 minutes to mow 1.5 acres and I do it once a week as long as the grass grows, and then twice in the fall to mulch up leaves. Even that's too much mower time for me, but I despise mowing. I've got a 50" Dixie Chopper ztr, and there's times I wish I'd gone with a 60", or even a 72"!

clemsonfor said:

Thats why he said he has a zt that he uses mostly. At least thats how I took it.

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127 / 3.5 years = 36 hours per year. Not much.

bassJAM said:

I've got a 50" Dixie Chopper ztr, and there's times I wish I'd gone with a 60", or even a 72"!

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I had a 72", but sold it. Too big, unless your lawn is absolutely parking-lot flat. It scalps or hits the anti-scalp rollers on any small bump or dip in the yard. I now mow with a 60" Deere ZTrak 757, which is just about the perfect size, IMO. I watch the commercial guys in our area, and at least 80% of them have this mower, in the same size and configuration as mine. Most yards the commercial guys are mowing are on the larger side, 3 - 6 acres. Mine is just shy of 4 acres.

Doing The Dixie Eyed Hustle said:

Splitter is a Troy Built 22 ton, vert / horiz 3 years old with maybe a dozen cords through it.. I've had it here for 1 year.

Mower is a Craftsman 42" deck, Briggs & Stratton, 3 years old. I've also had it here for 1 year and have been using it.

Happy with both of them.

New mower $1000 - $1500

New splitter $1200 - $1500

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And that's what really matters.

I've never bought a new lawn tractor either. Just couldn't afford one. Prefer to get a good used one and fix it up the way I want it.

It's been 4 years since we bought a used JD Sabre 46" and it still runs like new. Got a set of AG tires for it so I could mow down in the ditch bank and haul loads of rounds out of the woodlot. There's not much that will stop it. It paid for itself a long time ago.

Joful said:

I had a 72", but sold it. Too big, unless your lawn is absolutely parking-lot flat. It scalps or hits the anti-scalp rollers on any small bump or dip in the yard. I now mow with a 60" Deere ZTrak 757, which is just about the perfect size, IMO. I watch the commercial guys in our area, and at least 80% of them have this mower, in the same size and configuration as mine. Most yards the commercial guys are mowing are on the larger side, 3 - 6 acres. Mine is just shy of 4 acres.

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72" might be a little large for me really, as the back part of my property has some slopes. I used to have a Kubota front deck in 60" but the deck fell apart and I couldn't find another deck, new or used, for less than $2500 so I went with a new ztr. Even being 10" smaller it shaved 15 minutes off my mowing time.

There's something to be said for the speed of a ZTR. I can also do my lawn faster with my 60" ZTR than I could with the 72" deck on the tractor.

Joful said:

There's something to be said for the speed of a ZTR. I can also do my lawn faster with my 60" ZTR than I could with the 72" deck on the tractor.

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My dad was ill back in May and I had to mow his lawn with his JD 110. He has 2/3 of an acre and it took me longer to mow his lawn with that mower versus my 2 acres with my ztr. Going to buy a tractor at some point here, and still going to use the ztr to mow the grass and when my oldest is old enough to run the ztr I will buy a second one so she and I can get the grass done in 30 minutes. Yes, on average I spent 35 hours a year mowing grass, but that is 34.999999 hours too many in my book. Just like almost every chore in life, the faster it gets done, the better. I take no pleasure from maintaining the lawn/yard other than in the end result and not having to pay somebody to do it.

Yea I get no pleasure in mowing grass. I do it not to pay someone and so the place do sent look like a dump. But as far as weather I have weed grass or bermuda or cut close or 3"s I dont care.

I guess I'm alone here, but driving my JD 757 is one of the chores i mind the least. It's guaranteed solitude for 2.5 hours, which I always appreciate.

Now I dont mind so much mowing on my Yanmar tractor..."lawn tractor " as some are calling it...I dont really enjoy.

fabsroman said:

130 hours on the machine in 12 years. Wish that was me. I have 127 hours on mine and this is my 4th season cutting with it. Use it a little to haul wood around the house too, but 10 hours a year mowing grass would be wonderful. Mind you, I have a John Deer Z445 zero turn that does 9mph. Should have bought something faster! Took the deck off a couple weeks ago to pull the blades and sharpen them and I am starting to see rust on the deck. So, I am sitting here wondering if I should take the entire deck off this winter, sand blast it down, and then powder coat the underside.

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I have 246 In just a little less than two years on my y4000. Runs like a champ after hauling wood, plowing snow, and mowing the weeds!

fabsroman said:

My dad was ill back in May and I had to mow his lawn with his JD 110. He has 2/3 of an acre and it took me longer to mow his lawn with that mower versus my 2 acres with my ztr. Going to buy a tractor at some point here, and still going to use the ztr to mow the grass and when my oldest is old enough to run the ztr I will buy a second one so she and I can get the grass done in 30 minutes. Yes, on average I spent 35 hours a year mowing grass, but that is 34.999999 hours too many in my book. Just like almost every chore in life, the faster it gets done, the better. I take no pleasure from maintaining the lawn/yard other than in the end result and not having to pay somebody to do it.

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I've thought about putting the 36" deck that's collecting dust on the garden tractor and letting the wife help cut down mowing time, but I'm not sure that a 36" cut is going to help much vs my 50" ztr. The thing is she actually likes mowing, but is scared to operate a zero turn. I wish we had been together when I bought the mower, I'd have just gotten a decent riding mower and let her waste 2 hours out of the week sunning herself.

bassJAM said:

I've thought about putting the 36" deck that's collecting dust on the garden tractor and letting the wife help cut down mowing time, but I'm not sure that a 36" cut is going to help much vs my 50" ztr. The thing is she actually likes mowing, but is scared to operate a zero turn. I wish we had been together when I bought the mower, I'd have just gotten a decent riding mower and let her waste 2 hours out of the week sunning herself.

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My wife is allergic to pollen, grass, etc., so no mowing for her no matter what. However, she did try to move the ztr one day last year while we were stacking wood and it was comical. Luckily, she did not hurt herself or anybody else and there was no property damage.

I am a fan of used, auction bought lawn equipment. I also enjoy fixing things up. Over the years I had two Ariens GT's a 19 and a 17. Talk about a brute lawn tractor. The GT19 was hydrostatic, had power steering, 60" hydraulic deck lift and a driveshaft deck input. Paid $400 for it and used it for years at my dads 2.3 acre property. The GT17 was smaller and didn't have power steering. I paid around $400 for it, used it for about 3 years and sold it for $900. Neither one needed any money dumped into them.
This was my GT17



For a rental property I picked up an old Sears lawn tractor... circa 1978. $200. Needed a battery. Mowed that lawn for 2 years with that and no $$. I believe these we made by Roper. Had an overhead valve Tecumseh.


Today I use a new Simplicity ZT4000 Zero Turn. I agree it's not the end all due to the fact that it is exclusive to cutting only. I have about an acre at my place and a 1/2 at the rental. This machine really makes short work of it and it's very well designed.



And to pull the cart around I picked up a Cub Cadet without a deck for $160 at auction. Had to pull the battery tray and refinish it due to rust disabling the electrical. Purrs like a kitten now.

I have an old mower that my father in law gave me that looks like that craftsman. Its an AYP/roper made mower...I think its branded dynostar. It has a trashed deck and cuts like junk but its all I have. I have welded the deck up and there is no adjustment on it and motor has been replaced but I still cut with it. I only have the price of carb kits, blades, and belts in it.

hoot said:

View attachment 139262 I am a fan of used, auction bought lawn equipment. I also enjoy fixing things up. Over the years I had two Ariens GT's a 19 and a 17. Talk about a brute lawn tractor. The GT19 was hydrostatic, had power steering, 60" hydraulic deck lift and a driveshaft deck input. Paid $400 for it and used it for years at my dads 2.3 acre property. The GT18 was smaller and didn't have power steering. I paid around $400 for it, used it for about 3 years and sold it for $900. Neither one needed any money dumped into them.
This was my GT17

View attachment 139259 View attachment 139260

For a rental property I picked up an old Sears lawn tractor... circa 1978. $200. Needed a battery. Mowed that lawn for 2 years with that and no $$. I believe these we made by Roper. Had an overhead valve Tecumseh.
View attachment 139261

Today I use a new Simplicity ZT4000 Zero Turn. I agree it's not the end all due to the fact that it is exclusive to cutting only. I have about an acre at my place and a 1/2 at the rental. This machine really makes short work of it and it's very well designed.

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Where are you getting all the wheel weights? How do they attach?

clemsonfor said:

Where are you getting all the wheel weights? How do they attach?

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Came already attached. They just use long bolts. You will see most wheels have the holes to accommodate..