lawn tractor

[Joe W.]

I need to buy a lawn tractor this spring, for mowing and mulching only, to mow a small lawn, about an acre. Any ideas on what make and model to look at and which ones not to look at? The John Deere models look good but at $1,800, it seems like overkill. I'd rather stay closer to $1,000 for mowing only. Suggestions appreciated.

 

[Ludwig]

It all depends on how fast you want to mow the lawn and how long you want to keep the mower.
Any cheap rider will cut your lawn and do a decent job. With Deere you're paying for the name and the cheaper ones at big box stores like Home Depot are MTD mowers anyway.
I think one of the few that isn't made by MTD is Snapper. If you want a mower you can seriously keep forever consider a Snapper rear engine rider (RER). They're stupid simple and a design that hasn't changed seriously in 50 years. I've got a 1965 model thats been repowered TWICE. Most recently with a motor from a mid '80s RER. Its not super fast or fancy but it gets the job done.

If your ego requires something that looks more like a tractor Snapper has those too. Get 'em from a local dealer and parts will be easier to get long term.

How you maintain these has a lot to do with how long they'll last. A machine kept inside and kept clean will last many years. One left outside and/or left dirty will fail in relatively short order.

 

[ddl]

I drug home a 1960's craftsman that the owner said didn't cut well. He had the wrong blades on it. Put on new blades and it cuts like a charm. all it cost was blades. I also bit the bullit and brought home a new craftsman, a big 21 horse kohlerwitha forty-something inch cut. takes about 3 hours to mow around 7 acres. Its so comfortable i put the bush hog away for mowing. For one acre i think i would go the cheap route and buy used. Lots of good machines out there if you just take your time.

 

[IH2444]

I bought a new MTD 15.5 HP Yardman rider about 4 years ago.
Works great and have had zero problems with it so far aside from having to replace the origional battery last year. It did not weigh nuthing, el cheapo.
I Paid $850 for the mower at Wally World.
It has a cast iron sleeved Briggs in it.
It is the open deck design which is great since I am an older fart

I mow about an acre with it all together.

 

[Anonymous-0]

NO JOHN DEERE is made by MTD.John Deere makes them .They are made cheaper to complete with the MTD stuff.

 

[Anonymous-0]

John Deere cheapies are ASSEMBLED in Tennessee not at the Horicon plant. From parts unknown. When they are all together at Home Depot they all look like the same parts.

 

[dixon boy]

what size do you want and where are you have several to choose from in your price range new and used Dixon units been having real good luck with. new tractor style start at 1400.00 3yr warranty. but you need to look at it this way you buy cheap you repair alot,you buy quality you buy dependability with very few repairs is what I see. i love those cheap units man do they make parts sales good. mechanics special units also if you have any mechanical talent. I just have'nt had time yet to get those ready. no matter the brand out there they are all using the same components in them so you are just buying the color in most cases.

 

[Ludwig]

They look just like the MTD machines, put 'em side by side and theres no difference.
They're made from the same engines and transmissions as MTD machines and cost about the same as the MTD machines and JD won't warranty them nor with JD dealers work on them.

JD makes some good machines but the big box ones are crap.

I've got a Cub Cadet model 70 from 1964 and a Snapper 318x from 1965 both will be working long after the average cheap mower of today has been recycled into tin cans.

 

[CJ3b_jeep]

can't go wrong with a snapper, they are heavy duty still and will last a lifetime.

 

[jarrod4020]

Dont waste your money on the ragged John Deere disposable damn junk they push at the "big box stores"There good with some stuff but John Deere isn't one of them.JD is only dulling their reputation with that junk.I would much rather have a second hand Murray compared to that junk.Go to a small town dealer on any model of machine u choose.When it breaks u can go there and get service,parts,and advice if u wanna work on your own machine,ETC!Believe me it makes a difference.