Riding mower recommendations

[marcusmerritt]

I just posted this query in the riding mower forum but I am more used to the people in this forum so thought I'd double up in case you folks don't visit the riding mower forum. Here's the post:

9hp Snapper; 28" deck.....I have two of these riding mowers, one is electric start the other pull start and they have served me well. Am thinking of getting rid of them and buying a brand new riding lawn mower. I'm on about 3/4 acres with grass in front and back. I use the Snappers to mow but also often tow a small dump trailer around to move stuff. One of my biggest issues is trying to bend over my large belly to pull up the blade engagement lever. Surely there is a better way! Without starting a war, wanted to ask opinions of what might be a good machine to buy. Maybe 32 - 42" deck. I don't want to get the Snappers fixed up or made new. Want a new machine. Thanks for any opinions?

 

[Kansas4010]

About any brand even from the big box store
should be able to handle that small of a
yard. Just look for one with a hydraulic
deck lift. Sit on all of them and see which
is the most comfortable and has the levers
in easy to reach places.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Not sure all riding mowers can pull a trailer without damaging the
transmission.
About 10 years ago I bought a used JD rider from a my daughter.
It had a gearbox. IMO, a gearbox transmission would hold up better than
Hydros and 2 belt transmission drives.

I have a 30 year old craftsman rider with a gearbox. I removed the
mower deck, put bar tractor tires on it. Use it to pull two 3 ft
wheelhorse disks for garden.
geo

Look for a gearbox rider.
geo

 

[Russ from MN]

We have used a few different brands of mowers, we kind of like Husqvarna the best, with a Kawasaki engine. Or, you could use a push mower and
lose the belly, but you probably didn't want to hear that!

 

[Sean Feeney]

I have had snappers went to lawn tractor going back to snapper way less issues they never failed me, modifly lever if a issue

 

[Pastor John]

IMHO the accessory I look for is a floating deck. If your serious about a professional look make sure your purchase includes this

2004 Simplicity Prestige

 

[Steve@Advance]

If you have trees and obstacles, and your terrain is flat, by all means at least try a zero turn.

Plenty of power to pull a small trailer.

Available with hydraulic deck lift on the top end models and some have a foot pedal lift.

They do not like sloped terrain though.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

For years, when I was young, poor, and frugal, I spent very little to cut grass. I resurrected two cycle push mowers from the dump. I got a rider and a small lawn tractor for pennies, fixed them up, and the kids ran them. Then when the kids left, and I had more money, I had to take care of the lawn, I splurged. I wasn't going to buy a tractor or rider, as they're way too clumsy. Simplicity had just come out with a consumer grade zero turn. They were made not far from here in the Ferris factory. In fact, the demonstrator I tried out was a Snapper, as they were part of the conglomerate too.
Definitely try a zero turn.

 

[AzPeapicker]

I would recommend the Walker Rider Made in FT . Collins CO. I not associated with the Company but worked on them in a shop in Chandler AZ .for several years . They are a very good Machine . Like they say you get what you pay for .


Azpeapicker

 

[Bruce from Can.]

I did just like Bob Bancroft, made old junkyard
mowers , put together two or three to get one. And
the grass got cut, but it was slow. And even though
I dont have a bad back, I always had some back
ache from riding the old junk cutting a acre of grass.
Much of that ground frequently driven over by farm
tractors. So I bought a brand new Zero turn Kubota.
Yes it cost too much money just to cut worthless
grass , I know, I know. But it cuts in much less time,
and the bigger tires give a better ride. And it doesnt
feel like its going to upset on the slope in front of
my house.

 

[GordoSD]

Save yourself some trouble and remove those 30 degree leaning trees now. Too late to replant them.

 

[ss55]

2 X on a floating deck.

 

[Dennis Minn]

Pastor,

Wow.

D.

 

[buickanddeere]

I bought an old Deere zero turn from a neighbour . Three years ago . I havent even bothered to start
Or use my LX188 lawn tractor since .

 

[flying belgian]

J.D. 4-wheel steer.

 

[dlbuck]

I have one and love it.

 

[Uncle murph]

I used a 1520 Ford with a 5 finish mower on the back for 30 yrs,finally switched to a 5 Deere zero turn and cut
my mowing time down by more than half with a much nicer job,Theres no going back.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Same here cut with junk my entire life until last month. Decided I'm only going to live once. Bought a new Kubota BX23 TLB with a 60" deck added. Lotta money for sure.

 

[DR. EVIL]

I've mowed with a CUB CADET since 1963, was an "Original", in '65 it got traded for a model #70 that is
sitting out in the shop restored, looking like new, next to the #72 I bought in 1980 and restored, also
have a 1981 982 Super Garden tractor, 20 hp Onan, Cat 0 3-pt, steering brakes, frt/rear pto, aux hyd
outlets, just wish it had power steering.
APRIL 21, 2016 I had my BRAND NEW CUB CADET TANK LTZ 54 28 hp Kawasaki powered zero turn delivered. Took
me 5-6 hours to mow with 72, 4 hrs with 982, first time mowing with TANK was 2-1/2 hours. I've mowed in 2
hrs a couple times. With some tree trimming and stump removal I think 1-1/2 hours is coming. Most of the
machine's weight is on the drive tires, they really behave better on hills & slopes than most people say.
My mower manual says to stay off side slopes over 15 degrees, I have a ROPS, 40 degrees is easy enough.

 

[DR. EVIL]

FORGOT TO MENTION, FIVE YEARS, 200 hours, only thing I've done to the tank is the annual oil/filter change and grease it every 25 hours as per manual. I did replace the outer primary air filter last year, it wasn't really dirty. And I removed the engine cooling shrouds and blew the tiny little bit of grass that had accumulted in the first 4 years.
It carrys 15 gallons of gas, typical mowing of my 2+ acres takes around 3 gallons, 2 mowings from one 7-1/2 gal tank.
My 40 and 55 year old IH decks do an O-K job of mowing, but you have to have dry grass, sharp blades, and keep rpm up and speeds down. With this new deck, I went FOUR YEARS without sharpening the blades! Probably sharpen them again this year. I did add an ounce of hydrostatic trans oil when it wzs new.
But have NOT had anything break or require adjustment in FIVE YEARS. I think my machine was a left-over 2015 machine, was stored over the winter inside and assembled the day before I got it. The machine is not built anymore.

 

[sandcastle1]

I always ran older mowers I got them for 20 or 30 bucks here and there. Then I bought a new self propelled mower as a trimmer mower and that was great, and I was
done with the junkie walk behinds but I was still using junk rider mowers and fixing or repairing monthly it seemed. Last year when my LX 176 died I did not even
try to fix it, bought a new Husqvarna with a Kawasaki motor, this is a not a box store mower, got it in October and really like it.

 

[Bill(Wis)]

Check out Ventrac.

 

[Margo]

I've heard to stay away from big box stores and by from a dealer whatever brand you decide on. Some have good payment plans .Also been told they are built better than big box models.

 

[doug in missouri]

One of the other replies said 'check out Ventrac'.
Steiner also interchanges with Ventrac.
If you get one, get an all wheel drive. DOUG

 

[lpgasonly]

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listing/2874377209514294/?
media_id=0&ref=share_attachment&__cft__[0]=AZWlx8aBtUJqSsoE3DFdbfdmwYL_aClmbFzsFUBazP4bVDywbd5K8Ed0LOqWKz32l
x16xf_rOe3E6H7fR8wv78OwPxeh-
mSLZMJMzfYfqjci892WJb2lU90GYNpmP3n_IzhG6ULHy3zsYgToHF0z6KYcpy0IJoW8Gcx84HxOSya83w&__tn__=*bH-R
Above is a nice Simplicity diesel with a loader for sale

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Really? A Steiner or Ventrac in a 3/4 acre yard where the OP was mowing with a glorified push mower before?

 

[buickanddeere]

After installing chevon tread tires on my zero turn , it is a different machine . The turf tires are useless on slopes with wet grass clippings .

 

[sec1939]

I agree on the Simplicity. I have a 2000 Landlord, Power Steering, Hyd deck lift. The rollers unique to
Simplicity give a nice look. Get a GT (Garden tractor) vs an LT (Lawn Tractor) if you can.

Of course the ZT guys make a strong argument they are fast

 

[buickanddeere]

a lot of would be better off pushing a mower rather than riding .

 

[blackthorn34]

Most if not all non-commercial riding mowers these days are made with cheap Chinese parts including Deere. That was told to me by the service Tech after the motor went out on my brand new Craftsman after a season of mowing. It was regularly maintained.

 

[Hockeygoon]

I would go another direction. With only 3/4 an acre with a house occupying part of it you should get your exercise and buy a cheap push mower for about $125.

 

[Texasmark1]

If you really want to treat yourself, get ATV Snow Studs running 5 psi max rated pressure. I have them on all my mowers and get around the
farm small vehicles for the same reason and because my hard clay soil and clump grass make riding hard on a person's back.

 

[marcusmerritt]

Thanks for all the responses about the next riding mower. I trucked one of my Snappers to the local repair shop this morning with what is probably a carb problem. Exceedingly slow running and no speed range regardless of throttle position. The other Snapper is stuck in the yard where I was mowing high rye grass. It made a breaking sound, quit and wouldn't start. Electric starter spins the motor but clearly no compression. I assume I've blown a piston or some other internal part so that machine is probably a donor. On the other hand, my wife suggested I sell the gas Ford 2000 and use that money to buy a better than planned riding mower. What a great woman! So gotta get out there and get the gas tractor running so I can put it up for sale. Am thinking I'll ask about $3500 for it and a brush hog and dirt scoop. That should give me plenty of cash for a new rider. Will report back.

 

[marcusmerritt]

To follow up on my riding mower quest....I decided on a Cub Cadet XT1, 42" mower. Got it at Home Depot this afternoon with a $100 discount because I opened a credit card account with them. Soon as tax refund comes in will pay it off and cancel the account. Rolled it down the ramp from the back of my truck, cranked it up and mowed the yard. Unlike the Snapper, it did an excellent job of trimming the grass and did not bog down in heavy rye grass in the back yard. The mower is larger than my 28" Snapper so will take a bit of getting used to. I'm gonna keep my Snapper since it goes through the 46" gate with ease and will be handy for towing my little dump trailer. Thanks to everyone for your input on this decision.

 

[buickanddeere]

(quoted from post at 18:33:26 03/11/21) I just posted this query in the riding mower forum but I am more used to the people in this forum so thought I'd double up in case you folks don't visit the riding mower forum. Here's the post:

9hp Snapper; 28" deck.....I have two of these riding mowers, one is electric start the other pull start and they have served me well. Am thinking of getting rid of them and buying a brand new riding lawn mower. I'm on about 3/4 acres with grass in front and back. I use the Snappers to mow but also often tow a small dump trailer around to move stuff. One of my biggest issues is trying to bend over my large belly to pull up the blade engagement lever. Surely there is a better way! Without starting a war, wanted to ask opinions of what might be a good machine to buy. Maybe 32 - 42" deck. I don't want to get the Snappers fixed up or made new. Want a new machine. Thanks for any opinions?

Something with a transaxle more robust than a K46.

 

[buickanddeere]

(quoted from post at 13:37:09 03/12/21) Really? A Steiner or Ventrac in a 3/4 acre yard where the OP was mowing with a glorified push mower before?

Sorry for reviving an old post but we stumbled across a dealer of of those odd little Ventrac critters .

 

[Ozlander]

(quoted from post at 18:29:40 03/11/21) IMHO the accessory I look for is a floating deck. If your serious about a professional look make sure your purchase includes this

2004 Simplicity Prestige
<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto81112.jpg">

How come the lines are crooked?