Rear Finish Mower Woods Heritage V.S. Landpride Patriot RFM??

[ChuckinNH]

I'm looking at the Landpride FDR1660, and Woods RDC54 / RD60 rear finish mowers to use on my 3+ acres of "yard". Any opinions on these mowers, quality of attachment, quality of cut, features, or lack of, etc. would be appreciated. I would like to do the bulk of my mowing with one of these, and finish up with my rider, and smaller deck..... There are many obstacles, but also many places that I could get under easier with this setup than the rider. Having watched one in use the other day I found it much more maneuverable than I had previously thought....... if I don't destroy too much stuff learning!!!

 

[rickmacheske]

I have a Landpride FDR1672. It's two years old now. I think I've replaced every bolt on it. It just seems to fall apart. The PTO line cover is broken into pieces. The belt cover bolts have stripped out. I've already had to replace the belt. Those are the reasons I wouldn't buy one. The good aspects are that the cut is good as long as the blades are sharp. The gear box seems very good. If I was to do it over, I would go with the bushhog brand. I also have a bushhog rotary. It's not a finish mower but it's rock solid, and I've hit alot of rocks, stumps, etc. with it.

 

[ChuckinNH]

rickmacheske:
That's the kind of input, good, or bad that I was looking for. These things aren't cheap, and we are looking for the best value for the money spent...

Thanks

 

[AndyMA]

rickmacheske:
That's the kind of input, good, or bad that I was looking for. These things aren't cheap, and we are looking for the best value for the money spent...

Thanks

While I don't have that LandPride model, I do have a number of LandPride products. Many of them require deealer assembly. From what it sounds like, perhaps the dealer was lax in his assembly. I've never had problems with any of my LandPride equipment. Wood either.

Andy

 

[ChuckinNH]

Thanks Andy,
There are bound to be good, and bad experiences with most products, and certainly dealer prep has a lot to do with it. I watched a mechanic assemble an update kit on a Kioti not long ago, and there were seemingly no threads in the hole he was installing a bolt in..... judging by the length of the wrench handle he was using, and the force he seemed to be applying. Guess things didn't line up???? Certainly the quality of those threads was compromised.

 

[tractorworks]

"I have a Landpride FDR1672. It's two years old now. I think I've replaced every bolt on it. It just seems to fall apart. The PTO line cover is broken into pieces. The belt cover bolts have stripped out. I've already had to replace the belt. Those are the reasons I wouldn't buy one. The good aspects are that the cut is good as long as the blades are sharp."

Replace two years with 1.5 years and one belt with two belts and he could have been talking about mine. Good cut though, and truth be known I have been hard on it.

 

[Dargo]

I have both brands of RFMs. The Landpride RFM mower has been used about 30 times or so a year ever since I bought it new in 1992. Other than changing the blades twice in those years, not one single other item has been touched. I'm still running with the original belt!! I do grease each grease fitting each time I put it away and hit it with the air gun, but that's it. It's never been washed, but has always been stored indoors. For fifteen years of use, you simply cannot get any better. I also have a Woods RM990. It only has about 200 hours of use on it, but other than sharpening the blades and the same maintenance as the Landpride, absolutely nothing has required repairs. Both are considerably superior to a few other brands I won't mention that I've owned. Feel confident with either and just buy the one you like the best.

 

[rickmacheske]

"I have a Landpride FDR1672. It's two years old now. I think I've replaced every bolt on it. It just seems to fall apart. The PTO line cover is broken into pieces. The belt cover bolts have stripped out. I've already had to replace the belt. Those are the reasons I wouldn't buy one. The good aspects are that the cut is good as long as the blades are sharp."

Replace two years with 1.5 years and one belt with two belts and he could have been talking about mine. Good cut though, and truth be known I have been hard on it.

Sounds like the common aspect. We're both tough on them.

 

[rickmacheske]

While I don't have that LandPride model, I do have a number of LandPride products. Many of them require deealer assembly. From what it sounds like, perhaps the dealer was lax in his assembly. I've never had problems with any of my LandPride equipment. Wood either.

Andy

I don't think it was the dealer assembly so much. When I bought it I torqued up each bolt. It just doesn't seem to like bouncing around when I go over a bump or though a depression in the "lawn". Now I retorque the bolts that hold the wheel-bars to the mower each time I use it. The good news is that the mechanisms have held up well.

 

[Chris2]

Now I retorque the bolts that hold the wheel-bars to the mower each time I use it.


I would put some Lock-Tite on those bolts, that should be the end of your problem.