Ambivalence, ambivalence...
I wasn't really quite ready to ge a machine yet, but this seemed like a good opportunity. One thing I've thought of over the evening is that it has no bagger (which may be a hoot to some of you!) I'm really stuggling, some places I need MORE machine (logs), and some places less, like a little riiding mower.
My temptation is toward the "more" side, though, as much of the yard I mow can be done (or must be done) as I always have, with my trusty Sensation 19" graveyard mower. Best hand mower ever made, hands down. Bought it in 1980, I'm making drawings so that if the housing goes I can have someone make me another.
The mowing this thing would do really wouldn't need to be bagged- the road through the land, the rough area below the garden, the just-getting-started orchard, trails up on the hill, that sort of thing. Yeah, I just may have re-talked myself into it. Yah can't pull a brush hog behind a riding mower!
The only other thing I've looked at closely is a Simplicity 4wd sub-compact, 25 Hp roughly, Briggs & Stratton diesel. It had a rear 540 rpm PTO and 3 pt hitch, loader available, but configured this way and new would have been $15K or better. Wife had cardiac episode just thinking I'd go for that! Anyway, it seems a bit small for what I want as I think about it.
And you can see my ignorance. I thought they were ag tires 'cause they had a large diagonal tread. Turf tires I'd have recognized.
Thank you all, I really appreciate the help. This whole "land" thing has just happeend over the last couple of years. It's been a blessing, the only real chance of makeing a nice sellable property out of a poorly sited house that I biult when I was young and dumb(er).
Anyone have links to hydro vs. geared? I'm a mechanical engineer and so understand about throttle, torque, rpm and power. The info may help on the learning curve.
And please, if you think of anything, keep it coming. Maybe someday I can give it back.
Thanks again,
Tom