Kids' Riding mower

[davitk]

I would love to get my kids (and wife!) interested in mowing, kids are 11 and 12, and I don't dare mention SWMBO's age Anyway, I ran across this Simplicity Coronet on Craig's List for a couple hundred bucks, 13 hp with 38" cut, original owner, about 14 years, he moved up to a zero turn. Any thoughts from the forum? (I have a larger mower that the kids will graduate to once they turn 16).

 

[LBrown59]

I would love to get my kids (and wife!) interested in mowing, kids are 11 and 12, and I don't dare mention SWMBO's age Anyway, I ran across this Simplicity Coronet on Craig's List for a couple hundred bucks, 13 hp with 38" cut, original owner, about 14 years, he moved up to a zero turn. Any thoughts from the forum? (I have a larger mower that the kids will graduate to once they turn 16).

Sounds like a plan.
B T W
Someone on here was looking for one of thes like this with the 38'' mower on it.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

Looks in pretty decent shape. Appears to have a striping roller.
You might end up using it yourself!

 

[Nasty135]

Davitk, It looks like a great starter unit for the youngin's to learn on.

Just preach the safety aspect of its use.

Thats similar to what I used as a kid. Very easy to drive.

My twin boys shown on my avatar are almost 13 yrs old and have been helping me mow consistently since last year when the grass started growing in the spring. We first started them out the same age your kids are now just walking with them while just driving at first then let them do some cutting and trying to follow "the cutting line" which there is a learning curve. But you will know when they are ready. One of them rides a yard sale craftsman 38" and does the closed in tight areas the other rides the john deere f915 5' diesel for the more open areas in the back of the property he really likes it...So we are off to a good start.. I'm still mowing with the Z and weed whacking

Between the three of us the grass gets finished in about an hour...

I think they would like to get in the mowing business on a small scale so when I retire we will have a little extra income for icecream.. We certainly have enough equipment. But thats another day...

 

[EddieWalker]

I had my 7 year old out mowing with my Craftsman riding mower. He loved it and would run through an entire tank of fuel on it when I let him. He never did what anybody would consider a nice job of the yard, but he had allot of fun and it didn't take me very long to go over the spots he missed and clean it up. His 12 year old sister saw him having so much fun that she wanted to give it a try. That was a disaster, she just can't think ahead and runs into everything. We're actually worried about her and how terrible she is at driving, but that's another thread. LOL

About a month ago, the rear axle snaped on the mower and Sears no longer supports that model. Too old I guess. I searched around on ebay, craigslist and the American classifieds without any luck, so I bought a zero turn mower. We're not cofortable with the kids driving that, so for now, they are off mowing duty.

I've been thinking about turning that mower into a go cart type of thing for them to drive around, but still need to come up with a rear axle and or a frame of some kind. Seems like such a shame to have all those parts and nothing to do with them.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[Tig]

I say go for it. Just make sure the safety switches are adequate and functional. As for getting a 16 year old to cut the grass, good luck with that.

 

[AlanB]

My kids have always mowed. I find too many folks keep talking about how "when they were kids they did this that and this", then wonder why todays kids are different.

Anyway, yes, I am probably the over the top guy on this subject. Yes, my wife mowed about 8 yards the day before my son was born, and yes, we would go ride him around on a mower to get him to sleep. (and no, I am not kidding or exaggerating)

It does occasionally lead to interesting situations though, my darling 6 year old daughter standing there while we demoed a new mower, and she jumps up to test drive it, the dealer say's "Now honey do you think you can drive a big Dixon mower like that?" My sweet innocent cute little girl looks the salesman in the eye and say's " I can drive the He77 out of a Dixon Mower" For some reason the dealer and SWMBO both turned to look at me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Of course I said, Dang TV, just don't know what the kids will pick up..............

Anyway, by all means, put the kids on a mower and get them out there doing things. Kids are a lot more capable then adults give them credit for, and we are handicapping them, while complaining they don't do enough.

 

[Revelation]

If they acted like the mower is a toy, I would not let them use it.

I would spend the time to discuss the safety and dangers of using a mower. I know a kid who moved some grass out of the shoot when it clogged and he cut the tip of his finger off.

 

[davitk]

Anyway, yes, I am probably the over the top guy on this subject. Yes, my wife mowed about 8 yards the day before my son was born, and yes, we would go ride him around on a mower to get him to sleep. (and no, I am not kidding or exaggerating)

It does occasionally lead to interesting situations though, my darling 6 year old daughter standing there while we demoed a new mower, and she jumps up to test drive it, the dealer say's "Now honey do you think you can drive a big Dixon mower like that?" My sweet innocent cute little girl looks the salesman in the eye and say's " I can drive the He77 out of a Dixon Mower" For some reason the dealer and SWMBO both turned to look at me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Of course I said, Dang TV, just don't know what the kids will pick up..............

LMAO you sound like a redneck version of me no offense....

...and my colicky infant daughter fell asleep BEST on Daddy's lap, to the purr of a 16 hp Kawasaki

 

[AlanB]

LMAO you sound like a redneck version of me no offense....

...and my colicky infant daughter fell asleep BEST on Daddy's lap, to the purr of a 16 hp Kawasaki

No offense taken.

I fit the description more often then not.

I don't know if you can see the Avatar clear enough, but that is my son at about 8 years old riding over the obstacle. Front and back are about the same, his rear wheel is just coming over. That is me on the left spotting and David Chaves, Team Sherco Champ rider at the time spotting from the right.

Given the opportunity, kids can excell.

 

[2manyrocks]

I suggest you think ahead of where they might get hurt and then explain it to them. (rocks, slopes, speed, refueling hot engines, putting hands under the deck, backing over your brother). Use it as an opportunity to teach them how to mow safely and supervise them.

I always tried to mow in top gear in the front of the house where Dad couldn't see. The mower you are considering probably has a pretty fast top gear on it.

 

[ToadHill]

I let my grandkids mow at the farm. They started driving an old cub without a deck at about 8, and got to run the mower at 9. If they follow the safety rules and do a good job at 10 they graduate to small tasks with the 8N. At 12 they graduate again to the Kioti and get to try loader work and plowing the garden,( about 1 acre). I haven't yet decided when they will get to use pto operated implements.

 

[Tig]

I don't remember how old my son was when he started using the riding mower but I do remember that he wasn't big enough to activate the seat switch. The solution was for me to sit behind him on the seat. The next year he was big enough to activate the switch so I watched from the deck.