Which riding lawn mower?

[DavidB]

I'm "poster". At least for this thread... My ID got lost in the hard disk crash.

After looking at the riding mowers out there, I think for now I'm keeping the Bolens. I did not find a tractor that was better in any respect except turning radius. I could spend $5000 and have a tractor that was harder to use then the one I've got now.

I was able to locate a dealer in another state who had in stock, or could get me most any part I need. I ordered a few of the things that were in need of replacing and installed them for about $30.

This tractor has a hydro transmission. It has a front, middle and rear electricaly controlled PTO with auto brake. The MMM is lifted and lowered hydraulically with the flip of a switch, instead of a stupid lever to wrestle with. It mows in reverse which I need to do, without having to fool around with a "safety" switch. I also have the factory "3pt" tiller for it.
I'm going to look at replacing the seat with one that has better support and try to modify the steering mechanism to reduce the turning radius. Since I have a side discharge on the mower I make all the turns in one direction. I think I can modify the steering so that the wheels turn farther in that direction then the other. That should help with the uncut circle of grass I have to deal with now.

Here is a picture of the beast during our annual brush burn...

 

[Tractors4u]

I bought the John Deere SST18 and have not regretted it one bit. It takes some getting use to because it will mow like a ZTR or a wide open speeds it turn with a turning radius of a regular mower. With the steering it has you won't have to lean forward to get to the top of the steering wheel.

 

[DavidB]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I bought the John Deere SST18 and have not regretted it one bit. )</font>

I drove them and liked them. I even found a slightly used one for sale at a good price from a guy who had hired a lawn service to mow for him. After driving one around for ten or fifteen minutes to really get the feel of it I went home and mowed with my mower. I realized that my property is too steep to be able to really use it well. If my mower did not still work well I think that is the mower I would have gone with...

Dave

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm "poster". At least for this thread... My ID got lost in the hard disk crash.

After looking at the riding mowers out there, I think for now I'm keeping the Bolens. I did not find a tractor that was better in any respect except turning radius. I could spend $5000 and have a tractor that was harder to use then the one I've got now.

I was able to locate a dealer in another state who had in stock, or could get me most any part I need. I ordered a few of the things that were in need of replacing and installed them for about $30.

This tractor has a hydro transmission. It has a front, middle and rear electricaly controlled PTO with auto brake. The MMM is lifted and lowered hydraulically with the flip of a switch, instead of a stupid lever to wrestle with. It mows in reverse which I need to do, without having to fool around with a "safety" switch. I also have the factory "3pt" tiller for it.
I'm going to look at replacing the seat with one that has better support and try to modify the steering mechanism to reduce the turning radius. Since I have a side discharge on the mower I make all the turns in one direction. I think I can modify the steering so that the wheels turn farther in that direction then the other. That should help with the uncut circle of grass I have to deal with now.

Here is a picture of the beast during our annual brush burn... )</font>I have a Bolens I bought new in 66.

 

[bontai_Joe]

Deere used to sell a seat suspension kit with springs that would be easily modified to fit most any tractor. New they were over $100, but I see them on ebay occasionally for les than $50. You might consider replacing the rear wheels and tires with something wider than stock. I'm not familiar enough with Bolens tractors to know what came stock on it, but if it uses 12" dia. rear wheels, then you can probably find wheels and tires up to 14" wide that should work. And as mentioned above, reducing the air pressure down to somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 PSI might soften the ride a bit.

 

[LBrown59]

voided

 

[LBrown59]

I got my wife a new riding mower.
It's anti polluting and fuel efficient.

 

[GerardC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I got my wife a new riding mower.
It's anti polluting and fuel efficient.)</font>

Did you make that?? G

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( I got my wife a new riding mower.
It's anti polluting and fuel efficient.)</font>

Did you make that?? G )</font>
````````
Did you make that?? G
=========
Naw: That looks more like a red /green thing.

Actually someone sent that to me a while back.
I got a chuckle out of it.
Just thought I'd share the laugh with others.

 

[LBrown59]

I got my wife a new riding mower.
It's anti polluting and fuel efficient.

Motorised model.