Looking for a lawnmower/garden tractor in the just-better-than-box-store range

[Grumpycat]

While shopping you could also look at Cub Cadet. They have several models. I don't know who makes Husqvarna - or if they make mowers for several others. I have a Craftsman "garden tractor" but Husqvarna parts is my go to for replacements. My mower is powered by a 26 hp Kohler engine. Cub Cadet uses Kawasaki or Kohler depending on year and model. Who's better? I haven't a clue.

Is widely believed Kawasaki underrates their HP for fear of the ambulance chasing lawyers who successfully sued everybody over mower engine HP rated at 3600 RPM but governed to less to limit blade tip speed. So today push mower engines advertise torque which is numerically very near the old HP numbers but doesn't change much at the RPMs used.

In short the Kawasaki 24 HP is going to be very close to the Kohler 26 HP in power. As to which is better? Can't really say. If all else is equal get the one that has easiest to access oil and air filters. Price the air and oil filters. Maybe one has fuel injection (at higher cost) but maybe better fuel efficiency? Or easier starting at all temperatures?

 

[Eric102]

Sometimes spending more initially will be cheaper in the long run so don't write off the JD's just because the Husky's and others are cheaper. My higher end JD 318 cost $5,500 new out the door in 1987 and I sold it it for $1,700 in 2014 so without calculating inflation or maintenance numbers into it my yearly cost of ownership was about $140. In those 27 years it never needed anything other than the usual maintenance items, even the deck was still original and in decent shape.

 

[radios1]

you are looking for a REAL Garden tractor, you'll know it is if the manufacturer offers a plow for it!.. a Garden tractor will last much longer than a lawn tractor..

 

[melehundele]

Sometimes spending more initially will be cheaper in the long run so don't write off the JD's just because the Husky's and others are cheaper. My higher end JD 318 cost $5,500 new out the door in 1987 and I sold it it for $1,700 in 2014 so without calculating inflation or maintenance numbers into it my yearly cost of ownership was about $140. In those 27 years it never needed anything other than the usual maintenance items, even the deck was still original and in decent shape.

Wow. I should have gotten a JD a couple mowers ago!

 

[buickanddeere]

Something that does not use the plastic and pressed powdered metal K46 transaxle .
If the rear wheels fasten on with 4 or 5 bolts, the transaxle is HD.

 

[paulfun9]

If I was looking for a longer lasting mower I would not be looking at Lowe’s, Home Depot or tractor supply.
Find a place that specialize in mowers, attachments and does the actual repair work in house. That is where you will find the better mower but be prepared for the price to be a lot more.

 

[5030]

While shopping you could also look at Cub Cadet. They have several models. I don't know who makes Husqvarna - or if they make mowers for several others. I have a Craftsman "garden tractor" but Husqvarna parts is my go to for replacements. My mower is powered by a 26 hp Kohler engine. Cub Cadet uses Kawasaki or Kohler depending on year and model. Who's better? I haven't a clue.

We have 2 Cubs. I have an M60 Tank which isn't cheap and my wife has an RZT 38" zero turn rider. Her's has a Kohler Courage 21 horse and mine has a Kawasaki 26 horse. Both are good, I think the Kaw is a bit better. I have 700 hours on my tank and have no issues but an ocassional drive belt. She has about 100 hours in her's and I've replaced nothing so far.

Engines are generic. What is important are the transaxles and transmissions. I'm a Hydro-Gear person 100%. 99% of the commercial units use Hydro-Gear no matter what brand and so are both the cubs we have. No issues with either units transmissions. Mine actually has filters on each unit, my wife's don't. You get into transaxle issues, the bucks mount up real fast. Husky might make a good chain saw but mowers, I prefer a Cub. Have one of their tillers too. It's also bulletproof.

Love to have a Kubota in as much as I have 2 large Kubota tractors for farming but mowing the lawn, a Kubota is way too expensive.

 

[radios1]

Something that does not use the plastic and pressed powdered metal K46 transaxle .
If the rear wheels fasten on with 4 or 5 bolts, the transaxle is HD.

you'd think so, but Cub Cadet tractors using the K46 transaxle have bolt on wheels!..

 

[tomplum]

This caught my eye and might be of interest to you. It is from a user on a green tractor forum that I can't link you to.
TJR345
X590 3 month review
It's been 3 months and 30 hours having the X590. Twenty one years difference between the 98 345 that I had. Big improvements having the EFI over the carb is great.
Some good things some not bad but different I would say.

For the good EFI can't say enough, tight turn radius, Accel deck great cut and stays clean, power mulch control is one of those goodies you treat yourself to.
Some differences to the 345 would be the deck r and r and the tiller r and r.
The 345 was easier even though the mounting systems are similar.
The deck as mentioned before stays clean with little to no build up.The mulch kit does a great job chopping up the clippings to feed back into the lawn.
The 30" tiller works great and the difference between the two seems to be the X590 spins the tiller faster and the EFI doesn't let the engine bog down.
Overall the upgrade is great I really like this tractor and finding new differences all the time. If I ever upgrade the X595 to a 1025r it would have to have an Accel deck to start.

 

[nards444]

I would consider your mowing very basic, not down playing it but thats what I had. I had 2-2.5 acres flat plain ole lawn. Bought a 54in Zero turn from lowes and never looked back after 5 years. This is why i say dont throw out the zerto turn, mine was pre drilled for a bracket and hauls around a few hundred pounds pretty easily and cuts the lawn twice as fast a tractor.

Zero turn or not I would suggest not spending a lot of money for a smaller lawn that gets touched maybe a dozen times a year. Either find a nice beefy old used unit or go to the big box store. When I got my zerto turn bought the warranty which covered it from bumper to bumper for 3 years and was like 150 bucks. Machine breaks they come to fix it if they cant you get a new one, and the big box stores warrantys are pretty good. Sure you could spend big money on a big name machine, it may or not last you longer or be trouble free. Take care of whatever you have and it will last you a long time.