BEST MOWER YOU'VE EVER HAD?

[KentT]

Push-mowers would be a tossup between an old aluminum-deck 2-stroke Lawnboy that I grew up with, or the aluminum deck Snapper Classic (Commercial) frome the late 1980s that I still use as a trim mower. Doesn't mow quite as nice as the Lawnboy, but it mulches and bags much, much better. So good, I picked up another one (about 1992 vintage) with a bad engine from the dump a while back and am in the process of putting a brand-new Briggs on it. It'll likely outlast me...

As far as a rider, it's unquestionably the used 1969 Simplicity Sovereign that I got from the original owner years ago. I use it regularly for all my mowing or snowblowing -- and it's all-original and the engine's never been rebuilt.

 

[Charlie175]

my 1989 Cub Cadet 1811 has been outstanding, never had a issue with it all these years. I push snow, mow, and do odd end blade work with it. Since getting a CUT it has taken a back seat but for mowing duties it can't be beat.
I wish I had the rear lift for it though...

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I can't speak for longevity yet, but the Toro 266-H that I have now is great for performance. Not only does it have power to spare, is easy to operate, and has plenty of options for attachments, etc.; but it is comfortable and has a very tight turning radius.

I never thought I'd go in for all the safety features, but I actually like having the interlocks and seat switch on this one. I feel like I can let my 6 year old sit on this one when it's running since she can't reach the foot pedals without releasing the seat switch.

This Toro just really seems to be designed well too. The deck comes off and goes on easy for maintenance and blade sharpening. All the maintenance stuff is easy to check and service. Whoever designed this mower has cursed a few others that were designed to built, but not maintained.

All around, this is the best rider I've ever had.

 

[jcmseven]

Gravely 8193 KT four wheel tractor: Bought: March 22, 1982 for $4375.00 with a 50" deck. My father still has it. Has over 3000 hours on it (I think over 3500) of mowing, tilling and plowing snow, pulling trailers, etc. It has had two mower drive belts, some fuses and two clutch pads replaced in ITS lifetime. The oil has NEVER been changed, my dad just adds some if it gets low. The tranny oil has NEVER been changed and he has replaced the air filter only three times that he can recall (although he beats it out on their back patio often). The deck pullies whine and the tractor is a bit down on power now, but still cuts great. I would say that the entire maintenence bill for this machine has been under $100.00 in 26 years of hard use. That's going to be a tough one to beat.

John M

 

[mudcat]

WOW!

 

[jcmseven]

That's what I said. I am not advocating my father's maintainence schedule, but I have been unable to dispute it. My father, fortunately, worked many years in a fairly lucrative job. He was raised by parents who raised three children and did pretty well through the depression and exhibited tremendously conservative financial prowess which they passed on the the children. With this upbringing and security, my dad opted for a philosophy of "run it till it dies and buy another." He rarely maintains anything he operates, but does not abuse equipment either. This mower is an example of such. He also gave me a 2001 F150 truck which currently has slightly over 200,000 miles on it. When I asked him how many times he changed the oil, he said "A couple." Needless to say, I have been maintaining it more regularly, but the mechanic who does my service work says there is nothing wrong with the truck and it shows very little wear. He thinks it might go another 100,000-200,000 miles. With these results and my dad's near octagenerian status, one can imagine he likely will not change his habits.

John M

 

[johnk]

I picked up a fORD YT16 Lawn mower a couple of years ago with the Kohler twin and an impeller driven triple bagger. Runs like a bear and sucks the night crawlers out of the ground.. The deck is in great shape and I ground it down and put POR15 on it.

 

[ragkar]

My best lawn mower was my dad's first mower. We had just moved from the city to a 3/4 acre suburban home in 1956 and were total novices concerning grounds care. At the time, rotary mowers were new and people were still arguing on whether a reel or rotary mower was best. By the way, the conclusion was that if you had an all-grass no-weed lawn, a reel mower gave the best cut. But if you had weeds with stringy stems, then a rotary mower was better as the reel had difficulties.
We sowed grass seed and for several weeks used our push reel mower, but it became harder and harder as the grass came in.
My dad bought a 1 3/4hp Briggs and Stratton 18" rotary that had a blade with bolt on triangular tips and no fly-off protection. You could never buy such a dangerous machine today, but it never gave us any trouble.
Going from a really hard push reel mower to a engine mower was a pleasure. Sometimes my dad and I would skirmish about who would get to mow. By the second year I was saddled with mowing and I now hated it. My dad would complain that I was not overlapping the rows enough. One time he tried following me to check and boy was that annoying. My solution was to walk faster and faster. I was sixteen and he was around 45 at the time and by the time I finished he was all out of breath just following me. My mom still laughs at the memory of us mowing zoom zoom back and forth.
My mom started planting these little trees that I would have to circle around when mowing. My solution - mow them down!

 

[Axeman]

JD X300.

 

[skidoo]

Just got it last Fall. By far, this is the Best mower I have had. JD X749.