Bird sells tractor . . . what next!?

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...Bird has made a very large contribution to this board...</font color=blue>

Amen....!

<font color=blue>...it says that he has made 7348 posts...</font color=blue>

It's gotta be more... Muhammad only used a 4-digit "Post-odometer" and I understand Bird's has turned over already... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Thanks for all the kind words, fellows, but Danny [lbue]I don't see where he has ever asked a question</font color=blue>, I got one./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif What's the best cheap riding lawn mower (got to have hydrostatic transmission)? I like the Cub Cadets, especially the ease with which you can remove the deck to clean underneath, sharpen blades, etc., but think I ought to buy something cheaper since I may not need it long if this place sells this year. Going shopping in the morning anyway.

 

[s1120]

If you want cheep cheep, get a murry. Stay away from the MTD stuff. Not worth it unless its free. The Murrys seem to hold up ok. No, its not a real hard worker, but ok for the money.

 

[Bird]

Thanks, Paul. I've got a neighbor who really cusses Murray. After two of them, he got an MTD. So now he cusses them./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Of course, I suspect they're like a lot of equipment; depends on the operator and care taken. He leaves his mower sitting outside in the weather year round. I just couldn't do that. I've looked at Murrays, certainly not out of the running, but right now leaning a bit toward a Craftsman that's on sale this week with the Kohler engine, but have to go to Waco anyway tomorrow so thought I'd at least have a look at what Home Depot and Lowe's have.

 

[Inspector507]

Bird,
I bought a Craftsman years ago with the Kohler 14HP IC engine. Used when I lived in town and still use it to trim with. Well worth the money for me.

 

[DVerbarg]

Bird,

Back in 1994 bought a murray mfg'd unit (name plate "Ultra"?) that was green. It was a 16hp, twin cylinder, 42" cut, hydro. Used it to mow 2 to 3 acres from 1994 through 2001. Only had to replace a belt once, blades once after getting too thin and trying to mow a rock, and a pulley/bearing housing on the mower deck once. Not too bad for a cheapo unit. Used synthetic oil over the years and it still runs fine. Now that we have the TC40D and a new house it does not get much use anymore but will once the landscaping around the house gets finished this year. Hope to get another 2 to 4 years out of it. Of course it can never compare to a Boomer or 'Bota /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

Murray makes some of the Craftsmen units, definitely the small ones. Does anyone know if they make the "larger" ones also?

 

[s1120]

<font color=red>Does anyone know if they make the "larger" ones also?
</font color=red>

Nope, AYP makes them.

 

[s1120]

Any thoughts of used? You could pick up an older lawn tractor for almost nothing, or an older garden tractor for about a grand.

 

[WVBill]

Bird:

I bought a Craftsman 20hp with the Kohler engine 4 years ago. Have used it to mow my 3.5 acres of ex-pasture ever since without a single problem.

I know a lot of people have a low opinion of Craftsman but their products have worked well for me.

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>Any thoughts of used</font color=blue>

You bet, if I could find a good used one that would be great; just don't want to spend more time "mechanikin'" than mowin', like a couple of people I know who bought used ones./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

And I have a feeling that almost any of the new ones would be good enough for me 'cause I'll keep it inside instead of outside and take reasonable care of it.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.