Rear Finish Mower Buying a used RFM

[Jimmyb33]

I'm looking at a couple of used 72" RFM for sale in my area and have a couple of questions..

What do I need to check on the mowers to determine how good of shape the mechanics are in??

There are two I am looking at. One is a 5 year old Landpride. I don't know the make of the other one, but the seller says he's only used it 3 - 4 times. Anyone recogonise the red one in the pics?

Any opinions on these choices?

Thanks!
JB

 

[Pooh_Bear]

Check the spindles for play in the bearings.
Are the wheels in good shape? The forks?
What about the belt pulleys, especially the big main pulley.
How about the idler pulleys, do they run smooth? Belt in good shape?
What kind of shape is the deck itself in. Clean, rusty, etc.
What about the under side of the deck, cleaned out regularly?
Are the blades in good shape? Have they been properly sharpened?
Is the gearbox noisy? Does it have any oil leaks? Are the seals good?
Does the gearbox have plenty of oil in it? Is the oil clean?
Can you take it for a 'test drive' to see and hear it in action?
Run it long enough to bring the gearbox up to operating temperature.
Does it come with a PTO shaft? Are the U joints in good shape?
Is the shaft bent? Does it telescope easily? Does it wobble when spinning?
Does the latch mechanism to attach it to the tractor work good?

That should cover it. Some of these are cheap to fix, others not so cheap.

Pooh Bear

 

[medicshawn]

I have a 6 foot landpride fdr1672 I like it alot and it provides a good cut. Seems pretty bulletproof to me.

 

[Jimmyb33]

Thanks for the valuable input guys. I hope to check them out over the weekend.

JB

 

[KubotaSam]

You may have seen my post on a Landpride RFM I just bought. I think the mower is a very good one. BUT The previous owner had not used it in a few years and it had a lot of rust on the bottom of the gear box shaft. (I did not know when I bought it) After I got it home I was checking it out and started to spin the blades which spun the belt, pulleys and gear box. There was so much rust on the gear box shaft that it destroyed the oil seal on the bottom of the gear box. So my advice to you-
Look carefully under the gear box after spinning the mower by hand an number of revolutions. Check to see that oil is not leaking out.

Anyone know of a good online source for redi / speedy sleeves?