Garden tractor life span

[jyoutz]

Might be a tad longer, but not much. Those wind up being built to a price point for cheap "move it" pricing compared to the standard machines sold at dealers.

Not sure about that. I know the cub cadet zero turns with Kawasaki motors are the same models sold in box stores as dealers, and they are priced the same at both vendors. I did notice that the dealers and HD sell them with Kawasaki motors and TSC sells the same model with Kohler motors. At this time, every place is selling at the same price.

 

[jyoutz]

I was given one in 1999 and have used the coon dog crap out of it. Bush hogged and cleared land with it. Hacked briar thickets down, backing up and making full speed runs at 7' tall brush, clearing acres. Mowing trees down that raise front wheels off the ground. Never even changed oil in it. Broke one deck belt. Replaced spindle bearing because a trash bag wrapped up on blade. Replaced battery twice. That's all folks.

No oil changes? Huh?

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

No oil changes? Huh?

I have never changed it. Reason is, every time I check it, it looks clean. It must have an air filter that works good. I'm talking 15':acres around here.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I have always wanted a ZTR but bought a tractor instead.

My buddy has a JD with a yanmar commercial unit. Amazing machine. But its cost 30x what I paid for my little mower. Both used. And hes replaced as many parts as me with less hours. Granted his will be on this earth a lot longer.

 

[jjeff]

Geez passed by cheap thin wall pressed/stamped sheet metal frame, front axle, and deck riders at a big box store recently. 2k for the gear drive over 2k for the hydrostatic plus it had a step down from the less owner popular sealed k46 hydros. Ill stop complaining when I occasionally have to replace points and condensers lol.

 

[jjeff]

After servicing the 3400 hydros with spin on filters, on my wife's zero turn 3x over the last 6 yrs. went with this ams oil 20-50 and will probably extend servicing based on hours and years in between intervals and won't follow manufacturers recommendations anymore. If I was to go through the hassle to pull a sealed hydro transaxle to change fluid I'd seriously consider this over conventional 20w50. Seems to be a lot smoother and no whining whatsoever.

 

[2manyrocks]

Not sure about that. I know the cub cadet zero turns with Kawasaki motors are the same models sold in box stores as dealers, and they are priced the same at both vendors. I did notice that the dealers and HD sell them with Kawasaki motors and TSC sells the same model with Kohler motors. At this time, every place is selling at the same price.

I can't see a difference between the same models at box stores v the dealer. Pricing looks the same, but a dealer might be able to give a slight discount or throw in something where the box store won't do anything.

 

[stevem5215]

On any Garden or Lawn tractor you should shop Transmission first. Cheap will get you a cheap transmission. More $$ will get you a better one. And better ones can last far longer in heavy duty usage environments. Light duty then cheap will work just fine.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

On any Garden or Lawn tractor you should shop Transmission first. Cheap will get you a cheap transmission. More $$ will get you a better one. And better ones can last far longer in heavy duty usage environments. Light duty then cheap will work just fine.

I bought a pair from a buddy not because what they were but what they cost. $500 is my top dollar for a riding mower.

Got 2 for that price. A 90s craftsman 26hp 50 in with a Briggs. It had a solid rear axle but everything else was junk. Worst turning radius ever


The other was the husqvarna.

I use to have a troy built and it was an abomination. Neat variac transmission tho

 

[stevem5215]

Nothing wrong with a $500 used mower. We had one that was from my bro' in law and was free. The engine had lost all the bolts holding the lower half of the crankshaft housing. Bought new bolts and used that mower for another 10 years till it got replaced by the Black Craftsman Professional (with a k46). That mower though was 13 hp and a single cylinder with a 38" deck (rotted out eventually) replaced with a 42" deck. Those mowers were good machines for the simplistic designs that they had. Gear drive in them can last forever too (peerless cheapo transmission). Those cheap mowers when riding over bumps you can feel the whole chassis just flex. Just cheap is all I can say. But they continue to work and in a light duty application they are reliable as designed to be. After the Grey Craftsman was used and replaced by the Black one we used it at the family farm to cut basically weeds weekly or monthly. That machine was as good there doing that chore the same as when it was at my house working on the front yard of one acre here. (out of 4 total and the rest cut with the Ford 1900 and 72" deck) It's surprising how durable it was overall.

 

[dodge man]

I think it has a lot to do with your property. If it’s a nice smooth lawn without a lot of things to hit, a cheap one might last a 1000 hours. I have a rough yard and my first box store kept breaking deck spindles and the steering had a ton of slop in it. I’ve been mowing with a tractor with mid mount mower and have very few problems.

 

[m1garand762]

I still use a 1970s wheel horse with tue original deck. No hour meter but I know it’s well past 10000

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

Just hammer the deck back straight and bolted some 1/8" by 2 inch flat stock around the deck to fix where it ripped apart. Hopefully itll see 1000 hours.

 

[Beeenvenue]

I plan on replacing every 7 years. I beat the crap out of mine on hard clay soils; I buy 6-7 speed manuals and run in high gear and sometimes clip trees or fence corners at full speeds….don’t change the oil either. I figure I cut 25-30 times per year at about 1-1/2hours/cut so 40-50 hours per year.

Never had an engine problem (at 300-400 hours max). They die other deaths. Broken axle. Destroyed many decks. Bent main driveshaft coming out of engine killed one of them (high centered on a water logged frozen dirt mound - yes in Texas).

I don’t take care of them (little maintenance) because I use them very aggressively. It wasn’t so bad when I could get a 42” model for $1200, but that’s $2200 or more now.

 

[fatjay]

1968 New Holland S14 mowed until the deck just fell apart in the 90's. Now it tills and plows. Countless hours on it. Have a 1970 S14 as well, runs like a champ.

My 2001 kubota zd21 zero turn has close to 2000 hours on it. If something breaks, I fix it.

 

[Tomtint]

Most of what the big box stores sell today as lawn tractors.. I would expect to replace in 5 years given normal seasonal usage. Its planned obsolescence. The parts used are thinner, lighter, and just not meant for long term durability. When I was a kid, My farher bought a Ariens GT17 tractor. It was a big lawn tractor, PTOs,..Fairly robust build. The weak point was the Kohler motor. My father ran it hard for 20 years or so and I ended up rebuilding it and used it for another 4-5 years before the new motor failed. ..Ended up scrapping it for a Kubota BX22..

 

[Oaktree]

Most of what the big box stores sell today as lawn tractors.. I would expect to replace in 5 years given normal seasonal usage. Its planned obsolescence. The parts used are thinner, lighter, and just not meant for long term durability.

That seems a little on the low side. I have a fairly low end box store Ariens rider mower I've had about 10 years now (no hour meter, but rough estimate 650-700-ish hours). Still running, but I don't expect to get more than a couple more years out of it. Had to re-weld the frame where it broke (real flimsy design) last year, engine's starting to burn oil too. I had to replace one spindle & the belt. Other than annual oil/filter changes no other repairs. Sealed hydro transmission is a little rough going from fwd to reverse, but no other issues with it. On its third battery, but that's not the fault of the mower.

Not sure what I'm gonna do when it's time to replace it. A little better quality one would be nice, but even the low end ones are pushing $2500 now (paid less than half for this one). Add to that the fact that I'm 73...another box store one, assuming it stands up like this would probably get me as long as I'll need it.

I think it has a lot to do with your property. If it’s a nice smooth lawn without a lot of things to hit, a cheap one might last a 1000 hours. I have a rough yard and my first box store kept breaking deck spindles and the steering had a ton of slop in it. I’ve been mowing with a tractor with mid mount mower and have very few problems.

Absolutely!! My yard is also rough and uneven and I'm sure that's taken a toll on the mower. Way too many obstacles, dead ends, etc. for a tractor to be practical. There are some spots I'm not sure a ZTR would even fit thru so I guess I'm stuck with another rider.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

The little husquvarna I have doesnt have enough power to damage its axle. It spins the tires quite a bit. Plus my 150 doesnt do much to ballast it

The frame, as flimsy as it is and flexible hasn't broke anywhere.

My craftman has issues with the steering and the parts weren't cheap. Once I got it going, I sold it. Despite being a 25 year old craftsman. It was junk

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I can’t imagine replacing a mower every 5 years. I hope to get 10+ from my Hustler… at $12k to replace, that seems about as short as I’d like.

 

[jyoutz]

I can’t imagine replacing a mower every 5 years. I hope to get 10+ from my Hustler… at $12k to replace, that seems about as short as I’d like.

I would expect 20+ years of service from a $12K mower.