HF mower?

[shane]

I read this quote for the first time earlier today on a construction forum and think this would be a good time to share it. "Buy the best and only cry once".

Man, have I bought some junk and cried more than once over the purchase.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Gotta love the description.. 'You're done with all the big mowing; now it's time to finish up around the shrubs and along buildings.' ..they have no idea what it's for..

:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing: LOL!!!

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I'm not very keen on purchasing anything from Horrible Freight that costs more than about $20. That's about my high end on what I'm willing to gamble with their extremely questionable merchandise.

Thanks for chiming in Dargo! You're the real expert on this very subject!!! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I read this quote for the first time earlier today on a construction forum and think this would be a good time to share it. "Buy the best and only cry once".

Man, have I bought some junk and cried more than once over the purchase.

Like that quote...:thumbsup:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I was wondering people opinion on this deck It seems to be at its lowest price right now. and shipping is reasonable too.
thanks.
5 Ft. 3-Point PTO Finishing Mower

Now that I'm done laughing...Getting back to the original question: That would just be a wasted $375...IMO

 

[Soundguy]

on the other hand... do you like to pay more than you have to?

here's a case and point.

12? ys ago I was in the market for a pickle fork to do some tie rod end work on my tractor.

napa.. 19$ looked good.. chrome or at least bright zinc finish.

HF 3.99$ zin.. not high polish.. more of a matte finish. similar look / dimensions.

I bought 2 of the hf ones.. cost me something like 8.50$

I still have both of them. and the've popepd tie rod ends and drag links off of most of the things on my property now.

end one the 'main' one i use is mushroomed a tad, making it? 1/4" shorter.

has some gouges on the fork area. fork actually bent out wide once and I rebent it say.. 5ys ago. the backup has been lightly used for minor prying tasks.

both are still serviceable.

so.. I saved over 10$ getting 2 of them... at this rate.. the first one might actually wear to an unuseable state in 5ys... then i'll have to start using the other one... if I get 15ys out of it... hmm... I'd say they don't owe me anything.

I'm sure the 19$ one would have been fine too... just cost nearly 5 times as much to do the same work...

Now that's a BARGAIN!

( yes.. I know you have to sift thru the jink at HF.. everybody knows that. )

soundguy

 

[rtimgray]

I've mentioned many times about the difference between "good" and "good enough". It depends alot on your application. I bought two sets of HF wrenches about 12 years ago, and told myself that if I could keep up with them for a couple of years, I would buy some "good" wrenches. I've not only kept up with them for 12 years, but used them on a regular basis, and decided that I don't need to buy "good" wrenches, because my "good enough" wrenches are indeed good enough for my needs. Would that be the case for a professional mechanic - maybe not?

Of course, my $20 wrench sets and Soundguy's $4 pickle forks are a little different than a $375 mower. However, if I were in the market for a finish mower I wouldn't pass it by without a thorough look. HF is a crap shoot, but they do have some pretty decent stuff and good prices in with the junk.

Good luck and take care.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I am a Harbor Freight fan I have several tools in my WW shop that have done fine for almost ten years now. I find that frequently the things that they sell are exactly like a lot of imports, just at a lower price. Comparing a $400 new mower to a $400 used mower might not be as much different as you think. Comparing a $400 new mower to an $1800 mower is a whole different animal.

 

[Argosy]

Download the pdf from the web page and check it out.

No breakdown of the gear box, if something as cheap and easy to replace as a seal goes it is going to become more work to find it than R&R.

It does look in the picture like the gear box has a stamped back cover and from the pdf a cast front cover. There better be a real good way to keep the front cover in location for gear life. And the Chinese aren't real great at tight fits and locating on their cheap stuff. Without a breakdown of the gear box (and my guess at the stamped back cover) I've got to wonder how the ring gear is supported, two front bearings?

The blades drive by 2 V belts, who knows how wide. They adjust by sliding the gear box instead of a spring tensioner. If one breaks or stretches they will need to be replaced as a matched set. The belt covers are a bunch of bolted together pieces of sheet metal, it won't be a quick adjustment.

I've never ordered repair parts from HF so if someone has it would be nice to find out lead time. Something as simple as blades could be a hassle if it takes a couple of months to get them. A bearing would mean the mower is down. I would look at it as a throwaway. If something goes wrong after the warranty it will probably be more hassle to fix than find another one.

IMHO You would be better off finding a decent used one. If you have time to look the price won't be much different.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well I said it before and I will say it again. A guy down the road bought one. Its basically a copy of my Caroni. His is the 6' one and he has mowed 4 acres about 30 times a year with it for 4 or so seasons now. I know him very well and he greases it a few times a year and that is it. He changed the gear box oil after the first season and has had no issues. I know he paid $800 so this is a steal.

As for getting parts from HF, I had to once and its been 7 years ago or so but I do not remember it being a issue. I know it was free and they shipped me a whole assembly.

I would take the risk for that price. It has to be as good if not better than the $1000 I spent on a King Kutter back in 2003. Now that was a mistake.

Chris