Lever Hydro vs. Pedal Hydro

[sarge rmb]

Oh Slim I forgot to say Im from S.W. Pa.

 

[LBrown59]

I bought a Husqvarna lever controlled hydrostat about 3 years ago. It was the most unsafe piece of equipment I have ever driven. The slightest incline would cause the mower to speed up or slow down, so you had to keep your hand on the lever at all times. That is nearly impossible with a riding mower since there is no power steering and you need both hands on the wheel.

I used it to mow my lawn twice (I gave it the benefit of the doubt and gave it a second chance) and then look it back to Lowe's and traded it for a foot operated one. If you need to speed up or slow down (or stop for that matter), you simply move your foot while keeping both hands on the wheel.

I would never allow kids to drive a lever operated one and I will never own one. They just are not safe compared to the foot operated ones. Your wife is wrong.

But why?

 

[LBrown59]

Held a funeral service last fall for our 46" riding mower. Explored many options for its replacement. 1.) 72" finish mower to pull with New Holland 40hp tractor. 2) Zero turn mower. 3) 48-52" riding mower. Opted for #3. Because the mowing can be done by 14-year old and 12-year old. My wife's doesn't want them running the New Holland. She also wants them to have a lever control hydrostatic compared to pedal control. Feels it is "safer" for them. I am having difficult time finding a new mower that is lever controlled. Any suggestions? For a rider I am willing to spend up to $3,500.
Thanks, Slim

Why is it safer?

 

[timswi]

I've had both hand operated and foot operated...By far and away, I prefer the foot operated. It's more intuitive and I think safer because you can slow down faster in a dangerous situation...Ive seen plenty of stuff out there in your price range..Don't cheap out, you get what you pay for as I've found out painfully and expensively.

 

[Jimmy Joe]

I have a John Deere LX 277 it has pedal control and lever control if you wish, it is called cruise control. I use the pedals 99% of the time I feel I have way more control with the pedals I will sometimes use the lever in large open areas if my foot gets tired but the lever would be dangerous for children because of the fact that it does not return to neutral when you let go of it. If a child was say going under low branches and a limb snagged the mower it would not stop until they fell off the seat if the seat switch was operating properly, with the foot control the brakes would apply as soon as the foot left the pedal. You could get a mower set up like mine and have both.

 

[timswi]

I have a John Deere LX 277 it has pedal control and lever control if you wish, it is called cruise control. I use the pedals 99% of the time I feel I have way more control with the pedals I will sometimes use the lever in large open areas if my foot gets tired but the lever would be dangerous for children because of the fact that it does not return to neutral when you let go of it. If a child was say going under low branches and a limb snagged the mower it would not stop until they fell off the seat if the seat switch was operating properly, with the foot control the brakes would apply as soon as the foot left the pedal. You could get a mower set up like mine and have both.

Jimmy Joe is exactly right on this!!!

 

[sarge rmb]

I guess Im old school but I really like my gravely. I got a new J.D. LA 165 with pedal power but cant get used to it. My father gave me the 812 years ago when he upgraded to a Gravely 16G with foot pedal. He has often said he misses the hand lever on the old 812. I think it comes down to whatever you got you make it work. Oh and the hand lever is great if you ever get stuck just get off and push while moving the hand lever forward. Not in the manual but always worked when I got stuck.

 

[slim]

She thinks the lever hydro would be safer because....that's the only style they've operated. You all make some valid points. Thank you for the opinions.
I guess I'll just take the kids when I demo and see what they are comfortable with.

 

[diesel_nut]

Some of you are assuming kids intuitively already know how to drive.............

 

[dillo99]

Don't like the hand lever controls either. I think foot control is much safer - that might be because that is what we are all so used to in so many vehicles, but that still makes it safer.