Need Buying Advice!

[Cheese70]

Hi Folks,

First time poster here.

I currently have a dying PoulanXt (cheap piece of junk) rider I got on the cheap a couple of years ago. I have about 1/3 of an Acre on a corner residential/suburban lot. I don't "need" a rider for this size property, in fact I use a walk-behind about half the time. A rider just cuts my mowing time in half (from 1.5 hours down to 45 minutes) and I just like things with motors and enjoy using the rider, it's just time to upgrade to something nicer.

I'm a bit of a lawn nut so a clean cut is fairly important to me (something that my Poulan doesn't deliver--and I end up using my walk behind on this portion more often). The front elevation is sloped at what I would guess is 7% from the front of my house down to the street. There are some other hills around the sides of the house, but a clean cut there isn't as important to me as it isn't super visible.

I've been researching non-stop over the past week and my head is spinning! I don't know what is best for me. I hate to spend the money on a tractor and find out it's not a good fit for my property.

Am I better off looking at a RER for this size property? How do those do on slopes, is the cut pretty clean because they are only a single blade? I find with my 42 poulan, when mowing the slope the low side always scalps and I have the deck at the highest setting.

I ran across a used Husquevarna Rider 155 (the front mount articulating mower) for sale about an hour away from me for $1000. What an interesting little machine, price seems a bit out of range--I think it's 15 years old. Does anyone have experience with these machines? I love the easy deck maintenance on this machine.

Are there any other small 42" and under front mount mowers out there for sale new (it looks like Husq discontinued these in the USA several years back)?

What about RERs? Should I just get a nice 42" standard rider?

Budget is $3k and under (with a heavy tilt toward under).


Thank you everyone!

 

[5030]

Whatever you decide, I'd buy it soon as the rate of inflation will adversely impact the price.

 

[Cheese70]

Hi Folks,

I apologize, I didn't realize this forum was more geared toward heavy duty/commercial type equipment as opposed to residential. Mods--feel free to delete this posting. Have a great weekend, warriors!

 

[2manyrocks]

I briefly had a Troy Bilt rear engine rider. I decided to get rid of it pretty quickly because in my personal experience it didn't have the traction on the slope in my yard that that my Poulan rider has. I think my Poulan is an XT also, but it is a backup to my ZTR.

 

[5030]

Keep in mid that 99% of the smaller riders are all built by the same outfit, MTD. Only the color changes and the badging.

 

[Cheese70]

Keep in mid that 99% of the smaller riders are all built by the same outfit, MTD. Only the color changes and the badging.

That's what I had figured. They all look exactly the same--expect with different plastics.

That's why I'm tilting towards something bigger (even though my property doesn't necessarily warrant it). It's more of a "hobby" for me so I wouldn't mind having something nice or interesting to play around with.

Any thoughts on the old Husq. R155 front mount?

In any event, I appreciate the replies--especially given my posts isn't exactly in the spirit of this forum.

 

[2manyrocks]

I don't know anything about the Husq R155. If you do an internet search, there might or might not be more information about it.

Besides the usual local want ads, you might search tractorhouse.com for used lawn mowers. You might find a used diesel John Deere or something in your price range.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

That's what I had figured. They all look exactly the same--expect with different plastics.

That's why I'm tilting towards something bigger (even though my property doesn't necessarily warrant it). It's more of a "hobby" for me so I wouldn't mind having something nice or interesting to play around with.

Any thoughts on the old Husq. R155 front mount?

In any event, I appreciate the replies--especially given my posts isn't exactly in the spirit of this forum.

No worries about posting here.... you can also scroll down to the 'lawn and garden' thread. That's where you'll get more specific answers.

Have you thought about the big box store riders or even one of the zero turns they sell? They would be close to your budget.

 

[dodge man]

I wish I could help with recommending a rider but am not a lot of help. You can easily spend over $10,000 on a nice riding mower or zero turn. When I first moved to our property, I mow about 2 acres, I bought a cheap riding mower. It basically just fell apart due to my hills a rougher ground. In your case your not mowing that much maybe a bigger push mower woukd work for you.

A lot of people on this forum, myself included are rural land owners but smaller properties, just a few acres, so you posting here is not out of line.

 

[JJT]

If I were you, I'd be looking at an electric zero turn. The neighbors will appreciate the low noise. You'll appreciate the low maintenance. I'm trimming and edging with battery power and would switch to an electric ztr in a heart beat if I was mowing less than an acre. I see a few available for under $3,000.

 

[hornett22]

That's what I had figured. They all look exactly the same--expect with different plastics.

That's why I'm tilting towards something bigger (even though my property doesn't necessarily warrant it). It's more of a "hobby" for me so I wouldn't mind having something nice or interesting to play around with.

Any thoughts on the old Husq. R155 front mount?

In any event, I appreciate the replies--especially given my posts isn't exactly in the spirit of this forum.

For 3k, I'd probably go the the cub cadet dealer and see about an XT2 or XT3 with a deck in the 50 inch range.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I think the Husky was more popular in Europe. They may still sell them there. I think the job of getting the best $3000 mower is pretty tough. Most have the lowest spec motors and non serviceable transmissions. They do pretty well on flat ground. I think you can expect 5-7 years before you start having problems.

 

[Buzzard7]

I also mow 1/3 acre. Bought a John Deere 42" cut lawn tractor with V-Twin (21 or 22 hp?) Briggs and Stratton engine from Lowe's in 2007 for about $2000. Used it for 15 years and sold it for $800. Never had any problems with the engine or transmission. Had to replace some parts on the mower occasionally that got banged up. Just bought the same mower again (now $2300 at Lowe's). Can't go wrong for the price.

 

[Paul in TN]

With your budget and if you’re handy with tools a smaller JD rider will last you a good long time. Proper maintenance on a new machine is the way to go.

 

[Hotpot]

I like the idea or the front mount mower. im getting pushed in that direction myself. As i golf a lot in me yard and the cut is important to me. The problem with the rider i have is the front tires mash the grass down before the cutting deck. i notice this while chipping around the 3 acres. That front mount deck get the the grass first before the tires get a chance to roll it down.
The ones i seen here in Ohio seem to be $ 1500 and up for anything that looked worth buying.

I wonder what the down side is to a front mount machine?

 

[Williy]

The mower decks on the JD riding mowers
are really crap! My brother-in-law took his
JD deck in to get welded and was told it would
take special welding to weld it JD used very
cheap metal to make the deck.
I have an MTD mower deck that I used for over
20 years and its still in good condition but the
JD deck only lasted a couple of years JUNK!!!
Tractor is OK

willy

 

[dodge man]

I don’t know about JD’s riding mowers but the mid mount mower decks for their tractors are pretty solid. I frequent a JD forum and hear problems with mowing decks but it’s never about them being weak or poor metal. The problems are more about the setup.

 

[gstrom99]

I've been researching non-stop over the past week and my head is spinning! I don't know what is best for me. I hate to spend the money on a tractor and find out it's not a good fit for my property.
Should I just get a nice 42" standard rider?

Budget is $3k and under (with a heavy tilt toward under).

Where are you? Yes, too many choices... I'd probably just buy another rider, new. $1k for that used one is out of line. 42" deck is plenty big for 1/3 acre. Zero turns are nice, but you don't need one for that small lot. TSC, Lowe's, Farm & Fleet, Home Depot would all have want you need. Online w/delivery is an option, if you're not close to a store, but I would always recommend to shop local whenever you can...

 

[IndyJay]

The mower decks on the JD riding mowers
are really crap! My brother-in-law took his
JD deck in to get welded and was told it would
take special welding to weld it JD used very
cheap metal to make the deck.
I have an MTD mower deck that I used for over
20 years and its still in good condition but the
JD deck only lasted a couple of years JUNK!!!
Tractor is OK

willy

Willy, depends... if it is one from a big box store then yes, those are pretty cheap. My x394 is a solid machine with a heavy deck. Depends on what you buy.