Rear Finish Mower Opportunity to buy a slightly used very clean 72" county line finish mower

[LS Tractor Owner]

I have an opportunity to get a very clean county line 72" finish mower for $600. The reveiws I have read vary from "great for the price" and " had it for 4 seasons w/o any problems", to the opposite "broke on my third pass" and "what a POS!". I cut about 4 acres of low scrub grass / weeds. No sticks or shrubs / saplings. (I've been cutting it w/ a craftsman garden tractor for the past 10 years)( pretty much killed it). For the price it's difficult to pass on, but I don't want to be constantly repairing the mower. What do you guys think? I bet I could get it for $500.

 

[cabover4us]

In the same position as you are but pulled the trigger on a 5' (Tarter)- Country Line brand tiller. It is a 2016 model, very heavy unit. Purchased for $850 currently it's at my good friends house, using it around his solar panels and preparing lot for Christmas Trees and not a problem, says it works and tills like a beast. This is the 3rd piece of Country Line products I've bought, York rake, and box scraper, and now tiller. So far so good.
Wow for that kind of money wouldn't it pay to try it, reviews seem to be 75% to 25% to the good might be a favorable risk for that kind of money.
I would love a piece like that right now, I currently mow with a 60" belly mower and would like to add offset mower to the rear, that would help with the time factor on my 3 acres. Have a 52" Bunton walk behind I'm working on changing motor and attaching square brackets resembling the Swisher Brand pull behind mowers. Going to pull this behind my John Deere 855. That would give me roughly 112" total but with overlap probably 100" of good mowing width.
Getting back to the Country Line Brand, I called the Tarter Corp to get some info on the driveshaft, it was two inches too short, so ordered new shaft on eBay. But, they won't deal with a customer or retail, they only deal with Tractor Supply or private dealer who carries their products, might want to find private farm supplier instead, I don't think our local tractor supply people are well versed in finding and ordering parts from anyone. So that is one draw back.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Thanks for the info. When I looked at the Equipment at TSC, it seemed beefy for what the price is. No it's not "commercial grade", but I'm not going to use it hard. It's hard to pass up at 1/3 of the new price. The paint isn't even faded. Apparently the seller got it at estate sale in a large lot of equipment. Reportedly used "maybe 2 or 3 times". I'm on the fence trying to decide about getting one of the new Titan flail mowers on EBay (about $1250) (and applying the $600 towards it) or this one. Heard pro and cons about the flail also.

 

[riptides]

I have an opportunity to get a very clean county line 72" finish mower for $600. The reveiws I have read vary from "great for the price" and " had it for 4 seasons w/o any problems", to the opposite "broke on my third pass" and "what a POS!". I cut about 4 acres of low scrub grass / weeds. No sticks or shrubs / saplings. (I've been cutting it w/ a craftsman garden tractor for the past 10 years)( pretty much killed it). For the price it's difficult to pass on, but I don't want to be constantly repairing the mower. What do you guys think? I bet I could get it for $500.

I'd jump on it. I mean finishing mowers at that size range from 1,800 - 2,500 dollars, new.

 

[BleedingOrange]

He who procrastinates, looses. IF it isn,t already gone, hurry.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

He who procrastinates, looses. IF it isn,t already gone, hurry.

Thanks guys, I'm going to take the leap and jump on it!

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Well I think I finally got a deal! I was able to pick up the mower and a 5' heavy box blade for $900. The mower underside didn't have one chip of paint. I don't think it was ever even used once.

 

[paulfun9]

Keep it lubed
Take up any slack on the wheel height adjustment
Add some washers wider than what ever you use to hold those adjusters in place
keep the bolts and nuts that hold the legs tight
And it will work great!

We got one for a song and a dance like you did and it has been used hard with no issues following the same advice given here.

 

[riptides]

Well I think I finally got a deal! I was able to pick up the mower and a 5' heavy box blade for $900. The mower underside didn't have one chip of paint. I don't think it was ever even used once.

That's a great deal. Good luck with your projects and work!

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Wow, nice score. You did very well there.