daTeacha
Veteran Member
Situation -- I've been using a Cadet 129 with a 42"(?) deck and a Cadet 1215 with a 38"(?) deck to mow my lawn areas, supplemented by a JX series JD walk behind and a weedeater. The 1215 has basically died. I have a larger deck(48"?) to fit the 129 but find it a bit cumbersome for much of the ground I mow. The 129 is used to mow all kinds of stuff, but does not leave a very pretty cut area behind itself. I intend to keep it for mowing the rough areas where the DX29/bush hog will not fit. The 1215 is possibly going to be replaced rather than investing in fixing/replacing the engine.
I have a sloping, wooded property with very little open straight areas to mow. Typical slope is about a 4/12 pitch -- it matches the pole barn roof when seen from a distance coming down the road in winter. I really think anything bigger than a 48" deck would be a waste of money since there are many places it simply wouldn't fit. The "lawn" as such is basically open woods. There are roots from maple trees, the occasional golf ball size rock, larger stones that frost heave, sticks and branches, leaves in the fall, and lots of irregularities to climb over, straddle, etc. Some of the hillside is steep enough that the 129 can mow it downhill but not up, even with my 210 lb on the seat. Some of it is walk behind territory only. Other places cause one or more wheels to want to lift. The 1215 leaves the lawn looking a lot nicer than the 129, probably due to a higher blade speed. I can figure to spend about 2 hours mowing less than an acre of lawn due to all the turning and obstacles.
Question -- What can I get that will give a better cut than the relatively slow spinning blades of the 129 without going broke in the process? Is there a smallish ZTR out there? Would it be advantageous and safe in the area described above? What kind of price range? Should I just get a "throw away' mower instead?
I have a sloping, wooded property with very little open straight areas to mow. Typical slope is about a 4/12 pitch -- it matches the pole barn roof when seen from a distance coming down the road in winter. I really think anything bigger than a 48" deck would be a waste of money since there are many places it simply wouldn't fit. The "lawn" as such is basically open woods. There are roots from maple trees, the occasional golf ball size rock, larger stones that frost heave, sticks and branches, leaves in the fall, and lots of irregularities to climb over, straddle, etc. Some of the hillside is steep enough that the 129 can mow it downhill but not up, even with my 210 lb on the seat. Some of it is walk behind territory only. Other places cause one or more wheels to want to lift. The 1215 leaves the lawn looking a lot nicer than the 129, probably due to a higher blade speed. I can figure to spend about 2 hours mowing less than an acre of lawn due to all the turning and obstacles.
Question -- What can I get that will give a better cut than the relatively slow spinning blades of the 129 without going broke in the process? Is there a smallish ZTR out there? Would it be advantageous and safe in the area described above? What kind of price range? Should I just get a "throw away' mower instead?