Recommendation for Good Riding Lawnmower in Today's Market

[Fiziksgeek]

What about a JD X310? It's got a K58 tranny, a little beefier than the K46,and its serviceable. Saves a bunch of money over an X5xx machine at ~$4K. Other than that, a used X5xx or GT2xx machine would do good. I actually think the older machines cut better than the newer ones. A Simplicity Broadmoor or Conquest would be good was well. Not sure what engine they are using now, but used to be a Briggs Vanguard, every bit as reliable as a kawasaki IMO.

 

[DHD]

Oh, that's you? Cool! I found that Googling the tractor after I read your initial post. I'm plowing through it now, there's like 108 pages.

What Tuff-Torque transaxle does this use??

Tuff Torque K574A (rear) KTM 10 L (front)

If your local Husqvarna dealer is like mine was, they didn't have a R322T in stock, didn't know very much about it and tried to talk me into one of their typical garden tractors they had in-stock. I had to order my first R322T, my second R322T I found as a left over and got a super deal on it.
On both machines, I chose the Comb1 103 deck and use the mulching feature (can be used as rear discharge too).

 

[JDL130]

Tuff Torque K574A (rear) KTM 10 L (front)

If your local Husqvarna dealer is like mine was, they didn't have a R322T in stock, didn't know very much about it and tried to talk me into one of their typical garden tractors they had in-stock. I had to order my first R322T, my second R322T I found as a left over and got a super deal on it.
On both machines, I chose the Comb1 103 deck and use the mulching feature (can be used as rear discharge too).

Well, I ended up having to punt this time. Grass is growing and the trans problem is too severe to allow me to mow it while I wait. Found a new-in-box K46 from a Deere dealer in PA for $485 + shipping. I'm going to replace the one in the Deere which should buy me time to look further into a replacement.

I drove all around Adams county yesterday after a dr's appointment to try to find an R322T in stock, but no one had one. Closest I got was a dealer who had one since 2013, but sold it this May. He said he wouldn't be restocking another one. Until I can find one and look at it, I don't want to just order a $5300 item. I was really excited for that one, too. I also found a Kubota T2080 but I'm not nuts about the Courage engine in them. And the dealer was not knowledgeable -- "Oh, that's not a Courage, that's an SV710, that's something different." Uh, SV710 is a Courage, dude.

At least I'll get the end of this year done and probably have a mower that has some residual value, if I can get the $500 out of it that I put into the transaxle, I'll be in a better position to look since I'll not be using a machete to get to the driveway in the meantime.

 

[jenkinsph]

Might want to change the oil to a full synthetic before you use it. That should buy you more time too.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Probably went with the cheapest choice. Fix your mower and be on the look for something better. The tractor is on the way out so you might find someone trading in on a new zero turn. John Deere, Simplicity and Kubota are about the only really good ones left. All the money is going to the zero turns. That is where you find the cutting edge. It is very very competitive, so you find great products by a lot, if not most mfg.

 

[JDL130]

Yeah, I did the transaxle fluid exchange right after I bought it last year, put full synthetic 5W50 in after I tested for a few mows and made sure there were no underlying problems. So I'll get two quarts of the full synthetic 5W50 again and factory-fill this one before I install it.

It's a shame the tractor is on the way out -- zero turns are great, but they just don't work for the layout of my property. Not enough uninterrupted area to really make the capability of a zero turn worth the price in my case. I think the Husqvarna R322T might be the mower for me, if I can get some actual seat time on one before I commit.

 

[NorthernChill]

I have 2 2008 Simplicity Regents(the bottom end of Simplicity line) one is an 18 hp with 38 inch cut and the other is a 24 HP with 50 inch cut. They've been great. With the 24hp I mow through gopher hills , swampy areas, and some weeds that are 3 to 4 feet tall. The 18 hp one I use up around the house for about 2 acres. The only thing I have had to change on them : the blades and the air filter. I also upgraded the tires to AG tires so I could go into the swampy areas and not get stuck.

 

[flusher]

I did all the riding mower chores around my 10 acre place with a $900 Huskee mower (42" deck) that I bought from Tractor Supply in 2005. It's still running. Replaced blades and belts once in 10 years. Oil and filter replaced every year. Has the B&S Intech 18 hp engine. Mowed about 1.5 acres of lawn and orchard (about 12 times per year). Mowed 10 ft wide strips along my ditches and fencelines (1/2 mile total, 5-6 times per year). No need to pay thousands of dollars for fancy mowers just to mow the grass on a few acres.

 

[Fawken]

I did all the riding mower chores around my 10 acre place with a $900 Huskee mower (42" deck) that I bought from Tractor Supply in 2005. It's still running. Replaced blades and belts once in 10 years. Oil and filter replaced every year. Has the B&S Intech 18 hp engine. Mowed about 1.5 acres of lawn and orchard (about 12 times per year). Mowed 10 ft wide strips along my ditches and fencelines (1/2 mile total, 5-6 times per year). No need to pay thousands of dollars for fancy mowers just to mow the grass on a few acres.

That's what I'm talking about. But....you didn't get green paint.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I did all the riding mower chores around my 10 acre place with a $900 Huskee mower (42" deck) that I bought from Tractor Supply in 2005. It's still running. Replaced blades and belts once in 10 years. Oil and filter replaced every year. Has the B&S Intech 18 hp engine. Mowed about 1.5 acres of lawn and orchard (about 12 times per year). Mowed 10 ft wide strips along my ditches and fencelines (1/2 mile total, 5-6 times per year). No need to pay thousands of dollars for fancy mowers just to mow the grass on a few acres.

I used to believe as you do and I do not doubt what you say, but the trannies,front end,and deck will not handle that kind of use. A smooth 1.5 acre lot maybe, but roots,hills,ditches,stumps and uneven lawns will quickly kill most cheaper lawn tractors.A good mower might have a deck that is as heavy as a big box mower. You should buy zero turns or tractors like you do cattle, ,by the pound. the more they weigh the better.