Recommendation Please
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jpilk99
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2011
- Messages
- 346
- Location
- Bolton, MA
- Tractor
- 1983 Ford 1700, 4WD, 770 Loader, Woods backhoe, Woods brush hog,etc.
My thought is (and maybe it's because I'm 53): Any job you're going to spend more than 10 minutes on ...have proper tools. Nothing frosts me more than, when I go to do the job, and the "tool" either doesn't work, needs it's own 'job' to make it capable to do the other job, or just does a halfass job. I got no time for that!
I would buy a commercial grade machine, not one at Lowes/Home Depot. Thicker gauge steel, little-to-no plastic parts, solid construction. Good commercial grade equipment, in my experience, lasts 3 to 4 times as long.
I've been partial to Husqvarna equipment most of my adult life. I'm sure Club Cadet and/or John Deere are similar. I have a 24 horse Kawasaki twin cylinder engine in my Husqvarna with a 54" mower deck. Of my 5 acres, probably 40% of it is mow'able. Some hills. When all is right, this tractor eats it up with no worries. (I do run rear tire chains year round - wet grass + slope = slipping).
After 8 years with this current mower, I am starting to do some significant repairs. Just rebuilt much of the mower deck (new spindles, pulleys, blades, belt) and I believe I will need to work on the Tuff Torq rear end soon. The mower deck parts were about $115 and I've read that the typical Tuff Torq parts are about $165. Oil changes etc. are negligible.
All that said, I paid about $2400 for mine 8 years ago, brandy-new. That may be more than what you were thinking, but, In My Humble Opinion, if you're going to buy something "cheap" for $900-$1200, it will start to fail in 1 to 2 years. You'll be working on it much of the time when you need to just get on it and go. (Again, just my humble opinion - I'm sure others may disagree).
Here's a consideration, if you've got a good mechanic's eye: Go on Craigslist and look for a used one that has been has been well kept and someone is moving and doesn't need, or bought a house that came with one. You obviously don't want to buy anyone's headache, and some might make up stories that "it was here when we bought the house" but if you have a good eye, go through it:
If you go through all of this, I would think you can find a GREAT machine for $500-$750. And I would think that money is FAR BETTER SPENT than similar for a brand new machine from Home Depot etc.
Good luck.
Jay
I would buy a commercial grade machine, not one at Lowes/Home Depot. Thicker gauge steel, little-to-no plastic parts, solid construction. Good commercial grade equipment, in my experience, lasts 3 to 4 times as long.
I've been partial to Husqvarna equipment most of my adult life. I'm sure Club Cadet and/or John Deere are similar. I have a 24 horse Kawasaki twin cylinder engine in my Husqvarna with a 54" mower deck. Of my 5 acres, probably 40% of it is mow'able. Some hills. When all is right, this tractor eats it up with no worries. (I do run rear tire chains year round - wet grass + slope = slipping).
After 8 years with this current mower, I am starting to do some significant repairs. Just rebuilt much of the mower deck (new spindles, pulleys, blades, belt) and I believe I will need to work on the Tuff Torq rear end soon. The mower deck parts were about $115 and I've read that the typical Tuff Torq parts are about $165. Oil changes etc. are negligible.
All that said, I paid about $2400 for mine 8 years ago, brandy-new. That may be more than what you were thinking, but, In My Humble Opinion, if you're going to buy something "cheap" for $900-$1200, it will start to fail in 1 to 2 years. You'll be working on it much of the time when you need to just get on it and go. (Again, just my humble opinion - I'm sure others may disagree).
Here's a consideration, if you've got a good mechanic's eye: Go on Craigslist and look for a used one that has been has been well kept and someone is moving and doesn't need, or bought a house that came with one. You obviously don't want to buy anyone's headache, and some might make up stories that "it was here when we bought the house" but if you have a good eye, go through it:
- Have the owner leave it cold for you to come start it. If it blows smoke, walk away.
- Check the structure of the body, where welds or 90-degree corners are, to see if metal is failing.
- Check the wear of overall "disposable" parts; pulleys/belts/deck/spindles
- Drive it around - how does it sound? Quiet/normal or oddly loud. Cut hard corners and 'feel' how it goes - does it seem to waver or is it solid/tight? Go up hills, does it keep it's speed. Back up, does it move properly?
- Check the oil on the dipstick. Golden brown? (good). Black? (eeeish!).
If you go through all of this, I would think you can find a GREAT machine for $500-$750. And I would think that money is FAR BETTER SPENT than similar for a brand new machine from Home Depot etc.
Good luck.
Jay
Molerj
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2001
- Messages
- 609
- Location
- Eastern Ohio
- Tractor
- JD 955, 1978 Economy Power King, JD X500
I have a real hard time believing you are mowing 4 acres with a push mower! That said 48” deck would be the minimum and stay away from the troybilt lawn tractors, they are cheaply made and the variable speed is a pain. Especially if you have to change belts.
4570Man
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2015
- Messages
- 18,299
- Location
- Crossville, TN
- Tractor
- Kubota M59, Kubota L3800, Grasshopper 428D, Topkick dump truck, 3500 dump truck, 10 ton trailer, more lighter trailers.
I really doubt you can cut half an acre an hour with a 21 walk behind. I’d guess doing 5 acres would take double that long and he’s probably only cutting a smaller section around the house.
two_bit_score
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2008
- Messages
- 10,983
- Tractor
- John Deere 110 TLB, Diamond C 19LPX GN trailer
I agree with the premise that high quality tools are better most of the time. Hilti, Stihl, Rol-Air, all better. But I disagree on lawn mowers.
I buy the ~ $1,000 riders from Sears or Walmart. I get about 8-10 years use out of them. A few blades, oil, air filters, spark plugs are cheap. Belts have generally been rare and not that expensive. In 40 years I’ve had 5 including the one I’m using now. I’m not meticulous with maintenance. I don’t baby them. I’ve hauled them to the farm and rent houses frequently.
I go look at the JD, Scag, Etc ZTR’s and riders but dropping $3,000 - $10,000 is just not something I’m going to do. They ALL wear out. I bought a used riding mower -a JD - from a guy I knew and used it a long time but it still wore out. I paid about $800 and used it about 8 years. I’ve been surprised when I’ve had problems with one of those mowers and my wife looks it up and it’s 8 or 9 years old. Well, guess it’s time to think about a new one and in about a year we catch one on sale.
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jjp8182
Platinum Member
A self-propelled commercial walk-behind mower -- or a walk behind brush cutter would be my first thought since you already have the walk-behind string trimmer.
Otherwise a two-wheel tractor (for example: Gravely and BCS) with either a mower or brush cutter might also be an option. The additional attachments they can mount could also help replace other small engine machines (like snow blowers, and rototillers ...and possibly the walk-behind string trimmer as well).
Otherwise a two-wheel tractor (for example: Gravely and BCS) with either a mower or brush cutter might also be an option. The additional attachments they can mount could also help replace other small engine machines (like snow blowers, and rototillers ...and possibly the walk-behind string trimmer as well).