Buying Advice Sick and tired of low quality riding lawnmowers

[Cuban]

Is it better to buy a used good quality lawn mower rather than a cheap low quality lawn mower I am pretty much confused please let me know about it.

 

[goeduck]

I've never had a riding mower and doubt I ever will....but this thread has made me curious about their quality. If there are low quality riding lawnmowers there must also be high quality ones.
What models are the higher quality ones? And why not simply get one of those?
rScotty

Ditto.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've never had a riding mower and doubt I ever will....but this thread has made me curious about their quality. If there are low quality riding lawnmowers there must also be high quality ones.
What models are the higher quality ones? And why not simply get one of those?
rScotty

Money???

 

[Diggin It]

If there are low quality riding lawnmowers there must also be high quality ones.
What models are the higher quality ones? And why not simply get one of those?

The sub $2000 machines widely available at Big Box and local hardware stores are more than sufficient for most people with more level suburban lawns.

The better quality machines can run $5000-$10,000 and are beyond the means of most people who just want to cut grass.

The lower range machines are getting a bad reputation by people using them in situations they were never intended for. They're lawn cutters and utility cart pullers, but people try to use them for ground engagement, snow plowing and rough terrain hill climbing. My Craftsman was just over that $2K mark and has worked OK for several years, but it's obvious I've overused it. My X-300 was seriously overused and burned out by the PO, but I keep it limping along for now. There will come a time in the next few years when neither will be worth trying to keep running.

 

[ETD66SS]

Money???

Pretty much yes. Also, if you spend ~$14,000 on an JD X700 series (Diesel Riding Lawn Mower | X758 | Signature Series | John Deere US), why not just move up to a Sub Compact Utility Tractor? For the same money aren't you buying much more stout and useful in a SCUT?

The point if this thread is the quality of new "lawn mowers" sucks as compared to when my Ford LGT17H was made and sold in the 1980's. It grates on me how companies design and sell machines they know are cheap junk, like the single use (or even sometimes zero use) tools sold at Harbor Freight. Hate to see that in this country, it's like American companies have learned to do that from China. Maximize profit while minimizing quality and the gullible public just continues to buy and throw stuff away after minimal usage.

My parents gave me a ~$3500 limit to spend on a new "Lawn Mower". Through my research, I've pretty much discovered that if you spend that "little", you may as well just burn the money because the quality you get will only give you about 400-500 hours of use. I also learned through my research that there are Lawn Mowers, Lawn Tractors, Yard Tractors and Garden Tractors, LOL. I don't know what a Ford LGT17H cost new in 1983, but mine currently has 4100 hours. If today's lawn mowers get you 400 hrs before you have to throw them away, I wonder if in 1983 the LGT17H cost 10X more in today's money to get those 4100 hrs?, I highly doubt it... And will that JD X700 for $14k shown above get me 4100 hrs? Again, highly doubtful.

I talked to my parents and they can't spend the $6000-$8000 to get something that has quality to it, so I'm going to try the upgraded 9 tooth starter design for the Kohler SV735S and see what happens. My father could live just one more year, or another 10, no idea.

 

[Diggin It]

My parents gave me a ~$3500 limit to spend on a new "Lawn Mower". Through my research, I've pretty much discovered that if you spend that "little", you may as well just burn the money because the quality you get will only give you about 400-500 hours of use. .

That's false and your one note samba across multiple forums is getting a bit out of tune. A $2,000 lawn mower will serve most people quite well for many years and well over 500 hours.

 

[shooterdon]

If a cheap machine will last 400 hours, just how much mowing is your dad doing?

I doubt I put more than 40 hours a year into mowing/leaf pickup. So that is 10 years of relatively trouble free use if you buy a $2000 rider, that is $200 a year and you still have $1500 left over.

Maybe spending $1000 to replace the motor is a decent option to solve your current starter issue if the rest of the machine is good to go. At least your dad is familiar with his current machine so there will not be a learning curve.

If, on the other hand, you want to get him something that you can use after he passes on, you could add $3500 to his budget and get a better machine.

It may be unrealistic to expect a $3500 machine to be bullet proof for 20 years in todays market. Regrettable but likely true.

It is good to see you helping your dad out. Good luck!

 

[ETD66SS]

If a cheap machine will last 400 hours, just how much mowing is your dad doing?

I doubt I put more than 40 hours a year into mowing/leaf pickup. So that is 10 years of relatively trouble free use if you buy a $2000 rider, that is $200 a year and you still have $1500 left over.

Maybe spending $1000 to replace the motor is a decent option to solve your current starter issue if the rest of the machine is good to go. At least your dad is familiar with his current machine so there will not be a learning curve.

If, on the other hand, you want to get him something that you can use after he passes on, you could add $3500 to his budget and get a better machine.

It may be unrealistic to expect a $3500 machine to be bullet proof for 20 years in todays market. Regrettable but likely true.

It is good to see you helping your dad out. Good luck!

His current mower is a 2009 and it has 860 hours on it. If he lives another 10 years I would expect the same amount of hours, maybe less as time goes on and he loses the ability to do things, have no idea. No, I really don't want whatever mower he has when he's "done" with it. When he's passed, I suspect I will be trailering something there to cut the lawn for my mother.

That's false and your one note samba across multiple forums is getting a bit out of tune. A $2,000 lawn mower will serve most people quite well for many years and well over 500 hours.

Across multiple forums? Please explain, because this is the only thread where I am discussing lawn tractors. You must be thinking of someone else. And I disagree about the $2000 lawn tractors, they are not worth the investment due to the lack of quality. In my opinion, and of course we all know what opinions are worth

 

[daugen]

For the same money aren't you buying much more stout and useful in a SCUT?

Yes, I could have almost bought a series 1 JD for what I paid for my diesel garden tractor, they have the same size rear tires and weight.
BUT.....folks buy a SCUT usually for the FEL, PHD, rototilling, or to get an a/c cab.
I needed a diesel lawn mower. There are almost none to choose from until you get true commercial quality over $10k cost.
Since I have plenty of tractors, the JD made the most sense for me, a one handed driver who can't use a z turn.

Completely agree it is silly to overspend on a 50 hour a year machine. The CC I bought has 37 hours on it after two years.
Like all equipment, helpful to do needs analysis first.

I'm curious at what price point power/hydraulic steering becomes standard. As one gets older, that's a big help.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Lawn and garden tractors have sorta been pushed to the side by most manufacturers for zero turns. In 1985 I bought a Wheel Horse 520H with a 20 HP Onan engine. I paid over 5K for that unit in 1985. Couple weeks ago I bought a Snapper Pro s200xt 60" zero turn with zt5400 drives for $6500 on close out. Talk about value.

Personally I would look at the 300 series Deere. It should be enough mower for your father's needs.