Want to buy a used Grasshopper and need advice.

[Sawyer Rob]

Front mount rear discharge deck mower is the way to go if you need to mow a lot around hedges, trees & bushes etc.

I don't agree on the "rear" discharge on the front mount GH.

May be fine IF you live where you have a paved drive ect., but here where I live, that rear mount GH mower throws all kinds of dirt and dust right on the motor and the driver! I tried one, and like my dealer said, they need to be kept in town.

I went for the side discharge on both of my GH's and I'm happy with how they work, even under bushes ect...

SR

 

[4570Man]

I don't agree on the "rear" discharge on the front mount GH.

May be fine IF you live where you have a paved drive ect., but here where I live, that rear mount GH mower throws all kinds of dirt and dust right on the motor and the driver! I tried one, and like my dealer said, they need to be kept in town.

I went for the side discharge on both of my GH's and I'm happy with how they work, even under bushes ect...

SR

I’ve heard plenty of complaints about making wind rows and clogging the radiator up with rear discharge decks. There’s a good reason they aren’t very common.

 

[Buxus]

Another reason to consider the side discharge: I am fairly certain you can't use the collection system with a rear discharge deck. I don't use the collection system for grass as I like to leave the clippings. However, in the fall I put on the collection system for leaf clean up. Can't be beat for clean up. And it grinds the leaves and gives me awesome leaf mold after a year of sitting.

 

[arto98607]

Sure everyone has an opinion, just like...

 

[arto98607]

.....................If buying used, make sure you get one with the newer transmission - the G2 drive. The old one was fine (Gemini) but when they go, it's very difficult to find a replacement, and of course the Gemini hydros can only be bought used now.

Well, I was doing some online checking for Eaton Gemini 771 & 770 hydro transmission parts at a Grasshopper dealer and had no trouble finding individual parts listed & prices.

Did not try buying those since I don't need any, but they seem to be available.

Did not find complete new hydro drives available, but a bunch of used hydros are listed on the eBay from $800 OBO to $1500 each so hopefully I will never need one of those.

If the mower is used only for lawn mowing on reasonably level ground (IE no snow plowing, pulling a trailer etc.) and if oil & filters are changed according to schedule, these hydro drives should outlast the engine. I hope.

 

[sixdogs]

I'm looking at an excellent condition 723K H2. One owner and a good family I know. 395 hours. Any thoughts on that mower or type or drive system? I don't know if it's a G2 or whatever.

Also, it's a 23HP air cooled Koehler. Would really like a diesel or at least a liquid cooled gas engine but this would work for getting under my trees, etc and I could use my 7' rear mower for the open areas.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I'm looking at an excellent condition 723K H2. One owner and a good family I know. 395 hours. Any thoughts on that mower or type or drive system? I don't know if it's a G2 or whatever.

Also, it's a 23HP air cooled Koehler. Would really like a diesel or at least a liquid cooled gas engine but this would work for getting under my trees, etc and I could use my 7' rear mower for the open areas.

That is exactly what I have, 723K H2 drive system. A 52" deck is good for it, anything bigger I feel would be way too under powered, sometimes it struggles with the 52" in thick grass or thicker/taller than normal grass while going up a hill. I think aot of those came with turf tires and a single tail wheel, mine did, the turfs went away for lug tread tires and the single tail got changed to a wide tail, each setup has their advantages or drawbacks, I found swapping to a wide tail was best as it was easier to load.

Other than I bought my 723 with 400 ish hours on it and I have 850. The only thing I have replaced on the engine and tractor unit is a stator assembly that went bad, a pto switch, the idler pulley and bushing for the belt drive on the pto from the clutch to the prop shaft, each pillow block bearing under the tractor (one was bad the other got replaced while doing the job), a fuel pump and one hydraulic hose. 8 years and 400+ hours.

 

[sixdogs]

Birdhunter1---check your PM--Private Messages-- from me.

 

[two_bit_score]

Those Grasshoppers are not easy to find used.

 

[murphy1244]

Maybe try finding a Steiner?
?

 

[sixdogs]

OK, all done and thank you for educating me. I bought a GH 723K H2 with 400 hours and a vacuum bagger. It has an electric deck lift but a regular seat. it's a gas engine but the whole thing is in pristine condition. I don't plan to mow the lawn with it but rather under bunches of trees and around obstacles. I'll do the open spaces with my rear mount 7' Woods finish mower and I think that will work fine.

A diesel is still my first choice so one winter's day when a GH diesel shows up at an auction and goes cheap, Ill buy it and sell the 723K. I bought it priced OK so it will all work out. That's my story. Now, to find an owner's manual on-line. He couldn't find it.

 

[Ford850]

OK, all done and thank you for educating me. I bought a GH 723K H2 with 400 hours and a vacuum bagger. It has an electric deck lift but a regular seat. it's a gas engine but the whole thing is in pristine condition. I don't plan to mow the lawn with it but rather under bunches of trees and around obstacles. I'll do the open spaces with my rear mount 7' Woods finish mower and I think that will work fine.

A diesel is still my first choice so one winter's day when a GH diesel shows up at an auction and goes cheap, Ill buy it and sell the 723K. I bought it priced OK so it will all work out. That's my story. Now, to find an owner's manual on-line. He couldn't find it.

Replacement Manuals | Grasshopper Mower

 

[Birdhunter1]

You will find that the 723 uses about a gallon of gas an hour and you'll keep running it as it really ins't expensive to run or maintain, 2 quarts of oil and a filter plus air filters isn't expensive. Run the 23hp gas Kohler till she blows then find a diesel.

 

[sixdogs]

Replacement Manuals | Grasshopper Mower

Thanks. I'm on it.

 

[sixdogs]

Anyone know if I can drive this up the ladder style ramps of a typical equipment trailer? The ramps will go narrow enough to fit but I will have to drive up the ramps. It's only a 2 mile drive home so another option is to drive it home, although I'm not happy about that idea.

I would have to tilt the mower deck to drive up the ramps and does anyone know if I can do that as well?

 

[arto98607]

It depends on the angle of incline & traction and would the rear wheels align with the ramps if you set up the ramps for the front wheels?

 

[sixdogs]

Well, it fits on my Corn Pro equipment trailer that has extra wide ramps. Now, to get that owner's manual and change all oils and filters.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Anyone know if I can drive this up the ladder style ramps of a typical equipment trailer? The ramps will go narrow enough to fit but I will have to drive up the ramps. It's only a 2 mile drive home so another option is to drive it home, although I'm not happy about that idea.

I would have to tilt the mower deck to drive up the ramps and does anyone know if I can do that as well?

It will go up the ramps forwards or backwards just fine.

 

[sixdogs]

Just picked up the two quarts of Grasshopper Hydro oil and hydro filter. Going to get a Purolater oil filter and get started later today. I took the grass vac off because I don't need it right now and I'm going to pressure wash the engine before the oil change. The oil drain plug doesn't look like a drain plug but rather some sort of twist and drain setup. Owner's manual is sketchy on it so any advice on draining the old oil?

 

[Birdhunter1]

There is a screw to loosen and the oil drains out. I think I took that whole piece off and put a valve on or maybe a cap on it as I thought it was too slow. Then again I may not have took the original fitting off, either way loosen the screw and it should drain if it isn't plugged up with dirt (which might be why I am thinking I changed it.