The Bestest Riding Mower

John_Yurich · #1 04/11/10, 10:25 PM

Currently seeking a used riding mower under $1,000 with at least a 42'' cut. I keep seeing Craftsman and Murray for sale, sometimes a Troy-bilt. I'd like to cut grass and pull a trailer and be able to go up and down hills. I'm assuming a Kubota and a Cub Cadet are the more bestest ones, and thus more pricey. I wonder if I'd get by for awhile with a $400 Craftsman or should I just spend more and get something better?

bluetick · #2 04/11/10, 10:49 PM

I know diddly squat about riding mowers, but just bought my first one. The guys at the little shop where I bought it pointed out a couple of things, and I noted others.

It is a Craftsman and maybe 10 or so years old. It is a GT 6000, has a Kohler "magnum" engine, and is hydrostatic. It is 18 hp, and has a 44" cut. It can pull "ground engaging" implements. It cost me $1,000. I noticed the seat appears to be original, and is in very good condition, leading me to believe it didn't have a ton of use.

So far, it is doing the job of mowing the weeds. I may have overpaid, but the guys at the shop are in the business of small engine repair, and seemed honest. It was right for me.

arabian knight · #3 04/11/10, 10:58 PM

I would rather get a MTD then a Craftsman. Point being PARTS. You will be only able to get parts at SEARS when it is a Craftsman. But a MTD or Murray, Cub Cadet, you can order parts on line.
In fact I have the MTD parts site in my favorites~!!
And you can't do that even with a JD one.

Old Vet · #4 04/11/10, 11:21 PM

Finding a ridding mower is about as hard as finding a wife you are happy with. With that in mind take a choice and do like others have done and take a chance.

texican · #5 04/12/10, 12:13 AM

Goats + Free Range Chickens + Geese. No lawn to mow.

"Lawns" are Satan's little playground... waste of space, waste of resources, both human, fuel, fertilizer, and time. Toxic ecological wastelands... the prettier they are, the more poisons applied... Similar to "It's a Wonderful Life", where each time a bell rings, an angel gets it's wings..... when a lawnmower is cranked a demon get's it's three-pronged spear...

Sorry, I have a 'thing' about yards....

davel745 · #6 04/12/10, 04:24 AM

I agree with bluetick’s choice not so much as to the brand he got but to the type he bought, Ground engaging is good.

Most lawnmowers will have a hard time going up and down steep hills, pulling a trailer.

Here in WV they look at the back wheels and if there aren’t bolts around the wheel holding it to the hub it doesn’t get bought.

A small garden tractor is my suggestion. Also go to;

http://www.mytractorforum.com/ they may be able to help.

Dave

davel745 · #7 04/12/10, 04:42 AM

double post sorry

Dave

tyusclan · #8 04/12/10, 05:32 AM

Craftsman, Yard Man, MTD, Murray, Cub Cadet, Troy-bilt, and Bolens, are ALL made by MTD.

MTD is just about the Lone Ranger in the outdoor small equipment business.

Gary in ohio · #9 04/12/10, 05:49 AM

Craftsman are made by the low bidder and change every few years. Not sure if the current crop of craftsman are MTD, but it was so 5 years ago.

brosil · #10 04/12/10, 07:04 AM

We have a Gravely Zero Turn mower with a hydrostatic drive on wheels and blade. It works great and I have no complaints. It was about $1600 new.

arabian knight · #11 04/12/10, 08:29 AM

As far as Murray goes I doubt very much if MTD owns that company,, as Murray filled Bankruptcy a few years ago and now Murray is owned by Briggs & Stratton~~
And as far as Craftsman mowers they are made by Husqvarna, according to Wiki.~~

pheasantplucker · #12 04/12/10, 08:44 AM

I mowed almost six acres of hills with a 36 inch Exmark walk behind with no valky. By myself, it would take almost 11 hours. That's if I kept it to an easy to cut height. My wife used to help with a 21 in. self propelled mower but had bone spurs and rotator cuff probs and so couldn't really help much. Last year they had a sale on Sears 4500 riding mower. This thing is made by Husqvarna. It has 26 horses, and cuts a 54 inch swath. Now I still cut with the walk behind, in those places tht are still inaccessable but my wife cuts circles around me. Together, we can cut the entire 6 acres in around 3 hours. The mower got good reviews in some Consumer Reports magazines. It's been great. My brother -in-law, bought a Sears Zero radius mower. Also 26 horse, and 54 inch cut. He loves his, too. good luck.

salmonslayer · #13 04/12/10, 10:07 AM

This is what I am going with to cut a couple acres (until I convert most of it to something useful) http://www.homedepot.com/Featured-Pr...atalogId=10053

26 hp Kawasaki and its made by Husqvarna. I need something to tow a trailer and sprayer for the orchard and do some light ground engagement; this one comes with a sleeve hitch and is a real bargain compared to JD or even the Craftsman GT 5000. I have a few hilly areas that the old AC just doest feel safe on.

Jolly · #14 04/12/10, 10:14 AM

I bought a G5200H Kubota with 600 hours on it for $500 a couple of seasons ago.

I grin every time I mow the grass with it...

Wis Bang 2 · #15 04/12/10, 10:27 AM

As mentioned MTD makes MOST of the mowers/garden tractors out there...

Simplicity is another value brand w/ good parts availability. I repair one for a college friend. We still get parts for a machine built in 1981! I shortblocked the engine around 10 years ago and have no problems getting parts...last time we bought new bushings for the front wheels...the dealer said it would last another 25 - 30 years and he expected to still have parts available!

WisJim · #16 04/12/10, 10:58 AM

I just got an early 1970s General Electric Elec-Trak to replace my John Deere mower. I found the John Deere to be easier to maintain than off-brands like Murray or Craftsman, and cheaper to own in the long run, but I am tired of buying gasoline to run the engine.

retire2$ · #17 04/12/10, 11:59 AM

I would be more concerned about the engine than the brand of tractor. As many have stated most of the tractors are made by MTD. To help keep cost down the manufacture is now using no name China engines. If it has a China engine I would get the engine model and serial number for any mower I was considering and call your local lawnmower shop. Ask them if they sell parts and how long it takes to get the parts. Also ask how the parts compare in price to the Briggs and Stratton, Kohler, Kawasaki, etc. engines. In all likely hood the brand name engines may also be made or assembled outside the US but at least the parts should be available. Good luck with your decision.

SteveD(TX) · #18 04/12/10, 01:36 PM

If you want a new one, you might have a problem getting one that size for under $1000, and you be settling for the quality of a MTD for just about anything under $1500. Personally, I have had pretty good luck with MTD mowers, but I also recognize that a John Deere or many other brands will be tougher and built to last longer. In my experience, it is hard to find a used riding mower in decent condition, but you could always check Craig's List and get lucky.

One thing you might try that I have done - go to Lowe's or Home Depot and see if they have any that have been returned to the store and repaired. They usually carry the same warranty. I was able to get a $1000 rider a couple of years ago for $500 that way. They had it marked $600 and I offered them $500, and to my surprise they took it. At that time, I found the same model on Craig's List for $450 in poor condition.

LisaT · #19 04/12/10, 01:46 PM

There are several things to look for. The first being if you are going to be mowing up and down hills you will want a pressurized lubrication system for the motor. You can tell this by looking to see if it has an oil filter. Most of the mowers out there are just splash lubrication. The brand doesn't seem to matter, but I prefer some of the older MTD's. I have 2 of them from the 70's one weighing 850 lbs without a deck. I also have some older Simplicities.

If you look at Hydrostatic transmissions look and see if it is a sealed unit or not. The better hydro's will have a replaceable oil filter for the fluid. There are a lot of hydros out there that are sealed, meaning you can't add fluid.

I push snow all winter with mine, and even had my Suburban stuck facing down hill and can hook onto the rear with 2 of these and pull the Suburban out of its mess using the Suburban for assist as much as it can.

I am always on the lookout for more mowers, just gotten more picky as I learned more about them

Theres my opinion, you can take it or leave.

Thanks
Theront

Jolly · #20 04/12/10, 02:45 PM

Or.......one could always hang a finish mower behind something like this:

http://www.tractorhouse.com/listings...x?OHID=5733326