Tell me about riding mowers

[HardDrive]

We have an open lot next to our house that I pay to have mowed along with our yard. Roughly 60X100 feet. I was looking at my mowing contract (from our landscaping company) for the year, and I could easily buy a riding mower for the less than the price of the contract.

Budget is less than $1500, what would you recommend?

Part of my motivation here is that it seems like it would be downright fun to ride around and mow on a tractor. Am I over estimating the fun factor?

[KFC911]

I can't imagine you getting anything but cheap junk at that price point if buying new. Like many things they just don't make 'em like they used to. Maybe consider an older, used one?
I'm no help, I know, but it sounds as if you have no experience....I'm 56, and have been riding mowers (and pushing them) for half a century . I like to do that kind of stuff though....

[stevej37]

In that price range...you might find something reliable on Craigslist in your area.
I mow over an acre of lawn and enjoy doing it.

[Geoz1]

Simplicity has the nicest cut. The older 70xx and 71xx series with the a Kohler is a work horse. 42 or 48" cut. You can add a plow or snowblower if you would like.

A John Deere 318 is a awesome garden tractor, hydraulic lift for front attachments(plow angle left and right, up and down), and mowing deck. Plus it has power steering.

Both hold their value, and are built to last. Parts are available for both.

You'll have fun, until it isn't fun anymore.

[ckelly78z]

There are PLENTY of old Cub Cadet/John Deere garden tractors with the cast iron Kohler motors still faithfully mowing/pushing snow after 40-50 years. They honestly don't know how long they last, because they have only been building them since 1960. Unfortunately, the safety police kept lowering the mower blade speed, which required more HP, which killed the single cylinder beast.

$1500 would buy a damned nice outfit in an older tractor.

[LakeCleElum]

Something like a John Deere LT 155 or LT 165.....Older than about 2009 or so....With a Kohler engine......I paid $500 for a pretty new LT 155 that needed engine work about 12 yrs ago. Had new piston, rings, etc for under a $100 installed in less than a week..Mow about 1.5 acre for 12 yrs and still runs like new......Can be had for $700-$950 local to me.....

Any older JD is great. I had a 318 for plowing snow and Geoz1 is right, but they are getting a little dated.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I love this stuff. I typed in columbus ohio craigslist and these caught my eye:

Some Deeres

https://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/6058721022.html

https://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/6058721022.html (whoops= same one)

https://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/6060728082.html a little out of the price range, but not by much. (diesel yanmar)

A new holland: which I don't know much about, but the mower deck looks substantial, and before Ford went to new holland, they made some good stuff.

https://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/6059816823.html

The HOSS- A little high on the price range, but this is a formidable tractor: I would take a 400 in an instant!

https://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/6052733632.html

Kohler power for cheap: (belt drive- good if you have a flat lawn- and only mowing.)

https://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/6061891326.html

I'm not saying these are good prices for the tractors, but if I needed something to get up and running I would be looking at stuff like this What I like about a lot of these tractors is that they have decent leveling wheels for the mower deck. They also have the good rear rim/tire size with a lot of options. The 400 can take class one rear three point lifts and implements. You might not need the AG tires on pictured on some, they can be rough on grass, but these are good talking points/ examples to think about as a starting point. They aren't big box store department junk.

[KFC911]

I didn't get past Leaky's first link....score

[jwasbury]

I mow 3-4 acres at my country home in Bucks County. Bought an '85 deere 420 with 60" deck for the task. I enjoy it enough that I haven't seriously considered contracting the task out. The deere also has a 46" snowblower that has pretty much saved my ass over the years keeping the driveway clear. The machine was in excellent condition when I purchased it 4 years ago and its taken somewhat of a beating with my use. I have to tinker with it from time to time but its been a good workhorse.

[asphaltgambler]

As said above that price point buys you a new ____________ ( fill in name) big box store riding mowers, largely all made by MTD. Or an older JD ( real) in good working condition. If you want quality and are not afraid of basic repairs and maintenance, looking to own for the long haul - buy real.

[CurtEgerer]

>>> Am I over estimating the fun factor? <<<

Answer: Yes.

Based on the same logic as you (except I had nearly 2 acres of lawn), I bought a new Skag commercial mower about 10 years ago for $10,000+. It had a top speed of something like 12 MPH which is blazing fast on a mower and a blade speed of around 20,000FPM Figured this would be somewhat fun in addition to saving money in the long run. I hated every single second of it. 12 MPH? Maybe on pavement, not on a bumpy lawn. All I could think of on my weekly 'rides' is everything else I could be doing that actually WAS fun. Sold it, hired a lawn service and never looked back.

[RKDinOKC]

Get a "Mower" and not a garden tractor that also mows. For that amount of yard I would make sure the mower had a single blade. It will make a much better looking cut and do the lawn a LOT quicker.

When I had a large lot like that I got a Wheel Horse/Toro riding mower with a 39" single blade cut. It was their cheapest model. The most important thing is the single blade. Could mow the entire acre in 45 minutes or less. Basically as fast as the mower would go. Mostly because the 39" blade tips were almost supersonic.

With the mower we had with 3 blades on a much wider deck took 3 to 4 hours because you couldn't go very fast or it would mow unevenly leaving uncut grass between the blades. Even when sharpened well.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

>>> Am I over estimating the fun factor? <<<

Answer: Yes.

Based on the same logic as you (except I had nearly 2 acres of lawn), I bought a new Skag commercial mower about 10 years ago for $10,000+. It had a top speed of something like 12 MPH which is blazing fast on a mower and a blade speed of around 20,000FPM Figured this would be somewhat fun in addition to saving money in the long run. I hated every single second of it. 12 MPH? Maybe on pavement, not on a bumpy lawn. All I could think of on my weekly 'rides' is everything else I could be doing that actually WAS fun. Sold it, hired a lawn service and never looked back.

Different strokes as they say....I actually pushed my much smaller lawn for years before my old b-ball ravaged knees started bothering me....I like to sweat and the exercize. I now ride a smaller commercial grade Skag zero turn....paying someone else to mow my lawn....ain't happening . I'm a cheap bastage....I'll buy a 6k tool though...why?

'Cause I could

[varmint]

every small town i've ever been in has a quonset hut on the outskirts with a sign saying "small engine repair". some helpful sling blade type guy there will be happy to hook you up with a well looked after mower from the days when things were made from metal.

[Dave Kost]

It has a rear bagger too.

https://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/6034323502.html

I bought used JD LX225 in 2002 for $1500, it was 3 years old. Its still running today. I cut about 3/4 of an acre. Change the oil twice a year. Rebuilt the carb twice-the ethanol eats the rubber lines. If your handy at all, the maintenance is DYI.

Pull the dip stick went its running, if any oil is blowing out of the dip stick, it needs rings or a head gasket.

Mine paid for itself many times over.

[72doug2,2S]

JD used commercial grade tractor. Tractors are more fun than zero turns, but are slower to mow.

My opinion is have the guy cut it and you can drive around on it with your tractor.

[CurtEgerer]

>>> paying someone else to mow my lawn....ain't happening . I'm a cheap bastage. <<<

Yeah, I get it But when I first hired the lawn service, I would sometimes sit out on the deck with a bourbon and just sit there and watch with a big smile. Best money I ever spent

[74-911]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Something like a John Deere LT 155 or LT 165.....Older than about 2009 or so....With a Kohler engine......I paid $500 for a pretty new LT 155 that needed engine work about 12 yrs ago. Had new piston, rings, etc for under a $100 installed in less than a week..Mow about 1.5 acre for 12 yrs and still runs like new......Can be had for $700-$950 local to me.....

Agree.... my 2004 LT160 has been bulletproof. Bought it new and now has over 800 hours on the engine with just routine maintenance. Mowing a bit over an acre.
Change the oil/filter/air filter/gas filter every spring, new plug every other year or so and that is it.
The LT series are actually made by JD and are heavy duty for a lawn tractor.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Part of my motivation here is that it seems like it would be downright fun to ride around and mow on a tractor. Am I over estimating the fun factor?

Yes. It gets old. I just sold a 10 year old Cub Cadaet for $450. Wish I had known you were in the market. It went to Columbus, too.

[LakeCleElum]

Can't visit this thread anymore. Same kind of thread posted last Sept cost me $1,000 to buy my 3rd JD mower (25 hp/54 inch deck).....I don't really need 3 riding mowers and a JD tractor.