Riding Lawnmower Help

[dboat]

I am just about to pull the trigger to buy one. But here is my quandry.. Which one to buy? Now some of you are gonna get mad at me for wanting to buy one from a Big Box Store, but both of them (Lowes and HD) are offering 12 months free financing.. That is hard for me to pass up. The spouse is also wanting to buy a new grill at the same time.. so it is too easy to get it and just spread the payments over a year and not pay any interest..

So I am now looking at the John Deere 115 $1599, Toro LX420 $1299, Husqvarna YTH20F42T $1699, John Deere 125 $1799, Troy Built 13AX60TG766 $1299..

Here are my impressions.. They all either have a Kohler or B&S engine. They are all hydro or CVT auto transmissions (not sure of the cvt, since not familiar with it). The John Deere and Husky have the better layout for the gas pedal with reverse. The price on the Toro and Troy Built is nice, but if I dont like the way the brake and gas pedals are, not sure I wouldnt be kicking myself later (meaning every time I use it). They all have adj seat and most were pretty comfortable. Almost all of them have an oil filter, etc. Most have a timer for maintenance purposes. They all have somewhere between an 18-20hp engine, some one cylinder some two. The Troy Built has an adapter you can buy to be able to wash out the deck with a hose. (CubCadet has the best system for that, but the one I would want isnt sold by either store). Not sure about how hard they are to maintain, or get access to different parts.. Some have grease fittings for the axles, most dont.
All things considered, I am leaning towards the JD or the Troy Built. I would go with the Husky but just am not sure about the parts availability long term. JD and the rest are here and have been here for a while. Husky has been around for a long time, but just dont want long term hassles.
If you go to the first thread on this, you will see that my yard isnt big but does have a significant slope on one side. I am not small, weighing in at about 270 lbs. And I will need to measure the door to the storage room, since the tractor will need to go up the ramps to be stored there.
However, I would really appreciate any and all insight my brethren here could pass on to me.. good or bad, let me hear from you..
Thanks
Dana

[L-Fever]

Dana, I don't know if this would help but I checked consumer reports and checked their ratings. Check you pm's for the link:

[Aggie Mom]

Dana
I have the JD L118 - briggs and stratton motor couldnt afford the kohler motor
I wish it had tilt steering because I bang my knee on it getting in, but other than that it is great

Its quiet- Easy to get parts - Plenty of room to stretch my legs- big gas tank - easy to change oil

I bought mine direct from JD so I can get pickup and delivery and priority service - I was told that Lowes-Home depot purchases go to the back of the service line. The prices were the same at the JD dealer and at Lowes

Aggie Mom

[dboat]

Dana, I don't know if this would help but I checked consumer reports and checked their ratings. Check you pm's for the link:

It does and thanks:tu:
Dana

[dboat]

Dana
I have the JD L118 - briggs and stratton motor couldnt afford the kohler motor
I wish it had tilt steering because I bang my knee on it getting in, but other than that it is great

Its quiet- Easy to get parts - Plenty of room to stretch my legs- big gas tank - easy to change oil

I bought mine direct from JD so I can get pickup and delivery and priority service - I was told that Lowes-Home depot purchases go to the back of the service line. The prices were the same at the JD dealer and at Lowes

Aggie Mom
Cathy,
Thanks.. the only reason for using the big box is because of the 12 month free financing.. hard to beat it.
Dana

but I am leaning toward the JD..

[L-Fever]

It does and thanks:tu:
Dana

:tu:

[L8 APEX]

The mid level Deer is cool, nothing runs like a Deer.

[my2002lightning]

Dana,

My family has had very good experiences with JD and Husquvarna products - riding mowers and chain-saws. Dad works the hell out of them on the house-place and other family-acreages.

They are very serviceable. :tu:

Ronald

[Moonshine]

As someone who has way too much seat time on riding mowers my preferences are;

John Deere
B&S motors, must have a spin on oil filter, preferably twin cylinders.
hydrostatic tranny
hour meter to keep up with maintenance intervals

I bought my JD L120 from the JD dealer for the same reasons Cathy did, but I understand the benefits of the 12 month no payment/no interest deal from the big box. You might check with the dealer, as they sometimes run a no payment/no interest offer.

[tiffo60]

i have a deer, and i think its the one with the 50" deck or real close, no complaints, runs like a top

[Moonshine]

I'm a stickler for detail, so permit me.............

This is a deer -
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/310yd_doe.jpg


And this is a Deere -
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/John_Deere.jpg

Difference being the "e" on the end of the John Deere. :evil

[tiffo60]

I'm a stickler for detail, so permit me.............

This is a deer -
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/310yd_doe.jpg


And this is a Deere -
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/John_Deere.jpg

Difference being the "e" on the end of the John Deere. :evil

my bad, too early in the morning to be hitting on all cylinders:hammer:

[my2002lightning]

So, what happened to the antlers, Brian? :evil



I'm a stickler for detail, so permit me.............

This is a deer -
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/310yd_doe.jpg


Difference being the "e" on the end of the John Deere. :evil

[Moonshine]

So, what happened to the antlers, Brian? :evil

Same thing as the b*lls. She never had any. :rll:

[QDRHRSE]

I thought that you blood-thirsty-murdering-vampire types only killed bucks? What gives? I have proof....YOU GUYS KILLED BAMBI!!!!!

[Moonshine]

I thought that you blood-thirsty-murdering-vampire types only killed bucks? What gives? I have proof....YOU GUYS KILLED BAMBI!!!!!

D*mn skippy I killed Bambi. She tasted good. knana As for the blood-thirsty-murdering-vampire business, we usually only get called that when we're hunting Kalifornians. :evil

[QDRHRSE]

....thank goodness that I'm a Californian, otherwise I might be worried. Those Kalifornian types better beware! Next time overnight a steak this way. I hear Bambi meat is good. I said that I didn't enjoy killing it, eating it is another story.

My father in law has a Troy-Built mower from Lowes. He likes it. However, he only mows 1/2 an acre.

[Logan]

bwhahahahahahhaha... :D

[dboat]

Well, I am thinking of the John Deere 135... two cylinders, tall seat..

Will prob pull the trigger tomorrow.

anyone else want to advise me on this b4 I do?

Dana

[L8 APEX]

I have decided I like the CubCadet more than the others. Kohler engine with longer warranty on both. Quick detach deck, ,jet wash etc..

[dboat]

I have decided I like the CubCadet more than the others. Kohler engine with longer warranty on both. Quick detach deck, ,jet wash etc..

I was there too, except the pedal setup on the John Deere is the best and most useful. The others usually have one of their pedals jacked way up somehow, making it screwy to use, whereas the JD's are more like a car.
Dana

[L8 APEX]

Yeah I found a forum on riding mowers and a lot of new folks were griping about the CC 1000 series hydro drives. I may get a tow behind deck for making a dent in the pasture and large parimeter mowing. I think I would tear up about any riding type mower with my rough terrain.

[dboat]

Yeah I found a forum on riding mowers

link?

[liteitup]

I really like the zero turning radius mowers. Had a Dixon several years ago and it cut my mowing time on a 1 1/3 acre lot(including house and small outbuilding) by a third.

[L8 APEX]

Some JD kwality:D .
http://img278.imageshack.us/img278/9969/brokedeere9bc.jpg
Anyone bring the smores.
http://www.mybagatelle.com/images/burned_deere.jpg
http://www.mybagatelle.com/images/burned_deere_engine.jpg

[L8 APEX]

Sturdy frames.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v187/wheely_boy/13e82a22.jpg

[dboat]

:eek: :eek2: :crying: :vomit: :vomit:

[L8 APEX]

Diver Donnie helped me get some mowing done with his Zturn Snapper 4x" After about 7 hours of mowing we barely put a dent in it. We got about two or three passes worth around the road and fence line. I still have about two days worth of mowing. I need to dump about 4 grand on a commercial grade 50-60" mower. Donations anyone:hammer: . Here is a pic from the center looking forward.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CIMG5970.JPG

[L8 APEX]

Since I cannot afford a tractor Larry offered to let me use his if I could get it running. He has Sears look at it a year ago and they said it needed a motor. I found the battery hooked up backwards and the starter motor busted from someone beating it with a tool. The motor turns nice a free so I will buy a starter tomrrow and see if I have a mower to ride!!!
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CIMG5976.JPG
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CIMG5977.JPG

[L8 APEX]

This would be nice. CC 2554 $3995.oo
http://www.cubcadet.com/wcsstore/pics/CubCadet/14A-2A7K710_prod_lg.jpg (http://www.cubcadet.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_14101_10221_33814_-1#)

[L8 APEX]

Or an X340/540 since they have diff lock which is nice for my hilly terrain.

[Aggie Mom]

I still have about two days worth of mowing.

Welcome to my world. Ain't it a blast?

[L8 APEX]

Once I get it knocked down it will be easier to maintain. Right now the whole pasture is about 18" high and thick. We had to hit most of it two or three times to cut it down decent. I just want a nice mower like some of you have. Attacking 11 acres with a borrowed 42" MTD is more than a challenge:rolleyes: . At least I don't have those sneaky rocks emerging from the soil like you do..

[Tex Arcana]

Dana, did you pull the trigger on your mower yet?

[dboat]

Dana, did you pull the trigger on your mower yet?
nope, decided that since I couldnt make a decision, that was my cue to not do anything yet.. so am still using the self propelled LawnBoy.. the yard just isnt that big, but its one of those things that I just dont care to do and I am thinking that riding would give me reason to mow more often.

Dana

[Tex Arcana]

nope, decided that since I couldnt make a decision, that was my cue to not do anything yet.. so am still using the self propelled LawnBoy.. the yard just isnt that big, but its one of those things that I just dont care to do and I am thinking that riding would give me reason to mow more often.

Dana

A couple of questions that no one asked:

-How big is your yard?

-Do you have lots of trees, or just a couple?

-Do you want or need to use pull-behind attachments?

-Do said attachments need a PTO, or can they be eitehr electrically-powered or ground-powered?


Answer them, and we'll see waht you need. ;)

[dboat]

Tex, see my responses below


A couple of questions that no one asked:

-How big is your yard? ]not very, less than 3k sq ft[/COLOR]

-Do you have lots of trees, or just a couple? very few in the actual yard

-Do you want or need to use pull-behind attachments? I would like to get a core aerator and a dethatcher

-Do said attachments need a PTO, or can they be eitehr electrically-powered or ground-powered? you just pull them behind you, no PTO or other power needed.

Answer them, and we'll see waht you need. ;)

[Tex Arcana]

Tex, see my responses below
Three.
Thousand.
Square.
FEET??? What the fock??? :confused:

Dude, I have to mow nearly 100,000 square feet!!:eek2: With waht little you have to mow, you could pay a kid down the street $20 a week and get it done, INCLUDING edging.

If you're guessing about your square footage, then either get your survey plat and calculate your square footage, and subtract out the house and drive, or walk it off. Either way, as it stands now, you're best bet is your walking mower and renting a powered aerator when you need it, and a push spreader--again, based on only 3k sq ft.

[dboat]

Three.
Thousand.
Square.
FEET??? What the fock??? :confused:

Dude, I have to mow nearly 100,000 square feet!!:eek2: With waht little you have to mow, you could pay a kid down the street $20 a week and get it done, INCLUDING edging.

If you're guessing about your square footage, then either get your survey plat and calculate your square footage, and subtract out the house and drive, or walk it off. Either way, as it stands now, you're best bet is your walking mower and renting a powered aerator when you need it, and a push spreader--again, based on only 3k sq ft.

Hey, I said I was a lazy arse..

I cant do the sq ft because there are trees and brush in some of the back yard. I want it that way to keep it rough between me and the golf course. I dont want no stinkin' golfers comin' in the back yard to take a leak.
Yes, I know it aint much but I just dont like doing it.. and I dont want others to do it either, so I thought I would get the rider and enjoy doing the lawn instead.
Dana

[Moonshine]

Dude, I have to mow nearly 100,000 square feet!!:eek2: .

100K sq ft? That's just a warm up lap. Terry's place is pushing on a half mil. :D

[Tex Arcana]

Hey, I said I was a lazy arse..

I cant do the sq ft because there are trees and brush in some of the back yard. I want it that way to keep it rough between me and the golf course. I dont want no stinkin' golfers comin' in the back yard to take a leak.
Yes, I know it aint much but I just dont like doing it.. and I dont want others to do it either, so I thought I would get the rider and enjoy doing the lawn instead.
Dana

What you need is a smaller zero-turning-radius mower, Grasshopper-type.
http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/eplus/021038743271_4.jpg

Toro, 42" (a little big, but okay), 18hp, $2600 at Home Depot.

[L8 APEX]

A Zturn would be easier to get in and out of.

[Tex Arcana]

100K sq ft? That's just a warm up lap. Terry's place is pushing on a half mil. :D

Yeah, I know... he needs a full-sized tractor with those 10-12' wide PTO mowers...:eek2: I had to buy one of those tow-behind spreaders, and it's really a bit too small, even when I use the 15,000-sqft bags of fertilizer. :(

[my2002lightning]

Why not just hire someone with a tractor/brush-hog to level the whole place for the first-whack and have your Cub-Cadet maintain the cut?http://www.ls2.com/forums/images/smilies/headscratch.gif

Our '87 Ford Model 1910 4x4 tractor and 6" JD brush-hog does a bang-up job of maintaining the parent's 40 acre house-place and swathes to our deer-stands.

Mows right over all kinds of elm, persimmon, etc. saplings in heavy pasture grass, too. No problems.

Ronald

[L8 APEX]

Well I now have a consumers grade PhD in riding mowerology. I looked and searched the internet and stores for a month or more before making my Green purchase. Some of the things I learned was MTD makes 80% of the worlds cheapo mowers between 800-1200 bucks. MTD bought ToryBuilt and CubCadet and has weakened their respective product lines. I joined Consumer Reports and they rated MTD, Cub, Troy Built poorly. JD and Craftsman were highly rated. So I looked at Craftsman and discoevered they looked a lot like Husqavarna mowers. Both Craftsman and Husquavarna are made by a company called Lectrasol (sp?). The new items these days are hydrostatic differnentials and electric clutch PTO's. I chose the Deere after researching the drives. Hydro Gear makes and MTD and CRaftsman units. I found a lot of overheating, loss of power and complaints from these units. John Deere uses a drive made by Tuff Torq and it had a better case design and track record from my research. Knowing the hills and terrain I would mow I did not want to have hydrostatic drive overheating issues. I wanted the 54" deck but could not accept the copy cat mower flaws. The Deere seemed well thought out for a consumer grade mower. I got the 145 which has the 2" larger tires for more difficult terrain. The cheapest mower they make with a 48" deck. My first use went smoothly and I didn't have any problems going up hills or cutting tall grass. I got the canopy kit for summer mowing and the accessory "tool" bag for the back. I went to the local dealer but he couldn't make the deal I needed so I went to Lowes. They are prepped and delivered by the dealer I visited so he got a little piece of the sale anyway. I got $200 gift card and zero for 12 months. So now I can get back to my other headaches without worrying about how to cut my acres.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/6088/medium/CIMG5999.JPG

[L8 APEX]

The "tool" bag. John Deere thought this out well. They ain't stealing this one!
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/6088/medium/CIMG6018.JPG

[Tex Arcana]

Well I now have a consumers grade PhD in riding mowerology. I looked and searched the internet and stores for a month or more before making my Green purchase. Some of the things I learned was MTD makes 80% of the worlds cheapo mowers between 800-1200 bucks. MTD bought ToryBuilt and CubCadet and has weakened their respective product lines. I joined Consumer Reports and they rated MTD, Cub, Troy Built poorly. JD and Craftsman were highly rated. So I looked at Craftsman and discoevered they looked a lot like Husqavarna mowers. Both Craftsman and Husquavarna are made by a company called Lectrasol (sp?). The new items these days are hydrostatic differnentials and electric clutch PTO's. I chose the Deere after researching the drives. Hydro Gear makes and MTD and CRaftsman units. I found a lot of overheating, loss of power and complaints from these units. John Deere uses a drive made by Tuff Torq and it had a better case design and track record from my research. Knowing the hills and terrain I would mow I did not want to have hydrostatic drive overheating issues. I wanted the 54" deck but could not accept the copy cat mower flaws. The Deere seemed well thought out for a consumer grade mower. I got the 145 which has the 2" larger tires for more difficult terrain. The cheapest mower they make with a 48" deck. My first use went smoothly and I didn't have any problems going up hills or cutting tall grass. I got the canopy kit for summer mowing and the accessory "tool" bag for the back. I went to the local dealer but he couldn't make the deal I needed so I went to Lowes. They are prepped and delivered by the dealer I visited so he got a little piece of the sale anyway. I got $200 gift card and zero for 12 months. So now I can get back to my other headaches without worrying about how to cut my acres.
[imghttp://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/6088/medium/CIMG5999.JPG[/img]


Damn, that canopy looks ghey. :rll: Looks like it'll work better than the silly umbrella the wife made me buy for ours.

We got a Gt235, it's solid and strong, but DAMN did JD do some seriously WIERD things when it comes to attachments and servicing. It kills me that you can't run the tool bin AND the umbrella AND the sprayer AND tow the trailer or the fertilizer spreader at the same time--it's either one or the other. The attachment methods are questionable, too: I mean, to attach the tool bin or the 15gal sprayer, you have to use 3 separate cottered pins, it's a major pain to hold up the unit while trying to set the pins and lock them. It would be a simple matter to make the whole system easy and consistent. And when it comes to draining the oil: better find a hose and a funnel, because otherwise it's spilling out all OVER the frame and on the ground.

Beyond that, it works. :tu:

[dboat]

Well I now have a consumers grade PhD in riding mowerology. I looked and searched the internet and stores for a month or more before making my Green purchase. Some of the things I learned was MTD makes 80% of the worlds cheapo mowers between 800-1200 bucks. MTD bought ToryBuilt and CubCadet and has weakened their respective product lines. I joined Consumer Reports and they rated MTD, Cub, Troy Built poorly. JD and Craftsman were highly rated. So I looked at Craftsman and discoevered they looked a lot like Husqavarna mowers. Both Craftsman and Husquavarna are made by a company called Lectrasol (sp?). The new items these days are hydrostatic differnentials and electric clutch PTO's. I chose the Deere after researching the drives. Hydro Gear makes and MTD and CRaftsman units. I found a lot of overheating, loss of power and complaints from these units. John Deere uses a drive made by Tuff Torq and it had a better case design and track record from my research. Knowing the hills and terrain I would mow I did not want to have hydrostatic drive overheating issues. I wanted the 54" deck but could not accept the copy cat mower flaws. The Deere seemed well thought out for a consumer grade mower. I got the 145 which has the 2" larger tires for more difficult terrain. The cheapest mower they make with a 48" deck. My first use went smoothly and I didn't have any problems going up hills or cutting tall grass. I got the canopy kit for summer mowing and the accessory "tool" bag for the back. I went to the local dealer but he couldn't make the deal I needed so I went to Lowes. They are prepped and delivered by the dealer I visited so he got a little piece of the sale anyway. I got $200 gift card and zero for 12 months. So now I can get back to my other headaches without worrying about how to cut my acres.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/6088/medium/CIMG5999.JPG

Terry, you made a great choice.. that is the same model I was going to buy.. one of the best upgrades from the lower model(s) is the seat. It was WAY more comfortable than the other models by JD and the other manufacturers. Dont discount how long you are going to be sitting in that thing mowing.. if you have GDS (like me and Hank Hill) then it becomes a big deal.

Dana

[Tex Arcana]

Terry, you made a great choice.. that is the same model I was going to buy.. one of the best upgrades from the lower model(s) is the seat. It was WAY more comfortable than the other models by JD and the other manufacturers. Dont discount how long you are going to be sitting in that thing mowing.. if you have GDS (like me and Hank Hill) then it becomes a big deal.

Dana

"GDS"?? :confused:

edit: with that mower, you'll waste more gas and time trying to get it turned around on that postage stamp of yours. The ZTR is what you need.