A good deal on a riding mower?

[horse123]

So several years ago we ended up with a quite new riding mower that worked fine, and in the end just needed a battery. It was sitting on the road out in a rural area with a free sign, so we took it and gave it to my grandfather since he's getting too old to be walking around for hours outside. That was an insane deal for a 24hp riding mower. Can't beat free, even if it was never going to start.

Well now my dad is getting too LAZY to push a lawn mower over his lawn for an hour, even though physically he's fine to do it. I was thinking about getting him a riding mower, but not having a job right now, as much as I'd like to, I can't go pay $800-1500 for a nice working brand new one. I don't want to give him one of the little dinky ones that are basically a steering wheel on a mowing deck, with a small seat and no controls or anything though.

Does anyone have any tips to find a deal on an older, possibly not running, but easily repairable riding mower?

 

[hansj3]

You can usually get a Forrest gump special for like $100-150. Plus those old snappers are easy to work on

Otherwise its a zoo on craigslist

 

[KD0AXS]

Minneapolis Craigslist usually has lots of riding mowers, many of which are dirt cheap.

Only took me about 30 seconds to find this one for $150, supposedly just needs a belt.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/for/5130626733.html

Here's one for $200

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/for/5118625849.html

 

[The_Eric]

Look at Craig's List and hit the auctions.

I found my newest (actually older than my current) mower for free because our shop's neighbor is moving and didn't want to hassle with it. he thought the hydro was bad, but right now, it's looking like a linkage issue.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

You'll get what you pay for. If you're currently unemployed, then you probably have no business buying a mower for an otherwise able bodied parent. Wait until you actually have a job, then if you feel the need to buy a mower, by all means do so.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
You'll get what you pay for. If you're currently unemployed, then you probably have no business buying a mower for an otherwise able bodied parent. Wait until you actually have a job, then if you feel the need to buy a mower, by all means do so.


I believe that sometimes it's true and sometimes it's not.

Sometimes it take wisdom and a trained eye to get the really good deals- like a high quality machine that won't run because the carb is gunked up and the owner is not knowledgeable enough or motivated enough to fix it.