Recommend a basic cheap riding mower

[Titan]

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My sister bought one of those el-cheapo orange riding mowers at Lowes, and never did get her lawn completely mowed with it before returning it for a refund - after 2 return trips in hope of a fix. She plunked down the cash for a John Deere 5 years ago, does her yearly maintenance and has had zero issues.

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el-cheapo orange mower? Are we talking about a Husqvarna? Surely not... I thought they are good mowers.

I'm looking at a plain jane Craftsman...

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Husky makes Craftsman....go to the Sears store...the only difference is the colors! I bought a Sears with a Kohler single. Good price, good performance, good value as long as it holds up for years. I think it will. Oh, I went with the cast-iron front suspension, the stamped steel ones look suspect to me, but, that's what you'll get in the bargain bin. If your yard is very smooth, the stamped steel suspension may be fine.

 

[Gilitar]

I just got a Lowes 10% off coupon. Are we sure that Troy Bilt doesn't have gear drive?

http://www.troybilt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_14102_89545_17662_-1#

I could get that one for $900 with the coupon.

 

[Gilitar]

Oh, one more thing. I notice that all the low end riders still use a splash lube system. I assume that this would be ok for light use. As long as I keep clean oil in it I should be ok right?

 

[JTK]

If that 7spd 'shift on the go' has a separate Forward-Neutral-Reverse lever, it is the MTD transmatic, variable pulley setup. No good. You can also tell by looking at the transaxle itself. It's just a smaller differential housing on the transmatic, since there is no 'gearing' assocaited with it. A gear drive will be gears and diff housed in one unit. It will be larger. I also wouldn't rely on the Lowes store personnel to know the difference. Most likely they wont. IMO- there is nothing wrong with splash lube either. With decent maintenance, the engine should last longer than the tractor. Splash or pressure.

Joel

 

[wavinwayne]

M wife & I are in the process of buying a new home, and we will need a rider for the yard. Being the cheap-skate that I am, I plan on buying a used mower from the local small engine repair shop. He usually has 10-15 used riders for sale at any given time. Some of them are OLD, but you can tell by looking at most of them, things were made with a lot thicker gauge metal & more "ooomph" back 20-30 years ago.

 

[Steelhead]

watch out on used riders from private sales. most have a serious problem that owner does not want to pay shop to repair

 

[Gilitar]

I don't buy used. Over the years I have learned that you are often buying someone's problem. I may just hold out and by a JD LA100 or LA110. Or I may just cheap out and buy a self propelled mower. Our lot is right at 1/3 acre so it's a pretty good job using the old push mower.

 

[jsharp]

I agree on buying used. Unless you know the owner personally and know the machine it's risky.

One thing about JD's in general, as heard from my friends who own them - When you walk into the parts department you'll find the parts for their $1500 mowers to be priced as if they fit a $250,000 combine. There must be something quite exotic in that Green Paint ...

 

[jsharp]

DP...

 

[gj]

I guess you need one ASAP,but if you could wait untill say Jan.you find Sears,Lowes,even Walmart will have some.I noticed that this past winter.I just gave away a Yard Machines 18.5 HP Hydro drive 8years old and it was still going strong so don't rule out the MTD's especially for no more than you will be using it.

 

[Master ACiD]

as long as you can test drive a used mower theres nothing wrong with buying used. i got a 4 whweel steering craftsman for $75 at a pawnshop. it needed about $30 in parts but i got a heck of a mower for that price.
mower parts are cheap if you dont go to the dealer. look on ebay, or online stores for parts.

 

[tripleM]

My dad bought a 18 yrs young Crafstman used for $200.
He passed it along to me & praise Sears, it's still running strong 2 years later.
The owner showed us the only maintenance routine he's ever done: O/C & Air Filter cleaning.

We all want to buy new if possible, but in lieu of, a good used machine with a good owner is golden.