The consumer Honda mower probably has good parts support - what kept you from repairing it?
It's a shame that you've saddled yourself with something that you don't like, especially for what I'm assuming is a premium price tag.
Residential vs commercial equipment
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The consumer Honda mower probably has good parts support - what kept you from repairing it?
It's a shame that you've saddled yourself with something that you don't like, especially for what I'm assuming is a premium price tag.
Humbling experience, because I did rebuild the engine. Installed a new valve seal (there is only one), and new rings, after a hone job. It ran well, at first, then starting burning a ton of oil again. More than before, even. I wound up running it low on oil and then gave up.
I took the gear box offine in 2017. I have the 30cc one that's about $500 now.
Im doing 4 houses total with mine.
Let's talk lawn tractors for a moment. I have a John Deere D140. This is a box store model that I purchased from a John Deere dealer. There is a 100 series (box store,), a 200/300 series (advanced homeowner,), a seldom seen 500 series and then the 700 series available with a water cooled three cylinder diesel. The lower end consumer models have decks with sealed bearings. The higher end models have serviceable bearings, better decks, beefier frames, better engines, etc.
My D140 is now in season ten with 285 hours on the clock. I've been averaging 30 hours per year mowing 3/4 acre of sloped lawn. Thirty years at this rate would come to 900 hours and I have faith in basic B&S V-Twin to easily survive that with regular maintenance. I have far less faith in the deck and spindles. That being said, my up front cost of $1899 comes down to $190 per month and that figure is likely to fall as the years go on. The weakest spot in these box store lawn tractors is the hydrostatic transmission.
If money were no object I would have a lawn tractor with a water cooled engine, preferably diesel, a beefier deck, better transaxle and serviceable spindles on the deck. I believe that such units start north of $12k. I would be happy to break one in and write a review for anyone who has the coin.
I took the guard off mine.
Not "I took the gear box offline", stupid auto correct.
I've replaced the spindles and pulley bearings on both consumer lawn tractors I own. Cheap, simple, one day job (at most).
I previously owned a "Depot Deere" G110 from 2005. It was the Home Depot version of a garden tractor, still had the heavy duty hydro and V-Twin Kohler, but the rest of it was 100-series platform. Those machines from 10+ years ago were in a different league compared to the junk in the stores today, like not even close. The new machines are SO cheap it's not funny. I see many failures of major components like axles snapping, plastic transmissions, mower deck welds breaking and bending, stuff that was never even a thought with the older mowers. I used to recommend box store mowers to homeowners that I figured could get 5+ years out of a mower they would only use on an acre or so of grass. The quality coming out of those stores isn't even good enough for me to feel confident in those recommendations anymore.
Commercial mowers are expensive, and I know it is very difficult for Joe Homeowner to justify the cost of a $2000 box store mower vs. a $6000+ commercial mower. My recommendation is always to find a well cared for used one, as they are an excellent value. The $3000-$4000 you will spend on a decent used commercial mower is worth every penny over the $2000 box store mower. The commercial stuff is designed to be serviceable, last thousands of hours, and more importantly is often designed to be more comfortable to use for several hours each day.
Would you mind sharing your experience in terms of reputable online marketplaces for used commercial equipment? I've visited several but have no way of knowing how legitimate or reputable they are.
I have a Deere x304 that I bought secondhand about 9 years ago from a lady in Horicon, Wis. (where the premium Deere lawn equipment is built). I put about 100 hours on it every year. It takes a beating, climbing some steep grades. Fortunately it has the early, beefier K58 transaxle. It has 1200 hours on it now. The 4-wheel steering is handy, in my case a decent option to a ZTR. If I ever need to replace it I'll be scoping the classifieds in Horicon.
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I have a commercial ferris 52" with about 500hrs and has a spindle going bad. Greasable spindles too. Not saying they were regularly greased, but usually get several pumps once a season or so. Kind of sad honestly. I think the sealed spindles may be more reliable.
Go to a local dealer that has good reviews.
I usually buy equipment from Marketplace. I know what to look for though, so your best bet is to research common faults on a piece of equipment you are interested in so you know what you are looking at. You can find some really good deals. I have picked up several gently used commercial mowers for family and friends for good deals on there, usually from people who are moving, or have hired a landscape service.
A dealer selling used equipment is always a gamble, even if they have good reviews. You don't know the history of it, if it was stored outside, if it was maintained, or if it was just something they took in on trade or purchased to flip. Often the prices really aren't that good since they are trying to get their cut of profit selling the machine, just like a used car dealer. I prefer to buy used equipment and used cars from the actual owner.
My old lawn mower is about 18 years old - Troy-Bilt with Honda engine. It still runs like it did when new.
About 10 years ago after living in the house for over 25 years I discovered I had a giant hill in my front yard.
So I bought a self propelled Honda - it still runs like a new one.
One mower bought from Lowes the other Home Depot.
They were not the cheapest but they were not really expensive either.
Big Box stores sell good stuff too.
If you maintain your OPE it will run for years.
If I can get 15+ years out of a residential mower from a big box store - that is used most of the year - Houston doesn't really have winter I don't see how spending XX $ more at some dealer for a commercial unit would be worth it.
YYMV
About 10 years ago after living in the house for over 25 years I discovered I had a giant hill in my front yard.
So I bought a self propelled Honda - it still runs like a new one.
One mower bought from Lowes the other Home Depot.
They were not the cheapest but they were not really expensive either.
Big Box stores sell good stuff too.
If you maintain your OPE it will run for years.
If I can get 15+ years out of a residential mower from a big box store - that is used most of the year - Houston doesn't really have winter I don't see how spending XX $ more at some dealer for a commercial unit would be worth it.
YYMV
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