Where do I research Riding Mowers/ Lawn Tractors?

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D189379

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After I finished utting my lawn yesterday, as I sat with an ice pack on my lower back, I started thinking it might be time to start looking into replacing my push mower for the sake of my own health, lol.

Some quick research, and I find that used riding mowers/tractors (I don't know what the correct term is) are priced very high. New ones seem to be equal or even lower priced than used. But I'm not sure what I should be looking for. I need to cut about 0.6 acres of grass, probably about 5-6 months of the year.


Sears seems to have the best prices on their Craftsman brand. My old push mower is a craftman, runs like a charm, and looks like its from the 60's. (It came with the house.)

What should I be looking for, or where should I be looking for information?

thanks.
 
There are a few really good outdoor power equipment forums online, this being one of them.

About a half-acre isn't much so there's tons of machines that would meet your criteria.

What's your price range? Do you want brand-new or do you want to tinker?

Joel
 
Originally Posted By: JTK
There are a few really good outdoor power equipment forums online, this being one of them.

About a half-acre isn't much so there's tons of machines that would meet your criteria.

What's your price range? Do you want brand-new or do you want to tinker?

Joel


Well ideally I'd love to spend about 500 to 600 for something running, but around here that gets you something that needs work. New ones seem to start around 1100. Something thats used and running goes from about 900 and up, so I figure I might as well spend the extra 200 and get a new one with warranty and such.

I don't mind tinkering, but I don't know enough to tell a used mower that needs tinkering from one that needs a complete rebuild lol.
 
I bought a new lawn tractor/riding mower back in '06 & keep my mother's yard cut with it. Actually, it's not a yard so much as a steep hilled, rough, semi-jungle obstacle course!

After much research online at the lawn tractor forums back then, I chose a good deal on a new Sears Craftsman mower. Be prepared- if you do ask for help on the lawn care/mower forums, you will find many true-believers offering advice based on no real information. The John Deere believers are particularly hard core and numerous.

My model is now obsolete of course, but it has descendants equally capable I'm sure. Our big red Craftsman has a healthy Briggs V-twin, 48" cut, Thick heavy steel for the deck(*Much* stronger deck(blade housing) than the comparable Deeres had!), and is holding up very well indeed. I suspect your yard is much easier to mow than Mom's- if not, I really feel bad for you! You could do a lot worse than a new Craftsman IMO.
thumbsup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: SwampDweller
Read mytractorforum.com regularly, give it a try.......
+1 I stop by there regularly too
 
You'll find a lot of good opinions of what someone else thinks you should buy, but I've found that your probably the only one who knows what you want your yard to look like when its cut. The more information you give about what you want the mower to do and your yard then the better the recommendations will be. Read some reviews of lawn tractors in your price range. The big box stores and Sears all have reviews. Watch for some sales and discount coupons. I'd also consider how many years of paying someone else to cut instead of buying new you could get for your money, especially if you have back pain.

For that size yard, I wouldn't go with anything more than a 38" twin blade deck. Smaller might be better unless you need the tractor to do something else like plow a garden or blow snow. If not, something like a Snapper Rear Engine Rider may be right up your alley.
 
I've found a used Craftsman thats about 10 years old nearby. I'm going to try to look at it tonight. The guy told me everything works and is asking 500 for it. My only concern is that its only 12.5HP. Is this okay for cutting grass?
 
12.5 HP is more than enough to cut a lawn. All these new machines have ridiculous amounts of HP you don't actually need or will ever use. My 12 HP Kohler has tons of torque and more power than I'll ever need. And mine was built to do way more than just cut grass. It can plow, blow snow, tow a trailer, there's even a front loader available for it.
 
Originally Posted By: D189379

Well ideally I'd love to spend about 500 to 600 for something running, but around here that gets you something that needs work. New ones seem to start around 1100. Something thats used and running goes from about 900 and up, so I figure I might as well spend the extra 200 and get a new one with warranty and such.

I don't mind tinkering, but I don't know enough to tell a used mower that needs tinkering from one that needs a complete rebuild lol.


$500-1100 isn't going to get you much this time of year, used or new.

What type of transaxle to you want, gear shift or hydrostatic? Foot pedal control or hand lever control? Keep in mind most of the cheap MTD units that appear to be "gear" drive are actually belt and variator pulley drive systems. Stay clear of them. Typically they'll have a forward-neutral-reverse lever between your knees and a speed control lever with some graduations 1-2-3..etc on the fender. Some variator drives are foot pedal like a hydrostatic, but will have a separate lever for F-N-R.

For the maneuvering you'll need to do with a half acre, I'd want a foot pedal controlled hydro trans and a tight turning radius. Most of your lighter machines will turn tightly. You'll probably want a 42-46" deck. Twin blade 42's cut well.

In your price range, all you going to get is a Sears/AYP/Electrolux/Husqvarna machine or one of the many colors of MTD. I've got no problem with either, provided you get the right configuration and use it within it's means. Either brand can be repaired fairly easily by yourself or mom/pop mower shops. Typically MTDs are easier to source parts for. Sears tends to discontinue lots of parts.

Joel
 
Originally Posted By: Johnny
IMHO $500 for a 10-year old Craftsman anything is way to much.


I don't know how prices compare, but there was an ad on there for a guy offering to buy a running used engine for his mower for $400.

Here's a price breakdown in my area

New self drive push mowers start at $300
New riding mowers start from $1100-1300
Used riding mowers seem to start around $675

Should I just bone up and get a new one?
 
First determine how tight a turning circle you need. Some models don't turn tightly enough to get around small plantings in one try.

Will you need to make speed changes? A hydrostatic transmission is great, but costs more. My 1993 MTD hydrostatic transmission runs great, as does the Briggs commercial engine on it -- but there's always some bit & piece giving trouble, this time the governor linkage is sticky when hot. MTD is good with parts for that mower.

"Consumer Reports" probably has the best testing of mowers. Check at your local library or the subscription web site.

I'd buy from a shop with a good service department. If you buy from a big box store, you'll then be on your own to find service. If you need it, factor in the cost of the shop picking up and delivering your mower for each service.

Research the brand names of the big cheap makers...Electrolux makes Poulan, Husqvarna, how many more??? MTD makes Bolan, Yard Machines, Yard Man, Troy Bilt, White, Cub Cadet. In some cases the higher priced brands from each maker are superior; in other cases you might find what you need in a lower priced brand. In some cases the really cheap ones are too junky to rely on.
 
For that small of yard, you may even want to consider one of those smaller 30-32" riders? CR tests riders every year. Last I checked, JD was their top pick. I've seen decent used ones around here for $350 on up. I'm in the market for one as well:) I figured the longer I wait, the cheaper they'll get. You can get a new 38" 12.hp Huskee from TSC for $799. Thus, $400 would be my cap on similar-sized used one -- and it would have to be a "good" used one.
 
Any thoughts on Scotts tractors? I found a couple cheaper used ones at a local John Deer dealer. ($400 for a 2004, and $500 for a 2000)

All I know is that they're made by John Deer and they still manufacture parts for them.
 
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