Which Lawn Mower to Buy?

[MrCritical]

Four years ago, we moved from a mobile home with a small yard to a house on appx. one acre of land. Needless to say, the old 21 in. push mower is, shall we say, inadequate for the job now.

The yard has some very steep hills, difficult to climb unless you're used to running the bleachers at the LA Coliseum. It also follows a steep curve in the road below the house.

I am considering a riding lawn mower or lawn tractor. I don't want to spend $3000 for a mower. I'd like to be able to mow the yard in 2 hours tops. If I get a lawn tractor, a car will have to come out of my 2 car garage.

I was looking at one of the small 30 inch cut riding mowers for ease of getting around trees and such. I've been told to stay away from hydrostatic transmissions because they won't hold up on the hills. I've been told to get a Kohler, Tecumseh, Honda, or Kawasaki engine. I've been told a lot of stuff.

If you read enough reviews, everyone doesn't like something about every model. I guess it's like cars. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[dwcopple]

get a cub cadet 0 turn with 42 inch deck...$2199 with 24 equal payments at 0% interest...

 

[JTK]

MC, if your goal is something new, cheap and small for a rider, IMO, I'd go this route: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605...+Tractor+Series A poulan or weedeater brand at big box would be the same as sears. Any of the MTD varians would be fine too. Nothing is going to be awesome quality at Joel

 

[MGregoir]

Kohler or Honda engines tend to be the best, ours is a 16 horsepower Kohler powered Craftsman made by American Yard Products with a 42" deck and hydrostatic drive. Not many steep hills in the yard but our house is built into the side of a incline and we mow four acres with it once or twice a week.

With regular maitenence it has proven reliable, the only issue was trying to track down a replacement steering part two summers ago. Right now it is ten years old and basically runs as good as it did new and it has been used pretty hard.

If you get a riding mower, just use it for doing the big stuff (get a fairly wide deck) and do all the open areas, then touch it up with the push mower rather than giving up 40% of your deck width just to be able to maneuver around trees.

 

[dwendt44]

Also consider how much work is involved in removing the blades for sharpening.
You'll have to do that two or three times a year at a minimum.

 

[oilyriser]

goats

 

[Racerjk]

I have an '02 Craftsman with a 17 hp Kohler engine. It has run flawlessly since new,and it hasn't used a drop of oil. The oil always look clean also. I highly recommend Kohler engines.

 

[alreadygone]

Originally Posted By: dwcopple
get a cub cadet 0 turn with 42 inch deck...$2199 with 24 equal payments at 0% interest...


Going to be pretty hard to beat this deal. Where's oit for sale at?

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: Racerjk
I highly recommend Kohler engines.

I'm dating myself, but Kohler has made one of the very best engines since at least around 1960. I know that Wisconsin might have been acknowledged as the best. Still..its hard to knock Briggs.

 

[Vincent_Vega]

Originally Posted By: oilyriser
goats

 

[hr1940]

I use a John Deere to mow my 1 1/2 acres and I change the oil and filter (I use Wix filters) the first of June. I really do change the oil and filter. Tony also had a Dixon because you could get right up to the trees. He sold the Dixon because he knew I would not be able to use it. We have had the John Deere for 8 years and no problems so far. My yard is down hill with a lot of up and down areas. I have a little trailer that I pull behind the mower and so I can pick up branches and take them to the burn pile.