Ok Red, let's talk lawnmowers

[Sea Six]

Holy Zombie thread, Batman!

[Kerrmudgeon]

I look for cast suspension greasable front end parts, and a comfortable seat. If you're spending hours on the thing, make sure it's comfortable with clearance to the wheel and one that doesn't scrunch up your legs. My Briggs 12.5 has been going good for over 20 years now. I think it's a rebranded White. I'm told that most store brands you buy are made by two companies anyway, White and ?? (forget). Is that about right Red?

My next one will have at least 15hp and a 42in deck. My little JD trailer gets pretty heavy loaded up, and 12.5hp is working too hard navigating steep slopes.

[Thunder22]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Holy Zombie thread, Batman!

Wait..... what? 4 days old.

[Sea Six]

[RED-85-Z51]

Originally Posted by RonC5

It seems that most brands available to the home owner is sub par. So, advise me on what to buy. I have been looking at the Toro 32 or 42" zero turn. If I will have issues, what should I be looking at?

This is pretty accurate. Homeowners generally buy on price, not quality or features, or requirements, they buy what they can afford...even if its crap and not enough for their property.

To meet these price points, they use barely adequate engines, decks, and drive systems.

Then you have models that are a little more pricey, but good quality..but still not made to last a heck of a long time...like the simplicity Regent, its better built, but still not a great transmission. Same with the Deere X300, X310...

PRobably the best value right now is the Deere D series. Made by Deere , not MTD...not Murray, or Husqvarna....DEERE. ITs not up to the standards of the old 300, 400, and X500 series...but for the money, hard to beat. One of my clients put 150 hours on his D120 this season so far...all he has had to do was have an oil seal replaced because it blew out..but it was covered under warranty.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Question for Red......My mower has a five speed shift on the fly (right fender mount). Does the trans require oil and oil changes? What routine maintenance is required for the trans? Thanks in advance.

[RED-85-Z51]

Genuine 5 speeds dont require regular service, in fact the only way to get into them is to remove them, and split the case in half...

If you dont have obvious leaks, dont worry with it, if you have leaks...about theo nly thing to do is find a good spot in the case..drill a small hole, and thread in a grease fitting, and pump some grease in.

When the trans gets hot, the grease liquifies and circulates, these do not have "oil" or anything thin like that.

[RED-85-Z51]

If its a 5 speed "automatic" such as from MTD....best to go ahead and put in a grease zerk and put a couple ounces in...

[RED-85-Z51]

Turned away a job this morning...about a 2001 model Cub Cadet, it had about 300 hours on it, the trans was howling up real loud...and the Briggs engine had a blown head gasket...

Told em to just take it to the landfill...and buy something else. It was really clean, the plastic hood and sides were pristine...such a shame.

[RonC5]

The Deere D series is not zero turn. What should I be looking for in a zero turn?

[RED-85-Z51]

Honestly, anything that isnt commercial Toro....or made by MTD...should do okay for a good while. Smaller Toros are not very good, and MTD Z turns are trash...super thin frames, flimsy controls...not heavy enough to do a zero turn without slipping the tires...

Look at Ferris, Simplicity, Gravely, Snapper Pro, brands like that.