Need a new mower.

...Whitepower... · 04-05-2013, 3:59pm

My push mower has 8 seasons behind it and is tired. I also want a rider to get the property done alot quicker than i have been. I've been trolling CL for used deals and am debating if i should just buy new as the median price of what i am looking at seems to be $500-$700.

What would you guys suggest. Trying to keep the price around $1k'ish if i go new.

TIA.

...Whitepower... · 04-05-2013, 4:06pm

Also i heard that Scotts mowers are made by Deere. Is that true? How can i tell?

C5SilverBullet · 04-05-2013, 4:09pm

Great reviews on this one:

Shop Troy-Bilt Pony 17.5 HP Single Cylinder Shift-on-the-Go 42-in Riding Lawn Mower at Lowes.com

lspencer534 · 04-05-2013, 4:12pm

My first rider was Murray. It lasted about 10 years mowing 4 acres every week. My next was a Deere. It lasted 5 years. I figured I just got a bad one, so I bought another. In 3 years it was using lots of oil.

My current rider is a Poulan. The Deeres were about $1500, the Poulan was less than $1000, both were/are 42" cut, about 19 HP. This will be my 3rd year with the Poulan, and I'm very happy with it. I especially like the automatic transmission. I will not buy another Deere.

C5SilverBullet · 04-05-2013, 4:13pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lspencer534

My first rider was Murray. It lasted about 10 years mowing 4 acres every week. My next was a Deere. It lasted 5 years. I figured I just got a bad one, so I bought another. In 3 years it was using lots of oil.

My current rider is a Poulan. The Deeres were about $1500, the Poulan was less than $1000, both were/are 42" cut, about 19 HP. This will be my 3rd year with the Poulan, and I'm very happy with it. I especially like the automatic transmission. I will not buy another Deere.

My grandpa was a riding mower junky, owned 1 Deere and swore he'd never buy another. I currently have the last one he purchased, a Massey Ferguson that is about 10 years old, and it runs like new.

PortDawg · 04-05-2013, 4:14pm

Cub Cadet....

Bill · 04-05-2013, 4:16pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ...Whitepower...

Also i heard that Scotts mowers are made by Deere. Is that true? How can i tell?

That's what they told me when I bought my "Scott's" brand mower in 1997. I still have it. Changed the plug, oil and air filter a few times, ran tanks and tanks of gas with mix oil through it....never even sharpened the blade. It still runs like a trooper, and the smoke from the mix oil comes in handy during mosquito season.

...Whitepower... · 04-05-2013, 4:34pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lspencer534

My current rider is a Poulan.

Which retailer? Who carries them? Their site just lists the models and info about them but i'm not seeing pricing.

...Whitepower... · 04-05-2013, 4:35pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortDawg

Cub Cadet....

Awesome post.

lspencer534 · 04-05-2013, 4:58pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ...Whitepower...

Which retailer? Who carries them? Their site just lists the models and info about them but i'm not seeing pricing.

I got mine at a local Sutherland's Lumber Store, which I think is just a local store. I don't remember the exact price, but is was $900 and something, under $1,000. It's a 42" cut, 19.5 HP, has an oil filter and no clutch. The transmission has infinite speeds, just push the lever up or down to increase/decrease spped. .

I also like that running the blades while in reverse is accomplished by a position on the ignition switch and not a button that you have to hold down, like the Deere. Parts (belt, blades, etc.) are much cheaper than a Deere. It also rides softer and has a tighter turning radius than a Deere.

...Whitepower... · 04-05-2013, 5:00pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lspencer534

I got mine at a local Sutherland's Lumber Store, which I think is just a local store. I don't remember the exact price, but is was $900 and something, under $1,000. It's a 42" cut, 19.5 HP, has an oil filter and no clutch. The transmission has infinite speeds, just push the lever up or down to increase/decrease spped. .

I also like that running the blades while in reverse is accomplished by a position on the ignition switch and not a button that you have to hold down, like the Deere. Parts (belt, blades, etc.) are much cheaper than a Deere. It also rides softer and has a tighter turning radius than a Deere.

Cheapest i saw was $1300. Can you check the model number for me please so i can take a look at it?

TIA

lspencer534 · 04-05-2013, 5:10pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ...Whitepower...

Cheapest i saw was $1300. Can you check the model number for me please so i can take a look at it?

TIA

PB195H42LT is the model number. Like I said, I bought mine 3 years ago, but I'm surprised that they might be $1300 now.

Mirroredshades · 04-05-2013, 5:27pm

My damn toro won't start. Looks like I either need to throw $300 more at it or get a new one. Fcuk. I'd like just one fkn thing in my life to work.

Grey Ghost · 04-05-2013, 5:50pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirroredshades

My damn toro won't start. Looks like I either need to throw $300 more at it or get a new one. Fcuk. I'd like just one fkn thing in my life to work.

Did you adjust the valves ?

Mirroredshades · 04-05-2013, 6:19pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

Did you adjust the valves ?

I ain't that crazy. LoL. It's getting fuel. No spark. Has new solenoid and fuses are fine.

Grr. This might be the year I pay someone else to fkn mow.

RED-85-Z51 · 04-05-2013, 6:45pm

Im about to blow some ****ing minds...stand the **** back, I got this shit...

Husqvarna/electrolux/Poulan/late Craftsmans...are the same machine

Current craftsman riders are generally made by MTD and use a shit plastic transmission, avoid these.

MTD..is shit, its just...shit. MTD makes Toro riders, Cub Cadet riders, Troy bilt riders, White Outdoor riders, Yard machine riders...do not walk..RUN from these.

Murray is back..and owned by Briggs and Stratton...

Briggs and stratton owns Murray, Simplicity, Snapper, Ferris, massey ferguson, Deutz allis, and Allis Chalmers. snapper riders are rebadged simplicitys with murray decks.

Deere is Deere...but the L, LA, G and D series riders...are hit and miss. Some people love them and never have any problems, and some people cant seem to cut 2 times in a row without something breaking, leaking, or falling off. Dont assume because its green, that its good.

Simplcity, Massey, allis Chalmers, are all good brands, Husqvarna isnt bad but the QC is really crappy, and the numb nuts assembling them dont give 2 shits.

Scotts no longer exists, but they were made by Murray, later noma, then were bought by Deere who rebadged their Saber line as SCotts. Those mowers were then painted green and rebadged as the first L series.

In short...all mowers have faults, but mtd is by far the shit of the shit.

RED-85-Z51 · 04-05-2013, 6:47pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirroredshades

I ain't that crazy. LoL. It's getting fuel. No spark. Has new solenoid and fuses are fine.

Grr. This might be the year I pay someone else to fkn mow.

Fuses and solenoid do not control spark. Spark is provided by the ignition coil next to the flywheel. When the magnets pass by the armature it makes a spark to the plug wire...

If there is indeed no spark at the plug, its either a safety switch fault killing spark, or a bad ignition switch grounding out....OR a bad coil.

Easy test is to unplug the small spade terminal kill wire on the coil, and spin the engine...if no spark...bad coil. If spark, the problem exists in the harness.