Riding lawn mowers?

[chuck]

Can some one tell me who makes most of them and just slaps on different names on them? thanks in advance Chuck

 

[Bull Barrel]

MTD owns Cub Cadet, Bolens, Troy Bilt and others plus the make Craftsman and others.
Many of them are crap.

 

[chuck]

Thanks Bull, that's what I was wanting to know

 

[Bull Barrel]

The cheaper John Deeres aren't made by Deere, either. You have to go to the bigger ones and then you can choose your engine.
A friend owns a repair shop.

 

[eveled]

Ariens bought Gravely.

 

[Dave P.]

The cheaper John Deeres aren't made by Deere, either. You have to go to the bigger ones and then you can choose your engine.
A friend owns a repair shop.

That's a commonly repeated misconception, they are made by JD
at their Greenville Tennessee site. The low end stuff for mass channels
are built there.
That said, the design life and build quality is a long ways from what
most people associate with JD equipment.
Dave

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I've had real good luck with the "not from Home Depot" Deere products. They are pricey, though.

You do have to be realistic about what you expect from one, considering the actual service it will see.

 

[Bull Barrel]

The cheaper John Deeres aren't made by Deere, either. You have to go to the bigger ones and then you can choose your engine.
A friend owns a repair shop.

That's a commonly repeated misconception, they are made by JD
at their Greenville Tennessee site. The low end stuff for mass channels
are built there.
That said, the design life and build quality is a long ways from what
most people associate with JD equipment.
Dave

I misspoke. The lower end models at the box stores use Briggs engines. Step up and you get Kawasakis.
Thanks, Dave.

 

[Fox Mike]

I have had two Craftsman in the last 15 years. The first one lasted 13 years and cut miles of lawn and pushed tons of snow and lived outside through it all. When the engine started to burn oil excessively (smoking as a mosquito repellent), I traded it in on another one. This one has never given me any problems yet. I should add these were tractors, not riding mowers.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I've always had Craftsman or Murray and have never had a problem.
Been using them since the 70's.
I just purchased a new Craftsman lawn tractor about a year ago and am happy with it.
I use it not only for mowing but also pulling a drag and trailer.

 

[vito]

I actually miss mowing the lawn. I used to enjoy the work, which would take me half a day at least, for the sense of satisfaction looking over a neat and clean fresh cut lawn, with all the debris cleaned up and ready to dispose of. But my wife begged me to hire a lawn service to do the work so that I was not tied up every Saturday during the summer months. Its been years now since I have had the fun of doing my own lawn, and the amazing job that the lawn service does for the incredibly low price that they charge keeps me from going back to the old ways. Now on a nice summer Saturday I will be out on my motorcycle rather than having to spend the day cutting grass. FWIW, for many years I only bought Honda equipment and never had even a minor issue with any of it.

 

[daveg.inkc]

I have 2 John Deere’s. Made in 1980. A 108, 30”. 111, 38”. I did buy a 18 horse Briggs from a company in Iowa. Easy bolt on. But, I had to notch and relieve the frame for a spin on oil filter. And a new, 350 cca battery this week.

 

[ronto]

No problems with my Cub Cadet Model SC100H with the Honda 160cc engine. Starts on first pull. :)

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Like Vito, I've been having mine done by a one-man lawn service guy for several years now. I did the math on the last three riding mowers I've gone through and I'm money ahead paying my guy $40 every ten days to cut and trim it for me. Plus I work 60-65 hours weekly so I don't have to spend my limited time off mowing grass. When I retire, I may go back to doing it myself. Or not...

 

[eveled]

If you want heavy duty. Look for a Garden tractor not a lawn tractor. Also look for rear wheels with lug nuts.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

And be prepared for serious four-digit prices. It takes me 3 to 4 hours to mow our nearly-all-non-level property, and during the season it's every 5 o 6 days. Hydrostatics and "ag tires" rule. JMHO

 

[rugerjunkie]

If you want heavy duty. Look for a Garden tractor not a lawn tractor. Also look for rear wheels with lug nuts.

Look for all rims using lugs not just the rear. That will put you into sub compact territory and 10x the tractor/mower when compared to just a lawn mower. I have a John Deere 2210 , 23hp diesel , 62” deck , 3 point , hydraulics , various attachments you can’t even use with a basic mower , and its stout enough to move a 20’ pontoon boat around and other trailers with the 3 point receiver hitch. And it was not much more than a top of the line mower tractor and will outlive one too.

 

[AJGUNNER]

If you want heavy duty. Look for a Garden tractor not a lawn tractor. Also look for rear wheels with lug nuts.

Look for all rims using lugs not just the rear. That will put you into sub compact territory and 10x the tractor/mower when compared to just a lawn mower. I have a John Deere 2210 , 23hp diesel , 62” deck , 3 point , hydraulics , various attachments you can’t even use with a basic mower , and its stout enough to move a 20’ pontoon boat around and other trailers with the 3 point receiver hitch. And it was not much more than a top of the line mower tractor and will outlive one too.

If there was a picture I would probably be drooling. :lol:

I mow almost 2 acres---this time of year every 4-6 days. Old MTD 14/42" that was well used when we bought the place 19 years ago. I put about $100 per year into it---mostly spindles and blades due to rocks and roots. Inherited a craftsman 5 years ago and run this most of the time now. Oh how I would love to have one like mentioned above.

 

[Ray Newman]

Once a week, I mow 1.5 acres.

Now run a Hustler Raptor 22 HP 54" zero turn, before that a 17 HP 48" Deere riding mower. The Deere lasted 16 years. Always thought it was a bit too small, but it was the model the salesman recommended. Neighbors were surprsed the Deere lasted that long, but I changed the oil every 20 hours with a high temperature oil instead of the Deere recommended 25 hours. Also periodically cleaned out/off the air filter plus a yearly tune-up.

Do the same maintenance schedule with the Hustler, except oil change every 50 hours. Transmission oil changed during the yearly tune-up. I figure the 2 transmission oil filters and "fresh" transmission oil cheap insurance to help its longevity.

Since mowing with the zero turn, I would never go back to riding tractor. Vey fast turning and less mow time. Now it takes just 60-70 minutes to mow 1.5 acres with 12+ trees to cut around. The Deere took 90 to 135+minutes. Granted the zero turn mower deck is bigger, but others have also told me that their zero deck is the same size as their riding mower deck and it takes less time to mow.

 

[tinman]

As has been said, big difference between a riding mower and a garden tractor. My ZTR ain't a tractor.....but it will tow (empty) trailers, pull a flexible harrow and mow my 3 acres in bout 3 hours.

 

[Mike J]

I've only got an acre and a quarter lot & some of it is wooded. I had a Craftsman mower with the 42" deck & manual transaxle. I lasted for about 20 years. I did have to replace some spindles & belts. A couple of years ago it the front end of it started falling apart & I went & bought a cheaper John Deere. I think it is the D105. It isn't the biggest or the nicest but it has done okay so far. I guess time will tell how long it lasts. The John Deere is nicer but sometimes I miss the old Craftsman. Not sure if their newer stuff is made as well.

 

[daveg.inkc]

I’d like to have a 1964 John Deere. 110. Metal seat, metal everywhere. Same year as Ruger 10/22, Hawkeye, Buck 110 Hunter. Fabled GTO! Don’t forget the Gulf of Tonkin. What a year.

 

[tinman]

These are Garden Tractors:
https://youtu.be/l-MxE-hYKbI

 

[BDM1]

I really enjoyed that video, thanks so much for posting it. A few years ago, when i could get Rural Television on satellite, i watched videos like that on Saturday mornings, good times!

 

[Heavy Barrel]

My 1985 318 with 50" deck had over 2000 hrs on the old 18 hp Onan,replaced it with a 22 hp Kohler 4 yrs ago,other than that nothing else has ever been changed other than blades and belts.I'll keep it until the wheel's fall of but they probably won't. :mrgreen:

 

[eveled]

Thanks tinman. Great video of some good clean fun. I have a David Bradley like that as a lawn ornament. I don’t have the steel wheels or an engine.

 

[powder smoke]

Last summer I caved in and bought a Cub Cadet zero turn mower I cut about 7 acres
and cut my time by about half and put my garden tractor to bed. Better ride better cut lot less time it is way faster! https://www.mowersdirect.com/Cub-Cadet-17AREACA010-Lawn-Mower/p96404.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5N75g43A6AIV-__jBx32_QfcEAYYASABEgJtV_D_BwE

 

[toysoldier]

Hustler and Grasshopper are both made in central Kansas; Hustler in Hesston, and Grasshopper a short distance away in Moundridge. Quality products.

 

[Mega Twin]

If you have rocks,or tree roots,I would highly recommend you get one with a fabricated deck,not a stamped one.
The stamped decks are very much easier to get out of whack,and much harder to get back in true if they get bent from hitting something.

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

Hustler and Grasshopper are both made in central Kansas; Hustler in Hesston, and Grasshopper a short distance away in Moundridge. Quality products.

I didn't know Hustler was made in Hesston, I knew about Grasshopper as the plant was on the south side of town right out by the burger joint ( can't remember the name anymore ) but that was the place to get a GOOD Burger back in the day

can't say that much good about Hustlers,, my Raptor sd is a real pain on any kind of slope and the discharge chute plugs up all the time

I ran a Grasshopper years ago,, that thing you could go just about any place