Riding mowers

[Rajun Gardener]

I have it tore down now and putting a new head gasket on it. I had a problem with one valve sticking and it's the valve next to the exhaust stack. I thinks it's the #3 exhaust valve. All of the exhaust manifolds have a drain hole for rain when it's not running and when they get old they clog up with rust then the water gets into the valve guide. I'm glad I caught it early enough that it broke free with some liquid wrench and then I pulled it apart and honed the guide a little to clean it up.

I think all of those older gas tractors are dangerous. I've seen some rigging on the fuel lines and some have caught fire from people running a rubber fuel line next to the exhaust pipe. Someone in my BIL's family died when the tank blew up while running the tractor.

[Worth1]

Brake fluid best stuck nut and bolt remover on earth.
Let it sit overnight and you might find the thing off the next day on its own.
Worth

[SueCT]

I live on a fairly steep hill, to the point that I start to slide out of the seat if I am not careful, lol. I had a JD dealer stop by to make sure it was even safe before I purchased one. But that is a big reason I stepped up a few notches to a 2 cylinder engine and from 18 to 22 Hp. I would have gone up a few more steps if price had not been a factor. But there is a significant difference between an entry level 1 cylinder JD and the higher priced mowers with 2 cylinders and more power. As you go up in price you also go from a Briggs and Stratton to a Kowasaki engine. None of these compare to the larger heavier duty equipment some are talking about here. But not everyone needs that. If I had a flat lawn I probably would not have gone up as much as I did. I don't have a barn or a separate bay in the garage to keep one of those larger, heavier duty things in, lol, but you might. Most people looking at 2,000.00 lawn tractor aren't in the market for a 10,000-15,000.00 piece of equipment, or more. But it may be worth getting something bigger and heavier to move snow with.

[JLJ_]

Originally Posted by Kazedwards

Ok so now that we are seeing the finish line I've been thinking it's time for me to start looking at getting a riding mower for the new place. The new place is 3 1/2 acres and has a gentle slope. I don't want to spend more than 3k and would rather be closer to 2. I also want to buy new because I'm not good with mechanical stuff and the people who are tend to cost a lot. It wouldn't need many attachments but I would like it to be able to have a plow in the winter. Also be able to pull a cart. Also about a quarter of it will be seeded and graded nice. The rest will be a bit rougher.
Any suggestions?

You have to go with what suits your purposes -- but you might be able to get more quality for your money by looking for a good older used garden tractor. With similar acreage (though a little rougher than yours) for the past twenty years I'd been using a couple of MTD riding mowers we'd bought new -- patching them together to make one working one the last few years -- but they finally gave up.

I researched John Deere and several other formerly reputable brands, but found discouraging reports about their quality (lack of) durability (lack of) and manufacturer support (often near absence of) -- even when bought from sources other than big box stores.

I went to a guy who does mower and chain saw repair and asked him if he knew of anything used from the days when such things were made for customers who expected them to last. Took a bit, but we just paid $1200 for an ARCO ALLIS 1918H with mower deck (included a snow blower that I doubt we'll use, but who knows). I told him I wasn't as concerned with cosmetics as with a machine that he'd think would work well with minimum maintenance for quite a few years. This beastie has a few dents here and there, but body is in pretty good condition and the guy checked it out thoroughly and said its working parts seemed healthy -- family was selling it to settle an estate.

So far, I'm happy with it -- like so many things, the older ones often really are better. Parts was a concern, but this guy says that he hasn't had any trouble getting parts for them, and he's the one I'd have work on it if it needed it, so I'm hoping for the best. And while I'm hoping for and expecting a long life from it, the truth is, from the reviews I read, it wouldn't have to last long at all to have proven a better buy than a lot of the newer machines that cost two or three times as much, or even more.

If I'd had more time to hunt, I might have looked for a 1920H, as it has a few additional features I think would have been useful -- but this machine had been checked out by someone knowledgeable and trustworthy -- and it it was here -- and so were the chest high grass and weeds, so . . . [g]

If nothing else, something like that might give you time to study the pricier options and decide whether you have the sort of work for them that would justify them, and if so, what's the best buy in your area. I thought about that, but at my age, if it will cut grass and pull my cart around while staying fairly healthy, that's probably all I'll ask of it.

If you do stick with the idea of a new one, I'd sure recommend a thorough online check of reviews for whatever you're considering -- you may be as disturbed as I was about newer releases of the formerly top quality names. Several times I almost decided on a new John Deere, but every time I really checked into user reviews . . .

[imp]

I agree with the suggestions for a good mechanically sound older tractor, especially if you can get the extras with it. We had an old Farmall Multi speed, probably a bit more than you need, but it did it all and held up well, from cutting hay with a side cut old JD cutter, winrowing, baling, snaking trees out of the wooded areas, plowing, and mowing.

Always, ALWAYS, I cannot stress this enough!!, be mind full around a live PTO.

Weirdly, I found it to be a sort of zen thing when I was mowing, winrowing, etc., very calming.

If you find a good deal, even if the tractor is a bit bigger than you think you need, you will find a use for it.

[Gardeneer]

We have a double blade /rotor Toro.
It has no gas pedal, no brakes, no steering wheel . Amazing !!
The whole operation is done by 2 bars/handles.
Luckily we are on the plane, zero slope, zero rock/stone. all I have to watch for is ant hills.

[Kazedwards]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like I will be doing more research


-Zach

[Rockporter]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

We have a double blade /rotor Toro.
It has no gas pedal, no brakes, no steering wheel . Amazing !!
The whole operation is done by 2 bars/handles.
Luckily we are on the plane, zero slope, zero rock/stone. all I have to watch for is ant hills.

LOL, your brake is in the those handles, pull back and it stops.

[Worth1]

Goats, milk goats.
Why spend all that money on a contraption that will burn fuel and break down when you can just have goats.
Oh goats love fruit trees you will have to protect them.

Worth

[Rockandrollin]

Originally Posted by My Foot Smells

and more depending on how many beer breaks i take.

??? imo that is just part of the mowing time!

I'm a big fan of zero turn radius mowers. Life's too short to mow lawn.

How much would you need to snow plow? I'm guessing that's a county gravel road along side your property that is probably low on their list of priorities to plow.

I have a plow that mounts on my little toyota 4 wheel drive pickup that does a good job on roads but not so good in tight spaces. I stay a lot more comfortable in my pickup than my neighbor on his tractor.

[gothicgardens]

My experience with Cub Cadets is horrible. I bought it new from a CaseIH dealer. Could not buy wheel weights to fits the hub style on this mower. It would not mow the hill in my back yard. After about a year it would not start with out a boost from another battery, took to dealer and he said it was bad grounds on the mower and could not fix. It is now sitting and will not start with a jump from another battery. Worst mower ever made and would not recommend to anyone.

[Worth1]

Most of the brands talked about and many more are resting on their laurels.
Most if not all are cheap junk compared to their ancestors.
There is a reason for this it is called planned or engineered obsolescence.
They have to wear out and break down.
Why?
Society has gotten to the point less and leas people are going to be buying this stuff.
Too many people starting out today will never see a time they will ever need one.
If you are young and have property consider yourself lucky, you are a minority.
For a manufacturer to stay in business they have to build stuff that dies so you will have to go out and buy another one.
Many of us are lucky enough to know how to use tools repair and make things.
That is a dying art too.

As for the Cub Cadet not starting will it turn over?
If it will turn over do one of two things.
Buy a spark tester they are cheap anyone that works on engines really needs one of these things
Or buy a can of stating fluid and hit the intake while it is turning over.
If it fires you have a fuel problem.
If it doesn't spark or fire you have an ignition problem.

Be careful with the starting fluid or you will blow a small engine.
I have gotten engines to run that had all the problems plus more.

[Worth1]

I left out all the other things like stuck valves.

Worth

[dmforcier]

Originally Posted by gothicgardens

took to dealer and he said it was bad grounds on the mower and could not fix.

Moose hockey! That's a bad excuse to get you out of the shop. If it's electrical it can be fixed. Find a real repair shop, or if it's under warranty make the dealer eat it.

[SteveP]

6 years ago I bought a 1986 Wheel Horse 414-8 lawn tractor with a 42" cut for $450. It cuts well, never fails to start easily and is built like a tank. Cast iron block-8speed-14hp. They had all kinds of attachments available, but mine only came with the mower. My son has a snow blade attachment for his old Wheel Horse. He laughed at me when I bought mine in 2011, but seeing how well built these old Wheel Horses are he is proud to now own one himself. After 5 years I could see this 30 year old mower would likely outlast me so I replaced the blades, all belts, tuned
It up and replaced the battery. Should be reliably good for several more years without concern except for keeping the oil changed once or twice a year. I love this old Wheel Horse more every year.

I did some research wondering why a company that made such a great product is no longer in business? What I found was they built them to last so long, people would buy one and never needed to buy another one. Bad business model by today's standards where things are built to last a few years and it's worn out and they have to buy again. Couldn't wear a WH out.

Sure they don't turn on a dime, but why is that really necessary? I used my WH to pull out some 25 year old rose bushes for my neighbor. Took less than 15 minutes to remove 3 large bushes.