Forums » Off-topic discussion » Lawn Tractors - suggestions? 1 2 3

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  May 23, 2011 6:44 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  What is the general recommendation on lawn tractors? Deere? Cub? Craftsman? Buy at a big box store or little guy?

  I'm tempted to go on Ebay and get a vintage one, but is that just temping fate?

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  May 23, 2011 7:01 p.m. f86sabjf Reader

  I have a Troybilt with 42in cut and 21hp briggs . I've had it 7yrs and no problems at all

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  May 23, 2011 7:07 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

  Datsun1500 wrote: What is the general recommendation on lawn tractors? Deere? Cub? Craftsman? Buy at a big box store or little guy? I'm tempted to go on Ebay and get a vintage one, but is that just temping fate?

  Tried the vinage thing, nice 60s Deere. When things broke it meant fabrication as some of the parts were NLA

  Gave in and bought a craftsman 46 inch 4 years ago, when its not cutting the lawn its towing dead cars around the yard. It gets abused and keeps going.

  OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part." BLUTO: "We're just the guys to do it."

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  May 23, 2011 7:30 p.m. Graefin10 Reader

  If you have a big yard get an upscale Cub, smaller yard, a craftsman is OK but get the Kohler engine - more torque and lasts longer. I use a Troybuilt now and am not impressed, however, I got it like new for $450 @ a yard sale, so I'm satisfied. I also use a Cub 52" zero turn mower w/22hp Vtwin Kaw. Very powerful and fast but it beats me to death because the ground is so rough. They need to design a mower seat with a coilover spring shock assy. adjustable for the wt. of the user.

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  May 23, 2011 8:09 p.m. Derick Freese Dork

  I have a '98 Toro Wheelhorse. In the month I've had the thing running, I've mercilessly abused the thing, and it just wants more. I only have about $50 in it. It needed a fuel pump and some fuel hose from fuel system neglect. They seem to be pretty inexpensive, and they're built really solidly.
  

  No matter what you do, don't get a Briggs motor. Kohlers are so much better in my mind, and they really don't cost much more at all.

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  May 23, 2011 8:11 p.m. Woody SuperDork

  I've got a 30 year old Jacobsen that I love, but parts are getting hard to come by. After two rusty mower decks, it's limited to trailer moving, plowing and thatching. It's on it's second 14 hp Kohler.

  I love the hydrostatic drive, though.

  

  I lift things up and put them down.

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  May 23, 2011 8:17 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

  The EV forum I frequent has a guy who built an EV competition sled puller out of one. His advice is to get one with a cast iron case diff/trans. I can add that the front axle needs to be really rugged, think cast or designed well enough not to wear where the steering pivots.

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  May 23, 2011 8:18 p.m. FlightService HalfDork

  How much you wanna spend? What are you going to do with it?

  The ones NOT to buy if you have more than a normal yard or plan on any ground engagement/pulling/plowing/your overwieght/wanna use a grass catchers and are over 200lbs ANYTHING AT A BIG BOX STORE!

  “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci

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  May 23, 2011 8:20 p.m. Fletch1 Reader

  

  Mine is like the one in the pic.

  I bought another one 2 months ago after researching heavily. My dad was always a tractor man. From what I found out is this: Kohler Command series are great engines. My last tractor had one,I could mow like 1 foot grass without it boggin down. I've heard the newer Kohler Courage series are not good. I bought a 2004 John Deere GT245 with a 54" deck and 20HP Kawasaki engine. The engine is quiter but can't take the grass quite as well. I've heard mostly good things about them though. As far as the tractor itself, you get what you pay for just like anything else. If you want something like a Deere, find a nice used "real" one rather than a store bought model. They will last a long time. I was raised on a 318 and a 455 diesel, which is still in the family. I wouldn't go too old. Well, just go here: mytractorforum.com

  It's like Grassroots...except tractors.

  I love mine..wish it had the power of the Kohler from my last one. GO GREEN!

  P.S. - I love tractors. I'm finding myself researching them more than cars. I'm turning into my dad.

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  May 23, 2011 8:25 p.m. FlightService HalfDork

  Fletch1 wrote: I bought another one 2 months ago after researching heavily. My dad was always a tractor man. From what I found out is this: Kohler Command series are great engines. My last tractor had one,I could mow like 1 foot grass without it boggin down. I've heard the newer Kohler Courage series are not good. I bought a 2004 John Deere GT245 with a 54" deck and 20HP Kawasaki engine. The engine is quiter but can't take the grass quite as well. I've heard mostly good things about them though. As far as the tractor itself, you get what you pay for just like anything else. If you want something like a Deere, find a nice used "real" one rather than a store bought model. They will last a long time. I was raised on a 318 and a 455 diesel, which is still in the family. I wouldn't go too old. Well, just go here: mytractorforum.com It's like Grassroots...except tractors.

  Good tractor there, how's the transmission doing? That is a John Deere dealer garden tractor, not a mower.

  “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci

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  May 23, 2011 8:26 p.m. Woody SuperDork

  The Big Box Store John Deeres are different than the ones you buy at a JD dealer. Buyer beware.

  I lift things up and put them down.

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  May 23, 2011 8:30 p.m. Fletch1 Reader

  Flightservice-

  Why yes it is a dealer garden tractor. You know your tractors. I've only put on a few hours. The tranny seems o.k. Have you heard anything bad about them?

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  May 23, 2011 8:37 p.m. Fletch1 Reader

  More info Datsun1500. Price range? Acres? Anything else you will be using it for? Snow removal,etc?

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  May 23, 2011 8:48 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  Fletch1 wrote: More info Datsun1500. Price range? Acres? Anything else you will be using it for? Snow removal,etc?

  Under $5K. 2.5 acres that get mowed, the rest is pasture or woods. As far as I know it will just be used for mowing. I have/had an 8 year old Troy Bilt, 18HP 42 inch deck and it has been a POS since new. I bought it at Lowes and should have returned it in the first week. It eats batteries (but there is nothing wrong according to the manufacturer) so in order to mow I need to jump it every time. It goes out of time so much I have the front set up as a quick release deal to save time. It is to the point where when the grass needs mowing it takes about 20 mins to get it ready to go. I can rebuild a 45 year old Japanese transmission, but can't keep a mower running? It's time for a new one and I really want to just be able to mow the grass when I want to mow the grass....

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  May 23, 2011 8:54 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  Fletch1 wrote: Well, just go here: mytractorforum.com

  Damn you.

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  May 23, 2011 8:58 p.m. Fletch1 Reader

  In reply to Datsun1500:

  With your price range, you can get a serious mower. You have about the same acres as me. I also have hills and stuff to mow around. I got my Deere Gt245 with only 100 hours and 54" deck for $2900 locally off craigslist. It doesn't have hydraulics or power steering, but its still nice. It was also a true Deere. Yes, I'm pushing green. I also like a 54" deck. I wouldn't go over 60". Its hard to find a newer "real" Deere with a Kohler engine. Diesel sips the gas compared to an air cooled gasoline in my experience. My Kawasaki is quiter, but not as strong. I don't know much about zero turns. The GX series was good during the early to mid 2000's. Same as mine except they had power steering and a hyro lift. That's a start. It would help to have a dealer close if you ever needed one.

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  May 23, 2011 9:00 p.m. Fletch1 Reader

  In reply to Datsun1500:

  I'll hook you up. Those guys are like GRMer's with tractors. Well, gotta get to bed. Have fun on that website...hehe.

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  May 23, 2011 9:14 p.m. oldopelguy Dork

  I spent about 2 weeks researching and just last weekend bought a new 46" Cub Cadet for our 2-3 acres of regular mow and twice a year 5-acres. There are 3 versions, one generic Cub, one for TSC, and one for Home Depot. HD model is a Kawasaki engine, TSC is a Kohler, both 22hp-ish v-twins. I like the Kawi on my brush mower but TSC is local so I went that way myself.

  The 46" was the smallest to step up to the v-twin, and for the NVH and longevity I could justify the upgrade. The 50" was another $300, and I couldn't justify that.

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  May 23, 2011 9:32 p.m. curtis73 Dork

  John Deere 430 diesel.

  /thread

  

  I'm bringing sexy back

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  May 23, 2011 9:36 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

  

  This is what I have, picked up restored for $300, runs like a champ and has a plow which works well also.

  Hydroscopic trans FTW

  Oh and it can pick up the front tires on a launch easily...

  Cornering is like bringing a woman to climax. Jackie Stewart

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  May 23, 2011 9:46 p.m. FlightService HalfDork

  Fletch1 wrote: Flightservice- Why yes it is a dealer garden tractor. You know your tractors. I've only put on a few hours. The tranny seems o.k. Have you heard anything bad about them?

  If you look under the back you will see a half a ring gear with half a rising sun in the middle. My pay check has the same symbol on it.

  I am the Quality Engineer for that product. So no, nothing bad about that one.
  

  curtis73 wrote: John Deere 430 diesel. /thread

  If memory serves (before my time) that unit wasn't built by Deere but by my parent company Kanzaki or their parent Yanmar.

  Great tractors.

  I recommend if you want to actually work with a tractor, use it on more than a 10 degree yard, mow large quantities, or are overweight, go to a tractor dealer and get them to spec one out. Then being the GRMer I am, find a good used model or previous version.

  “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci

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  May 23, 2011 9:55 p.m. FlightService HalfDork

  Just read what you posted. Look at a Deere 345, something with a Tuff Torq K66 or higher number, for what you want to do.

  The reason I am specing the transmission and not the tractor is because that is the easiest way to convert the duty cycle. The engine power on the mack daddy unit in a Garden tractor only uses about 18 HP. The most power goes to the deck. The tranny is the third thing they spec on these, engines are last. Believe it or not but smaller wheels and tires on the back are better. The 430 is a monster and look at the small back tires it has.
  

  Buy nothing from a box store with your acreage, you might get 3 years, if lucky. They just weren't built for it.

  “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci

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  May 23, 2011 10:05 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  There is a 430 on Craigslist for $2600. Wonder if he still has it....

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  May 24, 2011 3:46 a.m. novaderrik Dork

  i have an early 90's Murray with a 46" deck and 14hp Briggs. it was never a premium mower, but it is dependable and takes a bit of abuse. but since Murray is no longer in business, it has to be a collectors item... right?.

  i think it started running better when i put the Mr Gasket blower scoop and "Moroso" stickers on it. the "XLT" and "RICE" badges also added a bit of performance, as well.. last summer, i put the tacky Wal Mart shift knob that was in my Camaro on it, and now it shifts like a dream. i tried to put the Wal Mart gas pedal cover on the brake/clutch pedal, but it didin't want to work out..

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  May 24, 2011 6:34 a.m. Klayfish Reader

  I'll second the recommendation for the tractor forum. Spent some time there when I moved into my current house a few years back.
  

  I'm on 3.5 acres of all mowable grass. I looked a used JDs and other type "tractors", but in the end I went with a Toro zero turn. If you're going to use your mower for almost nothing other than mowing, you really want to look at zero turns. It cuts my lawn much faster than the Crafstman tractor I used to have. I'm really happy with it. Toro has been very good about warranty repairs (had some electrical issues due to the retailer leaving it outside), and it is just a great all around grass cutter. It is capable of towing, but I haven't done much of that yet.

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