Lawnmower

[KARNUT]

I usually kill the mower every 10 years. I ruin the deck because I mow when it’s wet. I hate dust. It’s not hard we usually have wet grass in the morning. My latest just passed 10 years. Well this one I was more diligent about cleaning after mowing most times. Took it out this morning and didn’t see an obstruction grass was tall from excessive rain. Broke blade holder thingy. Tore it right off the deck. I had the twin cylinder screaming with the grass thick and high. I think I’m going with a Cub Cadet this time. Tractor supply is having a Father’s Day sale.

[Grumpy Bear]

Bought a Honda 22" self-propelled about a decade ago. Polymer deck. No rusty-rusty just Honda trusty.  Cost a fraction of what my Cub 48" tractor cost and has run three times longer.  

 

Dead soft steel steering pinion and rack run open and exposed. There is some high dollar engineering. Last about a year or a year and a half between rebuilds. Newer ones are plastic. 

 

Should have kept my Honda H4514 tractor. Liquid cooled twin. 

 

Edited June 8 by Grumpy Bear

[richard wysong]

Zero turn is the way to go, once you have used 1 you won't want a conventional

[KARNUT]

7 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Bought a Honda 22" self-propelled about a decade ago. Polymer deck. No rusty-rusty just Honda trusty.  Cost a fraction of what my Cub 48" tractor cost and has run three times longer.  

 

Dead soft steel steering pinion and rack run open and exposed. There is some high dollar engineering. Last about a year or a year and a half between rebuilds. Newer ones are plastic. 

 

Should have kept my Honda H4514 tractor. Liquid cooled twin. 

 

It’s too hot in the summer to work on these things. Another reason I usually get a new one every ten years. Replacing the deck and components is about half the price of a new one. I consider it because now they went to pedals for the hydrostatic transmission. My last several had a handle next to the seat. My yard is rough. I mow at the highest setting. 

[KARNUT]

44 minutes ago, richard wysong said:

Zero turn is the way to go, once you have used 1 you won't want a conventional

I want a steering wheel and conventional mower. Plus the old style is cheaper. I’d be more inclined to work on the more expensive zero turn. My recent mower was a 46 inch, 22 horsepower for 1800$. An Ariens. I’m going to drop to a 42 inch cub cadet for 2200$. Or 44 for 2400$. A good zero turn is a 1K more. 

[diyer2]

My son mows 5 acres. He bought a commercial grade zero turn mower that should last many years with proper maintenance, being a mechanic not a problem. But it cost $10k.

[KARNUT]

44 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

My son mows 5 acres. He bought a commercial grade zero turn mower that should last many years with proper maintenance, being a mechanic not a problem. But it cost $10k.

You have to experience how hot and humid it gets in my area. It’s why I don’t work on stuff too often here. On blood pressure meds I sweat buckets just doing basic outdoor activities. So I do it in spurts. Add I'm on the verge of being 69 the stamina is lacking. Just taking off the deck that’s really not hard was a chore. So I threw it in the back of the avalanche. I don’t have the proper tools to get the bolts out of the remaining broken housing that’s bolted to the deck. Two shops I took it to say a minimum of 4 weeks and 400-600$ to fix. The part on Amazon is about 28$. Usually I just go out and buy another one. And that’s what’s going to happen. I got hot, tired and frustrated and my AC quit on the way home. So now I’m pissed. It’s 98 today. If I was using a lawn service it’s about 6 months cost  to replace the mower. It’s paid for before the summer is out. Yes I checked my yard is large. 

[OnTheReel]

I’ve had my Cub XT2 for 3 years now, no issues. Mow in the summer and plow snow in the winter. 42” fab deck, Kawasaki motor. 

[KARNUT]

Bought a cub cadet dropped to a 42 inch cut. I cut at the highest setting and it’s a little rough. So I figured the deck would be more stable. 

[Black02Silverado]

I purchased a commercial grade ExMark Lazer Z HP 48" back in 2003. It has been bulletproof. Only thing I have had to replace is the main drive belt. It only has 650hrs on it. I was mowing my in-laws 5 acres for about 7 years with it.  I put the mulch kit on it.  Love it. Well worth the cost.  Only has a 21hp Kawasaki twin on it.

Edited June 11 by Black02Silverado

[KARNUT]

I got the mower delivered tonight. I’m actually reading the manual, that’s a first. Getting used to the foot hydrostatic drive vs the handle may be a challenge. It has a button that lets the mower blades stay on going in reverse. I back up a lot. The battery is tiny. The seat is very comfortable. It has a higher max mowing capacity. I like that. I like to keep my backyard at a higher setting. My front I mow closer to the ground. So if this goes ten years I’ll probably be ready to get a yard service at 79. So this could be my first last purchase. So it goes. 

[Black02Silverado]

9 hours ago, KARNUT said:

I got the mower delivered tonight. I’m actually reading the manual, that’s a first. Getting used to the foot hydrostatic drive vs the handle may be a challenge. It has a button that lets the mower blades stay on going in reverse. I back up a lot. The battery is tiny. The seat is very comfortable. It has a higher max mowing capacity. I like that. I like to keep my backyard at a higher setting. My front I mow closer to the ground. So if this goes ten years I’ll probably be ready to get a yard service at 79. So this could be my first last purchase. So it goes. 

Pictures or it didn't happen. 

[KARNUT]

47 minutes ago, Black02Silverado said:

Pictures or it didn't happen. 

There it is

[Black02Silverado]

Purrty!

[KARNUT]

Retired. Shed of shame.

Edited June 13 by KARNUT