JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Scott's are decent. Like you say, the lawn/garden tractors were the predecessor of the current JD L series. Tufftorq transaxles, etc.
Joel
Joel
Where do I research Riding Mowers/ Lawn Tractors?
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Those are decent prices for a dealer. Our local dealer is crazy! Chances are they have been gone through well is the dealer is selling it. They may even offer some sort of short warranty?
Originally Posted By: kkreit01
Those are decent prices for a dealer. Our local dealer is crazy! Chances are they have been gone through well is the dealer is selling it. They may even offer some sort of short warranty?
Thats kind of what I'm hoping. If I buy private, I'm worried I'll get the thing home and start using it and some problem will show up. Then I'm sol.
Those are decent prices for a dealer. Our local dealer is crazy! Chances are they have been gone through well is the dealer is selling it. They may even offer some sort of short warranty?
Thats kind of what I'm hoping. If I buy private, I'm worried I'll get the thing home and start using it and some problem will show up. Then I'm sol.
Originally Posted By: dwcopple
Yeah, look into a used Snapper 28-32" ride on with bagger. They are dead reliable.
x2, great machines. We sold ours since we have a bigger lawn now and my dad got a home depot John Deere lawn tractor. After about a year it seems to be breaking pretty regularly. The Kohler engine runs fine but its all the small annoying stuff. I'm actually thinking about finding another used snapper and restoring it as a project.
Yeah, look into a used Snapper 28-32" ride on with bagger. They are dead reliable.
x2, great machines. We sold ours since we have a bigger lawn now and my dad got a home depot John Deere lawn tractor. After about a year it seems to be breaking pretty regularly. The Kohler engine runs fine but its all the small annoying stuff. I'm actually thinking about finding another used snapper and restoring it as a project.
I have a very nice Wheel Horse 312-8 speed with a 42" deck and a 48" snow plow for sale for $750 if you are up to a road trip to West Michigan.
I bought a Craftsman LT1500 about 3 weeks ago for $999.99 on sale. Used it 3 times so far and it is perfect for what I need. My yard is about 1/2 acre.
Originally Posted By: HM12460
I have a very nice Wheel Horse 312-8 speed with a 42" deck and a 48" snow plow for sale for $750 if you are up to a road trip to West Michigan.
Lol, thats a long drive.
I have a very nice Wheel Horse 312-8 speed with a 42" deck and a 48" snow plow for sale for $750 if you are up to a road trip to West Michigan.
Lol, thats a long drive.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: Bryan K. Walton
Originally Posted By: hate2work
Lawnsite.com is your best source.
+1
-Bryan
I can't agree there. It's an OK site if you're a Commercial guy, go on there asking about a cheap rider and you'll get laughed off the thread.
If it's OK to list sites, I'd recommend MyTractorForum or TractorByNet. Besides this forum on BITOG, those two are the best.
Joel
Originally Posted By: hate2work
Lawnsite.com is your best source.
+1
-Bryan
I can't agree there. It's an OK site if you're a Commercial guy, go on there asking about a cheap rider and you'll get laughed off the thread.
If it's OK to list sites, I'd recommend MyTractorForum or TractorByNet. Besides this forum on BITOG, those two are the best.
Joel
I've had good luck looking up stuff on mytractorforum. Those guys seem to be a nice bunch.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
I've had good luck looking up stuff on mytractorforum. Those guys seem to be a nice bunch.
That's the best site around for all that is regular guy outdoor power equipment. Tractor By Net being second. You'll find folks that are extremely well versed for every brand you can think of.
I've had good luck looking up stuff on mytractorforum. Those guys seem to be a nice bunch.
That's the best site around for all that is regular guy outdoor power equipment. Tractor By Net being second. You'll find folks that are extremely well versed for every brand you can think of.
Originally Posted By: D189379
Any thoughts on Scotts tractors? I found a couple cheaper used ones at a local John Deer dealer. ($400 for a 2004, and $500 for a 2000)
All I know is that they're made by John Deer and they still manufacture parts for them.
The Scotts would be a good choice. Even the lower end JD made mowers are still better quality than a lot of what's available. JD supports their products much more than some other brands do.
I would not touch anything made by Husqvarna right now. They make Poulan, some Ariens riders, some Craftsman riders, Weed Eater, and probably various other brands. The engineering and quality on some of their lower end products is atrocious...not surprisingly the cheaper you go the worse it gets. As crazy as it sounds, you're better off with an MTD for a lot of reasons.
Any thoughts on Scotts tractors? I found a couple cheaper used ones at a local John Deer dealer. ($400 for a 2004, and $500 for a 2000)
All I know is that they're made by John Deer and they still manufacture parts for them.
The Scotts would be a good choice. Even the lower end JD made mowers are still better quality than a lot of what's available. JD supports their products much more than some other brands do.
I would not touch anything made by Husqvarna right now. They make Poulan, some Ariens riders, some Craftsman riders, Weed Eater, and probably various other brands. The engineering and quality on some of their lower end products is atrocious...not surprisingly the cheaper you go the worse it gets. As crazy as it sounds, you're better off with an MTD for a lot of reasons.
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: D189379
Any thoughts on Scotts tractors? I found a couple cheaper used ones at a local John Deer dealer. ($400 for a 2004, and $500 for a 2000)
All I know is that they're made by John Deer and they still manufacture parts for them.
The Scotts would be a good choice. Even the lower end JD made mowers are still better quality than a lot of what's available. JD supports their products much more than some other brands do.
I would not touch anything made by Husqvarna right now. They make Poulan, some Ariens riders, some Craftsman riders, Weed Eater, and probably various other brands. The engineering and quality on some of their lower end products is atrocious...not surprisingly the cheaper you go the worse it gets. As crazy as it sounds, you're better off with an MTD for a lot of reasons.
Husqvarna and Craftsman/Poulan are made by AYP (American Yard Products) and have been for years and years. None of them are made by Husqvarna...
Originally Posted By: D189379
Any thoughts on Scotts tractors? I found a couple cheaper used ones at a local John Deer dealer. ($400 for a 2004, and $500 for a 2000)
All I know is that they're made by John Deer and they still manufacture parts for them.
The Scotts would be a good choice. Even the lower end JD made mowers are still better quality than a lot of what's available. JD supports their products much more than some other brands do.
I would not touch anything made by Husqvarna right now. They make Poulan, some Ariens riders, some Craftsman riders, Weed Eater, and probably various other brands. The engineering and quality on some of their lower end products is atrocious...not surprisingly the cheaper you go the worse it gets. As crazy as it sounds, you're better off with an MTD for a lot of reasons.
Husqvarna and Craftsman/Poulan are made by AYP (American Yard Products) and have been for years and years. None of them are made by Husqvarna...
Husqvarna owns AYP.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Right on. I believe it went: Roper- AYP- Electrolux and now Husqvarna.
Regardless, the lawn/garden tractors are still pumped out of the same plant in Charlotte NC. Here's a timeline of sorts: http://corporate.husqvarna.com/?p=about&s=history&t=timeline&u=detailed&afw_lang=en
Joel
Regardless, the lawn/garden tractors are still pumped out of the same plant in Charlotte NC. Here's a timeline of sorts: http://corporate.husqvarna.com/?p=about&s=history&t=timeline&u=detailed&afw_lang=en
Joel
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: D189379
Any thoughts on Scotts tractors? I found a couple cheaper used ones at a local John Deer dealer. ($400 for a 2004, and $500 for a 2000)
All I know is that they're made by John Deer and they still manufacture parts for them.
The Scotts would be a good choice. Even the lower end JD made mowers are still better quality than a lot of what's available. JD supports their products much more than some other brands do.
I would not touch anything made by Husqvarna right now. They make Poulan, some Ariens riders, some Craftsman riders, Weed Eater, and probably various other brands. The engineering and quality on some of their lower end products is atrocious...not surprisingly the cheaper you go the worse it gets. As crazy as it sounds, you're better off with an MTD for a lot of reasons.
It looks like the 2 Scotts are already gone. So I'm back to square one. I might be back to buying new since the used ones are getting even higher prices.
So far the Craftsman and MTD are in my range.
Originally Posted By: D189379
Any thoughts on Scotts tractors? I found a couple cheaper used ones at a local John Deer dealer. ($400 for a 2004, and $500 for a 2000)
All I know is that they're made by John Deer and they still manufacture parts for them.
The Scotts would be a good choice. Even the lower end JD made mowers are still better quality than a lot of what's available. JD supports their products much more than some other brands do.
I would not touch anything made by Husqvarna right now. They make Poulan, some Ariens riders, some Craftsman riders, Weed Eater, and probably various other brands. The engineering and quality on some of their lower end products is atrocious...not surprisingly the cheaper you go the worse it gets. As crazy as it sounds, you're better off with an MTD for a lot of reasons.
It looks like the 2 Scotts are already gone. So I'm back to square one. I might be back to buying new since the used ones are getting even higher prices.
So far the Craftsman and MTD are in my range.
For a smallish yard a cheap Murry Rider is adequate. Consumer reports I believe has some ratings on lawn mowers. You have to take them with a grain of salt though. I think Cub Cadet had the worst reliability ratings. I had a Murry for ten years and never had much in the way of issues. I sold it for $350 dollars and as far as I know it is still running. I have a Kabota tractor but they are pricey.
Perry
Perry
With my Flame suit on I'LL say I wouldn't take most of the Garden Tractors mentioned ifya gave them to me for FREE...
Having worked on most brands they all have ONE thing in common. That thing is "PRICE POINT", many homeowners refuse to buy quality lawn equipment and base their decision almost solely on COST and "IF" they can buy it with their BOX STORE Credit Card. $1500.00 is the HIGH end of what many homeowners will cough up and it's no accident that these mowers don't cost more then that..
Since the retailer and manufacturers BOTH have to make a profit the components selected for each unit generally are of poor quality. THIN decks, NON greasable Spindles, bushed (instead of bearing) front wheels, lightweight front ends, and Variable speed trans drive systems are all cheap to make and don't last. The only saving grace for many is they simply don't get used much in places where there is winter. Here in Florida we mow year round and have grass that's MUCH diff then most other states.
Bahia Grass is grown in sandy soil and the sand destroys the deck from the inside out. Flora-tam is a very thick wide bladed grass and quickly weeds out the low powered units as they will cry uncle in no time in a well manicured lush lawn.
Most of these mowers have pathetic blade engage systems, and deck pulleys, as well as cheap steering gears. In the summer when we really have grass growth I replace spindles, decks, steering gears, and other failed components regularly. Many are made by the same company as mentioned but my list of turds is a long one. Murray, Cub, Troy Built, MTD, Scotts, Craftsman, and others will never see the inside of my garage.
Using the Op's requirements I would recommend a SNAPPER Rear engine rider.. These things are solid performers and have a drive system that's pretty much gone unchanged for the better part of 50 years. With a number of grease points (including the spindle and ft wheels) maintenance is a breeze and one can expect a very long service life.
Stretch the cuting area, run time, or annual hour usage and it's time for a ZTR. Having worked on pretty much every brand out there I like HUSTLER, EX-MARK, WRIGHT, SCAG (some modles),LESCO, Ferris and a couple others.. Ones I would NEVER own are DIXIE Choppers, OLDER Scag's,TORO (even though they own EXMARK), Grasshopper (cut good but te sux to work on), BADBOY, OLD Snapper ZTRs and I also hate J/D..
Having worked on most brands they all have ONE thing in common. That thing is "PRICE POINT", many homeowners refuse to buy quality lawn equipment and base their decision almost solely on COST and "IF" they can buy it with their BOX STORE Credit Card. $1500.00 is the HIGH end of what many homeowners will cough up and it's no accident that these mowers don't cost more then that..
Since the retailer and manufacturers BOTH have to make a profit the components selected for each unit generally are of poor quality. THIN decks, NON greasable Spindles, bushed (instead of bearing) front wheels, lightweight front ends, and Variable speed trans drive systems are all cheap to make and don't last. The only saving grace for many is they simply don't get used much in places where there is winter. Here in Florida we mow year round and have grass that's MUCH diff then most other states.
Bahia Grass is grown in sandy soil and the sand destroys the deck from the inside out. Flora-tam is a very thick wide bladed grass and quickly weeds out the low powered units as they will cry uncle in no time in a well manicured lush lawn.
Most of these mowers have pathetic blade engage systems, and deck pulleys, as well as cheap steering gears. In the summer when we really have grass growth I replace spindles, decks, steering gears, and other failed components regularly. Many are made by the same company as mentioned but my list of turds is a long one. Murray, Cub, Troy Built, MTD, Scotts, Craftsman, and others will never see the inside of my garage.
Using the Op's requirements I would recommend a SNAPPER Rear engine rider.. These things are solid performers and have a drive system that's pretty much gone unchanged for the better part of 50 years. With a number of grease points (including the spindle and ft wheels) maintenance is a breeze and one can expect a very long service life.
Stretch the cuting area, run time, or annual hour usage and it's time for a ZTR. Having worked on pretty much every brand out there I like HUSTLER, EX-MARK, WRIGHT, SCAG (some modles),LESCO, Ferris and a couple others.. Ones I would NEVER own are DIXIE Choppers, OLDER Scag's,TORO (even though they own EXMARK), Grasshopper (cut good but te sux to work on), BADBOY, OLD Snapper ZTRs and I also hate J/D..
Any heard of Turf Trac? I found an okay deal on one, but I cant dig up much info on it. It has a 16hp B&G and a 42" deck. I'm concerned I might have trouble getting parts.
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