Home Repair forum - Need advice on buying first riding lawn mower

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Need advice on buying first riding lawn mower

jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com

2006-04-16, 8:21 pm

I have about 2 acres to mow. I live in a small town and the only
mowers I have access to are those at a local Sears outlet and I can
drive 30 miles to a Lowes. I just want the best buy for the money.
If I could keep the cost close to $1000-1200, that would be great. Of
the mowers in that price range, what would you recommend. THanks

Edwin Pawlowski

2006-04-16, 9:21 pm

<jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com> wrote in message
news:4442cb0d.467188210@news.so.centurytel.net...
>I have about 2 acres to mow. I live in a small town and the only
> mowers I have access to are those at a local Sears outlet and I can
> drive 30 miles to a Lowes. I just want the best buy for the money.
> If I could keep the cost close to $1000-1200, that would be great. Of
> the mowers in that price range, what would you recommend. THanks

I live in a small town also, but have access to a half dozen brands. Did
you check the local farm equipment stores? Garden supply shops? Outdoor
equipment stores? I'd go for a John Deere myself.

user1234

2006-04-16, 9:21 pm

"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
news:oiA0g.24720$NS6.15566@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
>
> <jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com> wrote in message
> news:4442cb0d.467188210@news.so.centurytel.net...
>
> I live in a small town also, but have access to a half dozen brands. Did
> you check the local farm equipment stores? Garden supply shops? Outdoor
> equipment stores? I'd go for a John Deere myself.
>

Slightly OT, but did you see the movie "Straight Story" ?
(I think that was the name). Based on a true story about
this 70+ yr old gentleman who traveled across 3 states
on a 20 yr old John Deere riding mower (to visit his ill
estranged brother, who was recovering from a stroke). It
was a very good movie.

Them John Deeres just keep on plugging along.

roger61611@yahoo.com

2006-04-16, 9:21 pm

Consumer Reports shows these as Best Buys:

J Deere L111, $1800
J Deere L108, $1600
Troy-Bilt 13AJ609G $1400
Yard-Man 13AN791G (also known as MTD Pro 13AO791G) $999

I have a John Deere L108 and I think it's sort of overpriced. So I
recommend the Yard-man in your price range.

2006-04-17, 4:21 am

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 19:52:04 -0400, "user1234" <user1234@user1234.gov>
wrote:

>
>"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
>news:oiA0g.24720$NS6.15566@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...

>
>Slightly OT, but did you see the movie "Straight Story" ?
>(I think that was the name). Based on a true story about
>this 70+ yr old gentleman who traveled across 3 states
>on a 20 yr old John Deere riding mower (to visit his ill
>estranged brother, who was recovering from a stroke). It
>was a very good movie.

I saw most of it, the last 2/3rds. I almost posted here myself, but
forgot? I wanted to ask about what sort of brakes would be found on a
tractor that size.

I enjoyed it a lot. Didn't know the name until you possibly gave it.
(They used to announce the movie when they showed one on latenight tv,
but the station here doesn't do that anymore. If you don't see the
first minute of the movie, that's your last chance.)

>Them John Deeres just keep on plugging along.

I don't doubt the quaility of John Deere, but the phrase comes to
mind, "A promotional consideration has been paid for the use of a John
Deere mower."

Edwin Pawlowski

2006-04-17, 8:21 am

"mm" <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
>
> I don't doubt the quaility of John Deere, but the phrase comes to
> mind, "A promotional consideration has been paid for the use of a John
> Deere mower."
>

Most movies today are about ad and product placement. Don't let that be a
bother.

hallerb@aol.com

2006-04-17, 9:21 am

Do understand a push mower leaves nicer looking cut, because the riders
wide tires push over the grass before its cut.

is your yard level? its important to alwats be aware when using a rider
of the tip over danger, even on a minor slope it can and does kill
people. use a regular mower for slopes and close trimming areas. How
open is your lawn, if you have lots of bushes and hedges and
obstructions they can be a pain in butt. same for scratch stuff like
rose bushes and things with thorns that will flatten your tires.

Now that your questioning your new purchase consider spending a bit
more.

rather than a rider a lawn tractor can add lots of functions like snow
blower, tiller, no matter what get a pull behind cart and where will
you store it? Lawn cart with vacuumn makes fall leaf pickup easier.

We bought a rider and between the lawn obstructions, flat tires from
roses, our new fence being in the way, the kinda junky cut appearance,
our cost cutting rider lawn mower rather than a extra few bucks for a
lawn tractor, needing more exercise, our mower broke and I finally
decided the regular walk behind was just overall a better choice.....

havent bothered fixing the rider, these are the things to consider
BEFORE making that spiffy new purchase!

David Martel

2006-04-17, 10:21 am

jp,

The local library will have a consumer reports magazine with a lawn mower
article. Ask at the desk. When I bought my house I bought a Sears tractor.
It was a piece of junk. Though you live in a small town it is likely that
there are second hand mowers available for under $500. If not the nearest
dept store will be selling brand new MTDs for $1000. They'll be sending out
sale flyers as soon as the ground thaws.

Dave M.

2006-04-17, 11:21 am

On Mon, 17 Apr 2006 10:32:54 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net>
wrote:

>
>"mm" <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
>
>Most movies today are about ad and product placement. Don't let that be a
>bother.

It doesn't bother me when it's not too obvious, and it didn't bother
me here.

Partly because John Deere could conceivably be part of the plot. It is
the kind of brand he would have had, an old man who either bought the
thing 50 years ago, or who wouldn't buy new-fangled or foreign brands.
(even though in the past, he would have driven a generic tractor, one
that didn't have a brand specific color and was so old the decal was
ruined.)

And it doesn't bother me much when the brand named more clearly
expresses the item than any generic description could.

But it sure bothers me when they practically have to interrupt the
plot to mention the brand name. When the brand name isn't special and
they are obviously paying.

Tony Hwang

2006-04-17, 12:21 pm

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> <jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com> wrote in message
> news:4442cb0d.467188210@news.so.centurytel.net...
>
>
>
> I live in a small town also, but have access to a half dozen brands. Did
> you check the local farm equipment stores? Garden supply shops? Outdoor
> equipment stores? I'd go for a John Deere myself.
>
>
Hi,
Ditto, JD still has exemplary service.

Lawrence

2006-04-17, 1:21 pm

jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com wrote:
> I have about 2 acres to mow. I live in a small town and the only
> mowers I have access to are those at a local Sears outlet and I can
> drive 30 miles to a Lowes. I just want the best buy for the money.
> If I could keep the cost close to $1000-1200, that would be great. Of
> the mowers in that price range, what would you recommend. THanks

I like to buy my mowers from someone who will also service them and
sell parts. this likely excludes Lowes. I suggest trying your local
rental store. They will also sell new and used mowers, just ask. They
may not have many new mowers on hand but will order you anything.
These are the guys that stock parts and fix mowers all day long. My
local rental shop carries the Toro brand which is highly regarded
though likely out of your budget. I am a big fan of the zero-turn
riding mowers if you can afford it. The lawn tractor does a good job
of mowing (and is more versatile than a devoted mower) but is not as
good as a machine specifically designed for mowing especially if you
have slopes or obstacles. My other suggestion: double the budget.

Goedjn

2006-04-17, 2:21 pm

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 22:54:25 GMT, jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com wrote:

>I have about 2 acres to mow. I live in a small town and the only
>mowers I have access to are those at a local Sears outlet and I can
>drive 30 miles to a Lowes. I just want the best buy for the money.
>If I could keep the cost close to $1000-1200, that would be great. Of
>the mowers in that price range, what would you recommend. THanks

2 acres is too much for a lawn. Find someone in your area with
a bat-wing or sickle-bar mower, and pay them to cut the meadow
twice a year. Then get a push-mower to do the 20-30 feet immediately
around the house.

sacstinkytiger@yahoo.com

2006-04-18, 8:21 pm

2006-04-19, 6:21 am

On 17 Apr 2006 09:03:08 -0700, "Lawrence" <lwhaley@paulbunyan.net>
wrote:

>
>jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com wrote:

Used mowers are at their greatest in the spring. Shops have been
buying them or getting stuck with them, and repairing them, all
winter. Others were repaired last summer and no one would pay the
bill, and the repairman has waited long enough by now to declare them
abandoned.

Two years in a row, I tried to buy used in mid summer, or maybe the
start of the summer, and there were none. One place I used to drive
by all the time started with 10 on display and gradually the number
went down. After there were none, about a month after I first saw
them, I stopped and talked to him and gave him my number, and he never
called. I waited too long.

Another place not too far from here has about 30 of them out now of
various kinds. Although in the past he had nothing that could be
called a bargain or even a fair price.

HOwever in the past 18 months I've found 5 in the trash, 3 that looked
like new, and bought one at a junk yard. Three of them are fixed
now, so I shouldn't be shopping for a long time.

But I think that Spring is the time to buy a used mower.
[color=darkred]
>I like to buy my mowers from someone who will also service them and
>sell parts. this likely excludes Lowes. I suggest trying your local
>rental store. They will also sell new and used mowers, just ask. They
>may not have many new mowers on hand but will order you anything.
>These are the guys that stock parts and fix mowers all day long. My
>local rental shop carries the Toro brand which is highly regarded
>though likely out of your budget. I am a big fan of the zero-turn
>riding mowers if you can afford it. The lawn tractor does a good job
>of mowing (and is more versatile than a devoted mower) but is not as
>good as a machine specifically designed for mowing especially if you
>have slopes or obstacles. My other suggestion: double the budget.

2006-04-19, 6:21 am

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 22:54:25 GMT, jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com wrote:

>I have about 2 acres to mow. I live in a small town and the only
>mowers I have access to are those at a local Sears outlet and I can
>drive 30 miles to a Lowes. I just want the best buy for the money.
>If I could keep the cost close to $1000-1200, that would be great. Of
>the mowers in that price range, what would you recommend. THanks

You know my friend just bought 2 or 3 acres, and he plans to work
something out with the sheep or horse owner on the street to graze his
animal there. I guess not everyone has such a neighbor but it is a
thought.

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