Riding lawn mower suggestions

I'm looking for input for a new riding lawn mower. I've never had one and don't know shit about them. My yard is .70 acres and I'm tired of using a push mower. The yard has a slight slope to it, however my neighbor has a similar yard and he uses a riding mower. From what I've seen browsing around home Depot and Lowes I'd like to stay around the $1500 range. Like all things online every brand has mixed reviews, some swear by a brand some say they are junk etc...

 

I have a John Deere LA130 it’s a good mower. I would suggest going to a local dealer. My brother in-law got his Deere from Lowe’s and I got mine from a dealer. You can tell a difference in the quality of the mower.

 

How does buying from a dealer vs a box store make a difference? A John deer la130 is the same hunk of metal and parts no matter where it's bought right?

 

I have a Deere L118, the transmission is built into the rear end. If it goes bad that part is $900. Other Deeres may be the same. Just don't drive wild or change forward/reverse direction to fast/hard. I bought mine used off craigslist 3 years ago and have been happy with it. Lots of attachments are available for it too.

 

I like Deere, Husqvarna. I just replaced a Deere with a Husky. The Deere lasted a good 7 years. And the Husky has 2 years on it.
I sold the Deere for $600.00 and the guy is really happy with it.
Deere, Husqvarna,craftsman, just make sure you buy a few HP up from what you need and at least 48".
Have fun...

 

I thought so until i was on my in-laws. It felt cheaper then mine. It wouldn't hurt to talk to a dealer and see what they have to say.

 

Service !

 

Ones sold at a box store may have a cheaper engine in the mower. They want the cheaper engine so they can sell the brand name for less.

Just like a Vizio TV from walmart isn't the same Vizio you may find elsewhere, there are cheaper parts inside the TV so walmart can sell for less.

 

Remember HD carries the cheapest models of most equipment brands! I will never buy a chainsaw there! JD is a great brand and its the differences in the models where you make out or get raked! I've had a Husqvarna 52" deck for years, runs great but I might go with Scag <http://www.scag.com> My landscaper friend swears his is bullet proof.

 

@vrod671 is a mower jockey! he can chime in here!

 

Nothing runs like a deer.

 

Whatever you buy, get a Z-Turn!

 

Go to a dealer and knock on the mower deck. Now go to a box store that has the same model and knock on that mower deck. Aside from the engine and all the rest, that one test right there will tell you that the dealer machines are built better. HD, Lowes have their own versions of big name stuff. Same name, branded the same way, but not same quality. Not to say it's "bad", just not as good. But you pay a lot for that extra good though. Not worth it for occasional use unless you're very serious about your gear.

 

You might look for a used rear engine Snapper rider with a disc drive system.

Very easy to service / repair with reasonable priced parts. A basic B&S motor that is easy to rebuild or replace if needed.

I also had and IH Cub Cadet in the mid 70s. It had a 10hp Kohler engine with a alternator/starter (split field coil) and hydrostatic transmission with a 3 blade 42" cut. That thing was a bear for towing, ripping vines out of trees, pulling old fence wire, etc. And it mowed ok. But it was complex and expensive to repair.

Hence the next time I had acreage, Snapper it was.

 

Heed these words!

 

A JD mower bought at a dealer, or a box store is the EXACT same mower regardless where you buy it, as long as it is the same model #. The dealer version might be better assembled, but I have seen some very poor work by dealers as well. Now the dealer does sell far superior options, but they have different model #'s.

Do not buy a zero turn mower for anywhere near you price range. I have a lawn business and only run full commercial machines. My father has a Cub Cadet ZTR from Home Depot that cost $3k. That thing is a POS! Look at the deck wrong and it goes out of alignment and leaves a crappy cut. For that much $ he could have gotten a good tractor. A old boss has a Toro or TroyBuilt home owner ZTR, and it was just as crappy as my dads CC.

 

I haven't replied but I'm still reading everyone's replies. Anyone have experience with craftsman riding mowers from sears? It looks like they come with a better warranty. Im really not wanting to pay over $2000

 

Most of the riding mowers are made in the same factory and just get branded differently. (AYP) American Yard Products is/was the major manufacturer. Most of the brands just take different combinations of the critical parts to offer price points that look enticing against the competition, and wow you with qualities/features that either really do matter, or don't matter in the least (but get you to pay more for some irrelevant feature). As mentioned before there can be differences in the thickness of the mower deck housing, quality of spindle, HP of motor, Hydro/gear, fuel tank location, Oil filter or not, cruise control, deck adjustment features, on and on and on.

Here is what I've considered/learned in the years I've owned one. I've had Husquarvarna, Deere, and Bolens. Plus Kubota and Bobcat acreage tractors.

1. Deere's are overpriced. Full stop.
2. Try to shy away from gas tank fills that are under the seat esp if you get a bagger. Grass migrates and collects around the filler neck, and then enters the fuel tank when you open it up to refill (from swirling wind) and don't have an air compressor handy to blow it all away, every time.
3. HP don't matter today. over 16hp for 42" deck is overkill.
4. Garden tractors are way better than yard tractors. More heavy duty and have accommodatins for attachments. YRMV. I bought an old Bolens to replace my JD because it had power assisted bagger, snowblower, tiller, and can accept a blade.
5. Horizontal engines have more torque than vertical shaft engines of equivalent HP ratings. I can't confirm this but I've heard it over and over and IME it appears to be true. My Bolens is brute with 2 less HP than my JD. Faster travel, faster mowing, quicker bagging.
6. Electric Clutches for the PTO are EXPENSIVE and prolly most likely to make the tractor see the end of it's useful life.
7. Blades, Spindles, belts, tires/tubes, batteries, starters/solenoids, and bagger chutes are normal maintenance items.
8. Cast iron front axles are useless feature. DGAF.
9. Cruise control: useless.
10. Hydrostat highly recommended unless you have open lawn with few obstacles to cut around.
11. Bumpers are a good feature to protect front hood and maybe the muffler from damage from errant obstacle collisions.
12. Fancy engines are pretty much unnecessary selling points. If properly maintained any motor will outlast the deck, body, and electric system and any of todays HP offerings are more than enough to do the job and around 4 HP more than what was offered in the past. Just use more gas.
13. I prefer separate push pedals for forward/reverse hydrostat. The treadle pedal is hard for me to operate into reverse smoothly. Cramps up my ankle. Hand operated hydros use up a hand that could be holding a beer.