Shop Time w/T.W. Friends

Mine's a Kioti as well, it's one size down from yours I think. It's a 2008 with 900 hours. The first or second year the horn quit. At the time, my secretary's husband worked at a car wreckers and gave me one off a truck. I hate to say it, but that's all it's needed outside of routine maintenance.

I compared the Kioti and Kubota pretty closely as well, and came to the same conclusion as you did. Better built for less money. Zero regrets.

 

My current mower is 17yo and I'm planning on giving it to my kid when I buy the acre next door. I want something a little beefier (and newer) and I'll be mowing 2 acres total. I do not want a zero turn. This was on sale for Father's Day for $2699 so I figure this fall it may go on sale again.
Anyhow, any opinions? Pros? Cons? Suggestions? Staying under $3k would not only make me happy, but it would also make her less unhappy.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...-fr-engine-hydrostatic-transmission-960430342

 

My opinion if you’re cutting more than an acre of grass, you’ll want something with a wider deck. Maybe a 54” or 60”, with a 46” deck I think you’d be out there all day.

 

I have cub cadet 54"

 

If they can pay for gas...they prob can afford that bill. Still a lot of money though

 

I get that, and I appreciate it, but I love to mow so I don't mind it taking awhile. And I'm considering mowing the new acre a little taller and possibly just mowing it evey other time.

 

You may be able to get it at that price off sale of you talk to the manager. Mention you saw it for that price and you'd rather not wait for the next sale, and they might go for it.

Hydrostatic trans for sure. Don't leave home without it.

Some manufacturers will ballpark acres per hour the machine will cut. You should take it with a grain of salt, but it will give you an idea. I'm guessing 2 acres @ 5 ish mph will take you about 2.5 hours with minimal trees and terrain.

I know you said you don't want one, but, if you have a lot of trees or other obstacles, I would seriously consider a zero turn. It'll change your life.

I would look at the spindles, deck linkage, and other maintenance items to see how beefy they are and if they are easy to grease, adjust, clean, remove, etc. Belly mounted decks are a pita to clean and service blades, but I think they're all pretty equal in that respect.

The reinforced deck perimeter is a good idea if done right. I did that to one of my previous mowers after bending the stamped deck into the blade from rubbing along a retaining wall.

FWIW, my mower has a different Kawasaki engine, but knock on wood (again) it's been a great engine.

Something that's handy for me is the way the deck height works. I have a pedal that when pressed raises and locks the deck for driving around when not mowing. When I am mowing, I can press that pedal to raise the deck 2-3 inches without it locking if there's a high spot I don't want to scalp, rock, child, etc. Long way of saying, if the deck is easy to raise and lower on the fly, you may find it helpful.

I'll stop rambling now.

 

Treated myself today.


I have a heck of a time seeing while welding so I figured I'd try something different.

 

I did too. Thought I would have to give it up. Bought an adjustable and saved my ass.

 

Not rambling at all, thank you!!
I think deck quality (thickness) may be my number one concern, its somewhat sandy here and the sand ate right thru the deck of my first mower, I mow taller now (and my grass is thicker) so I no longer have that problem, but its still a concern.
My yard has 11 trees, the new acre has almost none, so obstacles are not much of an issue.
I appreciate your response!!

 

Funny, I read through a few pages and thought I was here

 

The theme is different, but the good times are the same!

 

Troubles seeing? Get some GOOD work lights. Good means bright, work lights are on stands that can be adjusted to suit the work position.
If you can't see, you can't weld!

 

I have a TS348XD with 24 hp. Biggest difference is a welded sheet steel deck vs a formed thinner deck. I also have diff lock lol. Great tractor. I use it a lot for pulling a small dump trailer and mowing the higher stuff. I have a slightly bigger tractor for the garden. Seat is comfortable and Kawasaki engine just purrs.

 

I had the same experience.

The only difference is I'm a special kind of stupid.

I had no idea where the money was going. I just went to work for 26 years. I never touched a thing. I worked with guys that would push their money into fixed accounts at the hint of a depression. I figured there was more money in there than I contributed, so I did nothing.

I was asked if I wanted to take a buyout during the down turn.

I said why?

I was shown my balance. I had no idea it grew that much. (Thank-you, wife).

After learning that, I said...see, ya!

 

Agreed, welding outside in the sun, I could see much better. I should use a light. I have one, but I need to make a solid adjustable base for it, or mount it at my welding table. New project!