[gtorich]

Thought I would ask here first before talking to a sales guy...……...looking to get my first rider, looking at a 42 inch seeing I don't have much room for anything bigger in my shed.

Just want something dependable, don't want to be taking it in every other month for something...….trying to save a few bucks wouldn't hurt either, any tips on what models to avoid and what models to get.

Thanks

Rich

[indymanjoe]

No zero turns,correct?

[Keith Seymore]

Cub Cadet.

Picked up an XT2 with the 46" welded deck (rather than stamped) with a twin cylinder Kohler, a couple years ago.

One of the best purchases I have ever made in my life.

K

[Sirrotica]

Just went from a Ariens 42 inch lawn tractor to a zero turn Ariens 52 inch zero turn. I would never go back to a lawn tractor again. If you mow an hour with a tractor you'll cut that in half with a zero turn.

Link to my latest zero turn: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ariens-I...5223/300243716

Kawasaki is now the powerplant of choice, although I had a B&S V twin on my lawn tractor for 12 years and it was trouble free. Kohler has kind of fell out of choice over the years, and seems to have some reliability issues in their newer stuff.

[ponyakr]

Since so many like the zero turn mowers, I sat on a few. Did not like the feel at all. I much prefer the lawn tractor type.


We bought a Craftsman PYT 9000 in May of 2009. It has a 24hp B&S engine. Only things I've done is change oil air & gas filter, replace blades, & one front tire. It uses the same oil filter as our '06 Tacoma pickup.

From the beginning, it was a little hard to start, when cold. So, I just shoot a small squirt of starting fluid on the air cleaner foam pre-filter, and it always starts immediately. The 3 original tires now leak down slowly, & must be aired up before mowing.

The main reason I bought this particular model was because of the trans control. Most riders have foot pedal controls. This one has a stick control, on the right side fender. The further forward you move the stick, the faster your ground speed. In reverse, the further back you pull the stick, the faster your ground speed. It WILL cut grass in reverse, which is very handy.

We first discovered this stick shift type when we bought a Craftsman, years before this one. That one had a 1-cyl 20hp Kohler engine.

We also had one with a manual trans. Those are OK, if you don't mind shifting. But the other type is much easier to operate, especially when moving from thicker to thinner grass, and going from forward to reverse.

Googled to see what they have now. Here's a 42" 19hp model with a fender shift. It's a lot cheaper than ours. But, ours had electric blade engage, & 24hp. This one has manual blade engage. Also, the shifter is on the left fender.

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-13al...&blockType=G3#

This one appears to have the shifter on the right fender.

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-19hp...&blockType=G4#

If you can stand a 46", Lowes has a T150 for $1599. If you are a vet, you can get a 10% discount. If not, I suppose you could get a good friend, who is a vet, to buy it for you.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-T...ely/1000678813

I'd go to the different stores, and actually check out the different brands. Sit on 'em, & get a feel for operating their controls. If you have a yard with some ruff areas, a comfortable high back seat is a good thing. But, if your yard is smooth & level, a short seat may be just fine. We need the high back seat. And, you may prefer the foot operated trans. Lowes & Home Depot have several brands you can check out.

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Gas-riding-...ors/4294612685

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoors...vZc5c0Z1z0kpa0

[My442]

NEVER EVER buy a Cub Cadet with a Kohler engine.

Not reliable.

And, stay away from the big box stores models - cheaply made and don't last.

[ponyakr]

We bought all our Craftsman mowers directly from a local Sears store. We also bought an extra warranty. Only had to use the warranty on one. The Sears service guy came right out to where the mower was & fixed it. No charge.

I didn't have a trailer to haul it on. And the Sears store was about an hours drive away. So, the home service call was nice. A good warranty is definitely something to consider.

I suppose that SOME online reviews MIGHT be good in SOME cases. But it seems that, lately, when I Google reviews, some say the product is great, while others say it's nothing but junk. There are lots of bogus reviews. You don't know who to believe.

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by My442

... NEVER EVER buy a Cub Cadet with a Kohler engine... Not reliable...

Either that was said in jest or the world has turned upside down...

[dataway]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

Either that was said in jest or the world has turned upside down...

Yep, it was only about ten years ago I got rid of my 1973 and 1967 Cub Cadet lawn tractors, both with Kohler engines. Sold to a guy that is probably still using them. Neither engine had ever been rebuilt in any way.

Those things were tanks, incredibly over built. Both had a rear diff that was bigger and heavier than the diff in a 1/2 ton truck. One was manual, the other was Hydro, both shaft drive.

I don't think the equivalent is even made anymore, you have to go to a full on sub-compact diesel tractor. The old Cubs had a steel channel frame probably 3/16" thick, giant cast iron gearbox and diff, hydraulic deck lift, diff lock etc. All USA made too.

They were so tough people got addicted to them ... it was called Yellow Fever.

[indymanjoe]

Originally Posted by dataway

Yep, it was only about ten years ago I got rid of my 1973 and 1967 Cub Cadet lawn tractors, both with Kohler engines. Sold to a guy that is probably still using them. Neither engine had ever been rebuilt in any way.

Those things were tanks, incredibly over built. Both had a rear diff that was bigger and heavier than the diff in a 1/2 ton truck. One was manual, the other was Hydro, both shaft drive.

I don't think the equivalent is even made anymore, you have to go to a full on sub-compact diesel tractor. The old Cubs had a steel channel frame probably 3/16" thick, giant cast iron gearbox and diff, hydraulic deck lift, diff lock etc. All USA made too.

They were so tough people got addicted to them ... it was called Yellow Fever.

Still using the 1971 127 I got from my grandfather. Plowing all winter and cutting all summer. 2acres of cutting in fact.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by My442

NEVER EVER buy a Cub Cadet with a Kohler engine.

Not reliable..

Hmmm. My almost 35-40 year old fleet of Cubs with Kohlers would disagree.



All have over 1200 hours on the clock each. None smoke, none leak, and all cut the grass well.

These were $4k plus new back then, and were QUALITY, which you will not find today unless you pay $12k and up. ALL STEEL construction, with the exception of the dash panel cover.



These used a Sunstrand hydro unit, coupled to an automotive style ring gear diff. These are trouble free as long as the filter and HY-TRAN oil are changed when they are supposed to be. After 1997, Cubs are just like all of the other MTD trash.

[gary bennett]

NO BIG BOX STORES is correct. Go to a John Deere dealer. I have had my current one since 1999. No problem.

[ponyakr]

Originally Posted by gary bennett

NO BIG BOX STORES is correct. Go to a John Deere dealer. I have had my current one since 1999. No problem.

I suppose I don't understand.

What is a BIG BOX STORE ?

Does this include Lowes, HD, & WM ?

Since Lowes & HD sell John Deere, does that mean that the John Deere mowers they sell are not the same quality you'd get from a John Deere store ???

https://www.lowes.com/pl/John-deere-...ent=4294965567

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoors...-5yc1vZc5c0Zt7

Same question for the other name brand mowers they sell. Are they all lower quality than you'd get if buying from a smaller store ?

What am I missing here ?

I know some guys who won't buy any tractor but a John Deere, & others who won't buy anything but a Kubota. I bought a Kioti in '09, because it was much cheaper than either the JD or Kubota. It still works great. No complaints.

If you Google best riding mowers, you'll get lots of differing opinions & ratings. Here's a few links from the first 2 pages.

https://www.thespruce.com/best-ridin...mowers-4142782

https://bestofmachinery.com/best-riding-lawn-mower/

https://www.businessinsider.com/best-riding-lawn-mower

https://www.smarthome.guide/best-riding-lawn-mowers/

https://ridinglawnmowerreviewshq.com/

https://www.toptenreviews.com/best-riding-lawn-mowers

https://gadgets-reviews.com/review/9...wn-mowers.html

https://www.thedailygardener.com/best-riding-lawn-mower

https://morningchores.com/best-riding-lawn-mower/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/lands...mower-reviews/

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/home.../riding-mower/

https://www.popularmechanics.com/hom.../a127/1273661/

https://onlytopreviews.com/riding-lawn-mowers/

[mgarblik]

I think your purchase depends on your yard itself, how many trees and other obstructions you need to cut around, and if the yard is hilly. IMO, if you have allot of things to cut around, a zero turn will mower will cut your time way, way down and trim much closer. You should test drive a few and realize it takes some practice to get good driving a zero turn. I am on year three of owning one and consider myself a good driver now after 2 full mowing seasons. Some brands make zero turn mowers with a steering wheel rather than the two handles. Might want to try one of those. If cutting under 2 acres, you probably going to buy a "home owner" zero turn or rider. They are generally around 1600-1800 for a tractor and 2200-2400 for a zero turn 42-48" cut. To be perfectly honest, all those mowers are very similar in quality, construction, and performance and share many components. The main difference is the plastic styling pieces and the color. Toro, John Deere, Huskvarna, Troy Built, Cub Cadett, Snapper, Simplicity, they are different colors but the same semi-junk. If you really take care of it, you can nurse 20 years out of them. The mower will completely fall apart long before the engine. Generally the deck falls apart first, then the hydrostats, then the chassis, finally the engine. My Snapper zero turn is 19 years old, runs perfect, doesn't use a drop of oil in the Briggs V-20 HP twin. The deck has issues every 2-3 cuttings and other stuff is just as annoying as hell. I am personally looking for a commercial grade used zero turn with a fabricated deck and a real chassis. Mowers in the 5-6K range new are made this way. Hoping to find a used one for 2K or so and have a better mower than a new sheet metal big box store special. JMO. Good luck with your purchase.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

I think your purchase depends on your yard itself, how many trees and other obstructions you need to cut around, and if the yard is hilly. IMO, if you have allot of things to cut around, a zero turn will mower will cut your time way, way down and trim much closer. You should test drive a few and realize it takes some practice to get good driving a zero turn. I am on year three of owning one and consider myself a good driver now after 2 full mowing seasons. Some brands make zero turn mowers with a steering wheel rather than the two handles. Might want to try one of those. If cutting under 2 acres, you probably going to buy a "home owner" zero turn or rider. They are generally around 1600-1800 for a tractor and 2200-2400 for a zero turn 42-48" cut. To be perfectly honest, all those mowers are very similar in quality, construction, and performance and share many components. The main difference is the plastic styling pieces and the color. Toro, John Deere, Huskvarna, Troy Built, Cub Cadett, Snapper, Simplicity, they are different colors but the same semi-junk. If you really take care of it, you can nurse 20 years out of them. The mower will completely fall apart long before the engine. Generally the deck falls apart first, then the hydrostats, then the chassis, finally the engine. My Snapper zero turn is 19 years old, runs perfect, doesn't use a drop of oil in the Briggs V-20 HP twin. The deck has issues every 2-3 cuttings and other stuff is just as annoying as hell. I am personally looking for a commercial grade used zero turn with a fabricated deck and a real chassis. Mowers in the 5-6K range new are made this way. Hoping to find a used one for 2K or so and have a better mower than a new sheet metal big box store special. JMO. Good luck with your purchase.

Mike, just to let you know the Ariens has a welded deck comes in 42, 52, and 60 inch decks. I had my neighbor (which does lawn care for a living) go with me to look at the Ariens and he said all the critical stuff that his commercial grade Toro zero turn has the Ariens has too, just on a smaller scale.

Ariens and Gravely are the same company now, and either brand is identical except for color and stickers. The hydrostat on my Ariens lawn tractor was fine, as was the engine, the deck, which was stamped steel was rusting out hence the need for a new mower. Maybe I should put a wing on the old one, and use it for transportation at Norwalk, naw I already have one of those...………

Love the zero turn and it is soooo much faster than the old lawn tractor.

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

Mike, just to let you know the Ariens has a welded deck comes in 42, 52, and 60 inch decks. I had my neighbor (which does lawn care for a living) go with me to look at the Ariens and he said all the critical stuff that his commercial grade Toro zero turn has the Ariens has too, just on a smaller scale.

Ariens and Gravely are the same company now, and either brand is identical except for color and stickers. The hydrostat on my Ariens lawn tractor was fine, as was the engine, the deck, which was stamped steel was rusting out hence the need for a new mower. Maybe I should put a wing on the old one, and use it for transportation at Norwalk, naw I already have one of those...………

Love the zero turn and it is soooo much faster than the old lawn tractor.

Thanks for the info. I may go look at an Ariens when I get serious about buying. I am getting really tired of working on the deck of this Snapper all the time. I just wish the engine would throw a connecting rod so I would have to buy a new one. When I had my small engine shop decades ago, we sold, Ariens, Wheel Horse, Gravely, and Lawn Boy. Wheel Horse was bought by Toro, and they ruined them in short order. Gravely was so expensive, and they made their own engines, we only sold a few a year. Great quality though. Toro bought Lawn Boy and ruined them. I kind of forgot about Ariens. They were always similar to Snapper, but heavier and better quality overall. I might like one of those. There is 1 dealer not far from here. I will check them out. Thanks.

[TAKerry]

I think a better subject would be 'What is the best colour?'
Seriously though, this is a very subjective thread. I think it depends on how much yard you are cutting and what your budget is. I had a 1971 cub cadet that dad bought new. Ran great but was antiquated. About 20 years ago I bought a POS riding mower from Sears Craftsmen. THE reason I bought that particular model was that it had a Kohler motor. I have not done anything to take care of that mower. I beat this poor thing to death, it doesn't deserve the abuse I throw at it on a weekly base. IT still starts and cuts grass every week though. Kinda like an abused puppy. I have had my share of little problems, replaced the blade spindles, new starter, and few little things. But all in all it has been a good machine. I dont think I have ever changed the oil, just add when its low. I have had to weld pieces back to the deck and some of it is held together with hanger wire. Good thing is I can still go online and get parts as needed for it. On the other hand mom has a grasshopper zero turn that I use to cut her lawn. That thing is AWSOME! best cutting mower I have ever been on.

[TAKerry]

Greg, I did a job and the customer had one of those John Deeres, a bit larger though. He let us use it for clean up and it was a pretty nice machine. I wouldn't mind having one myself.

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

Mike, just to let you know the Ariens has a welded deck comes in 42, 52, and 60 inch decks. I had my neighbor (which does lawn care for a living) go with me to look at the Ariens and he said all the critical stuff that his commercial grade Toro zero turn has the Ariens has too, just on a smaller scale.

Ariens and Gravely are the same company now, and either brand is identical except for color and stickers. The hydrostat on my Ariens lawn tractor was fine, as was the engine, the deck, which was stamped steel was rusting out hence the need for a new mower. Maybe I should put a wing on the old one, and use it for transportation at Norwalk, naw I already have one of those...………

Love the zero turn and it is soooo much faster than the old lawn tractor.

I took your advice and did a little more research on the entry level and next step or two up zero turn mowers. The Ariens Ikon series mowers do have a fabricated deck as you said. They look pretty nice. around 3K for a 42" with the fab deck and a Kohler twin. They also have Kawasaki engines about 2-3 HP lower for the same money. To be honest, The Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Robin Subaru engines run great, probably a little smoother than the Kohler's. But the problem is I am in this for the long haul and parts are always super expensive and only available for 5-7 years for the Japanese engines. That's just a show stopper for me. Also not crazy about the newer Kohler engines. So I looked pretty hard for a zero turn with a Briggs twin. Parts are available forever and I have had excellent service from many of them . Problem is Briggs and Stratton engines in these mowers are only available in the brands they own for the most part. Briggs owns, Snapper, Simplicity, Ferris. The Ferris mowers are more toward the commercial use and about 1K more for very similar models. The Simplicity and Snapper zero turn mowers are absolutely identical. Snapper is red, Simplicity is orange. Both are available with fabricated decks with lifetime warranties for about $300.00 more than the stamped sheet metal junk. Commercial B+S twins at 23 HP seem to be pretty standard. Still looking.

[ponyakr]

Hey, TJ's brother bought a cordless electric mower. They love it.

We bought a battery powered chain saw, pole saw, & weed eater. They all work great.

The electric mowers have advantages.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C...30.OQL2yfkhOnw