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Riding Mower: Best Quality?

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Bill Cupp

08-11-2004 14:31:57

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I have a seven year old "economy" rider that needs replacing. Should I buy another $1300-1500 job or should I go for high quality? I have priced Brand Name models for twice as much or more, but my question is -- do I really expect a riding mower to last fifteen, or twenty years? Even a high quality one?

What do you think provides a better value: buying "economy" riding mowers to be replaced every 5-6 years, or spending bigs bucks on a "quality" mower and hoping it will last much longer?

- Bill

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john d

08-14-2004 08:39:20

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

You can make the argument either way. I mow with a 1970 Wheelhorse and a 2002 Huskee (MTD). The old Wheelhorse is incredibly tough. Most parts are available; when they aren't, I make them. The MTD is a lot of mower for the $$. 24 hp Briggs engine that's smooth and easy on gas, with a 54" deck that eats grass well. I got that one because my wife wanted something more "user-friendly" than the old Wheelhorse. I don't think it will last 20-25 years, but I could be surprised.
With a newer mower, you will get some safety features not found on some of the old ones. This can be really important if someone who's not used to running machinery is going to use it. The newer mowers with the "step-thru" frame are easier for old folks to get on and off. The stamped sheet metal frame like most of the cheap ones have won't take the constant flexing of a rough or very hilly lawn. A cheap mower may have a cheap front axle and little or no bearings in the front wheels. If you have the time/inclination/tools/know-how, you can upgrade a cheaper mower yourself to make it last longer and be more convenient. My MTD now has 55 watt halogen lights on the front, grease zerks where it didn't use to have them, better hitch on the back, etc. If you don't like to use a grease gun, none of them will last.

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Mike in PA

08-13-2004 22:20:37

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

I agree with the ones saying to buy an older heavy duty mower, have it reconditioned if necessary. I mow with a 1961 Cub Cadet Original every week, and not just my yard, I mow the lot across the street and a neighbors yard. I also plow snow with it and plan to get all the attachments for it. Even with only 7hp it will handle a single bottom plow, peg tooth harrow, and a snow thrower. Cheers Mike

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Bill Cupp

08-12-2004 11:12:31

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

To all who responded, thanks for the advice, and also thanks for the *ahem* entertainment.

Yes, I agree there are many sides to an issue, and that is what I like about "jumping" into boards like this and hearing from many sides. I thank you for you time and will weigh what everyone said.

I also thank especially those who posted "respectfully."

- Bill

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TimV

08-12-2004 10:07:20

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

Bill: With proper maintenance you can certainly expect a decent-quality mower to last 20 years or more. There are thousands of Cubs, JD"s, wheel-horse, etc. still going strong after that long or longer. I will add my voice to the chorus recommending that you seriously consider a second-hand heavy-duty mower. These can be purchased for less than even the cheaper "economy" mowers (JD Sabre, low-end Craftsman, cadets, MTD"s, etc.) and most still have excellent parts availability. This holds especially true if your lawn is large, rough, or hilly, as all of these compound the stresses on a design that is often barely adequate to begin with. You can also safely ignore our friendly local troll--he just bounces from board to board spreading misinformed sarcasm wherever he goes.

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TheRealRon

08-12-2004 11:02:00

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TimV, 08-12-2004 10:07:20

Yea, that TimV guy is always posting nonsense!

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pdi man

08-12-2004 19:11:31

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-12-2004 11:02:00

the real ron.... the real pain. don't make me send t bone in after you. you stir as much crap here as on any other board. are you assuming other's names here as well? why do you all think that we have to register now. we have public offender number one right here!

now... as been stated, they don't make them like they used to. but parts for old units are hard to find. anything will last with care. it is true that the new deere l series is a 500 hr unit. it is made to compete with other 500 hr units. don't try to get spare parts this time of year at depot. they aren't ordering any more. too late in season. sears does carry all their own parts all year, but they are the DEALER for them. only makes sense. we tried the late and seven day routine. not enough money to make it profitable. read the consumer reports mags and choose what suits you best. naturally, a dealer will push their product, where the smaller guys will be a bit more honest. bottom line isthis...they all have parts, they all break, therefore they all suck. just some more than others.

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Dennis C.

08-12-2004 07:57:04

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

I have about 3 1/2 acres to mow.
I have an old Crafstman from the early 80's that runs fine - parts have to be ordered, but still available. But ALL it can do is cut the grass and not the rough areas (tears up the deck / spindles). My other tractor is a 1976 Cub 1250 --- 3 times the tractor - can use attatchments and cuts grass a lot faster than the the other and can do the whole place (even though it's only 1 more HP - it's built like a real tractor). Less than 1000 bucks (750 for the cub, and 200 for the Craftsman) got me both of them (less than even 1 cheap "economy" mower new).
Personally, I think the Craftsman line is okay for just mowing the lawn because they should keep the parts available (can still order anything mine needs on-line at the Sears site)
I could not tell you how well supported the other "economy" lines are for parts, I'd check into it before buying anything.
It all comes down to what you want to get out of the piece of machinery and what yopu abilities are to maintain / repair it. Personally, I'm a mechanic and refuse to pay for repairs to anything I own and I understand the quality / capability difference between the 2 machines I own.
Overall, looking at what others here have said, I'd say listen to JT , ignore Ron the just shop to meet your budget / usage requirements.

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TheRealRon

08-12-2004 08:14:17

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Dennis C., 08-12-2004 07:57:04

Can't you read? Who cares about your 30 year old mowers. He is asking about NEW ones! Therefore, any comparison between your two mowers is meaningless.

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Dennis C.

08-12-2004 09:46:09

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-12-2004 08:14:17

LOL!! yeah, I guess I should have stated that I was just showing that anything can be made to last - you just gotta do the maintanence. Like I said befoewr - Shop to meet your budget and purposes.

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Dirty ED

08-12-2004 09:32:44

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-12-2004 08:14:17

Therealron:
You keep asking if we(posters) can read?
I don't know, your the only one that dosen't seem to comprehend what's being said.

And as far as your need for hip waders, I'm surprised your keyboard made it through your initial post.

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TheRealRon

08-12-2004 11:00:01

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Dirty ED, 08-12-2004 09:32:44

No wonder they call you "dirty"... spend all your time slinging bs, do you? That makes you a troll!

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Dirty ED

08-12-2004 21:42:28

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-12-2004 11:00:01

TheRealRon
How is it you know so much about trolling?
On second thought nobody cares.
If and when you have something constructive, please feel free to join in, otherwise wait untill you done with puberty.

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Dennis C.

08-12-2004 09:27:43

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-12-2004 08:14:17

LOL!! Yeah, I can read, and I guess I should have made this clear then -- it's just to show that the cheap ones CAN be made to last if you are willing to work on em! And a little bit of response to the bit about NOTHING lasting 20 years -- I have both types that made it that long!

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RB/CT

08-12-2004 07:55:58

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

It doesn't seem that some manufacturers don't want anything to last. Put to death this year are the Chevy Cavalier, S-10 pickup, two cycle lawn boy mowers and a host of other items that kept people happy. If its deemed worth paying more, you have to assess the quality, by tests of others or by word of mouth of people who work on them. Consumer reports rates JD as #1, yet they give Cub Cadet a bad rap. Why? Time with these mowers will prove whats good. I think the weak leak in most yard tractors is the hydro transmission, some are cheap and some good, most of the price in a new mower verses a cheaper one is the extra money applied to the hydro unit. Most are sealed, and the fluid cannot be changed. Some actually have a drain plug, or a dip stick to change the fluid out of, some mechanics just use Honda oil in these trannies, who knows. My opinion, if money is no object, then spend the extra. If a good mower is found that doesn't fall apart, buy it and spare parts before the manufacturer stops making it. After all the CEO and stockholders have to make a profit. Thanks for listening. My sears riding mower was replaced with an EXmark Walk behind.

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MAC,IL

08-12-2004 07:28:30

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

Bill: There is good and bad in everything, regardless of price. Seen some expensive equipment in the shops, right along with the "economy" models of 1000 to 1500$ range. Maintenance is the key factor in the life of about everything. I know a guy, swears about the big dixons, he dont maintain them and buys a new one every 3 years. I cant do that. I had a Murray one time for 11 years, mowed a lot of grass, but kept it well maintained. Oh, I had to replace belts X2, blades X3, and jackshaft bearings one time. I drilled the castings and put in fittings. Removed inner seals of the bearings before I installed them and that ended changing the bearings again. Guy came by and said how much for the mower? Well I opened my mouth and said 300, he whipped it out of his pocket and as far as I know its still mowing. I initially gave 800 for it. So I cant complain about a "yearly" cost. As I previously stated, regardless, preventative maint is the key factor in life of anything. Guys gripe cause a sears mower goes bad in 2 years, but the same guy, when he gets done mowing he lets it set where he quits till next time. Never greases anything nor changes the oil. The only thing it gets is gasoline. Buy the best that you can afford, and take care of it. Good luck with your purchase of whatever brand you decide.

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Bob Parent

08-12-2004 06:43:40

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

In the early 70"s, I had a Huffy Pinto. Barebones, solid rubber tires. I cut grass with that tractor for 10 years. I gave it to a friend who used it for 2 years and he sold it for $50.00 and there were no problems with it. People say that cheap MTD yard machines last 4 or 5 years. I don"t understand that. I know people with old MTD"s and Craftsman LT10"s that are 10 - 15 years old and still in excellent shape. Those machines are fine if all you are going to do is cut grass. I disagree with the statement that top of the line machines will only last 12 years. I looked at Ingersolls and top of the line John Deeres and Wheelhorse Classics and those machines could last 30 years easily with any kind of care. I"m in the process of buying a CC 2186 and granted, it is not built like the Cubs of the 60"s and 70"s, but by today"s standards, it has a channel iron frame, a 2-cylinder motor, shaft drive and is built better than the low end stuff that you buy at Walmart, Home Depot, etc. I just believe that if you use the equipment for what it was intended for and give it the right maintenance, it can last a lot longer than what people say.

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Wayne

08-12-2004 06:02:55

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

The realron doesn't know what he is talking about.I'm not going to get into it much but just try and get some body to try and get parts for that cheap mower lit alone getting somebody to work on it. So yes it will pay to get the better mower. Also the comfort of riding is a lot better.

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TheRealRon

08-12-2004 06:44:27

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Wayne, 08-12-2004 06:02:55

You're just blowin' smoke!

You can get parts any day of the week, including SUNDAY, at any Sears store for Sears mowers. Same deal for HD, Lowe's, etc. Try that at a JD dealer!

All mower/small engine shops work on them. They HAVE to. Because the "cheap" ones outsell the "expensive" ones 10:1, any shop who refused to work on the "cheap" ones would be out of business in no time at all.

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08-12-2004 06:59:08

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-12-2004 06:44:27

I beg to differ with you, the local Sears store sells no parts, you have to order every one you want, from the warehouse in Chicago.
I went to a Lowes store looking for a belt last Sunday for a tractor I had in my shop, guess what they did NOT have it, tractor was 4 months old, needed a belt already, why? The high quality deck idler froze up and burnt the belt, if any one is blowin' smoke, it is you. What makes you think all small engine shops HAVE to work on them. I know a lot of dealers selling premium equipmentr that are going that way. I would never do that, I am too greedy and want that easy, good money replacing worn out parts on cheap mowers.

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TheRealRon

08-12-2004 08:10:10

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to JT , 08-12-2004 06:59:08

OK, let's see, you repair mowers for a living and you are trying to buy parts at Lowes and you don't know that ANY Sears part can be ordered on the 'Net and sent for pickup at your local Sears store.

I'm reaching for my hip waders!

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08-12-2004 15:45:28

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-12-2004 08:10:10

OK, let's see, I was a Lowes looking for a part because I was out of it, and tried to take care of my customer. I do not have to order on the "net", I have a distributor I buy from, you made the comment you can get parts any day of the week at Sears, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. I was making a point that you cannot always get what you want 7 days a week. And you even said you can order it and have it delivered to your local store. You had better get your air tank also with your hip boots.

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Chuck

08-12-2004 14:20:15

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-12-2004 08:10:10

If your ordering from Sears on the net why would you have it delivered to pick up at a store"Why not have itdeleivered to your shop/house.MOST Sears mowers over 5 years old parts are discotinued anyway.

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Adam Paul

08-11-2004 23:48:00

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

Funny, my main "mower" is from 1956.... Ummm...
Of course it"s a well maintained David Bradley with a Wisconsin engine.... I can even swap out decks (small bush hog, four foot three blade, or reel mower) and can plow, disk, culivate, grade, sickle, ride, rake, and more... $300 for the tractor, and have spent another 300 in extra attachments... Oh and did I mention I can make my lawn look like a golf course or baseball infield...
For real light wieght, quick easy mowing my "lawn mower" is a 1946 Goodall...
Save your money! Get something older and build to last, as well as something you know for sure was build in the USA.
Respectfully,
Adam

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Dirty ED

08-11-2004 20:20:14

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

Bill:
If I were you I'd try getting at least another 7 years out of that economy mower. Why do you say it needs replaced? My estimation for the life span of a cheap mower would be twelve years minimum.
Always buy the best quality that makes $ense to you. With that said, let's examine that funny little word "Expectation", if you don't have any expectation, chances are it won't happen, due to inattention to detail, or equipment abuse. Take a look at the Wheelhorse 315-8, then look around and see how long this model has been made virtually unchanged, although the engine size(along with the model #) has changed slightly, thats about it, the rest of the tractor is about the same.

Dannie:
Don't know where youv'e been, but I still have a
a 125 cub cadet(1969), a yardman(1979) and a craftsman(1981) all made well after 1961, and mine aren't unique, theres lots around. Sure I still prefer my Wheelhorse, but it's only 10 years old.

Therealron: Take a hundred dollars put in savings, for every $4000.00 tractor you think won't make it twenty years.
At the end of twenty years, any tractor that didn't make it(except those that were not maintained properly), take the money and spend however you see fit, but for every tractor that does make it send me the money. Course it's not hard to trash a $10,000 tractor if you don't take proper care of it, but I don't beleive you can blame that on the product.

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TheRealRon

08-12-2004 05:44:04

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Dirty ED, 08-11-2004 20:20:14

It would be helpful if you had actually read his questions.

He has an old mower. He wants to replace it. He's asking about the modern production models. He wants to know if the expensive ones are worth the price difference over the cheap ones.

The fact the you have a bunch of old ones is meaningless. What is meaningful is that the difference in price of the current production models does not reflect any difference in quality or longevity. For example, the local ag dealer sells his high priced junk for $4,000 with exactly the same model Kohler engine as Sears sells for $2,000. Same size deck. The only difference is the paint color and whose pocket the $2,000 difference ends up in.

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08-12-2004 06:51:26

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-12-2004 05:44:04

Depending on what brand of $4000.00 tractor you buy, will depend on how long the tractor will last. But thinking that the only differance is the paint color, you need to get out in the real world and see what the real differance is. You keep yammering about old, old, well at one time they were brand new tractors, and with the care they have rec'd they are still going. There is a lot of premium equipment on the market that will, with proper care, last for over 20 years. Before you start talking about what will and will not last for what amount of time, you should look at what is being built now, and have to work on these tractors. The average repair bill is usually 150-200.00 on the cheap tractors, and if I had to stay in business working on premium equipment, I would be out of business. So as I have told you before, I hope they keep making the cheap tractors, that is paying for my hobbies. The man asked for opinions about if he should buy a good tractor or economy tractor, it all depends on how much money he has to spend. As the old Fram commercial goes, you can pay me now or pay me later.

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Dannie

08-11-2004 17:33:43

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

You will not or can not buy any new mower today that will last 20 years,the last one made like that was in 1961.

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Mark R.

08-11-2004 19:59:27

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1961?? in reply to Dannie, 08-11-2004 17:33:43

Dannie, I agree that the new mowers probably won't last 20 years, However I have a 1981 IH Cadet 782 that is chugging along just fine at 23 years old. My neighbor has a 1975 IH cadet (1250 I think) and his is chugging along too. It must be them old cast iron Kohlers, what do you think? When mine gets tired, I think I will just replace the engine and keep going. I don't think that old Hydro will ever wear out. Good luck with your mower. Mark R.

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TheRealRon

08-11-2004 15:29:12

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to Bill Cupp, 08-11-2004 14:31:57

Your "cheap" mower cost you $200/yr. If you buy a $4,000 mower, it would have to last 20 years just to break even. It ain't going to happen. Most of the $4,000 stuff made today will last you 10 years, maybe.

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08-12-2004 06:31:55

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Re: Riding Mower: Best Quality? in reply to TheRealRon, 08-11-2004 15:29:12

Is this $200.00 per year including the upkeep and maintance of your CHEAP tractor?? Or is that just to own it? I suppose you also go buy the cheapest car you can buy, then complain because it is uncomfortable to drive??

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