Riding lawn mower

[Jharstad7182]

Looking for a good riding mower. So many to chose from. I got a 3/4 acre lot little uneven with a hill not to steep thou grass quality isn’t great. No dirt just an old pasture with weeds and clumps of thick grass thanks for the help

[KFhunter]

budget?


I bought a Husqvarna with the diff lock and love it, I recommend a differential lock.   

Some are automatic and others are manual, the automatic have come a long ways but you don't have control over it going in and out, they've been known to lock on tight turns.

I prefer to have control so went manual diff lock. I'm not sure if any changes were made   TS 348 D



https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/riding-lawn-mowers/ts-348d/960430284/

[boneaddict]

Ive got a Husky.  54inch lawn tractor.      That thing has been and still is being put through the ringer.   Doing great!  WHen I eventually kill it, Ill get another.

[Buckmark]

If ya got the money get a Zero turn
If ya dont want to spend that much get a John Deer rider from a deer dealer (not lowes/home depot JD)
If ya want to spend a little less then a decent home depot/lowes rider (Husquvarna)
But for what you describe having to mow (does not sound like a manicured lawn) a good Craigslist deal or a cheapy 995 rider from home depot or lowes will do the trick, keep it clean and covered and they will actually last awhile

[Jharstad7182]

Thanks for the input I have a 2000 buck budget

[KFhunter]

Go used, new this is out of your budget.

https://bellingham.craigslist.org/grd/d/custer-54-husqvarna-riding-mower-179-hrs/6851200419.html


used though It's in your budget with room to spare and at 175 hrs even if the guy never changed the oil or did any maintenance at all it's not going to kill it.   
I'd pull the dipstick and hope for slightly used oil and not brand new oil, check oil drain tube to see if it's been used much. 

pull the air filter see if it's pulled dirt through from not being installed properly,  mine wasn't installed properly but I noticed it right away because I always take crap apart and mess with it 

[KFhunter]

another, commercial grade.   Simplicity makes Kubota mowers, so essentially this is a Kubota.

Has diff lock, big bonus there.

I would want to know the engine hours, check compression and hopefully it's only been used residential, I wouldn't buy it if it was used commercially but probably it hasn't as it would be too slow.


https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/grd/d/north-bend-riding-lawn-mower-simplicity/6849119938.html

[Buckmark]

Go used, new this is out of your budget.

https://bellingham.craigslist.org/grd/d/custer-54-husqvarna-riding-mower-179-hrs/6851200419.html


used though It's in your budget with room to spare and at 175 hrs even if the guy never changed the oil or did any maintenance at all it's not going to kill it.   
I'd pull the dipstick and hope for slightly used oil and not brand new oil, check oil drain tube to see if it's been used much. 

pull the air filter see if it's pulled dirt through from not being installed properly,  mine wasn't installed properly but I noticed it right away because I always take crap apart and mess with it 

This is a good deal right here, notice that both KF sent you have bolt on rear wheels that puts them in the class of lawn tractor not lawn mower and means they both should have commercial grade transmissions, along with some other more sturdy items

[eastsidemallard74]

I have 2 acres I mow weekly, and own a Husqvara(Probably not spelled right) I have a 48" deck, mows like a champ. part of the grass is pasture grass so a little thicker. And it was quite a bit cheaper than the John Deer.

[C-Money]

I have a Craftsman LT1200. Had it for almost as long as I've had my place, going on 19 years. I mow about an acre. Changed the oil a few times, sharpend the blades, a battery or three, new air filter...thats it. Still runs and cuts great!

[b23]

I've had my Husqvarna zero turn for a few years now, although our yard isn't all that large, I mow twice a week and it's run flawless since I bought it new.  I'm no particular fan of Briggs or Kohler motors so I paid a little extra to get mine with the optional Kawasaki motor.  IMO, paying a little extra to get one with either Kawasaki or Honda motor is money well spent. 

Also, if you're mowing pasture type areas, I'd get a set of Oregon Gator G6 blades for whatever mower you end of purchasing.  The Gator G6 blades last forever and are tough as he11.

[kirkl]

If ya got the money get a Zero turn
If ya dont want to spend that much get a John Deer rider from a deer dealer (not lowes/home depot JD)
If ya want to spend a little less then a decent home depot/lowes rider (Husquvarna)
But for what you describe having to mow (does not sound like a manicured lawn) a good Craigslist deal or a cheapy 995 rider from home depot or lowes will do the trick, keep it clean and covered and they will actually last awhile

Why do you say dont buy a JD from lowes? I have been researching them hard and called the JD dealer and he said all the E series riders are the same and priced the same which I have seen.

[Buckmark]

If ya got the money get a Zero turn
If ya dont want to spend that much get a John Deer rider from a deer dealer (not lowes/home depot JD)
If ya want to spend a little less then a decent home depot/lowes rider (Husquvarna)
But for what you describe having to mow (does not sound like a manicured lawn) a good Craigslist deal or a cheapy 995 rider from home depot or lowes will do the trick, keep it clean and covered and they will actually last awhile

Why do you say dont buy a JD from lowes? I have been researching them hard and called the JD dealer and he said all the E series riders are the same and priced the same which I have seen.

Sorry i should of been more clear since deere has changed some of there lineup, what i was implying was if you want a really good quality lifetime mower then the deere e series is not it, the e is an entry level mower that is not much different than most entry level cheap mowers, yes it may have some redesigned features, better cupholder placment blah blah but it is what it is and you pay extra for that green paint  , if you want a deere and have the money (we did not know his budget when i first posted) then the X500 series is the way to go and that you cant buy from lowes.
Years ago the deere dealers did not even carry the lowes line of mowers and the deere dealers even said they were junk but they also wanted the sales so now they carry them.

[kirkl]

Ah gotcha, I see now. I get a 10% military discount from Lowe’s so probably it something from them.  My 22 year old craftsman is still running but due for a new one.

[JWEBB]

I run a 1988 d170 Deere and have hardly had any issues. Rebuilt tranny 10 years ago but that’s about it. And yes, it had been run hard