mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749 
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Post by mistersmom on Sept 25, 2014 15:29:58 GMT
Ok, I am tired of dumping money into my old mower. It is ancient and is going to need major work soon so I would rather use that money to get something new. Problem is, they don't seem to make mowers like mine (it's a Woods and I think was probably made in the 90s sometime).
So for those who use zero-turn mowers, what do you have? Do you like it? Would you get another? My neighbor and I are looking into getting one together but just when we think we found a good brand, we read bad reviews about it as well. HELP! |
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Post by lorddaxter on Sept 25, 2014 15:35:12 GMT
I used to sell mowers, chainsaws etc both commercially and home owners, the best ones without going too high end are Toro, anything else with a Tecumseh or Honda engine as Im not familiar with your makes there, otherwise I wouldn't touch it!
Same with chainsaws, Stihl only, never husqvarna, piece of crap, just have the name!
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Post by diamondgirl on Sept 25, 2014 16:27:50 GMT
I have a Craftsman. It's my second mower from Sears. I doubt I would get another one though. A zero turn is lots of fun, and saves time if you have lots of corners. They are also fun to play with. After you finish mowing, you can turn up the radio, and practice reining maneuvers.  |
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Post by horselover4life on Sept 25, 2014 16:53:56 GMT
I wish I had a zero-turn.
What a time saver it would be to get deep into corners that I can't do currently....
Only thing I don't like about them is I haven't seen any that can offer sun protection...a must for us down here. Strawberry blonde son and me a blonde...we burn, sunscreen or not!!
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Post by diamondgirl on Sept 25, 2014 16:59:55 GMT
I wish I had a zero-turn. What a time saver it would be to get deep into corners that I can't do currently.... Only thing I don't like about them is I haven't seen any that can offer sun protection...a must for us down here. Strawberry blonde son and me a blonde...we burn, sunscreen or not!! Could you wear a really big hat? I try to, when I mow. |
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Post by horselover4life on Sept 25, 2014 17:08:52 GMT
I wish I had a zero-turn. What a time saver it would be to get deep into corners that I can't do currently.... Only thing I don't like about them is I haven't seen any that can offer sun protection...a must for us down here. Strawberry blonde son and me a blonde...we burn, sunscreen or not!! Could you wear a really big hat? I try to, when I mow. Still not enough protection. We resemble cooked lobsters.  It takes near 3 hours to cut the grass around our house...forget dragging the horses field for manure break-up....  |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Sept 25, 2014 17:24:22 GMT
DG - why wouldn't you get another Craftsman from Sears?
I know about the sun issue. I usually put on a long sleeve shirt and jeans if I know I am going to be cutting more than just the little bit around the house. And my son has learned to douse himself in sunscreen to cut the neighbors.
I like the zero turn as they leave little to be weed-eated. And they really are so much quicker at getting the grass cut - a must when you are cutting 5+ acres.
I will look into the Toro LD, thanks.
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Sept 25, 2014 18:14:23 GMT
I had a craftsman mower an LT3000 and loved it. I used it to do things that no regular mower should do. I wore it out. The new craftsmen aren't built like they use to be. I have a Husquvarna (sp) now it's ok but we bought it from the previous owner and the motor is getting weak. I can replace the motor cheaper than buying a new mower. The toro's and john deere's they sell at Lowes etc aren't the true brands. A lot of them are built by a Murray. If I could afford another nice mower I would go with John Deere, as far as zero turn I would get one with a steering wheel and not the hand controls. I would get confused and go left instead of right..
I have a friend that has a lawn care business. I'll ask him what brand he uses..
As far as the sun issue you can get the canopy kits for most mowers. I have one but to me it's a PITA!!!
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Post by diamondgirl on Sept 25, 2014 23:11:17 GMT
DG - why wouldn't you get another Craftsman from Sears? I know about the sun issue. I usually put on a long sleeve shirt and jeans if I know I am going to be cutting more than just the little bit around the house. And my son has learned to douse himself in sunscreen to cut the neighbors. I like the zero turn as they leave little to be weed-eated. And they really are so much quicker at getting the grass cut - a must when you are cutting 5+ acres. I will look into the Toro LD, thanks. The first Craftsman I bought was really good. I asked it to do all sorts of things it wasn't supposed to do and it did them all. Then I had in mind, that I wanted a few add-on's, that they had advertised. They told me that my mower was to small to pull them, so I bought the biggest one they had, and used my old one for a trade in. All I did was spent money. My new tractor doesn't have any more power than my old one, and it gets stuck in the same holes. In fact I think my old one was a lot better. Oh well Live and Learn,,, right?
I wear a long sleeved shirt and jeans too, along with my big floppy hat. Skin Cancer. It won't stop me from being outside!!! Its really more of just a PITA.
Anyway, if I get another tractor, it will be a real tractor. Not a big one, but there is a small Kubota, that I dream about.
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Sept 26, 2014 1:34:34 GMT
Kubota makes nice small tractors I wish I had one!! The new Coyotes are nice too! Not sure I spelled it right. Mihindra is another good newer brand.
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Post by diamondgirl on Sept 26, 2014 2:41:46 GMT
Hmmm. I see I need to do more commercial watching Ming. I then can dream about lot's of real tractors. I am wondering if the best mower might be a small tractor and a pull behind brush hog.
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Sept 26, 2014 2:57:30 GMT
I've been drooling over a Kubota, a Mihindra, and a pretty blue New Holland tractor! Unfortunately I'm pretty sure all I'm ever going to be able to do is drool over them, because I don't see us being able to afford one anytime soon. *sigh* 
MM, I'm actually glad you started this thread on zero turn mowers. My mower was 17+ years old, and it just finally died this year, so now we're down to just hubby's mower, and it's falling apart at the seams (and it's newer than mine was!). Hubby wants to replace it with a zero turn, but I don't know much about them, so this is all really good information! Thanks!
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Post by lorddaxter on Sept 26, 2014 12:16:32 GMT
Kubota and John Deere, thumbs up but so pricey, not sure of your price range MM?!
I'm with you diamondgirl, Id love a tractor with attachments, we have a swisher rough cut we tow with the quad, it's great for brush and rough grass, takes down saplings too:)
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Sept 26, 2014 12:39:37 GMT
I would normally gravitate towards a Kubota but my grandfather bought a big 72" zero-turn Kubota about 8 years ago and about 2 years or so ago starting having issues with it. I just don't know. Like I said, they don't make things like they used to. Maybe 6 years is a long time before having an issue but I know he paid $15,000+ for that thing so you are looking at 2500+/year before issues, not including maintenance? Might as well buy a cheap thing, use it for a year or two then buy a new one. Maybe I need to look at this as a disposable item rather than a long term investment? I do have a "lawn tractor" - it's a Kubota B5100E and it is great. It is about the size of a riding mower, a little bigger but used to have all sorts of implements with it (box blade, harrow, finishing mower, etc). Unfortunately right now the hydrolic system is not working - just one of three pieces of equipment I have right now that is not working.  |
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Post by lorddaxter on Sept 26, 2014 12:44:40 GMT
How about getting a gardener in with his equipment, make sure he's hot and tell him no shirt in summer, free entertainment and no equipment to maintain?!!!!
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