Lawnmower Suggestions

[peobryant]

Alright, I need a mower for my yard. I've been using my fathers walk behind Skag and I love it, but they are too expensive for me right now. My yard is too big for a push mower so I need a riding lawnmower. I need to know which brands are reliable because I'd rather spend more money on a decent mower upfront instead of having a cheaper one that nickel and dimes me.

Here is what I have found so far.

http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/3747542424.html

Looks decent and it is local but would a '97 Craftsman be worth that much?


Thanks guys.

[142autox]

How many acres do you mow?

I've broken beyond repair many used stamped steel mowers within a year.

[PToombs]

Yeah it would, around here anyways. It looks clean and the ad says it was well maintained. Just go look and check for cracks or rot spots in the deck, oil or crap buildup under the frame, leakage around any seals, etc. From the pic it looks pretty good. I sold an '80's JD 111 with a 36" cut for $300, and that was close to the going rate. It was getting rough too.
Get it quick before you miss out!

[Tacoclaw]

Don't be a weenie.

[142autox]

Especially look for cracks on the front "axle". They like to split there.

[dazedandconfused]

They have transmission issues as well.

[pulltilbroke]

Spend the money on a stout built older machine. Like Simplicity/Allis, Cub or even I hate to say it Deere. Parts are still readily available and are easy to fix. I turn down stamped steel mowers even if there free.

Heres a few that are relativly local to you.

http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/3776253714.html

I might have to check this guy out.
http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/3735690245.html

This looks like a very good tractor for the money and from the pics its real clean.
http://bloomington.craigslist.org/grd/3774217794.html

http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/3771141584.html

http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/3764140478.html

http://louisville.craigslist.org/grq/3743407724.html

[oldestof11]

Crapsman? Mtd junk is what it is. Get yourself a nice older Cub Cadet, Wheelhorse, Allis/Simplicity. You cannot go wrong with these. Engines are 12v reliable and stupid simple to fix. My too 3 are Cub, Simplicity, WH.. The cub has a strong frame, no belts between engine and Trans unless you get the original, lots of attachments. I prefer Kohler engines but B&S are just fine.

[dazedandconfused]

The old Kohler motors were nice but the new ones suck.

[peobryant]

Don't be a weenie.

I've cut more than my fair share of grass with something like that and with push mowers, but I'd like to spend my time with something a little more modern. It took a little over and hour and a half with my fathers Skag (with I believe a 48" deck) so I'd hate to think what it'd take with that.

Spend the money on a stout built older machine. Like Simplicity/Allis, Cub or even I hate to say it Deere. Parts are still readily available and are easy to fix. I turn down stamped steel mowers even if there free.

Heres a few that are relativly local to you.

http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/3776253714.html

I might have to check this guy out.
http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/3735690245.html

This looks like a very good tractor for the money and from the pics its real clean.
http://bloomington.craigslist.org/grd/3774217794.html

http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/3771141584.html

http://louisville.craigslist.org/grd/3764140478.html

http://louisville.craigslist.org/grq/3743407724.html

Thank you for those links. I'm not looking to spend a grand on a mower just yet but that last one looks like it could be a keeper. If I can talk him down on price just a bit I think that could be my new mower. Also, my grandfather had an old Bolens tractor on his farm when I was younger and gave it to my father. We rode the hell out of that thing and it eventually broke down. We never could find any parts to fix it so he ended up selling it to a family friend who specialized in old mowers and tractors. I wish I could buy that thing back as I'm sure my son would love it as much as I did.

[cmann250]

It took a little over and hour and a half with my fathers Skag (with I believe a 48" deck)

Sounds like you need more cows to me.

[pulltilbroke]

Bolens are a hell of a stout machine but parts are kinda hard to find. At the moment me and the old man own I think 9 or 10 old Bolens tractors, 3 Cases and 3 Allis'

THe more I look at this ad the better the deal it seems. I've seen tractors like this go for 800+
http://bloomington.craigslist.org/grd/3774217794.html

[Mark Nixon]

Don't go with anything newer Craftsman.
I scrapped a perfectly "good" gray one that I couldn't steer, because I never could find the parts to fix what was bent on it.

Still had new tires on it, ran it over with the iH and stuffed it on the last scrap load.
Craftsman is a pointless waste of time.

Mark.

[dazedandconfused]

I've got a promow gang mower you can pull behind a mower or fourwheeler I'd sell. Its a cool unit that mows 8' wide.

[ellis93]

Now that's cool