Well, luckily it didnt happen in the Spring. My mower finally gave out last week. Briggs & Stratton 18hp OHV with a broke rod. Pulled the head and got the piston out with a self tapping screw after I seen it was broken. Much to my amasement, the rod end is no longer on the crank journal. Didnt come out of the block so it must be under the crank.

So, now I am looking for a mower. Ive been looking at the various models at Lowes, Home Depot etc. and just dont like what they have to offer and it seems the majority are made by MTD . Would like to get a John Deere with the liquid cooled Kawasaki however they are way out of my price range and the Deere's with the Briggs just dont settle well with me.

Would like to stay within 1500-2000 price range and have a 46 or 48" deck.

Any suggestons?

 

At the end of the season you should be able to find a GOOD used commercial mower.

 

I bought a cub cadet from home depot about three months ago. 25 hp Kohler motor and a 50" deck. $2000. Been a very good mower so far.
Igot for $500 off and I'm sure they'll been running that deal again

 

You're right about the MTD's at Lowe's etc. Even the low end John Deere's purchased from Deere are the same MTD's mentioned earlier according to a Deere dealer I talked to.

 

I have had several, JD (the real ones), Craftsman, Ex-Mark, Scag, a few others.

I picked up this current one from a guy in NJ that buys at the auction from off lease mowers. (second one I got from him like this). He buys them cheap, fixes them up if needed then turns a profit.

I have a 60" ExMark turf tracer, got it with 500 hours from him for $2,800. Buy a used commercial mower and it could very well be the last mower you'll ever buy......

Looky here, oh so sweet.....

 

I had a 2005 GT245, AWESOME garden tractor, bought it right off the showroom floor.

One downside is...........$5,600 including a plow and chains......

Cool part is I used it for 90 hours, then sold it for $4,800 a year and half later!
You won't get THAT value out of one of those disposable Home Cheap models.

 

I agree! I bought an Ariens 2350 and love it. I don't have allot to cut but I went from 2 hours with a push mower to 16 minutes with the rider. Yes, this is how I look when I mow!

 

We use a Kubota with the hydrostatic pedal, cuts really good.

 

This time of year I would be buying a good commercial used unit for about the same price as some of the MTD junk . A better built mower will last for many years , I have two Gravelys that are over 20 years old and they both still run great . I purchased both of them when they were a few years old for about the same price as a new MTD and never regretted it . The best part is they are still worth what I paid for them after years of hard use .

 

a suggestion. stay away from cheaper toros. they are made by mtd and you can get the same model with a different name for half the price.

cub cadet has a good line up. are you looking at a zero turn or a regular rider?

 

I've had a JD L111 for 2.5 years with no issues that I got @ home depot. It's actually made by JD.

 

Either one would be fine. I doubt I will be find a zero turn in my price range though.

 

I really like my new cub cadet ztr50 with 22hp kawasaki,cut my mowing time to less than half of my poulan 20hp/46".$2999.00 at home depot or tractor supply

 

I think Lowes is offering 12 months no interest financing if that interests you. They have some decent zero turn mowers.

Or the good used commercial mower route would work too.

 

Depending on how big of a yard you have maybe you could find a small "real" tractor with a mid-mount mower or a finish mower. Shoot, since my Husky (made by MTD ) mower has been out of comission, I have mowed my lawn with my little Yanmar 1401D and my bush hog and it did a pretty nice job. If I would have sold all the other implements that came with the tractor (Got tiller, bush hog, dirt scoop, carryall, electric sprayer, and the tractor for $2,650), I could have easily been into the tractor for just about $2,000.

[EDIT]

Also look on a Craigslist near you: Here is a "real" (non-Home-Depot version) John Deere mower with the liquid cooled motor, bagger, and a trailer for $1,000.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/grd/453076835.html

Here is my tractor: