Need to buy a lawn tractor- need to know what to look for

[Jeff7]

I too might be in the market for a new lawn tractor. The current one we're using is as old as I am - 24years old. It's a Dynamark, and still sort of works. Various things have failed, but have been "patched" with improvised solutions. It does in fact still cut grass without posing any immediate threats to public health. But one of these days it probably will just up and die. It's hardly had any maintenance either. I think it's only had 1, maybe 2 oil changes in its life. And it just had a new spark plug put in last year, to replace the original one. During the summer, it gets used at least every other week, so it's not like it was just sitting idle all that time.

That's the kind of longevity I'd expect from a replacement.




Other option - a robotic mower.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
I probably sound like a broken record, but see if you can find a used commercial mower like a exmark. I bought a hydrostatic walk behind on ebay for $1400. Just this past week I was cutting the grass at one of my rentals. I cut the back yard first and as I came to cut the front, I noticed the neighbor across the street had started cutting his with his riding mower. I didn't pay much attention to him until I loaded my mower in the trailer. I had cut my entire yard in the same time he had cut half.

Riding mowers are tanks, they just can't compete with a zero turn. Plus they have all the stupid safety junk on it. (can't get out of seat with engine running, can't go in reverse with blade on without pulling a silly lever, etc)

I'll add to the broken record: You can often get great deals used; my brother got a really nice commercial mower at a city equipment auction (He paid $400, said they were several thousand new, and that he could resell it if he wanted to for about $1500).

In my experience, more horsepower means you're going to be able to drive faster without bogging down the blade. In other words, take less time.

I looked into that, but landscaping is really big here. Anyone selling used equipment was asking top $ for it. The least expensive zero turn USED was $2500 (you can get them new for that!).

Anyway, I'm happy with my purchase: it's pretty damn fast, it's nimble (in fact, I was suprised at how fast this thing can turn), and IT HAS A CUP HOLDER!!!!!