School me on lawn tractors

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - School me on lawn tractors

Posted: 6/20/2017 4:08:30 PM EDT

Wife and I are under contract for our first home. It's a half-acre yard and I am looking to get a lawn tractor.

I want a reliable tractor. What are the most reliable ones out their?

For example, I hear great things about John Deere's in general, but it seems their D100 series tractors (which are the size of tractor I'll probably end up with) have a ton of transmission issues. I don't want something that will break after 15 hours...

I'm really new to tractors, so school me.

Posted: 6/20/2017 4:16:17 PM EDT

[#1]

Your total acres is 1/2 or you have 1/2 an acre of grass? Boarder line not worth the price/hassle of a riding mower.

Posted: 6/20/2017 4:22:28 PM EDT

[#2]

Whatever you buy be sure to get a hydrostatic transmission.

My Cub Cadet has been reliable for 3 years,but it's going to need a battery soon.
It has a 24 up Kohler on it.

Posted: 6/20/2017 4:26:17 PM EDT

[#3]

I have 1/2 acre yard.

I just upgraded to JDX330, which is overkill in my opinion.

The last 15 years I had a John Deere LA??? and it was still in perfect condition, never had a problem.

The same as the D series now.

If you're just mowing, I'd think the D series will be fine.

I'd bet the ones having transmission problems are probably using them for more than mowing,... pushing snow, pulling heavy loads, etc.

Posted: 6/20/2017 4:27:14 PM EDT

[#4]

+ 1 on the hydrostatic transmission.

Posted: 6/20/2017 4:38:16 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
I want a reliable tractor. What are the most reliable ones out their?

View Quote

how much do you want to pay?

tbn (tractorbynet) is the arfcom of tractors.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/index.php

example:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-lawn-garden/

see also
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/lawn-garden/

and finally i would read this...
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_139/1992791_Riding-Lawn-Mower-recommendations-.html#i66072363
which leads to
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/husqvarna/376859-new-owner-limited-distribution-husq.html

Posted: 6/20/2017 4:46:05 PM EDT

[#6]

You looking for a lawn mower or garden tractor?

There IS a difference.

Lawn Mower vs Garden Tractor. Which do you need?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuMm0tCFk6s

Posted: 6/20/2017 4:49:52 PM EDT

[#7]

It will be used for mowing the lawn 99% of the time. May consider a pull cart for it eventually for mulch, etc.

My lawn is flat, as well.

Why are you recommending hydrostatic transmissions (i.e. what are the pros?)?

Posted: 6/20/2017 4:57:07 PM EDT

[#8]

I'd say go with a gear tranny instead of hydro of you want it to last in a cheap tractor. If they make such a thing anymore

Posted: 6/20/2017 5:02:46 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Why are you recommending hydrostatic transmissions (i.e. what are the pros?)?

View Quote

ease of maneuvering is the primary advantage.
one pedal regulates speed (and in some cases, direction).

for example i have a hydrostatic transmission-equipped kubota subcompact, refer to
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/2005623_Overall-I-regret-buying-a-zero-turn--Bad-mistake.html&page=2#i66678776

on the right hand side of the operator station there is a pedal which you press with your foot to go forward -- it doesn't change the engine RPM (that is set with the throttle), but as you press the pedal down further it diverts more and more hydraulic fluid flow to the tractor propulsion motor(s) to carry you forward. take your foot off that pedal, and use your heel to press down on the other end of the same pedal assembly, and you go in reverse. no shifting, infinite speeds, quick to change direction or speed, and full torque always available.

Posted: 6/20/2017 5:07:43 PM EDT

[#10]

Tractor seems like a bit of overkill for 1/2 acre.

Briggs motors are loud.

Kohler makes good engines.

Hydrostatic is the way to go. I had a 24 hp, 52" deck tractor with a hydrostatic mowing a little over two acres, and plowing snow in the winter (NW CT). Beat the snot out of it, thing had 500 hours on it and all I did was change the belts and oil. Brand? It was what's now called Poulan Pro.

Posted: 6/20/2017 5:14:54 PM EDT

[#11]

Just avoid the "automatic" transmissions. They are junk, and a PITA to operate. Just like a vehicle, you have to shift into forward/reverse to change directions. Hydro is the ONLY way to go, especially for the little more money it will cost over an "automatic".

The old gear transmissions work fine if you have a nice, flat lawn with NOTHING to mow around. In that case, deck with is the only consideration you really need. Engine size is a consideration if you have thick, luscious grass. That said, I do like my 22hp Briggs in my D130.

I went with a JD130 because its easy to bypass the reverse implement switch and the layout was comfortable to operate (bad back). Most modern mowers don't let you go in reverse with the blades on without some convoluted array of buttons and such, some just kill. The JD was a simple jumper wire to fix that. I have lots of shit to go around, I spend half my day of mowing in reverse...

Posted: 6/20/2017 5:18:21 PM EDT

[#12]

Budget?

Mowing Calculator

With the bottom of the line 42 in riding mower that goes about 5mph you can mow a 1\2 acre in 30 min assuming few obstacles and flat clear land.

With a 21 inch walk behind mower going 2 mph you can get a 1\2 acre done in about an hour and a half.

What I'd get for just a half acre is a used commercial self propelled walk behind that cuts 32 inches. Less garage space, better built than most big box riding mowers and more flexible.

Walk behind.

Posted: 6/20/2017 5:26:54 PM EDT

[#13]

Used 36" Commercial Lawn mower - $500 (Jacksonville)

Posted: 6/20/2017 6:20:20 PM EDT

[#14]

For a half acre a small tractor will serve you well, all tractors are about the same quality junk now. Unless you go for a Gravely.
I think they all have been cheapened but with that small of a lawn any of them will serve you just fine for years if you take care of it.
I would wait until July if you can, they all go on sale, better yet is to wait until fall and look for a left over.

Posted: 6/20/2017 6:34:48 PM EDT

[#15]

I mow a little less than that and am happy with my JD X350. Sometimes it's about want, not need.

Posted: 6/20/2017 6:54:03 PM EDT

[#16]

Cub Cadet about $1500 and never look back. For your situation it is ALL you need. Easy to pull a small trailer, parts are easy to find, change oil and filter once a year, battery every third year. Done.

Posted: 6/20/2017 7:26:38 PM EDT

[#17]

Cub Cadet.

Posted: 6/22/2017 12:11:56 AM EDT

[#18]

I'd go front deck mower. It doesn't have as much weight on the front tires before the deck so the grass doesn't lay over as bad. Then a day later the grass stands up and you have un cut tracks all over the place.

Posted: 6/22/2017 12:18:57 AM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
It will be used for mowing the lawn 99% of the time. May consider a pull cart for it eventually for mulch, etc.

My lawn is flat, as well.

Why are you recommending hydrostatic transmissions (i.e. what are the pros?)?

View Quote

I had a non-hydrostatic mower before I got my present one.

No matter what kind of yard you have, you will need to back up regularly, as you mow.

Having to reach down and use the lever to shift every time you need to back in a mowing operation....it's incredibly time consuming and annoying.

Hydrostatic makes backing almost like "I just think about it and it backs up"

And that is worth the extra cost to get a mower that has this feature in a solid build.

Posted: 6/25/2017 6:30:37 PM EDT

[#20]

Attached File

Posted: 6/26/2017 9:09:51 AM EDT

[#21]

Just bought a Husqvarna GT48DXLS and loved the thing when I mowed on Saturday. Limited model only sent to Husqvarna dealers (no box stores) this Spring and almost $3,000 cheaper than comparable John Deere model.

Posted: 6/26/2017 11:02:17 PM EDT

[#22]

Hydrostatic drive and zero turn (or near zero) is the only way to go! I mow a little over 30,000 sq/ft of lawn (2/3 acre) with dozens of trees and other obstacles in less than an hour. Buy quality and you'll never be sorry.

Posted: 6/27/2017 7:27:38 PM EDT

[#23]

Get an old Gravely.
The end.

Posted: 6/29/2017 10:24:56 AM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/18991/Cub-238785.JPG

View Quote

I'm thinking I'll land on this. The price is good and the reviews are really good.

Posted: 6/29/2017 1:53:25 PM EDT

[#25]

If you want a dedicated mower, look into a ZTR.

If you want a small tractor, it's hard to beat the Kubota BX series. I had a small farm and a Kubota tractor. Now I have just one acre, so I use a ZTR.

http://kubota.com/product/BXSeries.aspx

Posted: 6/30/2017 3:44:16 AM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Just bought a Husqvarna GT48DXLS and loved the thing when I mowed on Saturday. Limited model only sent to Husqvarna dealers (no box stores) this Spring and almost $3,000 cheaper than comparable John Deere model.

View Quote

Glad you were able to find one. Every time I mow with mine I'm amazed at how great it is. I love it and for the price it's hard to beat. A ZTR would be nice if I had a flat, level yard, but that isn't my property. I use the locking diff every time I mow.

Posted: 6/30/2017 5:59:15 PM EDT

[#27]

The dealer went through 8 of them I believe and I got the 2nd to last one they had access to...their last one sold earlier this week and I believe he said that was it as far as availability goes for these. Haven't locked the diffs yet but will at least ops check them next time I mow and point it up a hill.

Posted: 7/5/2017 7:27:39 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
The dealer went through 8 of them I believe and I got the 2nd to last one they had access to...their last one sold earlier this week and I believe he said that was it as far as availability goes for these. Haven't locked the diffs yet but will at least ops check them next time I mow and point it up a hill.

View Quote

Do you know if they only do that limited edition tractor with a 48" deck?