My Lawn Tractor Has Cut its Last Lawn

[Jack in Wilmington]

Hi Guys. My old Craftsman has bit the dust and I thought I might find a deal on an end of season model. My choices are as follows. John Deere X350, 42" deck.
A Cub Cadet Model AT2 LT42. Simplicity "Broadmoor" 42" deck.

After being told I was on the waiting list and hoping maybe for an April delivery date. I get a call this afternoon and was told that a shipment had come in from John Deere and I was next on the list for the X350. Delivery will be Saturday and they'll take my old one away for nothing as they have a guy who strips them down for parts. Now I have to move things around to make room.

 

[Shadowfax]

I know push mowers of most brands don't hold up very long, and I am unsure about the riding mowers. I bought a John Deere GX-75 in 1993. I have changed the battery twice, and the belt once since then.

From your subject line, I thought you were going to a Lawn Service, but I am sure like myself, nobody does the job like you do it. Plus it is a few hours a week we can get away.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

it all depends on how much lawn you have, how much your time is worth, how much precise turning and close to things you get. i have 5 acres with half in lawn and lots of edges and lights to navigate. 5 years ago i bought a Kubota zero turn 'gas' mower and love it. built like a tank. a little more than those units, but maybe a better tool too.

Mowers - Zero-Turn Mowers - Z231BR-48 | Kubota

can't say about availability or any of that stuff. only how easy and quick it is. in 45 minutes to an hour depending on how often i have to dump the grass i'm done and it always looks great. if i could mulch it would be that much quicker but not here in the cool, rainy, mountains near Seattle.

 

[Mikado463]

I know push mowers of most brands don't hold up very long, and I am unsure about the riding mowers. I bought a John Deere GX-75 in 1993. I have changed the battery twice, and the belt once since then.

From your subject line, I thought you were going to a Lawn Service, but I am sure like myself, nobody does the job like you do it. Plus it is a few hours a week we can get away.

wow Brian, 29 years and you only changed your battery twice !!! Gotta be a record !

Like Mike I too own a Kubota zero-turn, mulch 100% time, makes a huge difference in the fall, no raking !! Going to a zero-turn years ago has saved me over a third of the time to complete my yard work.

 

[Bobvin]

Mike, I see your Kubota and raise you… I’m a big fan of Walker mowers. Made right here in the USA. The deck out front design is unique and makes clearing the deck, blade changes, etc super easy. They are commercial machines, but the smaller models are great if you have some property to mow. Definitely for larger suburban properties, not for a little city lot. We had 1.5 acres when we lived up in your area and while not all lawn a walk behind mower was just too much. I never saw myself riding a mower but the Walker was actually fun!

Walker Model S Lawn Mowers (They have lots of models and options, including a snow-blower—that mounts where the cutting deck would normally be! You can even get an enclosure for the operator.)

[edit re: the snow blower... folks in the snow-belt might find this attractive] The Walker H12 Two-Stage Snowblower

 

[Mikado463]

Bob, I've never seen one of those back East. In the world of zero-turn it's pretty much dominated by eXmark and Scag, although almost everyone makes a zero-turn now.