Riding Mowers/Lawn Tractors

Colorado Cowboy

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,356
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Dolores, Colorado
I need some personal experience. I am getting ready to buy a new riding mower. I currently have a Sears/Craftsman 54" Lawn Tractor. It has been a great mower, had it 10 years with annual servicing done every year. Starting to have a few problems, so I think it's time for a new piece of equipment.

I mow 2 1/2 to 3 acres of fairly level grass. I do have a couple of areas that are rougher and not as level. I mow about 6 to 8 hours a week.

I am considering a John Deere 500 series. Sears stuff is too hard to get service on and parts around here. I also considered a Toro with the hand levers for steering. (not sure this would be as comfortable as the conventional steering wheel). It's going to be big investment....probably as much a 5k, so I'm asking for anybody who has experience with this stuff for opinions.

Thanks in advance.....

CC
 
Hilltop

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
3,847
2,230
Eastern Nebraska
I have 2 rural friends with large areas to mow that are both using Hustler mowers. I don't know their exact acres but I'm guessing 3+ for both. They said they have used several different brands but have had the best results out of these and it cut their mow time significantly. They are friends so I'm sure one talked the other into it. They both used conventional mowers with steering wheel before but switched to the zero turn with levers. The lever mowers take a little to get used to but they are very comfortable to use imo.
 
H

HighPlainsHunter

Active Member
Mar 1, 2018
419
3
Laramie
It's a hard habit to break but the first time you drive a zero turn will likely be the end of using lawn tractors, at least it was for me.

It's so much easier and faster.
 
Fink

Fink

Veteran member
Apr 7, 2011
1,961
204
West Side, MoMo
My dad has 2 Cub Cadet zero turns, and a few other buddies have them as well. Zero issues, they run like a top, and run for forever. It would probably be the last mower you ever bought. If I was mowing 2-3 acres, for the price, I'd buy a Cub Cadet. Those BadBoys are sweet though, Work2hunt!
 
buckbull

buckbull

Veteran member
Jun 20, 2011
2,167
1,354
Not much too add besides my bro-in-law bought a zero turn dixie chopper and loves it. Only thing I have heard him complain about is finding parts for it (belts, blades, etc.).
 
kidoggy

kidoggy

Veteran member
Apr 23, 2016
9,847
10,860
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idaho
Colorado Cowboy said:
I need some personal experience. I am getting ready to buy a new riding mower. I currently have a Sears/Craftsman 54" Lawn Tractor. It has been a great mower, had it 10 years with annual servicing done every year. Starting to have a few problems, so I think it's time for a new piece of equipment.

I mow 2 1/2 to 3 acres of fairly level grass. I do have a couple of areas that are rougher and not as level. I mow about 6 to 8 hours a week.

I am considering a John Deere 500 series. Sears stuff is too hard to get service on and parts around here. I also considered a Toro with the hand levers for steering. (not sure this would be as comfortable as the conventional steering wheel). It's going to be big investment....probably as much a 5k, so I'm asking for anybody who has experience with this stuff for opinions.

Thanks in advance.....

CC
Click to expand...



I would recommend a john deere over craftsman anyday.

craftsman is junk. IMHO.
 
Prerylyon

Prerylyon

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2016
1,334
511
52
Cedar Rapids, IA
Ok.

We live on a 3 acres. I bought a deere 2210 subcompact diesel in 2004 and it runs like a clock. 3 cyl diesel.

Its actually a Japanese Yanmar relabeled by deere. No complaints. Cat 1 hitch. All shaft driven implements. I have the 60' mower, single stage snow blower, and tiller-all have served well. Chains and weight box for winter ops.

Get their latest version of it, or the equivalent Kubota, New Holland, or Cub Cadet. For your setup, you can't go wrong with a subcompact. [emoji6]

Regards,

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk
 
Mr Drysdale

Mr Drysdale

Active Member
Mar 24, 2013
440
333
I purchased the Exmark Radius 52? cut at just above $5k. Zero turn mower. I cut 4 acres +/- every week and have been very satisfied with it. This is my second zero turn mower and I highly prefer them over a tractor type mower. Cuts mowing time significantly.
 
S

speezer87

New Member
Apr 12, 2017
16
2
I used to work at a mower dealership back east. Saw all sorts of mowers come in for service, some were easy, some werent. I would recommend an exmark, scag, or Snapper (with a briggs and straton engine). Exmark and scag will be pricier, but are high quality machines, should last for years and years. The snapper will be better priced, and with a briggs and straton engine( which is based out of Georgia i think) getting parts is a lot easier then some of the other brands not based in the US.

I would also recommend the zero turn,they are fast, easy, and you get used to it quickly. Just watch out when actually turning at zero degrees. The tires tend to rip up the grass in that 1 spot. But If you just let the back wheel roll ever so slightly it stops this from happening.
 
Colorado Cowboy

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,356
4,748
83
Dolores, Colorado
I have changed my mind and am going to buy a zero turn. I am having a complete automated sprinkler system put in right now on 4 acres. The contractor also has a large lawn service. He used John Deere zero turn. He is bringing a couple over for me to try. We do have a large JD dealership here.
 
mallardsx2

mallardsx2

Veteran member
Jul 8, 2015
3,930
3,249
My father-in-law runs a grass cutting business.

He runs Scags.

They are expensive, but they are the best.

He owns 3 of them. 35HP Vangaurd engines, 60+" cut.

I use them all the time to cut my lawn. They are the cats Meow...

Of course thats all they are good for is cutting grass.

http://www.scag.com/turftigerII.html

This is what he has.
 
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