Keep it or sell it???

[Gottspd]

Hey guys.

I need a hand making a decision...

Earlier this year, I bought a new home and as a condition of the sale, I told the seller I wanted the riding mower (a troy-bilt). Now, as it has turned out, I haven't used it to mow as I engaged a service to do so and I don't intend to ever mow the yard (1.2 acres) myself. The tractor (I like to call it that, it makes me feel good) hangs out in the shed (it probably has parties in there, but I'm not sure). I've brought it out a few times to give my kids "hay rides" in the cart that attaches to the back of the tractor, but that's the only time it's been used.

I'm also not going to use it to plow the driveway because I just don't think it'll work as well as my snow blower.

Thus, the issue... I kinda like having it to give rides to the kids, but it's taking up a substantial amount of room in the shed that could be used for more other stuff and would generally make for a more efficient shed if it wasn't there (i.e., I wouldn't be tripping on it everytime I went in there).

I don't imagine it's worth all that much money (clearly, I'd wait until spring to sell it in any event) and that's not really the issue.

What do you think, keep it or sell it?

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[dankicksass]

Race it. For a few hundred bucks plus safety gear you can go fast and your kids can too. I'm sure you can find a local sanctioning body if you want to join up.

 

[61falcon]

keep it, the kids wont be little forever and you will miss those rides.

 

[JEEPLESS]

keep it, the kids wont be little forever and you will miss those rides.

+1

Keep it.

 

[ratdoggy]

If you don't need it sell it. If it breaks you'll be putting money into it and if you sell it that should cover some of the services' cost.

 

[metal1313]

keep it...then make the kids mow the lawn..its a win win if you ask me, now you can have fun with it and them, then you can get cheap labor to take care of the lawn

 

[Gottspd]

keep it...then make the kids mow the lawn..its a win win if you ask me, now you can have fun with it and them, then you can get cheap labor to take care of the lawn

Well, since my oldest is 5 and youngest is 2, it'll be a long while before either of them are out their mowing!

I like the idea of keeping it to have fun with the kids.

Maybe I'll remove the mower deck and find a way to lean it up against a wall in the shed, as that would make it a bit easier to maneuver around in there (that deck seems to add a fair bit to the footprint of the mower).

Yeah, there will be repairs (as it stands, the battery is dead), but I have nothing invested in this mower, so as long as nothing major fails, I am okay with having to put a couple of bucks in it to keep it running.

I wonder how hard it is to remove the mower deck?

 

[Conor]

time to teach the 5yo how to drive. hehehe

 

[Tommydogg]

Teach the 5yr how to mow, save some bucks and buy a tool box or a lift!

 

[copterdoctor]

I was planting wheat and corn in a full size John Deere tractor in the field by 7 or 8. I'm sure a youngin could handle mowing the lawn...... btw, I'm not that old, so i'm not one of THOSE guys... lol

 

[HookWorse]

Sounds like the bottom line is do you have the room to store it? If so, it doesn't owe you anything.

Not sure about removing the deck, but most usually have some pins you take out, and slide it out from under it.

 

[Zeke]

My philosophy is that once one considers selling something, it is time to sell. Or donate. Your church might love that mower.

Removing the deck is merely disabling and devaluing a piece of useful machinery. Buy a quad.

 

[bazzateer]

Sounds like you have plenty of room. Build a small shed just big enough to park it in. This new shed will only be used for the tractor and the old shed will be free for you do use as you please.

 

[Gottspd]

My philosophy is that once one considers selling something, it is time to sell. Or donate. Your church might love that mower.

Removing the deck is merely disabling and devaluing a piece of useful machinery. Buy a quad.

Well, like I said, I'm not using it at all as a mower, so it's really just for tooling the kids around. I have absolutely no interest in spending money on a quad that I don't need (as it is, I have a riding mower I don't need).

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Any reason why you can't build a small lean too off the back of the shed to keep the weather off of it?

Other then that it's not going hurt it much to set out side. Just remember to cover the seat or it will crack due to UV dry lot.

Glen

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Why is it that you don't mow the yard? Don't want to make this sound like a put down, but I have a hard time fathoming why people hire out "simple" things like mowing, that are easily done themselves and would save, in many cases, considerable money. Mowing is somewhat mindless and is a good way to spend some time "away from everything else".

I have over 3 acres, and about half of that gets mowed. Sometimes it does become a chore, but I usually enjoy it.

Charles

 

[Steevo]

To put things in perspective, I have six yard tractors, and don't mow with any of them.
I just think they are neat to have around and fun to work on, restore, etc.

 

[p_mori7]

buy a bigger snowblower that mounts to the front of the tractor !

as Tim "the tool man" Taylor would say: "arh arh arh"

 

[ZRX61]

Sounds to me like you need a bigger shed...

 

[toolmiser]

Have you thought about getting a snow blade for it. I have a rider with one and use it more than the walk behind blower. It is set to scrape so it cleans better than the blower, and it is faster. I know it won't push anything over 4 inches, and that is fine. I use chains (havn't put them on yet this year), but I don't add any additional weight so it doesn't stress the unit too much. Just an idea.

 

[Gottspd]

Why is it that you don't mow the yard? Don't want to make this sound like a put down, but I have a hard time fathoming why people hire out "simple" things like mowing, that are easily done themselves and would save, in many cases, considerable money. Mowing is somewhat mindless and is a good way to spend some time "away from everything else".

I have over 3 acres, and about half of that gets mowed. Sometimes it does become a chore, but I usually enjoy it.

Charles

I'm not sure I feel any particular need to defend myself or my financial choices, but in this instance, I'll do so. When evaluating my billable hourly rate vs. the cost to have a service take care of it, it makes it such that it isn't economically viable for me to mow it myself. Moreover, in that I work 60-70 hours (or more) per week, I choose not to spend a large block of my limited free time doing a chore that I don't enjoy, but instead spending it with my family (i.e., hayrides, etc).

 

[FJ 432]

Could you use it with a pull behind cart to help you carry landscaping materials to far points in your yard? I use my lawn mower at times for this and I find it handy.

 

[nvrenufrm]

I will have to side with the "keep it" crowd. It has rightfully earned its place, just by the priceless entertainment it has provided you, and your kids. I love those things, just can't justify one, with the small yard area I have.

 

[Az Scooter]

I'm not sure I feel any particular need to defend myself or my financial choices, but in this instance, I'll do so. When evaluating my billable hourly rate vs. the cost to have a service take care of it, it makes it such that it isn't economically viable for me to mow it myself. Moreover, in that I work 60-70 hours (or more) per week, I choose not to spend a large block of my limited free time doing a chore that I don't enjoy, but instead spending it with my family (i.e., hayrides, etc).

In other words, his income is at the point that it would cost him more to mow the lawn then to have someone else do it. I understand that one.
There are a lot of times I farm something out to someone else because in the long run it is faster and cheaper. It is not that I am capable of doing it, but I look at it as a "mission critical" type thing that needs to be done, before I am going to be able to get to it.

 

[dragracer98]

Well, like I said, I'm not using it at all as a mower, (as it is, I have a riding mower I don't need).

Please no more calls, we have a winner. You answered your own question. You need the space more than you need the mower. Tripping over it and it needs a battery. Time to find it a new home. Possibly donate it to someone who's mower has taken a dive and don't have the funds for a new one.

 

[Steve in Mi]

My daughter provided me 3 grandsons (7, 6 and 5) that seldom get to visit. (Dad's a Navy pilot and moves around the country, East coast to West coast, but not the Midwest.) Anyway when they do come to visit one of the first request is, "can we go for a tractor ride"? I get such joy out of seeing the excitement in their eyes as I pull them around in the trailer hitched to the garden tractor. I take time to teach them about checking tire pressure, oil level on the dipstick, fuel in the tank, a walk around inspection of the equipment etc.. I mow about 1.5 acres and plow the drives in the Winter - my choice - but even if I were to have these two jobs performed by others I'd keep a tractor and trailer for those few times with the boys. Next Summer if they can visit the 8 year old will have a chance to drive the tractor. BTW, the tractor has 3 sp. trans w/Hi/Lo so can move at less than a crawl.

I vote you keep the tractor for your boys!

 

[Gottspd]

I've decided to keep it. I think what I'll do (when it's a bit warmer) is:

1) remove the mower deck; and
2) attempt to reorganize the shed in such a way that I can put the mower into a corner so it's not so much in the way.

I need to spend some time trying to get things organized in the shed. Right now, I'm just not using the space as efficiently as I'm sure I could. I have a few bikes in there and I find that they are just awkward to store. The shed's not tall enough to suspend them, so they lean against the back wall taking up too much space. I have a self-propelled push mower that I could probably part with (though with that one, I find myself wanting to keep it as a just in case (if the lawn guy isn't able to cut the grass).

In any event, thanks guys. I think it's worth keeping it for the time being. My daughter and son will be very happy.

 

[Shock72]

I feel bad about your situation and therefore I have an overwhelming urge to help. I'm PM'ing you my shipping address and once received, I will properly dispose of the offending, space hogging mower.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I'm not sure I feel any particular need to defend myself or my financial choices, but in this instance, I'll do so. When evaluating my billable hourly rate vs. the cost to have a service take care of it, it makes it such that it isn't economically viable for me to mow it myself. Moreover, in that I work 60-70 hours (or more) per week, I choose not to spend a large block of my limited free time doing a chore that I don't enjoy, but instead spending it with my family (i.e., hayrides, etc).

+1

I did the yard for years and after my 3 kids were born I decided that spending 3 hours doing the yard every Saturday was far less fun that playing with my kids. In my case I have a half acre and the monthly gardening bill is $100.

Now as for the mower, I have a rule that goes for all gas powered items; if it doesn't get used more than 4 times a year or at least every 3 months I sell it. The reasoning is that usually everything that get put away (concrete cutoff saw, chainsaw, generator) and sits more than 3 months seems to require work to get started and ends up in frustration and time lost. The only exception to this rule is my boat which gets winterized and usually starts just fine in the spring. I sold my yard equipment for $600 and it paid for 6 months of gardening. I have never regretted the decision and I don't miss storing the gas, equipment and chemicals.

 

[tonydanzah]

snow chains do wonders for a riding lawn mower with a plow

 

[GMCAMARO]

If you think it is having parties and not inviting you, I would sell it on principle. Let the new owners clean up after it.

 

[Gottspd]

I feel bad about your situation and therefore I have an overwhelming urge to help. I'm PM'ing you my shipping address and once received, I will properly dispose of the offending, space hogging mower.

I appreciate your concern and your generosity!

If you think it is having parties and not inviting you, I would sell it on principle. Let the new owners clean up after it.

Yeah, I am a little put off by that. I can only imagine the things that go on between the tools in that shed that I don't know about. You try to be a good parent and this is how my tractor repays me... Sheesh!