Lawn Mowers - what do you have?

[jwh]

Greetings all. My 10+ yr old Craftsman power mower (22" Rotary self propelled) looks like it's bitten the dust.

What do you guys have? What are your likes and dislikes???

Thanks all.

John in Rochester NY

 

[alpha property]

Toro's run for ever, I have a fleet of mid 80's toro 3speed self propelled rear drive mowers i keep 2 on the trailer with me along with my 48" wright stander and a 36" scag walk behind

 

[crewchief888]

late 60's montgomery wards freebie
replaced the belts, and repaired some wiring, even the headlights work

scattered the 10 horse B&S about 3 years ago
picked up a 12 horse B&S and a spare deck freebie

starts every time, ive never even changed a spark plug

 

[BTG]

1963 Lawnboy!

I've had it over 20 years and I love it! It beats the **** out of any of the "red" mowers. Yes, it doesn't mulch and it's not self-propelled, but is a man's push mower! It's lightweight, starts on one pull, and annoys the neighbors with its 2-cycle "purr". I don't plan on ever buying another mower. I have a nice stockpile of spare parts that should last me till I'm retired.

Don't waste your time on a new "Lawnboys" they are worthless junk...I good example of what happens when a company sells out.

 

[nate379]

20hp 48" Craftsman.

 

[35mastr]

22 inch Honda Harmony II

 

[premierplayer]

GREEN

JD - SB21, 22yrs+
JD-425, 17yrs+

I buy all genuine JD parts and tune-up kits, service at or near recommended intervals, and they both run and cut like the day I brought them home.

My neighbors commented they could buy 3 Cman's for the price of my mower,
they DID! Not just 3 Cman's last year they finaly broke out and bought a Kobuta (sp) diesel. Nice move... , finally figured it out...

 

[70CopperZ28]

I replaced my 15 yr old MTD/Lawn Cheif with a 22" Toro 20333 and could not be happier. The blade override is my favorite thing about it.

 

[scooterseats]

After buying and wearing out 2 - 42" Murray garden tractors, 1 Snapper 41" hydro lawn tractor, 1 Ariens 42" ZTR I finally broke down and bought a Toro 48" Commercial ZTR w/19hp Kawasaki. This mower rocks! Hopefully the last mower I will ever have to buy.

 

[nate379]

Dunno, my C Man tractor is 10 years old and I expect it to last another 10-15 without too much maintenance. No it's not a JD, but it's also not a $6000 tractor.

GREEN

JD - SB21, 22yrs+
JD-425, 17yrs+

I buy all genuine JD parts and tune-up kits, service at or near recommended intervals, and they both run and cut like the day I brought them home.

My neighbors commented they could buy 3 Cman's for the price of my mower,
they DID! Not just 3 Cman's last year they finaly broke out and bought a Kobuta (sp) diesel. Nice move... , finally figured it out...

 

[TheGrooveking]

JD2305
JD317 - my favorite, bought it used and rebuilt/restored it, something about it just draws me to it.
Honda HRX
Craftsman 22" - it's a personal challenge to see how many years we can get out of it.

TheGrooveking

 

[scheu]

15yo Toro, self-propelled, walk behind, that was a hand-me-down from my mom. Still starts on the 1st or 2nd pull.

 

[jamesemery728]

Craftsman 14hp 38" cut 22 years old. 2 cylinder and still running the original spark plugs. Runs great, starts great, hope it lasts for ever. Change the oil every spring and clean the plugs, it just keeps going and going.

 

[Indy_500]

1996 30" jd gx85

 

[Brandon_K]

86 John Deere 318, 18hp Onan gas, 50", hydrostatic, wheel weights, chains, Tru Power tires - Currently undergoing a full restoration, didn't need it, but I wanted to freshen her up and give her some new paint as well as converting to 3 spool hydraulics and adding rear PTO and 3pt.

86 Kubota G6200H, 18hp 3cyl diesel, 48", hydrostatic, chains, turfs - Mows down just about anything, sounds good Unfortunately, finding ANY type of implements for it has been a giant fail. I've been after a 3pt (Kubota says they made them, I've yet to actually see a picture of one) and a blade and/or snowthrower. I've seen 1 blade and 1 snowthrower in the 2 years I've been pounding CL and fleabay, both were to far to consider getting.

Late 90's Craftsman LT1000, 17hp Command Pro, 38", gear drive, turfs - It's been a fail at life. I've rebuilt the Tecumseh rear end twice now and it's out, again. Apparently transmission failures for that model are rather high. New trans is $600, used come up rarely. I'm probably going to pull the motor and scrap the rest of the tractor, it's built about as well as my daughters Tonka truck. Actually, I think the Tonka is built better.

Dad has an 83 JD 210, gear drive, LOTS of hours on her, used for cutting grass, pulling a plow and disc's, hauling around the landscape + boat trailers. Gear drive, 38" deck (IIRC). The original Kohler 10hp is starting to get some piston slap in it. It has been an absolutely fantasticly reliable machine.

Cheap *** Walmart Weedeater 20" cut push mower, side discharge - Used for grasscuts at repo houses, 3.5hp, lots of . Super light, slightly underpowered, oil gets changed once a year but it's out 5 days a week, 8 hours a day.

Later model Craftsman mulching mower - Another repo house work mower, 5hp, mulcher, 22" cut, stupid heavy for a non-self propelled, underpowered, rediculously wide wheels makes turning and tracking poor, leaves a pretty cut.

I'm after a Deere 430 (L&G, not the 58-60 farm tractor) if anyone knows of a good deal on one. Would even do a trade+cash for the Kubota on a 430.

 

[jwitt]

1972 Huffy

 

[jayoldschool]

JD LX176, repowered by a B&S Intek. Ugly, loud, and runs beautifully. Cuts the grass for six months, then cleans the driveway for the rest of the year...

 

[Brandon_K]

Good looking LX, I wish my 318 has foot controls for ground speed, I've never been a fan of console mounted speed controls.

Did the original 14hp Kawa blow up?

 

[Hogan's Hero]

Kubota ZG23-54 is my workhorse. I also have a Yazoo self propelled 26" and a 60" belly mower for the Kubota tractor. I don't mow with it much, but it is handy when I need it.

 

[alkemyst]

Scott's Classic Reel mower.

although I use Echo for trimming, edging and hedging.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

Till may 31 I have a small lawn, so these do.

 

[jayoldschool]

Good looking LX, I wish my 318 has foot controls for ground speed, I've never been a fan of console mounted speed controls.

Did the original 14hp Kawa blow up?

Yes, but not on me. The original owner threw the rod, so he ordered the Intek. While waiting, he bought a Cub Cadet. When I picked up the Deere, he offered to give me the Cub instead. I declined...

 

[jvitez]

1998 Lawnboy Duraforce push
1978 Lawnboy 5277 push
Stihl string trimmer
Massey Ferguson 2310 sub-compact utility tractor with mulching deck

I plan to keeping my Lawnboy's going forever. Love the 2-cycle engine.

If I was in the market for a walk-behind mower today, Snapper would be my first choice, Ariens the second.

 

[Romanova]

Got a Honda from Home Depot.... Cuts like a champ. Wish Echo made a push mower to match my trimmer and blower...

 

[D9H 90V]

2006 Craftsman YS4500 42" 21hp Hydrostatic, and I love it

 

[Indy_500]

ok i guess i'll add to my list. I have a 2006ish Yardman 21" 6 hp 3 in 1 push mower, 2 2000ish Yardman 20" 6 hp mulch/side-discharge push mowers, 1990ish White 20" 4.5 hp mulch/side-discharge push mower, 1992ish MTD 20" 3 hp side-discharge push mower, 1978 20" 6 hp Craftsman Side-discharge push mower, and a 1996 JD 30" GX 85 Riding mower

Yes a total of 7 mowers, i have a problem

Oh and Parts to a C-man Weed-eater
Parts to a Ryobi Weed-eater
and a good running Ryobi Weed-eater

I love to mow and i'm always lookin for mowing jobs but can't seem to find not a single one :/

 

[IDASHO]

I buy yard sale mowers.


never have paid more than $20 for one. And in 10 + years, Im on my second. And not because the first one died, but because me moved out of state, and I didnt want to haul it. So I sold it, for $50


The one I have right now is some old B&S powered pile. No safety featured, and required a screwdriver as a kill switch. But the deck is intact, the blade is sharp, and the motor runs excellent. Fires and runs the 4th pull, every year after sitting through the winter. All I ever had to do with it is install a new pull start cord.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

I have a Binford.

 

[Merkava_4]

I have several of these in various stages of disassembly.

 

[Cumminst100]

I have a 97 cub cadet 2084 60 in a 07 ferris 3100 61 inch cut a troybilt 33 in walkbehind
just bought a 48 in cub cadet commercial zero turn low hours couldn't pass it up
also have a older lawn boy
I have a mowing business, I can't believe how much money there is in mowing I love it

 

[D.J.]

Craftsman 42" 17HP LT 1000 hand me down from FIL. Cman 14 HP 42' Traded work on BIL Ranger for it. (Installed fuel pump and composite rear spring) Trim with Stihl FS45. Murray pusher high wheel. Have older Cman lt 1000 for parts . Murray, Snapper with Brigs and Snapper with Tecumseh all riders for parts. not counting a older Haun with aluminum deck.
________
Lukumi forums

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have several of these in various stages of disassembly.

Almost bought one at a garage sale years ago. Since my grass is too tall for what it was designed for, I decided the money would be better for tools/toys, that bring me money.

What is the max height, any of the ones you have, cut? Any in completed stages?
Plan on making the mower Randy Quaid used in the movie, Moving?

 

[Merkava_4]

Almost bought one at a garage sale years ago. Since my grass is too tall for what it was designed for, I decided the money would be better for tools/toys, that bring me money.

What is the max height, any of the ones you have, cut? Any in completed stages?

I've got a home owner's model that I've been using that's fully assembled and in service, but it's the heavy duty models that I like the best.

I think it might be able to cut up to 1-1/2", but I'm not sure. I've always cut my Bermuda anywhere from 1/4" to 1/2".

These mowers are originally California Trimmers made right here in Fresno since 1935, but about two years ago, the company was purchased by Eastman Mowers over in Maine.

 

[Speedbird]

Late 70's Gravely 8123. Built like a tank.

 

[Arne73]

'68 IH Cub Lo-boy 154 w/ 59" deck. Rebuilt the engine about 4 years ago.
'64 Simplicity Broadmor w/33" deck, on it's second repower, 8 HP B&S. (see my avatar)
Late 80's Crafty 18HP Kohler and a 44" deck. Doubles as a snow blower in the winter.

I've got a 5hp MTD 20" self propelled (Home Depot) that is about 11 years old, runs great.

 

[alan mather]

2009 toro z400

 

[bignick]

been using snapper for 20+ years and echo for the blower and weedeater

 

[bonneyman]

I found a 3.5HP Briggs and Stratton powered push mower by a dumpster. Pulled the cord, and it turned over, so I knew it wasn't seized. Took it home and messed with it over the weekend. Got it running, and this will be my thrid summer using it. (Oh yeah, I did have to buy a new blade)
Found an old owners/servicing manual a a used tool place, and used the info to date the mower to 1985. Main seal leaks a bit of oil, so I gotta keep an eye on the level. But for the price, it's a great unit!

 

[scott37300]

I have a troy bilt 6.75 horse with electric start. I bought it for my grandma because she couldn't pull the cord anymore and within a couple months she managed to set the blade down on a tree stump! Really bent the crank so we went and got her another brand new one. 2 years latter I got around to fixing this one, my self taught small engine repair. New crank, seals, keys, and a carb rebuild kit from sitting around for 2 years and it runs like a champ. Have about 60-70 bucks into it, plus the original cost when I bought it for her.

 

[nissan_crawler]

GREEN

JD - SB21, 22yrs+
JD-425, 17yrs+

I buy all genuine JD parts and tune-up kits, service at or near recommended intervals, and they both run and cut like the day I brought them home.

My neighbors commented they could buy 3 Cman's for the price of my mower,
they DID! Not just 3 Cman's last year they finaly broke out and bought a Kobuta (sp) diesel. Nice move... , finally figured it out...

Agreed. My crapsman rider fell to pieces in a few years time, on a .5 acre city lot.

The 318 does 10x the work the crapsman ever did, and doesn't break a sweat. The 18hp onan in the jd embarrasses the flaming turd of a 19.5hp Breaks & Scatters in the crapsman.

I also have a Husqvarna 6.5hp pushmower, on it's second 6.5 Breaks & Scatters, still smokes like a chimney, and has no balls. The mosquito-fogging 35 year old bolens pushmower with a 4.5hp briggs that it replaced would run laps around it. If it hadn't been junked, I would have sold the husqvarna, and fixed the bolens.