Mowers Again

[Jmellc]

Looking again for a decent riding mower. My size maximum is 38 inches, allowing for tight spaces. I need reverse mowing too if at all possible.

I saw the Ariens C50, 38 inch on their website. Got a call out to a dealer for price.

Toro has a 34 inch zero turn. Local dealer has 2 in stock but says not very good for a ditch bank. Didn't ask price.

Troy Bilt has a 30 inch rider but no one around here has it. 42 inch Pony is next thing up, a little big for me.

Cub Cadet makes a 30 inch rider, but I can't find it anywhere here so far. HD has the battery model but I'm told it isn't good for ditch banks.

Simplicity still makes a 38 inch but the one I had before was nothing but trouble. I won't buy their stuff again or anything from that dealer. He knew the mower was trouble prone but gave me no relief on it. Tried to sell me a new one but wouldn't even come down on the price.

What is anyone seeing and using out there now?

I've given up on finding a used mower that's any good. I'll go new. Trouble is, nearly everything out there is made for football fields or golf courses. Why so few of the smaller mowers any more? And some cost more than my first car.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

Check out the Snapper RER. Good, simple mower.

 

[Jmellc]

Check out the Snapper RER. Good, simple mower.

I saw a Snapper RER on a couple of sites but a nearby dealer said they discontinued them 2-3 years ago. Just my luck.

 

[dacan23]

Like many of the things you looked into, stock is going to be your biggest problem. Like snow blowers this winter, there's issues in the supply chain for gas mowers. Part of it may also be most companies pushing battery mowers. My HD has prolly 300 battery mowers in stock and 25 gas ones.

 

[joe_pinehill1]

Look for Gravely walk behind with 30 inch deck on Craigslist

 

[mopar4u]

Not sure what your after, cheap$, strong, reliable, dont care, good cutting, best parts network, good dealer…….. and dont know what type of yard you have. I lost track of the who made who with riding mowers some time ago. Hard to keep up with but ayp and mtd made many cheap mowers with different badges, craftsman and low end cub come to mind as victims. But even cheap mowers can go many years if maintained and sized appropriately for a particular yard.

Simplicity and Deere are my favorite for dealer purchases but only if you have a dealer you like and near you. Deere have a good parts network. Husqvarna would be what i would go for if i were on a little tighter budget than a deere or simplicity.

 

[Jmellc]

The only really good rider I have had was from Home Depot, back in late 90's. I think it was a Husky or MTD, about $1200.00. I got about 8 years out of it and only gave it up when it wouldn't climb ditchbanks any more. Maybe I should have invested some work in it. Got a Bolens and took it back to store same day. Wouldn't stay cranked more than an hour. Bought a new Simplicity 38 inch, nothing but trouble after the first season. Bought a rebuilt Toro Wheel Horse that was sort of OK for about 2 years, then a lot of trouble. It gave out last year.

 

[Jmellc]

I have found little. I may go with a Troybilt TB30 from Walmart or have to go up to a 42 inch Troybilt from Tractor Supply. They have the Pony and Bronco. I’ve seen a couple of videos praising Bronco over Pony. Larger & tighter in my yard but can mow in reverse. TB30 can’t unless I can disable the safety switch.

 

[andyvh1959]

I bought a used Husqvarna R120S (2015 model) articulating front deck rider mower, 42" deck, 19hp rear engine, hydrostatic drive. More than enough power, easy steering, deck is right in front where I can see it and sneak under bushes and around trees/plants to cut easily so I barely need to trim anything. Works great. Has enough power to tow leaf tarps easily in the fall. The articulating Husqvarna mowers are only Swedish built, residential type so some may think its not durable. I found mine for a steal at $400 on CL, so far has been good.

The R322S is much better Husqvarna model though, better features, even 4WD. Can easily handle side hill mowing, 21hp B&S engine and beefier hydrostatics.

 

[Jmellc]

I bought a used Husqvarna R120S (2015 model) articulating front deck rider mower, 42" deck, 19hp rear engine, hydrostatic drive. More than enough power, easy steering, deck is right in front where I can see it and sneak under bushes and around trees/plants to cut easily so I barely need to trim anything. Works great. Has enough power to tow leaf tarps easily in the fall. The articulating Husqvarna mowers are only Swedish built, residential type so some may think its not durable. I found mine for a steal at $400 on CL, so far has been good.

The R322S is much better Husqvarna model though, better features, even 4WD. Can easily handle side hill mowing, 21hp B&S engine and beefier hydrostatics.

How much did you pay?

 

[andyvh1959]

I got lucky and found the used R120S for $400. I did have to repair a broken weld on the deck support arm. Determined the deck drive belt length and found a local belt that works. Few other cosmetics; missing handle on a control lever, a decal showing the starting sequence. I have found a few other R120S on CL or FBM for more, up to $1500. I have read a few reports of persons having multiple issues with their R120S, but mine has been good. Added an hour meter/tach to mine to track maintenance. Also found a few R322S models for $2500. For my yard the R120S works well, steers near as tight as a ZTR without scuffing/tearing the grass. I'd go for the R322S if I found a deal.

 

[Jmellc]

I went to 2 Walmarts yesterday. 1 had no riders at all, other had a Yard Machines 36 inch tractor, 11.5 HP Briggs engine. Priced at $1685. Has anyone seen or used that mower? Made by MTD From what I can find. I’d still like to lay eyes on the Troybilt.

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, buying a rider from a big box store may not be the way to go, even if it is a few bucks less there. Check with outdoor equipment dealers who have franchise for the brand. Those are the guys who can and will fix it if/when there's a warranty issue. The big box stores/whores sometimes have a cheaper variant to get the lower price (MTD makes the low end John Deere, as well as Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Remington, Robomow, Yard Machines, Rover, WOLF-Garten and Bolens) but seldom have a clue as to who/how to get warranty repairs.

(Of course, by the time you have a problem, Country Homes Supply will no longer be a Cub Cadet dealer. They'll tell you how much better Husqvarna is :>)

jack vines

 

[Kscardsfan]

I’m partial to Deere and Toro for ZTR stuff. I like the way the Arien’s looks and feels but I have no hands on experience with them. As far as lawn tractors go I couldn’t tell you anything about them now. I’d probably start my search for one at Deere if I was in the market for a tractor style machine.

 

[Jmellc]

I’m partial to Deere and Toro for ZTR stuff. I like the way the Arien’s looks and feels but I have no hands on experience with them. As far as lawn tractors go I couldn’t tell you anything about them now. I’d probably start my search for one at Deere if I was in the market for a tractor style machine.

I saw an Ariens on their website & called a local dealer listed on their site. He said he only carried Gravely. I called Tractor Supply about smaller Troy Bilts & they didn’t carry the smaller ones.
I partly agree about dealer vs big box but not 100%. I bought a Simplicity from a dealer nearby and it was a real POS. I kept paying them to fix it and it never worked like it should. They never offered the least bit of relief. The dealer is just down the road but I won’t buy anything else from them. I could have bought 2 bargain brands, junked them when they broke & been about even.

 

[Jmellc]

FWIW, buying a rider from a big box store may not be the way to go, even if it is a few bucks less there. Check with outdoor equipment dealers who have franchise for the brand. Those are the guys who can and will fix it if/when there's a warranty issue. The big box stores/whores sometimes have a cheaper variant to get the lower price (MTD makes the low end John Deere, as well as Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Remington, Robomow, Yard Machines, Rover, WOLF-Garten and Bolens) but seldom have a clue as to who/how to get warranty repairs.

(Of course, by the time you have a problem, Country Homes Supply will no longer be a Cub Cadet dealer. They'll tell you how much better Husqvarna is :>)

jack vines

Another issue is that most dealers don’t carry any smaller models around here.

 

[Frushlorton]

For a smaller mower, would go with lightly used Snapper. Easy to work on if you need it, really maneuverable.

 

[Terra Nova]

Not sure on your budget but a few companies make 30-ish inch standing mowers. Scag and Wright are a couple. Very compact for use and storage.

Scag 32” v-ride II

 

[Jmellc]

I finally bought this Yard Machine 36 inch from Walmart. Have used it twice. Works well enough to do the job. 1685 plus tax. 1800 & change. Cheapest & smallest tractor I could find.

 

[Ton ton]

I would go with a BCS walk behind. Power forward and backward. Lifetime transmission warranty. I have the sickle bar version. I have not been able to justify the rotary version yet. It's professional grade. And you pay for it.