Residential Mower Recommendation Needed

[Steve]

Steve, I was trying to stay below $2k
Which seems to put me in the super high end walk behind mower or the lower end of the riders.

I’m the cry once, but once type. I can wait and save up if it means having a better machine.

All the neighbors have riders, I just don’t know enough about them to know which are quality and which are Home Depot junk.

mini tractor mower things, zero turns...lots of options.

@stretch5881
I grew up with an old snapper 5hp also. That thing was a beast. I believe my dad still has it.

My home depot has all the toro timecutter ztr's on clearance for $1999. Toro makes a quality product and stands behind it if you have any problems. They have either a kawasaki fr series engine or a toro branded engine. Both are good engines. One with a 42" deck would serve you well and store easily.

You need to go to some reputable dealers and test drive a few different machines. Every machine handles differently. You may not like what we all do. When i bought my toro ztr last year i took my wife with me. She drove them around and was amazed the way none of them drove the same.

 

[backhoelover]

If you buy a zero turn make sure it’s has filters on the Transaxles so you can service them

 

[Dub11]

I like the 2 blade toro self propelled timemasters 30in

I was really looking in to those but kept seeing transmission problems.

 

[stretch5881]

You must be good with maintenance and keeping up on it.
That's along time. What engines have you had on it?

The original was 3.5 Briggs. The replacement engines were also 3.5 Briggs, but I always put the carburetor from the original on them. It would seem that the carb that came on the new engines had too small a venturi to get a high enough rpm.
This year I will replace the wheels on it cuz they are worn smooth. Pretty spendy, but these mowers were the highest quality. Even the new commercial Snappers are built quite similar.

 

[backhoelover]

I was really looking in to those but kept seeing transmission problems.

pretty sure that has been updated

 

[Dub11]

pretty sure that has been updated

That's good to hear. I would love one. Between my yard and my moms it's about an acre. I could use a rider if it was for trees,flower beds and rock gardens and a lack of a wide gate at my moms. I guess I'll be giving these another look.

How different are these from the Exmark?

 

[CR888]

Something with a common blade size that you can buy AM or OEM in bulk online. I like Hondas for this reason, parts are easy to source and easy to find. This advice is for push mowers.

 

[LOMartin]

My home depot has all the toro timecutter ztr's on clearance for $1999. Toro makes a quality product and stands behind it if you have any problems. They have either a kawasaki fr series engine or a toro branded engine. Both are good engines. One with a 42" deck would serve you well and store easily.

You need to go to some reputable dealers and test drive a few different machines. Every machine handles differently. You may not like what we all do. When i bought my toro ztr last year i took my wife with me. She drove them around and was amazed the way none of them drove the same.

Not in my area. $2,600.00

The wife keeps pushing me toward a zero turn. She grew up on a farm and they used the zero around the house. Plus the whole we ain’t getting young thing.

I’m still uncertain about keeping it simple push behind or going zero turn.

Wonder if Home Depot price matches other Home Depot’s...


I appreciate everyone helping out.

 

[Steve]

Not in my area. $2,600.00

The wife keeps pushing me toward a zero turn. She grew up on a farm and they used the zero around the house. Plus the whole we ain’t getting young thing.

I’m still uncertain about keeping it simple push behind or going zero turn.

Wonder if Home Depot price matches other Home Depot’s...


I appreciate everyone helping out.

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If im out there Sunday ill see if i can get you a pic of the placard. Its always worth a shot!

 

[LOMartin]

If im out there Sunday ill see if i can get you a pic of the placard. Its always worth a shot!

your the man Steve. Thank you.

 

[Dub11]

your the man Steve. Thank you.

How far from @Onan18 are you?

 

[Onan18]

That's good to hear. I would love one. Between my yard and my moms it's about an acre. I could use a rider if it was for trees,flower beds and rock gardens and a lack of a wide gate at my moms. I guess I'll be giving these another look.

How different are these from the Exmark?

The newer 30s have an updated transmission but it is still considered a wear item and is not rebuildable. Exmark (and I am sure Toro has an equivalent) just released a new 30 X Series. The entire frame has been reinforced, it has a MUCH beefier transmission, a parking brake, and a Kohler Command Pro instead of the Kawasaki.

 

[Onan18]

How far from @Onan18 are you?

Savannah is probably 3.5 to 4.0 hours from where I am, Georgia is a deceptively big state.

 

[Onan18]

@LOMartin the best advice I can give you is to find a local dealer you like and buy from them. If you buy from a box store service after the sale is all but non existant. Toro/Exmark, Big Dog/Hustler, Ariens/Gravely, Wright, Scag, Husqvarna, John Deere, Walker, Snapper/Simplicity, and Honda all make excellent products and they all rely on their dealer network to support the product and the company reputation.

 

[drf256]

Personally, for a 1/2 acre, I’d find a late 70’s early 80’s used lawnboy and not look back. The 2 stroke ones. They are super light and nearly never need maintenance. Get in tight places easily.

Guess it depends on whether or not you have the time and want the exercise or not.

I have an acre to mow, so I got a Scag 36 walk behind. Was really overkill for me.

 

[Bilge Rat]

Snapper 25" series 14 8hp in very good shape.
Craftsman 42" 20hp good shape
New batteries, greased, new belts etc .

Let either one go for around 400.oo

Both run used both on my yard last year.

I have 4 riders and a 1/2 acre lot so i am planning to move a few this spring.

 

[Dub11]

Snapper 25" series 14 8hp in very good shape.
Craftsman 42" 20hp good shape
New batteries, greased, new belts etc .

Let either one go for around 400.oo

Both run used both on my yard last year.

I have 4 riders and a 1/2 acre lot so i am planning to move a few this spring.

Id be buying that Snapper and getting my Forrest Gump on all summer.

 

[Bilge Rat]

That one is a clean little mower.

I also have a Snapper 30" series 6 with a 17hp motor on it. It came with a 12hp but neighbor blew the 12 up and his friend had a new 17 laying around.
Neighbor let it sit and clogged the carb so he bought a new mower. He was too cheap to pay me to fix it but could buy a new one???
He then gave me the old Snapper. I use it to cut 2 acres of grass/bahia. It makes a good poor mans bush hog.

 

[Steve]

@LOMartin


Here are the two toro ztrs at my home depot on clearance.

 

[LOMartin]

@LOMartin


Here are the two toro ztrs at my home depot on clearance.

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Went to a local shop on Saturday and Home Depot on Sunday to compare deals with Steve’s pictures.

found this Honda outside, in the rain on display. retails for $620.
they had it marked down a bunch plus a 15% coupon. I got it for $285. New, never gassed.

couldn’t pass it up. Not what I was looking for but I’ll give it a try. Have 30days to return it if I don’t like it.

200cc engine, 5 year warranty, composite deck with lifetime warranty. Already not liking the filter cover. Seems flimsy. Needs more zip ties.


I’m gonna find out how much I actually enjoy mowing I guess.

Other bonus, ROI on such a good deal is less then 5months. Guys charge roughly $60 a cut in this area.


HRX217VKA