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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923 |
Avoid the Chub Cadet, if you want details I will elaborate.
Dave
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,703
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,703 |
This is a Simplicity cut...... JD338
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,846
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,846 |
I've got a Poulan Pro that I bought at Sears 14 years ago. Its got a 42" deck and a Kohler engine and our yard is an acre. Except during the winter, generally mow 1-2 times a week for the last 14 years and the only thing other than blades that I've replaced is a pulley on the deck and the drive and deck belt twice. Oh, and the battery once. As long as it has juice from the battery, it cranks right up every time, even after sitting outside during the winter months.
If I remember to do it, I change the oil and air filter once a year. It's even survived my boys using it, ha.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." - Ronald Reagan
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 22,135
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 22,135 |
Steve... You are a condo guy. You ain't well suited to mow a lawn. Just pay a local kid to mow it and don't worry about it. You'll be doing the kid a favor and saving yourself some cash. Besides... Teenagers need beer money too.
---------------------------------------- I'm a big fan of the courtesy flush.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 13,860
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 13,860 |
Avoid the Chub Cadet, if you want details I will elaborate. I gave one of the belt-chewin' pieces-o-schidt away, and helped the poor SOB load it up. You don't need a 6K ZTR with rebuildable pumps to mow an acre. The cheap answer is a $1600 big-box "tractor" like a Deere from Lowe's. The middle ground is to pay a little over $3K for a smaller/42in ZTR with non-rebuildable pumps like a Hustler. You pays your money and you takes your chances.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 13,860
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 13,860 |
This is a Simplicity cut...... JD338 NICE!
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 79,321 Likes: 2
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 79,321 Likes: 2 |
Riding mower for 3/4 acre?
Hell,...I mowed 3 damn acres with a 19" push mower from K-Mart when I was a kid,...when I wasn't trying to eradicate Kudzu with a 2 dollar grubbin' hoe from K-Mart.
About once every 10 days I'd go fishin' and just take the ass whuppin'.
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,033
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,033 |
Bart, I guess you missed the part about me buying a house in January. If I was still in the condo I would let you come and cut the grass.
When its time to fight, you fight like you are the third monkey on the ramp to get on Noah's Arc... and brother, it is starting to rain!
The chair is against the wall.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 26,389 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 26,389 Likes: 6 |
This is a Simplicity cut...... JD338 NICE! That's the first plaid lawn I've seen in awhile.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 806
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 806 |
A 42" deck will generally have 2 blades that will give you a better cut than the 3 on most 48" decks, along with one less pulley/beariing assembly to wear out Wheelhorse and older Sears SS 42" decks have 3 blades and give a much smoother cut over the twin blade 36-38" decks. With the extra blade, you can typically go a bit faster. Been mowing over an acre for 30 years with a 1968 Sears SS12, 1969 Sears Suburban 12 and the past 3 years, a mid 80's vintage Wheelhorse, 14 horse. All with 42" decks.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,244 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,244 Likes: 3 |
I put several hundred hours per year on lawn tractors at work for more than a decade{about as much in one year as the average homeowner will in 10}. We had top of the line JD's {X540's} With liquid cooled Kawasaki engines and one shaft drive 2000 series Cub Cadet with air cooled Kohler. Not only did the Cub break down alot less often and require much less maintenance, it did a MUCH nicer job of cutting the grass.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,150 Likes: 35
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,150 Likes: 35 |
I got to get my yard mowed soon or I'll forget where that damn transmission is. Those things are hell on bush hog blades.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408 |
i have a simplicity regent 22hp 44" cut. nice heavy duty tractor. my boys killed an $2k mtd troybuilt in about 7 years. going on 5 with this one and it still runs and cuts like new. we do about 2 acres of grass and lots of trails. it ws $3k delivered with a triple bagger.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,172
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,172 |
Simplicity should own the lawn tractor segment, but JD is king of marketing and name recognition. No comparison in the way they cut.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,150 Likes: 35
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,150 Likes: 35 |
Aint no damn way I'd piss away $7k on a 42" go cart mowin tractor just because it's green or orange
I get one of them $300 murry riders that some hard on his luck GI is selling cause he has to go to Korea.
I run that sombitch hard, rocks and stumps get 3 or 4 years out of it
Pssssffffft, pick up another in the trader adds
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,033
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,033 |
Thanks for all the input. The other reason I am getting a rider is that i have a number of oaks and I do not like to rake leaves every 4 days when fall comes.
When its time to fight, you fight like you are the third monkey on the ramp to get on Noah's Arc... and brother, it is starting to rain!
The chair is against the wall.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 374
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 374 |
Bought a 50" Cub Cadet when we bought this place in '06. I've had to replace the battery, the belt, the starter and had to weld up the deck once (That was a fun stump I didn't notice till I went from full speed to a dead stop). I don't think that's too much for a 8 year old mower that I have admittedly beat the hell out of. It still cuts lawn nicely even though I've been known to use it to beat back the blackberries that I've been at war with since it was new.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,586
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,586 |
Bought a 50" Cub Cadet when we bought this place in '06. I've had to replace the battery, the belt, the starter and had to weld up the deck once (That was a fun stump I didn't notice till I went from full speed to a dead stop). I don't think that's too much for a 8 year old mower that I have admittedly beat the hell out of. It still cuts lawn nicely even though I've been known to use it to beat back the blackberries that I've been at war with since it was new. I bought a Sabre(by John Deere) in 1997 to mow my 1 acre yard. It has a 42" cut and a 16 HP Briggs. It still has the original drive belt and I changed the deck belt for the first time this year. I'm on my 4th battery now and the 3 of the 4 tires have tubes in them. I broke the key off in the ignition one time and had to replace it. Other than that it has been gas, oil, plugs and air filters. Not bad for a 17 year old mower!
"Never stand and take a charge...charge them too."
--- General Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 346
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 346 |
I have quite a few hours on a Cub Cadet with a Kawasaki and 54" deck. No complaints and its been used hard. Its taken more abuse than a mower should.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,741
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,741 |
I bought a Sabre(by John Deere) in 1997 to mow my 1 acre yard. It has a 42" cut and a 16 HP Briggs. It still has the original drive belt and I changed the deck belt for the first time this year. I'm on my 4th battery now and the 3 of the 4 tires have tubes in them. I broke the key off in the ignition one time and had to replace it. Other than that it has been gas, oil, plugs and air filters. Not bad for a 17 year old mower! Back when I spent a lot of time in equipment dealers' lots and showrooms, the JD Sabres (and the Scott's-branded mowers) impressed me with the amount of iron one got for the dollar: thick decks & heavy frames+axles. Dunno if they still make either one, but I'd certainly price one out against others in the "lawn tractor" segment. I always figured one would have to spend quite a bit more than those mowers, to really get more durability. FC
"Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a banquet."
- Mrs. FC
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