hydro or belt walk behind

[a_wv_buckeye]

I would like to hear from the PROS which is better? I am looking at a used 36" Lesco Hydro or used 48" Lesco Belt drive. The area I mow is mostly sloped, so much I have to keep a small Kubota rider with a 48" deck in 4WD most of the time.

[grassyfras]

Hydros are great but expensive good on hills. Belts are cheaper and slip in wet conditions. I have no problems with belts, yet... I would think that a 36" would be a waste with a hydro since its small and you wouldnt use it alot. But if its a dedicated mower and you cut most of the week with it and maybe have a sulky or velky with it get the Hydro thy are nice and I think more manuverable.

[Currier]

for ease of manuverability I would go with hydro. I didn't and wish I had. I will probably sell my gear drive soon so that I can have the $$ available for a hydro.

[geogunn]

wv buckeye--I have a lesco 48 belt and I recomend that unit. a hydro would be better but there is the extra cost to consider.

the 36 hydro would be good on hills. you will find that the wb's will probably out do that kubota on hills. you will have more control and the wb weighs less than your kubota with you sitting on it. mow your hills from bottom to top and side to side.

my comment on belts slipping in the rain is that some do more than others. my lesco 48 belt DOES NOT SLIP unless I actually get the belts under water. even then they dry quickly.

good luck on your choice.

BTW, where in w bG va are you?

GEO

[Fantasy Lawns]

hydro :-> .....easier on the body ..... works better in wet conditions ....... greater re-sale value

[Quail Creek LC]

Why do they even make a belt drive. Take a hydro for a test and you'll never want a belt drive. Well worth the extra $$$$$$.

[summitgroundskeeping]

I have a 48" GD w/b. It manuvers very well, which u give up with belt drive. Hydros are great in wet, but belts are less LIKELY (still will) to tear up turf. Personally, if u can afford it, get a 48" hydro, or a 52". I should have maybe gotten a 52".

[65hoss]

I have a hydro and a belt drive w/b. Both have been used on hills, and I would suggest the hydro for hills. You will spend alot of time fighting the belt drive in these situations.

[TJLC]

I also have owned a belt drive w/b. I now have only hydros. Night and day difference, in my opnion. I feel the higher cost of the hydro is justified, big time.

[Strongmd]

Over the life of a mower, the difference in cost between a hydro and a belt is pennies per lawn, or a buck or two a day maybe? And, if you use a belt drive correctly, and pull back on the pivot wheel in order to make zero-turns, you will be dead-beat at the end of each day.

[MIDSOUTH]

Well my main main mower is a 61 turf tiger and my small mower was a 36" exmark metro, next week when it comes in my new small mower will be a exmark 36"turf tracer hp with the ECS controls. I can't wait. I hate belt drives with a passion after having that metro.

[a_wv_buckeye]

Well, I bought the hydro today. I picked it up from a commercial guy, who stopped using it recently because it wouldn't run without being choked all the time (he also had a new backup 36" belt drive in the garage). He gave me a price, I agreed, then I took the bowl off the carb, cleaned a few pieces of crap, hit it with compressed air, put it back together and it fired right up running fine. His comment was "I should have asked $500 more for it."

I want to thank all for the inputs. Those and the other threads on walk behind or ZTR's helped me make up my mind.

geogunn asked where in WV I live. I’m in the far eastern pan handle, an unincorporated area called Shannondale.

[lawnboykb]

This is easy
if I can find ANYTHING in a hydo thats what I go with. To many years playing around with belts that don't work right after a few years.

[David Gretzmier]

good luck with the hydro! Dave g