Some input please !!! I'm look'n to get something bigger than 21" for home use .

[Dead Grass]

Ok ..., so it takes me about 1.5 hrs to get my lawn done with a 21" sucker and I just can't take it anymore !!!!!!! :cry:

I was at Home Depot recently and what did my eyes come across ?? It was a bright yellow 32" Cub Cadet walk behind for about 1200 bucks !!. ( Angels singing ) :)

I know most of the time cheap prices usually means cheap parts and dependability problems . Soooo..., Is this a good piece of machinery for the price or will I be really unhappy with it in the long haul ?

And then ..., is there other brands out there for roughly the same price and / or just as good or better reliability ?

Thanx for your time !!

[huskres]

Buy a used commercial unit for that price and it will last longer.

[Marcos]

I've seen those allegedly homeowner-friendly Cub Cadet 32" walk-behinds at HD too.

They look like they'd hold up for maybe two seasons on the 'home lawn'...but then you may as well bring it along on the 3rd summer as a boat anchor during a summer house boating vacation.

When your 4-day weekend's through, just cut the line !

[Marcos]

Ok ..., so it takes me about 1.5 hrs to get my lawn done with a 21" sucker and I just can't take it anymore !!!!!!! :cry:

I was at Home Depot recently and what did my eyes come across ?? It was a bright yellow 32" Cub Cadet walk behind for about 1200 bucks !!. ( Angels singing ) :)

I know most of the time cheap prices usually means cheap parts and dependability problems . Soooo..., Is this a good piece of machinery for the price or will I be really unhappy with it in the long haul ?

And then ..., is there other brands out there for roughly the same price and / or just as good or better reliability ?

Thanx for your time !!

Swinging thru Kentucky anytime soon for any reason ?
Give this guy a buzz.
He's got a beut of a used mower... a 32" Bunton...for only $500 !!!

Click here :

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=184766

[Dead Grass]

Buy a used commercial unit for that price and it will last longer.


Aren't alot of them pretty beat up by the time most people get rid of them ?

I know there will be the exceptions . But the people who originally buy these units will put more hrs on them in one day than I will put on it in 1yr . :)

What are the tell tail signs of a beat on unit so I know what to stay away from ?

Also ..,what are the brand names to stay away from when it comes to lawn equiptment ?

Sorry for all the questions , as I know what to look for in cars but this lawn stuff is a whole new gig for me . :o

TAHNX AGAIN GUYS !

[Dead Grass]

Swinging thru Kentucky anytime soon for any reason ?
Give this guy a buzz.
He's got a beut of a used mower... a 32" Bunton...for only $500 !!!

Click here :

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=184766

Thanx for the heads up bro !!! But that's waaaay off my beat'n path ..:)

[Dead Grass]

I've seen those allegedly homeowner-friendly Cub Cadet 32" walk-behinds at HD too.

They look like they'd hold up for maybe two seasons on the 'home lawn'...but then you may as well bring it along on the 3rd summer as a boat anchor during a summer house boating vacation.

When your 4-day weekend's through, just cut the line !

What makes them such pieces of poo ?? The motor or the chassis ?

[mower&more1986]

If you can afford it look into a better outdoors quick 32
http://www.betteroutdoorproducts.com/?page=Compare%20Models%5FH%2Ehtm
or a good rider maybe a snapper or simplicity?
Ive got a toro LX468 because i got tired of mowing with just my 22" toro
the toros remind of the cubs and low end deere's
Edit: also I think Id rather use the Exmark Metro 26" than that cub homeowner walkbehind
http://exmark.com/metro26.htm

[NoMoWeeds]

I saw a Gravely Wide Area Walk 1034 at my local dealer and it looked like a very nice residential unit. They were selling them for $1350.

[lawnstriper23]

I would never buy somebody else's "used" equipment even if they state it has been cleaned, maintained, etc. You just don't know what the whole story behind the equipment is (repairs, recalls, etc). The only way I would consider buying "used" equipment is if a dealer inspected the equipment from top to bottom and gave it their blessings. Of course the seller of the equipment will pay for that inspection :)
This is just my opinion......

[LarryF]

Ok ..., so it takes me about 1.5 hrs to get my lawn done with a 21" sucker and I just can't take it anymore !!!!!!! :cry:



How big is your lot? Is it flat or hilly? Wide open or lots of trees and bushes to go around?

[Dead Grass]

How big is your lot? Is it flat or hilly? Wide open or lots of trees and bushes to go around?


I have a big hill in front of my house that makes me almost walk beside it . The rest of it's pretty flat . I'm figure'n that I'll get the big boy to do the flat areas quick and do the hill with the 21" .

[Dead Grass]

This is the pitch I look at for too long every time I mow with my 21"r .. :dizzy: :cry:

It goes for another 70' or so to the right , but at a slightly less pitch .

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z32/SlowMotion-943/IMG_4426.jpg

[LarryF]

This is the pitch I look at for too long every time I mow with my 21"r .. :dizzy: :cry:

It goes for another 70' or so to the right , but at a slightly less pitch .

[/IMG]

That's pretty steep! I'm skeptical the $1200 box store mower you mentioned would be good enough, but I admit that I'm negative regarding residential mowers even though I too am a homeowner. Someone above mentioned a Quick mower by BOP. After seeing your hills, I'd second that. Someone calling himself kartracer2000 recently showed a photo of his hill which seems to be about as or maybe even more steep than yours, and he's doing it with Quick 36. You can find the picture in this thread, if you are interested, and maybe you will want to contact him.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=230827&highlight=25+degrees

Good luck.

[jkason]

Whatever you do, make sure it has an oil pump.
Not just an oil filter, but full pressure lubrication.

If I'm correct, the engine on the Quick in that picture does not have full pressure lube....
I'm wrong. It does have full pressure lube, according to the B&S website. I just checked it.

[Kennygee]

I just purchased an Everride 32'"on e-bay for $1650 plus shipping.I Hope it is going to work out O.K. The only problem is there is no warranty with this particular mower ,because the dealer is no longer a current dealer. The local dealer wanted 2600 plus half the shipping cost for the same mower. If You are not worried about any warranty issues You might want to do an e-bay search for Everride and check out swilland., They will sell for under the buy it now price. Mine should be arriving the end of next week. Good Luck!!

[Marcos]

Originally Posted by Marcos
I've seen those allegedly homeowner-friendly Cub Cadet 32" walk-behinds at HD too.

They look like they'd hold up for maybe two seasons on the 'home lawn'...but then you may as well bring it along on the 3rd summer as a boat anchor during a summer house boating vacation.

When your 4-day weekend's through, just cut the line !


What makes them such pieces of poo ?? The motor or the chassis ?

Alot of the stuff on the handle bar, frame, and upper deck area looks to me like pot metal, if not plastic.

[Dead Grass]

Originally Posted by Marcos
Alot of the stuff on the handle bar, frame, and upper deck area looks to me like pot metal, if not plastic.


So let me ask you guys this . :)

What brand of 21" push type mower would you guys think this closely resembles quality wise ?

Like ohhhh idk .... :

- Murray

- Poulan

- Sears

- Toro , etc ....


I mean I'm not gonna use this every day like 99% of the people on here so would it really go to shite in a short order like I am reading ( or ) should I just walk away from the complete line Cub Cadets ?

[Steve V.]

I have two Honda self propelled walk behind mowers. One is 24 years old and still going strong. I put a mulching kit on it when they first came out. The other is about 8 years old and it's a lesser quality but does o.k. A commercial version would have been closer to what my older Honda is (I bought the standard version at an equipment dealer). I only bought the new one when my son started mowing lawns. I thought I would get me a new one and let him use the old one. Nine times out of ten we get the old mower out to do the yard. If my yard was bigger I would purchase a pro piece of equipment like I have seen on here.

Steve

[jkason]

So let me ask you guys this . :)

What brand of 21" push type mower would you guys think this closely resembles quality wise ?

Like ohhhh idk .... :

- Murray

- Poulan

- Sears

- Toro , etc ....


I mean I'm not gonna use this every day like 99% of the people on here so would it really go to shite in a short order like I am reading ( or ) should I just walk away from the complete line Cub Cadets ?

Poulan and Sears are made in the same factory (Husqvarna) - Decent Quality.
Murray - Complete POS.
Toro - (if it's made by Toro) is Decent.

The Cub Cadet is made by MTD. They also own the rights to Troy-Bilt, Bolens, and Yard-Man brands. All the push mowers are basically the same, just different colors. They all are about equal to Sears/Poulan/Husky in quality, but might have different features.

To get a 21" walk behind with an oil pump and self-propelled is gonna cost you in the realm of $600-$800.

[Dead Grass]

Ok .., so lets bottom line it ..

What would be the perfect brand of walk behind for the home owner that is bigger than 21"'s and should last me till the day I die , hopefully another 40 yrs or more ?? :weightlifter:


Thanx again to all !! :)

[DoktorCorb]

I think most commercial mowers, well cared for, should last quite a long time. But 'til you die? 40 years? That's a long time.

I've heard Scags are built like tanks. I personally have a Quick 44, and really like it. It is built very solid, costs ways less than a lot of other walk-behinds, and one of the things I like about it is that is very easy to clean, work on and maintain. I also have a slope on my place that is as steep as yours, but not quite as big. It handles it well, but with the Quick, I do not go side-to-side on the hill. I either hit it at an angle or just go straight up and down the thing.

One piece of advice I would give to you, however, is to get a mower that you will enjoy using. For your size of lawn, don't get a junker or something that will just get you by. Get something you're proud of, and that you'll take pride in using. That will be the #1 thing that will get you outside. I used to hate mowing my yard with old 40" ztr, but I thorougly enjoy mowing with the Quick and getting some exercise.

[LarryF]

I think most commercial mowers, well cared for, should last quite a long time. But 'til you die? 40 years? That's a long time.

I've heard Scags are built like tanks. I personally have a Quick 44, and really like it. It is built very solid, costs ways less than a lot of other walk-behinds, and one of the things I like about it is that is very easy to clean, work on and maintain. I also have a slope on my place that is as steep as yours, but not quite as big. It handles it well, but with the Quick, I do not go side-to-side on the hill. I either hit it at an angle or just go straight up and down the thing.

One piece of advice I would give to you, however, is to get a mower that you will enjoy using. For your size of lawn, don't get a junker or something that will just get you by. Get something you're proud of, and that you'll take pride in using. That will be the #1 thing that will get you outside. I used to hate mowing my yard with old 40" ztr, but I thorougly enjoy mowing with the Quick and getting some exercise.

Yes, 40 years is a long time, but I had mowers that lasted that long. Two of them, in fact. One that I kept at a lakeside property I once owned was a Hahn-Eclipse. I still have the mower (and it still runs perfectly), but not the lake property. The other was a 21" commercial Bob-Cat which I sold for about half of what I had paid for it 4 decades before. That was used for my year-round home. The reason for getting rid of it was that I replaced it with a Quick 36 which does a much better job than the smaller mowers of climbing my hills . But assuming the homeowner who asked the question mows only about 50 hours a year, that would be about 2000 hours over 40 years. I believe the Quick mowers you and I have could easily last that long providing, of course, they are properly maintained. That should be pretty easy to do for a homeowner who is handy with tools, especially since BOP has provided this site.

http://www.betteroutdoorproducts.com/OM/SingleHydro/SingleHydroOwnersManual.asp

I'm sure I've been around a lot longer than most who use this forum, and I have never before seen any manufacturer of any product I have ever owned provide anything comparable to this. I think it will be really helpful if my Quick ever needs repair, although I suspect that may not ever happen.

[Dead Grass]

Ok so ..., I went to a Scag dealer and then I found a place that sells Ferris's today .



I tried it out for a minute and was impressed on how easy it was to use .

It was a 36 HydroCut .

Ok .., I know I don't have any experience with WBH's other than 21"rs ..., but I did like Ferris cause it's compact , the thumb operated switches were easy on the hands and it didn't seem to take much effort to move them around .

What do you guys think about the Ferris's ?

http://www.ferrisindustries.com/images/2424interface8.gif

[Mowerboy04]

ferris makes a good mower