How Old is Your ExMark? - Old Mowers Club

[ClayMcC]

If you drive an old exmark, or any other brand of mower, let's share information about them. Maybe we could form an "Old Mower Club" here on lawnsite.

I bought this beauty new off the showroom floor in 1994 from a dealer in Franklin, Tennessee. I added the Velke a few months later.

ExMark Metro HP "Commercial 48".
Model MHP4814KA
Serial Number: 153897

I replaced the original Kawasaki 11 hp engine just last year (after two rebuilds) with a new Kawasaki FH430v 15.0 horsepower twin. Man, I just love this new motor to death! Never bogs down even in the thick, wet, stuff. Ok, maybe it does bog down a little, but not enough to make an issue out of it.

The transmission is original. There have only been two pulley failures, both this season. Both failed from being worn out. I expect others to follow suit.

Is it possible for a man to love a lawnmower? If it is, I guess I would have to say this is the one. Seriously, however, it's not "love" I feel at all. I don't love machines. I either like them or hate them. When it comes to my '94 Metro, it's more of an appreciation for the simple genius behind it. Mechanically, it's as as simple as it can get. Except for the engine and transmission, it's mostly just belts, pulleys, springs, linkage, and grease.

Considered one of the best, if not THE best, lawnmower ever. A veteran Exmark user once told me that this particular mower is considered the best striping mower ever produced. I have nothing to compare it to, except my '05 LazerZ, and I'd rather use the '94 Metro for that striped look any day of the week.

Obviously, 1994 is not really "old" or vintage, but for any piece of equipment (especially a lawn mower) in the modern era to work as hard they do, to survive the abuse they go through, and last this long is quite impressive to me.

I look forward to hearing about your "old" mower.

[mowerdude777]

I never knwe that they made the metro hp way back then, mine is a 03 modal

[1993lx172]

I've got a 1993 JD Lx172 38" that I use as my main mower (I've got a lot of gates and tight areas) So far only one transmission, two oil pan seals, and some other little things, but other than that it has been trouble free.

[thu cutting edge]

i just got rid of this one but it was an exmark 48. couldnt tell you the year but had 3800 on the origional motor. got rid of it because it was getting up there in age and hours. so i sold it to some local.

[green_with_envy]

One day old....I just traded my almost new Trimstar for a now Turf Tracer 48".

Night and day....without bashing, enough said.

[rusty_keg_3]

I have a 1989 John Deere 420. But dont use it for business, just at home, and what not.

[2brothersyardcare]

thats a nice mower

[Mowingman]

I still have the very first mower I ever used for commercial mowing. It is a 1953 Huffy, 18" cut, push mower. I started mowing with it in the summer of 1959. It was still my regular mower for small lawns until about 1982. I used it for overgrown stuff after that, as the engine has lots of torque for tough mowing.
It stil runs, but I retired it to my storage shed two years ago.
There is not one modern safety feature on this mower, and somehow, in nearly 50 years of use, I have managed to not hurt myself using it. :cool2:

[MileHigh]

two vintage 2006's and two vintage 07's :laugh:

[greenred]

This is my 1987 Cub Cadet Model 1811 Hydro. Its the same model tractor I grew up with. I push snow in about 7 drive ways in my neighborhood with it. Brings me back to my childhood. I may be biased but I think the Cub Cadet garden tractors from the 80's are some of the best looking small tractors ever.

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv150/greenscag/tractor1.jpg

[South Florida Lawns]

I have a 1995 32" snapper pro walk behind with the 9hp kawi. I don't use it anymore, just sits in my shop waiting for action.

[93Chevy]

My uncle has a '77 Gravely Commercial lawn tractor. Uses it for rolling the lawn once a year. Still start and runs good.

My dad had an early '80's Snapper 21." Finally got rid of it a few years ago.

[Grass Happens]

I have a mid-eighties Ransomes 48. The oil pump failed (I think) last year, and so has sat ever since. I still love that mower, cuts oh-so-nice. It had the old Kaw 12.5 (red too, not black) and the variable gear drive. Not all that fast, but just as sweet as could be to use. This fall/winter I'm going to pull the engine apart and take a look, see if I can get her going again.
Now I have an 02 Z147 Toro Z-master that I love. Bought it in October with 1170 hours, replaced a head gasket in the winter, and she was ready to mow. Cuts nice, too; when the grass isn't too long.

[4.3mudder]

If you drive an old exmark, or any other brand of mower, let's share information about them. Maybe we could form an "Old Mower Club" here on lawnsite.

I bought this beauty new off the showroom floor in 1994 from a dealer in Franklin, Tennessee. I added the Velke a few months later.

ExMark Metro HP "Commercial 48".
Model MHP4814KA
Serial Number: 153897

I replaced the original Kawasaki 11 hp engine just last year (after two rebuilds) with a new Kawasaki FH430v 15.0 horsepower twin. Man, I just love this new motor to death! Never bogs down even in the thick, wet, stuff. Ok, maybe it does bog down a little, but not enough to make an issue out of it.

The transmission is original. There have only been two pulley failures, both this season. Both failed from being worn out. I expect others to follow suit.

Is it possible for a man to love a lawnmower? If it is, I guess I would have to say this is the one. Seriously, however, it's not "love" I feel at all. I don't love machines. I either like them or hate them. When it comes to my '94 Metro, it's more of an appreciation for the simple genius behind it. Mechanically, it's as as simple as it can get. Except for the engine and transmission, it's mostly just belts, pulleys, springs, linkage, and grease.

Considered one of the best, if not THE best, lawnmower ever. A veteran Exmark user once told me that this particular mower is considered the best striping mower ever produced. I have nothing to compare it to, except my '05 LazerZ, and I'd rather use the '94 Metro for that striped look any day of the week.

Obviously, 1994 is not really "old" or vintage, but for any piece of equipment (especially a lawn mower) in the modern era to work as hard they do, to survive the abuse they go through, and last this long is quite impressive to me.

I look forward to hearing about your "old" mower.

LOL, it might be me, but that looks like some kind of tv right in between the control handles. Machine looks great for being 15 years old.

[mowerdude777]

I use a 1990 ferris

[93Chevy]

LOL, it might be me, but that looks like some kind of tv right in between the control handles. Machine looks great for being 15 years old.

lol, I was wondering what it was also until I looked closer and realized it was a trailer.:hammerhead::laugh:

[Dodge2]

Well I'm just going to blow you all out of the water, I have a 1963-1973 not quite sure toro reel lawn mower its a 18 inch cut and self propelled. The lawn mower runs great with the original B&S engine.

[1993lx172]

There's a guy on page one with a 1958 push mower so right now your in second.

[Dodge2]

I forgot about that one.

[KCfireman]

I have an old encore WB that I've put 2000+ hrs on it.

[mowerbrad]

Several years ago I had a 1967 Simplicity lawn tractor, I didn't use it to mow but mainly just to snow blow my driveway. It worked awesome, the only bad part was was that it was faster in reverse than forward. The thing had 4 forward gears and 2 reverse. I wish I would have kept it know that I look back on it.

[ClayMcC]

LOL, it might be me, but that looks like some kind of tv right in between the control handles...

I could not figure out what you were looking at for the longest time, and I took the picture! HaHa... too funny.

Yes, it's a trailer in the background. Specifically, it's an 6'x10' box trailer with a single axle. I use it for odd jobs such as dump runs.

[ClayMcC]

"Old Mower Club"
Membership as of June 29, 2009:

1953 Huffy, 18"
Member: Mowingman
Status: Running (retired).

(1963-1973) Toro Reel 18" Self Propelled.
Member: Dodge2
Status: Running.

1967 Simplicity lawn tractor
Member: mowerbrad
Status: Sold - Unknown.

1977 Gravely Commercial lawn tractor
Member: 93Chevy
Status: Unknown.

(Mid-80's) Ransomes 48"
Member: Grass Happens
Status: Down for Maintenance.

1987 Cub Cadet Model 1811 Hydro
Member: greenred
Status: Running.

1989 John Deere 420
member: rusty_keg_3
Status: Running.

1990 Ferris 32"
Member: mowerdude777
Status: Running.

1993 John Deere Lx172 38"
Member: 1993lx172
Status: Running.

1994 eXmark Metro HP (with Velke)
Member: ClayMc
Status: Running.

1995 32" snapper pro
Member: South Florida Lawns
Status: Running (retired)

2003 eXmark Metro HP
Member: mowerdude777
Status: Running.

[93Chevy]

1977 Gravely Commercial lawn tractor
Member: 93Chevy
Status: Unknown.


Status: still running when needed:laugh:

[Dodge2]

Good idea ClayMcC

[Junior M]

2 1975 Wheel Horse B80s

one is complete, but really rusty and frozen. Its suppose to be rare because it has high and low. The other is the same tractor with out high and low. and alot of missing parts.

The complete one will be restored to original status and the other will be a pulling tractor.. :cool2:

[GravelyNut]

As it didn't say it had to be bought new, 1943 Model L Gravely. Running but under restoration. Bought used, well used. But mostly all the original parts. Oldest since bought new is a 1981 8162-T Gravely with 2500 hours on it. Its sister with a serial number 2 numbers higher was bought 2 years ago.

[1993lx172]

Oldest since bought new is a 1981 8162-T Gravely with 2500 hours on it. Its sister with a serial number 2 numbers higher was bought 2 years ago.

My grandpa has one of those, man that thing is a tank!

[ClayMcC]

"Old Mowers"
Membership Update July 14, 2009:

1943 Model L Gravely.
Member: GravelyNut
Status: Running - Restoration.
Comments: See #27 "Bought used, well used. But mostly all the original parts."

1953 Huffy, 18"
Member: Mowingman
Status: Running but retired to storage shed.
Comments: See #8 "I started mowing with it in the summer of 1959..."

(1963-1973) Toro Reel 18" Self Propelled.
Member: Dodge2
Status: Running.
Comments: See #17 "The lawn mower runs great with the original B&S engine."

1967 Simplicity lawn tractor
Member: mowerbrad
Status: Sold - Unknown.
Comments: See #21

1975 (2) Wheel Horse B80
Member: Junior M
Status: Both under restoration.
Comments: See #26 "The complete one will be restored to original status and the other will be a pulling tractor.."

1977 Gravely Commercial lawn tractor
Member: 93Chevy
Status: Running.
Comments: See #12 "Uses it for rolling the lawn once a year."

1981 8162-T Gravely
Member: GravelyNut
Status: Unknown.
Comments: 2500 hours on it. Its sister with a serial number 2 numbers higher was bought 2 years ago.

(Mid-80's) Ransomes 48"
Member: Grass Happens
Status: Down for Repair.
Comments: See #13 "Not all that fast, but just as sweet as could be to use."

1987 Cub Cadet Model 1811 Hydro
Member: greenred
Status: Running.
Comments: See #10 "Brings me back to my childhood..."

1989 John Deere 420
member: rusty_keg_3
Status: Running.
Comments: See #6 "... dont use it for business, just at home,..."

1990 Ferris 32"
Member: mowerdude777
Status: Running.
Comments: See #15

1993 John Deere Lx172 38"
Member: 1993lx172
Status: Running.
Comments: See #3 "So far only one transmission, two oil pan seals, and some other little things,..."

1994 eXmark Metro HP (with Velke)
Member: ClayMc
Status: Running.
Comments: See #1 SN 153897

1995 32" snapper pro
Member: South Florida Lawns
Status: Running (retired)
Comments: See #11 "I don't use it anymore, just sits in my shop waiting for action."

2003 eXmark Metro HP
Member: mowerdude777
Status: Running.
Comments: See #2