26-32" mowers?

[AndyL]

Hey folks,

Just doing some investigations for later in the season... Looks like I might be buying something a bit bigger than the 21s this year. Considering all the estimates, and bookings on the answering machine when I got home, I'd say I'm going to be awful busy! (Might have to quit the day job REAL soon!)

I've now got a few small-ish commercials (8-15k sq ft) Ok to push mow for now, but later in the season, a bigger wb would be nice to have...

I've heard mention on this board of 26" mowers... Who currently makes them? Checked gravely, honda, toro, JD exmark the usual suspects and found a couple 18 - 22s... Nothing between 22-32 tho.

I know exmark and a few others make 32s, but I'm leery of buying something that would be too heavy and bulky to haul up/down stairs, or fit into the tighter back yards.

If needs required, I'm pretty sure I could have my former employers belt drive ransomes (36") But I'm more interested in something with bagging capabilities (preferably rear bagging) But I don't really want a riding mower...

I know many of you won't take jobs you can't fit a 36" deck onto, but some of us can't be quite so choosy :D Not to mention, how do I get rid of the molson belly if I spend all day on my Tookus?! :cool:

Andy

[eslawns]

I think Snapper makes a 26" with a Robin engine and swivel front casters. Emcore makes (or used to) a 26" and Yazoo/Kees makes a 26" but you need tools to adjust the mowing height. Kee makes a 26" also. As far as carrying any of them down stairs goes, I'm not going to carry a 21" down steps and back up. A 32" weighs in the neighborhood of 500#, but it would be more efficient where there were no steps. You can always have more than one machine.

[AndyL]

I've never even heard of yazoo or kees, do they have a website? Are they a reputable manufacturer?

Not going to carry a 21" down steps? That must really limit the work you do!

Andy

[Upstate Mike]

http://www.trailmate.com/mowers.asp

[AndyL]

Upstate mike: Man those mowers look sweet! Any experience with them?

Andy

[Upstate Mike]

Not yet,I think I am buying one today.I wont get a chance to look at it before I buy it though.They look like nice mowers and would be perfect for those small back yards with gates.I am like you and dont have the option of turning down jobs because of steps or a gate.I will take any job that I can get.The 26 inch model self propelled with a mulching deck is around 850.00

http://www.wikco.com/Keemower.html

[keifer]

There are several 26 inchers out there. billy goat makes a sweet 24. Idont know what the step thing is all about but but i can get my toro 32 in any gate i have ran across and my dealer swears he can get a 36 in in the same gate.

[proline32]

If you check with the lawnmower shop .com, they offer a brand of commercial mowers put out by sarlo mowers..... they offer self propelled models in 24", 26" and a 30" high wheel mower, they come with front swivil castors.

[larrv45390]

I have a Snaper 26" that I hate. I got it last year and I would love to put it in the bottom of a lake. Just got a new Toro 32" with 12.5hp and I love it.

[proline32]

Ahhh, so your implying the 26" snapper would make a better "boat anchor" than a yard mower. ;)

[larrv45390]

Yep!!!!!!!!!!!

[eslawns]

Everybody has reasons why they like or dislike a piece of equipment. It doesn't mean that the equipment is bad, usually it means that the owner made a bad purchase. I like Chevy/GMC trucks, but that doesn't mean Ford, Dodge, or Toyota make bad trucks. Some people who post on this site really need to get a clue.

[larrv45390]

It is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

[larrv45390]

ESLAWNS have you ever used a 26" Snaper??????????

[eslawns]

The yazoo website didn't list the old style WB, and this site listed a 22" and a 24", but the 26 I have is the same only with a 26" blade and 8.5 B/S IC engine.

http://www.nhlawn.com/yazoo_kees/yazoo_kees_walkbehinds.htm

IMO, this is what I should have gotten. BTW, Kee and Yazoo/Kees are not the same.

http://www.wikco.com/Keemower.html

Here's the Snapper...

http://www.snapper.com/residential/hwps26600rv.html

And the Encore...

http://www.trupower.com/encore/classic.htm


Not going to carry a 21" down steps? That must really limit the work you do!

Where are you that this is such a big deal? And, no, I'm limited only by my laziness, lack of creativity, and complete intolerance for such foolishness as being expected to carry a 200# machine up and down steps. But, if it works for you... :rolleyes:

[eslawns]

ESLAWNS have you ever used a 26" Snaper??????????

No. And your point is?

Every time I come to this site I have to wade through 20 posts of senseless dribble about this POS brand X, or this junk mower Y. I have yet to come across a perfect piece of equipment. I also have yet to come across anything that is as good as advertized, or as bad as some people here claim.

I can't tell you how many posts I've seen on this board about Landscaper Supply/Black Rock mowers being junk. Horse puckey. I have one, it's been as near to perfect as a machine can be. 2 things have broken: the recoil assembly on the Kawi, and the turnbuckle on the belt drive system, which I broke loosening a nut without using a penetrant. The same goes for Encore. And if you don't want your Snapper, bring it here to me, I'll make you a good deal on it.

[larrv45390]

I was just giving my opinion just as you did in the quotes I have listed below.


My Husky 48" 18 hp Kawi was $5100. Flawless cut, easy to use and maintain.

The spindles are where my complaints lie also. IMO, this is because the housings are made of aluminum. My other mowers' spindles are made of cast iron, which is much stiffer.

have a Scott's mower, identical to the 58ORSW, also made by Ariens, which I bought to replace my Ariens when it was stolen. There are 3 little design characteristics, which could be improved:

I was going to get the same mower, but I don't like the way you raise and lower the cutting height. So, I got the 48" 18hp Kawi. It's been really awesome, but I still may get a 42" as a dedicated bagger....

Yazoo/Kees is owned by Husqvarna, and their mowers (both) are excellent. Husky offers a Preferred Landscaper program, so their version of the Yazoo may be much less. My dealer sells both and the Husky...

I have the Sharp AJ-5030. It's a good printer, and does a lot of stuff, but is not as easy for non-techies to use. It was $250. I wanted the Lexmark X73 (Wal-Mart has them for $149) but they sell out...


Now if you want facts on the 26” Snapper

*If you do not sharpen the blade every day it cuts very poorly
*If you set it to low the caster wills do not work right
*If you try to cut more than 1” of grass at a time it bogs down
*The discharge shut is made so that it windrows badly
A Snapper dealer told be that the deck is the same deck they used on the old 26” rider they stopped making because the size of engine they hade to use on it to make it work right made it unprofitable to make
*The pins used to hold the caster wills on sticks out and will catch on chain link fences.
*It needs more Hp.


Yes you are right I got a bad buy but that does not change the fact that this mower is in my opinion is junk!!!

IF you want the mower come get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brucec32]

Originally posted by AndyL
I've never even heard of yazoo or kees, do they have a website? Are they a reputable manufacturer?

Not going to carry a 21" down steps? That must really limit the work you do!

Andy

Apparently Canada hasn't mastered the art of landscaping yards w/o using steps :D

[brucec32]

For anyone still interested, I saw this yard king on Ebay. More like what I was looking for, though I already got a 32" Toro instead. I KNEW someone made a more conventional looking 26" mower.