Need another mower...any advice

[nmccoy1]

I just sold my walker mower because I hardly bag any yards and now I need to find something else. I've also been running a 44 inch ferris. All I mow are residential properties, about 35 and I need something to replace my walker. Any suggestions? I would like to use something that I can get in most of the gates. I'm open to mid mounts and standers. Do most of you side discharge and if so do your mowers ever leave clumps? Exmarks, toro, wright?? I'm looking to spend up to $7,000.

[bdlawncare]

I mow a lot of resi properties and use a 52" and 36" Scag V-Ride. The mowers have been wonderful, Reliable, Powerful, Fast, and most important they cut great especially when side discharging, I would just recommend Gator g6 blades. If the grass is when you may get an occasional clump however not often, just take it a little slower if it is wet. I have cut side by side with a few wright standers and there is no comparison. Check em out i think they meet your budget too!

[nmccoy1]

Do you have to double cut in the spring and do you side discharge all year?

[tinkerlawn]

Originally Posted by nmccoy1

I just sold my walker mower because I hardly bag any yards and now I need to find something else. I've also been running a 44 inch ferris. All I mow are residential properties, about 35 and I need something to replace my walker. Any suggestions? I would like to use something that I can get in most of the gates. I'm open to mid mounts and standers. Do most of you side discharge and if so do your mowers ever leave clumps? Exmarks, toro, wright?? I'm looking to spend up to $7,000.

What part of KS are you in? For a strictly residential route we've had the best of luck with 36" hydro walk behind (exmark turf tracer hp & hustler trimstar) and a 48"/52" stander. I know a lot of guys that run all standers and have good luck with it, but I've always had a few accounts where I've needed a walk behind due to steep slopes, or other misc circumstances.

As for clumping, it usually happens with the extensive spring growth. All of our mowers are side discharge and all of them will clump when your cutting a lot off, you just have to expect it. Everyone has their different tastes in equipment, this has what's worked for me. I personally would demo a few units so you can see what the cut quality and different features each unit offers. Best of luck!

[nmccoy1]

I'm in Wichita. Im going to check out the exmark dealer here in town. I've seen the finish on the turf tracer and it looks great. Do you double cut in the spring when it's tall? What blades do you use?

[nmccoy1]

Tinker, what kind of stander do you all use...exmark?

[tinkerlawn]

Originally Posted by nmccoy1

I'm in Wichita. Im going to check out the exmark dealer here in town. I've seen the finish on the turf tracer and it looks great. Do you double cut in the spring when it's tall? What blades do you use?

Yeah, all exmark decks produce a nice finished cut. It kind of depends, we will only double cut if it needs it. Sometimes we will bag depending on how tall/wet the grass it. But yeah we never leave a yard with clumps on it, (kills the grass, looks bad, customers get pizzed you know the drill) Sometimes we take blowers after double cutting and break up all the clumps, I know it sounds kinda complicated but I like to keep my customers taken care of. We run medium/high lift oregon fusions year round.

[tinkerlawn]

Originally Posted by nmccoy1

Tinker, what kind of stander do you all use...exmark?

We run wrights, but i've heard good things on the exmark's, just never liked the exmark dealer up here.