Just curious..I have never cut with one, but I just don't understand all the hype. I know they have a great purpose in some situations. For instance, you can get 3 on a trailer by turning them sideways. So I get that it would be great to have an extra machine instead of another crew running around. But other than that, I have heard people say that their productivity went up with one etc....I just don't see how. I would rather sit than stand. No it really doesn't matter on a yard you can mow in 10 minutes, but I just don't see why it would be better to stand than sit. I guess the only other situation I can think of that it may be useful is if you wanted to have a 60" rider and maybe a 48" stand on for smaller yards. Is it just the in thing, or are they really that great?
Why do so many people like the stand on mowers?
landscaper22
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I hope it's true as well. Seems like there were a few others here that heard it as well.
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if i had small properties i could see using a 48" or 52" stander. i've never really understood why they make 60" or 72" standers. might as well get a sit down if you are going that big because who wants to be standing mowing bigger properties that take hours to mow? i dunno just my thoughts on it. it's one thing to mow something that takes 30min or less. no big deal but when mowing for 2-3 hrs at a time it seems like sitting down would be the better option.
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So the rain started at 9 ish. I continued to cut. Don't have time to stop and loose the day. I wiped the mud and grass off it but it was caked on. Check the deck. This is a 652r with 27 lawns on it today. I only post this because there is literally no build up on this deck. So its not a 7iron. It really cuts and it really cuts fast brother.
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I don't want to start an argument, but I have read the term "trim mower" on here many times and I understand the concept, but I honestly don't see the need. No matter what the situation as far as obstacles I always just use the weed whip. I can't imagine grabbing a 21 when I'm already going to string trim anyway.
Caveat: I'm not saying I don't use a 21 as a stand alone mower on tiny lawns, but when using the v ride I never grab the 21 too unless it's a gate issue.
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LOL...You know what, my goal this second time around of building my business is to not use a 21" push at all. I have not used one in awhile. Not because I am lazy, but there is no money in it to me. I have used it plenty before I got out of business full time the first time. I always said, if I ever get a chance to start over, I will not push any yards. If the price is right I will, but most people don't want to consider the extra time it takes to push one. I will consider getting a smaller stand on one day if it comes to that, but I won't use a 21" if I can help it. I would rather trim a patch with a string trimmer too. I am particular about what jobs I pick up and I make sure all areas are accessible by my rider.
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I rarely get off either. I was saying in an earlier response that I carry my grabber with me on the mower at my large account. they have some major trash there. I curse if I have to get off my rider. lol
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The yards here are not any better. I don't think anyone grades well any more. I feel like I am being beat up half the time when i mow.
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Some resis hate big Z's on their lawns. They seem to like my little Vride 36 though.
with a small bit of practice we are able to pop the front end up on our vrides very easy and without much stress on the machine, sort of like a motorcycle wheely, except the vrides are nearly balanced directly on the rear wheels, so lean back a bit and with some hand work on the levers you could ride a "wheely" all the way up the street if needed. i do it all the time to avoid scalping high/low spots, it is very easy since the operator is behind the axle(easier if over 200lbs). i have gotten to the point where i will pop it up on a jack stand for deck cleaning/blade sharpening. the great thing is you would need to be way out of control to flip backwards, since the foot platform will touch the ground first, thus changing the balance and letting the machine go back down. i would not teach this to a so called "lawn monkey" but it is a nice skill to have.
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Well 48s do fit in a 48 gate
The gate needs a few inches for hinges and latch.
Trouble is
It's a 48" opening
Not a 48" gate.
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21,757 Posts
Agreed
A walk behind allows more versatility in crappy situations
A walk behind with a velke gives the operator the widest range of opportunity to service a random customer base.
As a mowing company "matures" they tend to collect more of one kind or another lawn,
When most of your lawns are xyz or abc , you buy the mowers that best service your list.
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I went and ended up with a 36" vride to replace a belt drive 36 for gates. I was very impressed with the versatility and ability of the little 36" to hold slopes. I seem to have clients all on 15*+ hills or .8-1.5 acre soggy-marsh plots. I'm just building up some savings to replace my last walk behind with a 52" stander I like them that much. I've never considered a sit down because of the weight, trailer space and utility, and price for that matter. Most standers are $3-5K cheaper than comparable sit down platform(s) with-in the same brand
They (standers) hold your average slop just as well with some body language and I've yet to fine a slop that is a no-go with the platform up.
I don't expect increased productivity from walk behind to stander because the yards are not super smooth. The potential is there as the standers have faster ground speed, but probably not measurable. I stopped using my sulky because the larger properties have so many trees and obstacles it was frustrating when having to back up a bit.
Now concerning maintenance I'm not looking as forward to the standers. Everything is so compact and you have limited tool reach to do what you got to do. I will probably plumb the oil drain with some pipe so that it does not blob all over the place. Newer model standers are easier to access, but its still tight quarters.
They (standers) hold your average slop just as well with some body language and I've yet to fine a slop that is a no-go with the platform up.
I don't expect increased productivity from walk behind to stander because the yards are not super smooth. The potential is there as the standers have faster ground speed, but probably not measurable. I stopped using my sulky because the larger properties have so many trees and obstacles it was frustrating when having to back up a bit.
Now concerning maintenance I'm not looking as forward to the standers. Everything is so compact and you have limited tool reach to do what you got to do. I will probably plumb the oil drain with some pipe so that it does not blob all over the place. Newer model standers are easier to access, but its still tight quarters.
your Vride should already have a drain valve and hose on it that runs underneath the mower. Look right under the oil filter. Only mess at all is when removing filter.
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sorry if I was confusing. Yes my newer model has the flex oil drain tube. Older models do not
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I spent 13 years working for a local company before starting my business, during that time I primarily used 52" and 36" Scag walkbehinds, with velkes. We also had a 61" Scag ztr and a couple old chariot style 61"s. With the chariots and the ztr my back always got tired, and getting clippings in the face sucks. Also in early spring and late fall it gets chilly sitting down.
The walkbehinds had me standing, but my knees and back never had a problem. After 10+ years I started to have carpel tunnel issues which I attribute to pistol grip mowers, hedgeclippers, chainsaws et cetera. I think the walkbehinds are more versatile than ztrs when mowing ditches or hills, especially when damp.
On the other hand, for open runs I would take the ztr because they cut the same area in less time (speed of mowing, deck size) and also the weight of a ztr is handy on larger bump fields. Try mowing a field on a 36" walkbehind, you will bounce all over the place and your lines will look like crap (ignoring how long it takes).
I have never used a stander, but I think most types of mower have a purpose in the right situation. Even those chariot styles had a purpose (they never get stuck when using the leaf plow in the fall/spring).
The walkbehinds had me standing, but my knees and back never had a problem. After 10+ years I started to have carpel tunnel issues which I attribute to pistol grip mowers, hedgeclippers, chainsaws et cetera. I think the walkbehinds are more versatile than ztrs when mowing ditches or hills, especially when damp.
On the other hand, for open runs I would take the ztr because they cut the same area in less time (speed of mowing, deck size) and also the weight of a ztr is handy on larger bump fields. Try mowing a field on a 36" walkbehind, you will bounce all over the place and your lines will look like crap (ignoring how long it takes).
I have never used a stander, but I think most types of mower have a purpose in the right situation. Even those chariot styles had a purpose (they never get stuck when using the leaf plow in the fall/spring).
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