if youre only cutting 25 times per year for 20 minutes at a time, a homeowner unit might do just fine

 

A 36" walk behind would be perfect for you. Yeah belts are inferior to hydros for sure, but you're cutting your own, 1/4 lawn. I have a belt drive bobcat 48" and cut 40 lawns a week part time. Trust me it'll be fine.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

I second the 36" belt drive. While a hydro is much nicer, if your only doing your own lawn, its more than enough mower and you should be able to get a good deal on one this time of year.

 

What brand? A lot of the dealers around here are out of stock on 36" walk behinds. We have scag, exmark, gravely, ferris, hustler, bobcat, Toro.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

Go with one of the belt walk behinds. A zero turn is overkill for a 1/4 acre patch of grass.

 

What brand? A lot of the dealers around here are out of stock on 36" walk behinds. We have scag, exmark, gravely, ferris, hustler, bobcat, Toro.
Posted via Mobile Device

All are good, and everyone will tell you something different.

My recs are:
Get a kawi engine, if you can't, settle for a kohler. Do not get a Briggs.

I'm a big exmark fan, especially when it comes to walk behinds. Toro stuff is good too, same company, but exmark stuff holds up better I think. Just from what I've seen. More than likely just a fluke. But exmark is the way to go I think.

Bobcat will get the job done and holds up, scag stuff holds up real well, no experience with gravely or hustler. Ferris mowers stripe real nice but The company I worked for previously had a lot of problems with newer models. They are great mowers, I loved using them, but the problems the last year I was there really turned me off to them.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

All are good, and everyone will tell you something different.

My recs are:
Get a kawi engine, if you can't, settle for a kohler. Do not get a Briggs.

I'm a big exmark fan, especially when it comes to walk behinds. Toro stuff is good too, same company, but exmark stuff holds up better I think. Just from what I've seen. More than likely just a fluke. But exmark is the way to go I think.

Bobcat will get the job done and holds up, scag stuff holds up real well, no experience with gravely or hustler. Ferris mowers stripe real nice but The company I worked for previously had a lot of problems with newer models. They are great mowers, I loved using them, but the problems the last year I was there really turned me off to them.
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks for the info. I can get a 36" exmark metro for $3600, 36" Bob cat for $3300, 36" scag for $3800. Toro T bar 36 for $3500. Also, a hustler trimstar for $4500. Leaning towards the exmark.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

Thanks for the info. I can get a 36" exmark metro for $3600, 36" Bob cat for $3300, 36" scag for $3800. Toro T bar 36 for $3500. Also, a hustler trimstar for $4500. Leaning towards the exmark.
Posted via Mobile Device

Look more at the engines, hp and brand when comparing prices
Posted via Mobile Device

 

The HRX is the best mower for you. If you were doing this as business, then the 15 minutes you might save is important because you would save that time on 20 or so lawns a day, giving you a lot of extra time to make more $.

I would take the 5-6 K and invest it in something, then when you get tired of cutting your own lawn, take the dividends or profit from that investment and use the $ to pay someone to cut it for you.

 

All of the brands you listed are great. I prefer Exmark just because of the ECS handles. Very comfortable.

 

Every one of the 36" mowers listed uses the 14.5hp Kawasaki FS481V engine.

I like the idea of investing the 5-6k, but the return on investment these days is small. If I could cut my mowing time in half that would be more valuable.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

32" Ferris Hydrocut.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

32" Ferris Hydrocut.
Posted via Mobile Device

The 32" Hydrocut is no longer being made.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

Every one of the 36" mowers listed uses the 14.5hp Kawasaki FS481V engine.

I like the idea of investing the 5-6k, but the return on investment these days is small. If I could cut my mowing time in half that would be more valuable.
Posted via Mobile Device

For the cost of the mower, maintenance , fuel, etc, you could hire someone to cut you lawn for about six years. That's a big time savings

 

For the cost of the mower, maintenance , fuel, etc, you could hire someone to cut you lawn for about six years. That's a big time savings

That's like leasing a car. Puts my problem off 6 years. In 6 years, mowers will be even more expensive!
Posted via Mobile Device

 

That's like leasing a car. Puts my problem off 6 years. In 6 years, mowers will be even more expensive!
Posted via Mobile Device

ya but the lawn mowing rates will have dropped LMAO!!!!

 

Every one of the 36" mowers listed uses the 14.5hp Kawasaki FS481V engine.

I like the idea of investing the 5-6k, but the return on investment these days is small. If I could cut my mowing time in half that would be more valuable.
Posted via Mobile Device

It may cut your mowing time in half, but it will not decrease the time it takes to trim, edge and blow. You should be able to cut a 1/4 acre lot in a half hour with the HRX. So you will save 15 minutes each week by buying a 3,4,5 or 6 thousand dollar mower? It is your $, do what you want with it. It does not make sense to me. If you had a acre or more, I would understand.

 

For the cost of the mower, maintenance , fuel, etc, you could hire someone to cut you lawn for about six years. That's a big time savings

You got that right.

 

That's like leasing a car. Puts my problem off 6 years. In 6 years, mowers will be even more expensive!
Posted via Mobile Device

In six years maybe you will be living in Manhattan.

 

ya but the lawn mowing rates will have dropped LMAO!!!!

Yeah ten dollar lawns.

 

It may cut your mowing time in half, but it will not decrease the time it takes to trim, edge and blow. You should be able to cut a 1/4 acre lot in a half hour with the HRX. So you will save 15 minutes each week by buying a 3,4,5 or 6 thousand dollar mower? It is your $, do what you want with it. It does not make sense to me. If you had a acre or more, I would understand.

I can't really disagree with this. It does take a lot longer in the spring and fall when the grass is really growing. Only option is to not mulch or mow like every 3 days. That's why I'm not rushing out and buying one yet.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

What about an exmark commercial 30 instead of a 36" walk behind?
Posted via Mobile Device

 

I have the Exmark 30. We have had a few problems with it, but it has been repaired under warranty. I cut about 10 times more turf each week with it than you do, so if I had the three problems over ten years it would not upset me.

The HRX mulches high grass a tiny little bit better. I have hrx's also. The 30 moves a lot faster, mulches fine if the grass is dry and not extremely high. They are both easy to switch from bagging to mulching. The HRX with the clip deflector is super easy.

I also have Exmark belt, hydro and a Z. One thing to consider, if you want to save time, is that is a lot easier to clean the bottom of the decks on the 30 and HRX. You just tip them on their side. It takes two minutes to clean. The others you have to tilt the mower backwards with the rear wheels and prop the front and lie under it to clean it. It might take you 5-7 minutes. So you can deduct that from the time your saving by going bigger.

If I was you, I would wait until the kinks were worked out on the 30" and buy that. This is assuming you do not have steep hills. The 30 does not climb hills over 30 degrees well. Maybe that will change also.

 

The 32" Hydrocut is no longer being made.
Posted via Mobile Device

WOW! I guess I understand as I've never seen anyone here with one. Shame though great bang for the buck. I love mine.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

I have the Exmark 30. We have had a few problems with it, but it has been repaired under warranty. I cut about 10 times more turf each week with it than you do, so if I had the three problems over ten years it would not upset me.

The HRX mulches high grass a tiny little bit better. I have hrx's also. The 30 moves a lot faster, mulches fine if the grass is dry and not extremely high. They are both easy to switch from bagging to mulching. The HRX with the clip deflector is super easy.

I also have Exmark belt, hydro and a Z. One thing to consider, if you want to save time, is that is a lot easier to clean the bottom of the decks on the 30 and HRX. You just tip them on their side. It takes two minutes to clean. The others you have to tilt the mower backwards with the rear wheels and prop the front and lie under it to clean it. It might take you 5-7 minutes. So you can deduct that from the time your saving by going bigger.

If I was you, I would wait until the kinks were worked out on the 30" and buy that. This is assuming you do not have steep hills. The 30 does not climb hills over 30 degrees well. Maybe that will change also.

Thanks for the information.

I looked into buying an Exmark 30 last year and the dealer did not recommend it to me because he said it was a single speed and only meant to go the max speed. He said if it was operated slower, then the belt would prematurely wear out. It didn't make sense that Exmark would make a mower that would only go 4.3mph or whatever the max speed is. A few weeks later I called Exmark and they said it could be operated at any speed.

I know people have brought up concerns with this mower before. Wondering if Exmark is working on anything to make it better.

I still like the idea of the 30 and at half the price of a 36" metro it seems even better especially given my small lawn. My lawn has a gradual grade to it in the back. Nothing I would consider steep. 15% grade maybe?