LESCO- 48 hydro, 17 kawasaki double w/ electric start

[geogunn]

I went by my local LESCO (yea or boo, depending on your point of view) for some supplies yesterday and looked at the new 48 hydro they have on sale while I was there.

this does not look like the MTD clone mower that they had out for the last couple of years. this one looks like the good mower they've made for years with the HEAVY DEEP DECK.

it's a fixed deck design and looks like it's solid as a rock. just like my old belt model that takes a licking and keeps on mowing!

this unit is on sale for $3299 for only a short while longer. the electric start (which I really don't think I prefer) seems to be about a 200 dollar option.

I've been looking at hydro's for a while and I think it will be about impossible to beat this unit for the money.

again, this one doesn't look like the MTD unit at all. the hydro valve controls and all that stuff looks different.

GEO

 

[G & S LANDSCAPING SERVICE]

I PURCHESED A 48" HYDRO FLOAT-DECK WITH 17H.P. TWIN.IN 1999,AND HAVE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH THIS UNIT,I PURCHESED IT ON SALE ,AND RECIVED A BACKPACK BLOWER FOR FREE.I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE LESCO POWER EQUIPEMENT,AND THATS OK TOO.IT IS INPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD DEALER, SERVICE DEPT. AND PARTS MANANGER,THAT YOU TRUST ,AND SEE YOU AS A REPEAT CUSTOMER, MORE THAN JUST A SALE.MINE WAS IN FOR SERVICE AND MY DEALER GAVE ME A LONER MOWER TO USE FOR THE DAY.I ALWAYS LIKE THERE COUSTOMER SERVICE,BUT CHECK OUT YOUR DEALER IN YOUR AREA, ASK QUESTIONS ,INFORMATION IS FREE.

 

[champion]

I also bought the lesco 54 hydro with the floating deck in spring of 2000 I think its a excellent mower the only thing i did not care for is the shallow deck it clumped in tall grass. But the cut was awsome. I paid $4200.00 on sale and they gave me two new trimmers also. I had a relay switch go out and I had to take it to Toledo to get it fixed it toke them 5 days to do it with no loner

 

[moonarrow]

I will never own another piece of lesco equip I had one just like the one you are talking about and was very dissatisfied it stayed in the shop as much as in the field glad to get rid of it if you buy one I wish you a lot of luck

 

[geogunn]

hey moonarrow--can you tell us what the problem was with your unit?

we need to know. was it the kawasaki motor? was it the deck? was it the hydro pumps? whatinthehell was the problem?

easy to call it a POS but we (myself and others that might consider purchasing this unit) need to know whast the facts are.

that's why I made this post! thats why there have beem 101 views since I posted this topic to this point!

as a fellow forum member, please give us the hot poop!

GEO

 

[moonarrow]

sorry for not being more spacific, we ha a lot of problem with the motor, but also others problem, we had to continuously replace the castors because of the shafts breaking, also lots of problem with the spindle bearing, and hydro pump problems and this mower was bought new,problems started at about 200 hrs. machine had 1500 hrs on it when we got rid of it and it was worn out Hope this helps you Good luck

 

[lawrence stone]

Just don't know how you can stand those pistol grips.

Got on one once with a sulky at a lesco open house and I could not steer the thing. Plus having my hands wider and lower was strange vs. a t-bar.

I would invest into a Toro or Hustler hydro walk behind b/4 any pistol grip machine.

For a little more money you could get a wright stander.

 

[geogunn]

thanks moon--but I don't really understand what the problem is with the manufacturer of the lesco machine.

the kawasaki engine is the same one that's used on many different brands. any complaint about the engine shouldn't be the fault of the mower.

I cant figure out how you could break a caster shaft. my lesco 48 belt is eight or nine years old and and I've banged everything in town with mine with no damage to the casters. and they are the same casters used on skags. I've never heard a complaint about them.

the hydro motors I can't speak about but they are probably the same used on other units, I just don't know that much about the subject.

the LESCO rep agreed that the hydro unit with the wierd floating stamped deck was a POS. he said they had bunches of problems with that one.

anyway, thanks for yout comments.

GEO

 

[geogunn]

mister stone, how do you steer those toros with that t-bar?

I expect you to answer "very well, thank you!"

I do need to check a toro out one of these days. in this town the toro dealer doesn't seem to promote any commercial buisness. he does push the four legged wheel horse junk however. he also sells electric shavers and reconditioned black and decker tools, none of which will find a home in my palacial country estate. LOL!

I have been diagnosed as having "mild carpal tunnel syndrome". the specialist does not think that it is a result of mowing with a pistol grip unit because he said he didn't see patients from the lawn industry with the problem. he does insist that he sees patients with repetitave keyboarding injurys all the time. I know that you propose the t-bar as being easy on the wrist so I really ought to try it I suppose.

GEO

 

[Michael Fronczak]

I have a 48" hydro-fixed deck 1 1/2 years old no mafor problems, bent a thottle plate warrantied. Also have a 60" Viper, 2 years old, spindles went last season, no longer warrantied. I ALWAYS get a loaner(demo unit) for free, when my equipment is in. Bought Kawasiki trimmer & backpack from them past season also. Service is good to great at rochester store even when they didn't have a full time mechnic.