Re: Tractors -vs- mowers
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Posted by Paul Fox on August 26, 1998 at 13:12:25:
In Reply to: Tractors -vs- mowers posted by Richard on August 26, 1998 at 06:28:59:
: I don't know much about tractors. I read come comentary here once regarding for example a Craftsman riding mower. The comentary was pretty bashing on it one reference was that instead of using bearings (ala tractors) it used bushings. : The thrust of my questions is how does a John Deere riding mower stack up? I say a "riding mower" since I was only looking through dealers window at 9:30 pm and saw some units that didn't have any 3 point on the back, which lead me to conclude (without verifying I must add) that these were just dedicated riding mowers. Would these type units fall withing the catagory of the Craftsman riding mower, or are these built "properly" and can be expected to live for many years? : Again, I don't know much about these and have an interest in ultimately getting a small little workhorse to use around a 2 acre tract of (currently wooded) land. Well, here's another 2 cents worth, and it's another plug for John Deere. Many other brands (Craftsman for sure, Yardman I think, and others) are actually made by MTD, and painted company colors. I have some MTD yard gear, and I'm happy with it, but I use it carefully, and only for relatively light work. But I mow a LOT of grass, and Maine lawns will never be mistaken for putting greens, so I need rugged equipment if it's going to last. I have a John Deere LX178. It's a 15 horse water-cooled two cylinder Kawasaki, with hydrostatic drive and a 38" deck. Yes, it was expensive, twice as much as a 38" transaxle Craftsman. But I expect to will this unit to my grandson. I've had it three years now, it never breaks down, other than fluids and filters and blade sharpening, it doesn't need much maintenance, and it's cut my mowing time in half. I make a fair bit of "pin money" keeping a couple of local Craftsman mowers running for neighbors, typically spending $100 to $200 per year on belts, spindles, blades, replacing worn out mower decks, welding up cracked frames, etc. The LX178 probably won't be big enough for you if you plan on doing anything other than mowing and maybe towing a lawn cart around, but your friendly local John Deere dealer can sure fix you up with what you need. Be prepared for sticker shock, but in the long run, the best you can possibly afford is the cheapest.
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