Ride on Mowers....I want buy one.

[ramblingboy42]

I'm in the market for a ride on , have a clapped out MTD.

Looking in the $2-2.5k zone.

Every manufacturer or agent praises his stock of course.

I'd really be interested in what not to buy and why.

I like the look of the new (husqvarna derived) McColloughs

Can get a new fluid drive Rover for $2700....sounds good value.

any comments or good advice accepted , thanks

Den

[Slunnie]

John Deere, Toro and Greenfield were the ones well regarded when I bought. To be honest though, the Greenfield really did not impress me at all. I'm not sure what type of quality you will get for $2000-2500.

[jonesfam]

Cox are pretty good.
Easy to drive & maintain, B&S motor, big turning circle is my main complaint.
Mine cost more like 4k though.
Jonesfam

[Avion8]

I have had a good run with a John Deere L105 which over 3 years I have put 85 hours on. Do change the oil every 20 hours & the filter at the same time. I've had to replace several of the pulleys on the mower deck, just running rough, but our 5 acre block has lots of cape weed, & marshmallow weed that can get very tough if left too long. They are selling for about $2700 over here in the west.

[DoubleChevron]

cox and greendfield.... aussie made and tough. They don't look "fancy" like the american imports. You'll be looking at used for that money though....

I have an aussie made rover .... the only thing it's ever needed is blades, and a drive belt. The thing gets absolutely hammered. Aussie tough, never broken a deck spindle, never replaced any bearings, never broken anything. It was also useless as a mower when purchased new, I had to cut 1" out of the front of the cutter deck before it would cut grass.

My brother inlaw has 3 american import ride ons of various makes. The only thing they have in common is there all always broken.

seeya,
Shane L.

[ramblingboy42]

yes I see that DC , they are a bit more exxy than I was intending.

maybe some mower shop will have a chrissy special for me.

have done lots of searches though.

[POD]

If at all possible, get something with a hydrostatic transmission, or some other form of easy forward / reverse shift. My Kubota was out of action a few years ago with a burnt-out exhaust valve, borrowed a mate's John Deere with manual forward / reverse, the difference in useability was incredible. With the hydrostatic drive in the Kubota I never even notice how often I go backwards & forwards, but with a manual gearchange it becomes a real chore.

[Bobsdog]

I have a 5 year old 32" greenfield with a B&S motor and 200hrs on the clock. Bought it second hand 4 years ago (paid $2500) when we moved house onto a 5 acre block. It is pretty basic in its construction but its build quality is very solid. All belt driven but haven't needed to change a belt yet. I service it every 50hrs and have changed the blades a couple of times when they have become bent or chipped due to hitting rocks. The forward / rear control is via a rocker accelerator pedal so very easy. The cut finish is good but I need to keep the deck well adjusted.

Andy

[UncleHo]

I also have a Greenfield an Evo111,13hp B & S motor, all belt drive we bought it S/hand and paid $1000 for it,it has about 800 hrs on it now, we have an acre and I do the un-made road easement as well,serviced and oil changed regularly,and has a 5 litre tank,gives me more than enough to do the full house yard and footpath.:) it has only cost me for 2 front tyres as the others were bald, so next to no steering.parts are readily available :D

[Vern]

I have (well my wife does) a toro zero turn, I miss my old greenfield:)

[awabbit6]

We have a 13hp 32" Greenfield. Bought it new 13 years ago and it now has over 400 hours on it. Regular maintenance is important but they are very basic in terms of construction (think series Landy) so easy to repair. Parts are cheap too. They have a single pedal that operates a dual clutch set up (using counter rotating pulleys) for forward/reverse that is very durable. The clutches have a cork friction surface that is cheap and easy to replace.
When we bought the Greenfield I really like the hydro transmissions of the Murrays etc but the cost of repair and simplicity of the Greenfield sold me.

[ramblingboy42]

mmm , the McCullough with hydrostatic drive @ $2450 is looking good.

[Homestar]

As mentioned - the Cox is tough and reliable. Simple as a Series Land Rover too... Dad had one for years, and the FIL now has a much more modern version, but as bullet proof as the old one. In fact, it is very much like an LR - hasn't changed much in decades. If it ain't broke, no need to fix it.:)

[rocket scientist]

Even though I now have a small kubota tractor for most work, I still have the old( and I mean really old) Cox that works OK.
You just can't kill them! and easy to use.
Hydrostatic drive does make life easier.
Pete.

[Alex 110]

If you can, get a zero turn. The extra maneuverability is a real winner

Sent from my GT-I9505 using AULRO mobile app

[B92 8NW]

We have a 13hp 32" Greenfield. Bought it new 13 years ago and it now has over 400 hours on it. Regular maintenance is important but they are very basic in terms of construction (think series Landy) so easy to repair. Parts are cheap too. They have a single pedal that operates a dual clutch set up (using counter rotating pulleys) for forward/reverse that is very durable. The clutches have a cork friction surface that is cheap and easy to replace.
When we bought the Greenfield I really like the hydro transmissions of the Murrays etc but the cost of repair and simplicity of the Greenfield sold me.

Funny you mention about the clutches being cheap and easy to replace.

Mum and Dad had a Greenfield with a Honda 6.8 when my brother and I were around the mid teens and mowing the lawn at home.
You probably have that sticker that says "Avoid Wheel Spinning". Like hell we avoided wheel spinning, that Honda got revved like a turbine.

It is still going and in all those years of slamming the pedal from one direction to another on the redline the clutches have needed showed any need to replace the cork. They are a bulletproof machine.

[disco gazza]

I have an old JD that doesnt want to go.
Bought a Husky for $1000, its not that old and except for usual maintenance,it keeps on going.

Found mine on fleabay in my local area.

cheers

[Slunnie]

Hmmm, my John Deere has been an absolute cracker. 25hp, 54" cut, hydrostatic and gets nothing more than 50hr engine service and cutting deck lubrication. Admittedly I did stop doing full rev engagements of the cutting deck after I snapped a belt at 50hrs. It mows some pretty rough ground and has broken nothing (except that belt).

[Dark61]

John Deere for me.


Whatever model you go for - get the next better one up.


D

[460cixy]

If its rough going greenfield or cox the yanky stuff will just fall to bits both are made in Queensland and Aussie owned

[akula]

I have a Greenfield Evo mk2.5 or something - 13 hp B&S. Bought 2nd hand for $300, about 10 years old. Very sturdy build and nice cut. The cons are that it isn't that maneuverable and a not very wide cutting deck.

Previously had a 1992 JD 38" which was more maneuverable but less robust (but still tough). For New ones try to get a fabricated deck for longevity in rough stuff.

[potter]

JOHN DEERE.......300 MILLION AMERICANS, LITIGIOUS AMERICANS CANT WRONG.....MINES A RIPPER, 4 WHEEL STEER

[Tank]

If you have long tough grass to cut, DON'T buy a mower that has bar blades, you will forever be stalling and replacing drive belts, get a mower with the large disk (flywheel inertia) with 2 or 4 blades around the circumference.
If you will be mowing on slopes with wet grass (slippery), go for a solid axle or you will be sliding and getting bogged.
Go for a mower that doesn't have a gear box (auto or not), go for a mower with one pedal that you push forward to go forward and push back to go back, with your foot.
I have just described a COX Stockman, had mine 11 years now, have a 1 acre block covered with long tufty grass, blackberry, razor grass, bracken, lots of fallen twigs, rocks, in other words rough as guts and the back section is steep as well.
Never had a breakdown, on my second battery, neighbour next door asked what mine was like, told him, his missus said no she liked the pretty green one.
First day he used it burnt and snapped the drive belt on the many creeper vines which abound here, wrapped around those useless bar blades, he borrowed mine and had the job done in an hour, Go Cox, even if you get a good second hand one, Regards Frank.

[Scouse]

If you have long tough grass to cut, DON'T buy a mower that has bar blades, you will forever be stalling and replacing drive belts, get a mower with the large disk (flywheel inertia) with 2 or 4 blades around the circumference.
If you will be mowing on slopes with wet grass (slippery), go for a solid axle or you will be sliding and getting bogged.
Go for a mower that doesn't have a gear box (auto or not), go for a mower with one pedal that you push forward to go forward and push back to go back, with your foot.
I have just described a COX Stockman, Sounds just like a Greenfield too :)
My old 1987 12/32 Anniversary (with a 17hp donk) gets a good workout without too much complaint.

[wrinklearthur]

It's early days yet as I haven't owned our Husqvarna R13C for long, but I love this one for being able to cut close around trees and to get under bushes, the hydrostatic transmission is way ahead of the gearbox on our previous 38" MTD and the Husqvarna's turning circle makes the MTD look stupid.

Reversing a trailer is so easy with this mower as it has articulated steering.

http://www.macarthurmowersandmarine.com.au/Husqvarna%20R13C%20Rider%20Zero%20Turn%20Mower/slides/IMG_0287.jpg

The Con; The lack of brakes on the front axle is down right dangerous and is on the top of the list to be modified. There has been some skid mark's left behind in more ways than one! :eek:
Another modification to be done is a power feed from the battery for the trailer this is to run a spray unit for watering the young trees.
.

[PLR]

We have a Greenfield 13/32 has a diff lock which you remember you`ve used when you can`t steer it and as with any briggs keep oil in it and change it regular . The alloy deck is a winner .

Greenfield and Cox both seem robust .