Thread: Ride on mowers - advice needed

Originally Posted by rovercare

Frank, sounds as though some glyphosphate and brush off Is what you need

Rovercare, my favourite gardening tools, Regards Frank.

I have read the thread a few times through and am much the wiser...thanks for all the sincere contributions guys!! I will do some shopping now with more knowledge and info about what can and should do what!

Originally Posted by Tank

Well Casper, maybe you should come and have a look at my 1+acre block that has a 2m drop over 6m and is covered in tussocky razor grass, vines, long runner grasses, low thorny/woody bushes, blackberry, Rotten Roger and thousands of sticks and granite rocks etc. Have never had a problem with throwing belts, have adjusted the discs about 5 times in 10 years, gone through plenty of blades of course, I run 4 at the moment. Have never had a problem with traction even on wet grass and soil, pulled heaps of Rotten Roger out of the ground. When my next door neighbour moved in a few years back he bought a green (thingy brand) ride on mower, against my advice he bought one with bar blades, first time he hit this stuff they call grass down here he threw his belts, also burning them out in the process. He tried again same result, ended up borrowing my Cox and had the job done in under and hour and parts of his block are steeper than mine.
I have only ever done oil and filter changes and adjust the disks with the gauges supplied, not one single item has broken, have not lost or burnt out a belt, I recommended one to a mate in Queensland who has nothing but bracken and scrub and over 5 years now has no complaints. I would be interested to know why you reckon a solid axle Cox is is no good on anything but a flat block and only good for a lawn, so totally wrong, it shows you have never used one in conditions like mine is used and I don't class $3500 10 years ago as cheap, or an oversized domestic mower, Regards Frank.

No offense was intended Tank, but as I said Tank, your either lucky or your a damn good operator and Like Rovercare said, Glysophate is your friend.

If you want to know where I get my opinion, I wish I had photo's of the pile of old Cox ride on's behind the shop I used to get parts and stuff from where I knew the mechanics there quite well.

Being a machinery mechanic myself (bigger stuff that is out of the price range of these mowers) I can generally see what's a good machine and whats not.

There are obvioulsly different models aswell so there may have been one or 2 models which could be the ones which I have seen which are not up to snuff.

I'm just saying, for my money I would be staying away from them just from what I have had to do with them but if your happy with yours then good for you.

I will fully agree with the swing back blades, I have a couple of broken gearboxes from F1145 John deere decks in my shed which Im trying to work out how to repair them as they only have a couple of hours on them.

It may be worth your while to look at the auctions for an outfront commercial mower like a Kubota, John Deere, Toro, Iseki or Jacobsen.

All of these will be more expensive for parts but will more than likely not break very often if ever with just cutting only a few acres.

I just picked up a bit of a beaten up F1145 for a mate for $1500 in need of a battery, a jockey wheel and a bit of a grease up and sharpen the blades.

He's just bought a 5 acre block and it's great, cost him about $2500 with purchase, parts and labour to get it going, doesn't look great but I doubt he will be able to hurt it.

Good luck with what ever you purchase.

Cheers Casper

I have a couple of broken gearboxes from F1145 John deere decks

these come with the new deck.

the original slasher blades allready have the holes drilledfor common swing blades and you cut of the unwanted ends.

i luv Zero in a bottle

I have a fairly flat 1 acre block of which 1/2 - 2/3 is mowable. Of that, one half is lawn and other half rough grass amongst the trees.

I have been looking at a Rover 15/38 Raider mower.
15/38 Rover Raider Ride On Mower

Anyone have anything constructive to say about "Rover" mowers?
Is 15HP enough to push a 38 inch cutting deck?

For $150 more, they offer a 17.5HP/42" model. I don't need the extra cutting width, but is the extra HP worth it?

Cheers

Originally Posted by Platypus

We recently purchased a Grillo Climber as we have 10acres and some very steep slopes. Previously had a Simplicity but it wasn't up to the task and was a pain to repair. Grillo is expensive but you get what you pay for. It's built like a Kaymar bar, very solid, quality construction and you sit in it rather than on it. Copes with grass up to 2 meters tall, wet grass and steep slopes both up and down and cross slope work. Also very economic on fuel ESP as it's a twin B&S motor. The local DSE in the Otways area are getting the same machines for their slope ability. Good brakes, tractor tyres and locking diff. My wife was the one who researched and chose it!
Hope this adds to your database of possibilities.
PaulB.

X2 I'll get some pikkies up soon.

For $150 I'd be getting the extra HP and wider cutting deck. I have a 54" cutting deck and would love a wider one. 15hp is not a whole lot and the extra HP is really handy when the grass is thick and/or long or the cutting deck starts to clog.

Only ones i've had experience with are cox,craftsman and mtd.COX,first one i bought[3 acres]was an old beige 11 hp honda 28"deck.Cut anything.Deck finally rusted out too bad to fix.Great mower.
CRAFTSMAN,14 hp 38" hydrodrive.Slow,diff broke,not bad to drive.Wouldn't go where the little cox would though.Replaced cutter bearings and belts.
COX NEW GENERATION,16hp b&s.Good mower,a bit slow,have replaced belts and spindle bearings.I would buy another cox.All these have been second hand.
MTD,rubbish.