Ride on lawn mowers

Chris · 31 October 2010, 19:11

I am looking into a ride on tractor mower for the new gaff. We will have about 1/2 to 3/4 of an acre of lawn to mow.

I hav looked on ebay for under £500 there seem to be a few available although I realise and am prepared for a bit of a "project"

Any advice on what makes are shite and which ones are worth looking at. I should imagine that something that has good parts availability will be essential.

Now I wonder if I could fit an etec powerhead onto a mower

Dr Doof · 31 October 2010, 19:26

Hello, I've got a husqvarna pro ride, front mounted mulching deck.

Its fantastic and you don't have to collect or dump the grass.

Much better than the bolams ride on I had before.

Husqvarna gets my vote.

Mollers · 31 October 2010, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I am looking into a ride on tractor mower for the new gaff. We will have about 1/2 to 3/4 of an acre of lawn to mow.

I hav looked on ebay for under £500 there seem to be a few available although I realise and am prepared for a bit of a "project"

Any advice on what makes are shite and which ones are worth looking at. I should imagine that something that has good parts availability will be essential.

Now I wonder if I could fit an etec powerhead onto a mower

Now you're in my area.

Honda, John Deere, Husqy and Stiga. The rest are shite.
I have a part-share in a horticultural machinery business.

I have a Husqy LT151 (15hp Kohler) here which has been F-in-Laws since new. You can have that for £600 (£1400 new)

We use diesels, but you need fair acres to justify the additional cost. I have a Kubota TG1860 (24hp Yanmar), F-in-Law runs a JD X495 (27hp Yanmar). The JD is an awesome thing.

Chris · 31 October 2010, 20:07

The LT151 sounds interesting. can you collect the grass with it or does it have a mulcher?

Mollers · 31 October 2010, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

The LT151 sounds interesting. can you collect the grass with it or does it have a mulcher?

Collector bins.

Downhilldai · 31 October 2010, 20:20

My old man runs a Husky LT100, which he had new 15 years ago. It's given no problems at all and he's well chuffed with it.

It lives indoors, which obviously helps.

Mollers · 31 October 2010, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

My old man runs a Husky LT100, which he had new 15 years ago. It's given no problems at all and he's well chuffed with it.

It lives indoors, which obviously helps.

Indoors is good, but a garage would do.

Changing gear whilst on the move knacks 'em.

Erin · 31 October 2010, 20:33

If you're buying 2nd hand, then watch out for rusted cutting decks. They rarely get cleaned properly and corrode through easily. (This comment is more for buying off ebay and shouldn't apply to anything Mollers is flogging)

willk · 31 October 2010, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Indoors is good, but a garage would do.

In the happy daze before Mrs willk, my 40" mower lived in my hallway as the garage was only a few lines on drawing paper. I wouldn't recommend it for a normal household (although it was a big hit with visiting nephews

)

Downhilldai · 31 October 2010, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

A garage is good, but indoors would do.

Fixed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Changing gear whilst on the move knacks 'em.

IIRC, the manual said to select the appropriate gear for the terrain before setting off.

Downhilldai · 31 October 2010, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

.. the garage was only a few lines on drawing paper.

Innit nice designing a new garage?

willk · 31 October 2010, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Innit nice designing a new garage?

Hoo-ya!

Garage may be a misnomer, the only time that a vehicle was in there was when the LR was getting prepped and loaded for Iceland. My builder gave me some sage advice at the planning stage - he said:

"Make it big and make it comfortable, you'll end up living there!"

Downhilldai · 31 October 2010, 20:57

Yes, I remember once, I had to put the RIB outside in the rain to do some work on the car

Mollers · 31 October 2010, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

They rarely get cleaned properly and corrode through easily. (I'm sure this comment won't apply to anything Mollers is flogging)

Are you?

Decks are always cleaned after use.

willk · 31 October 2010, 21:13

This thread just made me laugh! Recently, I was pondering the wisdom of getting a burglar alarm, but not for the house - nothing worth pinchin' in there - oh no, I wanted it for the garage...

Only now does this strike me as odd.

We should start a "Reader's Garage" section - I notice that we enjoy scoping the shelves of other blokes shed for goodies. No postcodes for security reasons, natch

Mollers · 31 October 2010, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Hoo-ya!

"Make it big and make it comfortable, you'll end up living there!"

146sqm. 2 Ribs, 3 Ride-ons and a LR.

Downhilldai · 31 October 2010, 21:28

Not a bad thing for you to be the sole key-holder for the garage. When I'm not around, Ms DHD has been known to sneak in and put bags of rubbish in there.

Mollers · 31 October 2010, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

This thread just made me laugh! Recently, I was pondering the wisdom of getting a burglar alarm, but not for the house - nothing worth pinchin' in there - oh no, I wanted it for the garage...

Too rite.

I ran a phone line through the service ducting for a dedicated alarm.

Mollers · 31 October 2010, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Not a bad thing for you to be the sole key-holder for the garage. When I'm not around, Ms DHD has been known to sneak in and put bags of rubbish in there.

Put 240 through the door handle.

Downhilldai · 31 October 2010, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

2 Ribs, 3 Ride-ons

More mowers than RIBs.

Is that allowed?