Riding lawn mower question....which one to buy

July 15, 2019, 01:07 PM

h2oys

I have a John Deere LT155 with the Kohler motor and it has been going strong for the past 19 years.

Have used Mobil 1 fully synthetic since day one and only other maintenance has been spark plug, air filter, extra set of blades, and new front tires and a carburetor rebuild this Spring.

Update: Here are the first 3 pages of recommendations from Consumer Reports:

July 15, 2019, 04:26 PM

Gene Hillman

Since the OP asked this question almost a year ago, chances are he made his decision.

July 15, 2019, 05:32 PM

Bulldog7972

quote:
Originally posted by Edmond:
quote:
Originally posted by calugo:
As usual I'm getting great advice from the members of Sigforum and I appreciate it. More than likely I'll have to buy from Lowes or Home Depot because they give 10% military discount.

Not just that but I use the HD card and the 12 months of interest free financing is very useful. I guess that's why they always raise my limit since I wait until month 11 to pay them their money in full.

I do the same thing with everything I can. I use their money, not mine. Cars, windows for the home, a new furnace system you name it. If I need it I look for the guy that has zero percent financing. My money stays in my investment portfolio and earns me money while I use theirs.

July 15, 2019, 06:05 PM

h2oys

quote:
Originally posted by Gene Hillman:
Since the OP asked this question almost a year ago, chances are he made his decision.

my fault, I only notice the fact he posted in July and missed the fact it was in 2018. Regardless someone else might find the info useful.

July 15, 2019, 06:11 PM

trapper189

Not your fault, chellim1 resurrected the thread on the prior page.

July 15, 2019, 06:49 PM

chellim1

quote:
Originally posted by trapper189:
Not your fault, chellim1 resurrected the thread on the prior page.

I do wonder what the OP decided to do.... but... Is that a problem? What is the protocol?
I was researching this topic and thought I would try to take advantage of prior posts?
I am interested in either a zero turn, a walk behind, or a JD small tractor type riding lawn mower.
Should I have tried to re-invent the wheel?
Do we need multiple threads on the same topic?

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor

July 15, 2019, 06:51 PM

h2oys

Well chellim, the pics in my post above from Consumer Reports might be of help to you then.

July 15, 2019, 06:54 PM

chellim1

Yes, thank you.
All I said was that my neighbor has a Hustler Raptor.... and it's very nice.
Maybe I should have started a new thread titled: Riding lawn mower question....which one to buy?

July 16, 2019, 07:14 AM

snidera

quote:
Originally posted by chellim1:
Yes, thank you.
All I said was that my neighbor has a Hustler Raptor.... and it's very nice.
Maybe I should have started a new thread titled: Riding lawn mower question....which one to buy?

I've had the raptor's predecessor, Fastrack 48", 18HP for 8 years & it's been a tank. Small enough to get in close, powerful enough to mow at speed & I haven't been able to tear it up. I've changed fluids & battery, nothing else has needed much upkeep.
ZT vs tractor cuts mowing time by about 40% on my 1.5 acres. I previously used 48" Husqy tractor, took a little less than 2.5hrs, now I get it done in 1.5hrs, less if I want to go fast & not do as good of a job.

July 16, 2019, 07:35 AM

doublesharp

My Big Dog (same as Hustler Fastrack) is 7 years old and has been trouble free. I found a used Raptor for my niece start of last summer and it has been trouble free. These both have Kawasaki 651 20hp engines and I like them better that the Briggs.

July 16, 2019, 10:48 AM

trapper189

quote:
Originally posted by chellim1:
quote:
Originally posted by trapper189:
Not your fault, chellim1 resurrected the thread on the prior page.

I do wonder what the OP decided to do.... but... Is that a problem? What is the protocol?
I was researching this topic and thought I would try to take advantage of prior posts?
I am interested in either a zero turn, a walk behind, or a JD small tractor type riding lawn mower.
Should I have tried to re-invent the wheel?
Do we need multiple threads on the same topic?

Maybe if you had said any of this in your resurrection post.

I wouldn't have pointed your posted out if it weren't for another member apologizing for something he didn't do.

July 16, 2019, 11:23 AM

akwalker

We have a JD that we payed about $2,500 for, it has been ok. I would buy a zero turn, had I to do it over again. Sales rep stated our yard was too small to justify a zero turn mower. My wife never let me forget that I should have bought a zero turn mower. Anyway, the JD is expensive to service, unless you do it yourself. We have had about 5 years now, and have spent around $600 dollars for basic service repairs.

July 16, 2019, 11:30 AM

bendable

fine ! be that way

July 16, 2019, 11:34 AM

Sportshooter

With an acre of trees and other obstacles my zero turn has cut my mowing time in half.
The downside with zero turn mowers is, if you get sloppy on the controls, nasty tell tale divots will start appearing all over your lawn.

July 16, 2019, 03:39 PM

h2oys

quote:
Originally posted by akwalker:
We have a JD that we payed about $2,500 for, it has been ok. I would buy a zero turn, had I to do it over again. Sales rep stated our yard was too small to justify a zero turn mower. My wife never let me forget that I should have bought a zero turn mower. Anyway, the JD is expensive to service, unless you do it yourself. We have had about 5 years now, and have spent around $600 dollars for basic service repairs.

Yikes, I've only spent $375.40 on my John Deere over the 19 years I've owned the tractor. That comes out to an average of ~$20/year.

July 16, 2019, 04:13 PM

Excam_Man

quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:

The only caveat is the dammed reverse button you have to press so you won't mow over your children backwards.

Pull the connection off the switch and jumper it with a paper clip, then it's always engaged and you can run over anything anytime in R

Part of the ignition control, so not that easy.

July 16, 2019, 04:58 PM

sig229-SAS

quote:
Originally posted by Gene Hillman:
Since the OP asked this question almost a year ago, chances are he made his decision.

--------------

Indeed true, but still some good information, sad all the big dogs who own so many brand names. You think brand XYZ is great then your read who actually makes them, in some cases what a let down.

July 16, 2019, 06:58 PM

BDA220

Whatever you buy, I suggest that having a local servicing/parts dealer is critical. Sooner or later, you will need it. Having to order parts, or, if during warranty there is no competent local source, it is a real headache.