Author Topic: Which ride on mower ? (Read 17170 times)

MarkGU · « **Reply #25 on:** November 12, 2010, 08:17:26 PM »

Quote from: Hairs on November 12, 2010, 08:15:28 PM

As long as your not cutting my grass, all's good

nope....have enough problems with my own grass thanx

krisandkev · « **Reply #26 on:** November 13, 2010, 06:13:33 AM »

I have had a Greenfield for 10 years now. (Australian made!

) It is all steel construction and that helps when you accidently hit trees etc. Mine is worked very hard, especially when we arrive home after a trip away. The only problem I have had with it is just recently. The solenoid is playing up. I will try to take it apart and clean it. Mind you a new one is only about $28. I also have fitted 4 blades rather than having the standard 2. Works a lot better and a set of blades is only about $15. They seem to last a lot longer. Kevin

dno · « **Reply #27 on:** November 13, 2010, 01:46:36 PM »

I'm with the COX mob on this one, aussie built, bomb proof, and simple to maintain, and dose a good job on an average acre

MarkGU · « **Reply #28 on:** November 13, 2010, 02:32:04 PM »

flying the John Deere flag here. 110 model with the auto drive( no belts or friction plates to wear out)42 inch cut and a stubbie holder as standard! ( get that up ya Jon Kenny Cox )

had it about 6 or so years with no warranty work done on it and still going strong.it mows ans acre block once or twice a week and even has the SWMBO using it

ya gotta love ya Deere John

rellbell · « **Reply #29 on:** November 13, 2010, 03:27:22 PM »

Well he decided when he was offered a really good deal on a Rover Cobra Zero turn with 52" cut and 23hp kawasaki motor, with rops and beer holder (he doesnt drink) we could pension the old Rover Rancher off. I put up a bit of an argument, cause the Rancher and I were good mates. We bought the Rancher second hand about 12 years ago when we purchased our 1.2acres on the edge of town. She and I did a fair bit of work, from blazing trails through 6foot high grass so as to make fences for horse paddocks, and obligatory weekends at the pony club mowing the arena (she was the fastest), and then we bought 111acres out of town, and she still went strong. Anyway he brought the new mower home, I dont think he gets to ride it as much as i do, cause i can leave work at 4.30pm (20 min drive), come home and whip the 2 acres and drive way into shape before he arrives from work to make the coffee at 10min to 6. It is definetly a fast machine, I keep the seat belt done up at all times and give everything a one foot berth, so I dont hit it and make sure I wear a good sports bra. So far the Cobra is pretty good and he can service it as well. cheers rellbell

MarkGU · « **Reply #30 on:** November 13, 2010, 03:41:36 PM »

Quote from: rellbell on November 13, 2010, 03:27:22 PM

Well he decided when he was offered a really good deal on a Rover Cobra Zero turn with 52" cut and 23hp kawasaki motor, with rops and beer holder (he doesnt drink) we could pension the old Rover Rancher off. I put up a bit of an argument, cause the Rancher and I were good mates. We bought the Rancher second hand about 12 years ago when we purchased our 1.2acres on the edge of town. She and I did a fair bit of work, from blazing trails through 6foot high grass so as to make fences for horse paddocks, and obligatory weekends at the pony club mowing the arena (she was the fastest), and then we bought 111acres out of town, and she still went strong. Anyway he brought the new mower home, I dont think he gets to ride it as much as i do, cause i can leave work at 4.30pm (20 min drive), come home and whip the 2 acres and drive way into shape before he arrives from work to make the coffee at 10min to 6. It is definetly a fast machine, I keep the seat belt done up at all times and give everything a one foot berth, so I dont hit it and make sure I wear a good sports bra. So far the Cobra is pretty good and he can service it as well. cheers rellbell

"make sure I wear a good sports bra".............hmmmmm, me thinks Speewa will be along any minute now

howsrob · « **Reply #31 on:** November 13, 2010, 08:41:28 PM »

Wouldn't go past a Toro I have owed 2 both Zero turn use it every day with my work and they don't miss a beat.
Go and have a look at the G3 can't go wrong $15000.

Rob

jtraf · « **Reply #32 on:** November 13, 2010, 09:06:27 PM »

I was in the same position last year......My parents have a 1.5 acre property and my father is in a wheel chair and unable to look after the property any longer....they used to have a toro wheelhorse with a 30in cut that was 12 yrs plus old that was a real pain to use....Would take just under 2 hours to cut 1.25 arces grass on a slight slope.

Well I lost my temper last year after it broke down again one Satuday afternoon and drove down to the mower shop with the trailer connected. I ended up with a Poulen mower......Hydro drive 42in cut 18HP Brigs motor etc etc....$2500 and it now takes me 45 mins to cut and it does a fine job of it.....should have done it years ago......Poulen is supposedly made by Husvana?? but I have had it 18mths and not had a single problem with it....it is great mower for the $$$$ and I have not regretted the purchase....

Diksta · « **Reply #33 on:** November 14, 2010, 04:04:53 AM »

I has a John Deere LT160 for about 5 yrs and it never missed a beat, and i used for more than mowing made a tipping trailer for it and carted everything around the 2.5 acres with it, the block was rather slanted as well in sections.

speewa158 · « **Reply #34 on:** November 14, 2010, 05:50:52 AM »

Rellbell I do hope you are wearing a hat ,earmuffs,sunglasses & sencable shoes when mowing ,,uuuuuuuummmm that's all you really need . Ohhh year PM me the address as I could pop over & supervise , OH&S type of thing you know .
This thread is like tojo/pootral it really doesn't matter what you use as long as it gets the jobs done .
As they go your only cutting 25 to 30 times a year on your patch, so keep it clean , blades sharp, service up & fuel fresh . Enjoy

ps , The nine fingered mower man says "don't drink & cut " OH&S wont be happy

darren · « **Reply #35 on:** November 14, 2010, 05:57:51 AM »

Quote from: speewa158 on November 14, 2010, 05:50:52 AM

ps , The nine fingered mower man says "don't drink & cut " OH&S wont be happy

How many are on the other hand?

speewa158 · « **Reply #36 on:** November 14, 2010, 06:42:26 AM »

Yeeerrr I am counting but I have to take my boots off fisrt & there laced up , that will take some time .

rellbell · « **Reply #37 on:** November 14, 2010, 08:46:27 PM »

Never fear Speewah oh&s thought about, was getting the funniest looks the other day, cause it was really dusty out on the front road, I had hat, sunnies and kerchief type thing over face to try to stop dust build up up the nose. Address, is way up the other end of the country from you. cheers rellbell

jetcrew · « **Reply #38 on:** November 14, 2010, 08:47:22 PM »

BLOODY HELL....

Murphy and his mate ...

You post up about how you have never had a problem with your mower ,and then just to make a liar out of you SHE YES SHE decides to burn the starter motor out and leave you with a broken heart and grass in need of mowing......started one minute woulkd not throw over the next tried everything and all I ended with was a cloud of smoke and a really bad smell.

So Off to find a Briggs and stratton starter motor part 693 551 aparentley this is the one for my JD with Briggs motor will post up where/who was the cheapest around... evilbay has em for abot $120. but aviod that like the plauge..

Jetcrew :'( :'(

pinko · « **Reply #39 on:** November 15, 2010, 09:28:55 AM »

My 25yo+ Deutcher bit the dust. It took anything up to five hours to manicure our 2.5 acres with it. I looked at them all for a replacement and bought a new 19.5hp. Yellow Greenfield with a briggs and stratton motor.
The deciding factor, I can service it it myself. It comes with a a very.very comprehensive service book. A diff lock easy on easy and easy off, an alloy deck that spits the clippings out or an easily fitted mulching plug that blanks of the grass exit hole. Has four separate single kick back blades not the single bar type that costs an arm and a leg. Can easily spray the drive chain with chain lube. Has three grease points. Adjustable and very comfortable seat. An engine clock. And best of all has a has a catcher that you don't have to get of the machine to empty. All pulley replacment bearings etc. can be bought at your local bearing shop. My son inlaws husky has just had the electronic blade engagement mechanism fail and cost $$$$$$,
It is so fast I can cut the grass in half the time (2.5 hrs.)
Go and have a look at one.
Stan

dno · « **Reply #40 on:** November 15, 2010, 11:51:28 AM »

Beware of belt drive rideons where the belt twist and turns under the seat, good when new, not so good later and quite had to change..

jetcrew · « **Reply #41 on:** November 15, 2010, 05:54:16 PM »

Ride on now fixed. It was the Briggs and stratton starter and solinoid that went. $22 for the solinoid and $220 for the starter :'(

Funny thing John Deere were cheaper on the briggs parts than Briggs

so thats that

Jetcrew

rellbell · « **Reply #42 on:** November 15, 2010, 10:24:42 PM »

Funniest thing since writing to tell about the dust. Had big rain on Saturday arvo, had to wade through ankle deep water and tip out 5 litres of water from the 10ltr horse feed bucket. Now the weeds are poking there heads up, cant wait for Wednesday arvo to get the Cobra out and sort them out. Woo hoo cheers Rellbell

Hairs · « **Reply #43 on:** November 16, 2010, 05:08:58 AM »

Quote from: jetcrew on November 15, 2010, 05:54:16 PM

Funny thing John Deere were cheaper on the briggs parts than Briggs ???Jetcrew

Hmmm, We had a 86 VL Turbo, the hose that runs from the top of the rocker cover to the injector box has two different size ends.
The Holden dealer was out of stock.
From the Holden dealer it was $24.95 from the Nissan dealer 45 k's away Grafton it was $54.95.
So I order one from the Holden dealer, over night it came from the Grafton Nissan dealer, had it for $24.95 and it saved me a 90k trip.
Go figure?

speewa158 · « **Reply #44 on:** December 03, 2010, 02:57:31 AM »

I heard about a bloke thats in more strife than the early settlers . His SWMBO complained about the heat of the day & mowing on the ride on , so next birthday she got a set of driving lights so she could mow at night . BRAVE MAN , even I am not that silly to try that , well I might think about it

morgue · « **Reply #45 on:** December 11, 2010, 08:03:27 AM »

Most of your original tractor ride ons for domestic work, (under 2 hectres) are made by a handful of manufacturers, the Australian Cox and Greenfields make there own, Rover, they use to be good, but they moved over to the Murray manufactured stuff, and basically its crap. Cox and Greenfield are good, spare parts are plentiful and their drive mechanism is easy and inexpensive to maintain.
Then you move into the ZTR domestic mowers, that is a different ball game and it can be expensive in the long run if you get a dud,the oil pressure grear boxes alone cost about $1000 each, plus fitting. Why the mower blokes are pushing them is that they get higher retail margins on them.
A good make 48" or 52" deck ZTR will cost you about between $11000 - $16000, there are cheaper stuff around, the second hand market is good, but check the running hours, but if you are on acreage and the terrain is marginal....its best to go for quality. This means, seperate oil pump and wheel motors on independant oil pressure lines, so if you damage a oil line, the whole machine will not lose oil and you can still limp home. In having the wheel motor and oil pump in one housing, hit a rock and damage the gearbox, you take out both in one hit $$$$$$$.

There are smaller ZTR's on the market at a smaller price...thinner decks and marginal drive systems..

Good luck treaing through the Ride on mower mine field

Hairs · « **Reply #46 on:** December 11, 2010, 08:16:14 AM »

A very good post Morgue,

rellbell · « **Reply #47 on:** December 21, 2010, 09:34:02 PM »

OH dear the Rancher bit the dust. The Nephew came out to visit and uncle brought the old Rover Rancher and started her up. Nephew was having a lovely time, till red decided to seize. Had to push it back into the shed. Bugger.

tigertas · « **Reply #48 on:** December 27, 2010, 04:41:05 PM »

Had a Murray 12 IC with 38" cut for 17 years now, cost $2100 brand new. Cuts a bit under 1.5 acres each time. 4 sets of blades, 3 batteries, lots of flat tyres from blackberry bushes, two belts (another due very soon), and just this season a new starter cog and drive plate kit. Never been properly serviced just oil kept up and hosed down after each mow. Tows around a small home made trailer carting firewood and any other rubbish as well. My front 2/3 acre is reasonably steep so it does do some work carting my bulk about.
Not bad for rubbish I reckon.

Reelaxin · « **Reply #49 on:** January 15, 2011, 12:04:25 AM »

Moved to a block just over a year ago, about 1.2 acres. I bought a Hustler Mini Fastrack, 42 inch zero turn. It is awesome. The cutting time is just over an hour, compared to amost 2.5 hours with my Dad's standard lawn trailer. It was a bit more than I wanted to spend, was close to $8K, but is great in the tight stuff. I have a lot of trees to negotiate.

Cheers.

News:

Author Topic: Which ride on mower ? (Read 17170 times)