And the only pieces of equipment we have at the house is a wal-mart push mower, a nice Poulan trimmer and an old 1930's sickle for big weeds.
We need a lawn tractor.
I'm thinking of finding a used Simplicity or some other higher-end lawn tractor (no John Deere's). My buddy has an old 1960's Simplicity tractor that's worked great for him since his dad bought it back in the 80's. I want to find something like that for under the $500 mark. I thought the last tractor my dad bought would last longer than the 3 years it did, but it's a lost cause. It was one of the many MTD Rebranded 'Yard Machines'. Had a healthy 20hp twin opposed engine, but the carburetor is fornicatesored not to mention that the all-belt drive system sucks. It's the kind where the clutch/brake pedal moves the center pulley and changes the drive ratio. After a year, it got to the point where it wouldn't go up a hill unless the clutch was released back to it's furthest point (the 'shifter' on the side simply restricted how far the clutch released.) A year after that it wouldn't run for more than 10 minutes without pulling the choke on for a few seconds till it caught its breath again.
Anyone know what the older, high-end lawn tractors usually go for? I'd really like to find something without belt drive, but I can accept if it if has a REAL gearbox in it. I know Cub Cadets and the other shaft-drive models still command a high price, even when they're 10 or 20 years old. I'd rather maintain a tractor for 15 years than replace one every 3.
Dad bought a craftsman rider 4 years ago...I mow 3 huge yards with it very summer, had no more than oil changes and a deck belt for maintenance...been a reliable machine...but it was more than 500, too. Maybe an older craftsman be alright for ya?
Very well could be... there's a guy who lives a couple miles away that always has older lawn tractors sitting out for sale. I always see different ones there, so he must be selling them. I should stop by sometime and see what he's asking for 'em.
What kinda engine did that Craftsman have? I'm scared to get another B & S because of all the trouble i've had with 'em. But for 's sake, almost everything comes with those now. Even the little Deere's I think.
Yeah, it's a B&S...18 horse, 42" cut..and hydro-drive, we had an old massey-ferguson that was older than I am, went through several engines, the last a 10 horse tespoogeseh, it finally blew up in 2004.
Anywho, it had a gearbox on it, it was tough, but a pain to back up, or maneuver in tight spots.
People are quick to rag on the hydrostats, but I think I'll never mow another yard w/o one.
By the way, although that sman DOES have the b&s, it has a sticker on top...with no mention of the engine's origin :hick:
oh yeah, i also mow (rough guess) 15 acres or close to, between the 3 yards.
Though to be fair, I'm gonna cut back my yard at my old trailer house, and just mow around the trees i planted while i lived there. Till I leave the state, anyway.
I've got nothing against hydrostat, it's the variable pulley, all-belt system that I hate.
I had to buy a brand new lawn tractor last year after blowing the engine in my old Allis Chalmers. I've got a brand new block for the AC (16 horse kohler, cast iron block - the piston went sideways in the bore of the old one and made a BIG mess, including a hole in the block and a camshaft busted in two) but just have to make time to put it together. It's a real tractor - hydrostatic drive, two PTO's (one front, one rear), three point hitch - It's 20x the tractor the cheap 13 horse MTD I bought is. That one has the dreaded belts/pulleys/, but once I get the AC one running again it's going for sale. I should be able to get most of the $1300 I paid for it back - it's kept inside and looks brand new. Hell, just the hood of the AC tractor weighs almost as much as the whole MTD tractor. The MTD, btw, has a Tespoogeseh engine in it.
They don't build 'em like they used to, that's for sure...
Just get an Ariens and forget about it. That's all I've used and had no problems. If you want a little better, get a used JD >.<
you could always try craigslist they have them on ther all the time :D
http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/oh (http://"http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/oh")
We had an old Craftsman tractor with a B&S. Never had a problem with it. I actually miss it. The brakes didn't work and if you started out if 4th gear it always popped a wheelie...and the loud backfire and flame show upon every shut-off was fun.
We have a Husqvarna now.
I had a Simplicity that was my fathers. He bought it used and I'm guessing it was about twelve to fifteen years old. He had it about seven years then I had it about five. I finally got rid of it because the deck was rusted out and I couldn't find a new one. I had patched it so many times there were more patches than original metal. Any how in all the years my father and I both had it neither of us did anything other than the occasional belt changes, and that was a shaft drive. I am currently looking for another one.
i have a old wheel horse and i can't seem to kill it, takes a beating and still keeps going.
Our smallest Lawn mower is a 4x4 Kubota. 3 cylinder diesel engine. Fully hydro stat and two PTO's. Three point hitch. Thing is 5 years old and has only had one issue.. a hydrolic line burst (due to my Granfather jerry rigging something on it). Of course it cost 12k when we bought it. Its mowed more fields/lawns than you can imagine.
We've had several of the old lawnmowers. Had a big Cub Cadet with a 18 hp Kohler. I broke the crank in two on that...