Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Topic: Lawn Mowing time coming soon... (Read 1967 times) previous topic - next topic

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

April 19, 2007, 12:01:16 AM

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.

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #1 – April 19, 2007, 12:18:27 AM

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?

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #2 – April 19, 2007, 12:24:19 AM

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.

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #3 – April 19, 2007, 12:33:24 AM

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.

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #4 – April 19, 2007, 12:47:21 AM

I've got nothing against hydrostat, it's the variable pulley, all-belt system that I hate.

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #5 – April 19, 2007, 01:07:34 AM

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...

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #6 – April 19, 2007, 04:08:40 AM

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 >.<

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #7 – April 19, 2007, 09:39:20 AM

you could always try craigslist they have them on ther all the time :D

http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/oh

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #8 – April 19, 2007, 04:57:20 PM

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.

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #9 – April 19, 2007, 05:21:17 PM

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.

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #10 – April 19, 2007, 10:14:55 PM

i have a old wheel horse and i can't seem to kill it, takes a beating and still keeps going.

Lawn Mowing time coming soon...

Reply #11 – April 20, 2007, 01:16:43 AM

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...