advice needed

[special ED]

I know that it is early but i`m thinking ahead ,I will be looking for a lawn tractor to mow grass and hoping to get your imput good or bad ,maybe where to go ,someone to talk to thank you in advance

[CLach]

I have a John Deere ride on lawn mower that I maybe selling soon.  It doesnt even have 8 hrs on it yet.  Brand new only used it this yr to mow my lawn.  I can give you the specs on it tomorrow.  My wife and I maybe relocating back to MA within the next 2 months...so we are planning on selling the house in Fairfax and selling off some unneeded furniture and equipment when the time comes. Let me know if interested and I'll put the specs on here tomorrow.

[Henry]

Hi Ed,

I have one of the New John Deere Lawn Tractors.  I believe these new ones are not made by John Deere and supposedly are not as heavy duty as the old ones, however, the one I bought back in 1985 and used for about 20 years costs me around $2500 when I bought it.  The new one which has a much bigger motor and a 42" deck instead of a 36" deck cost me around $1700.  Both have Automatic Transmissions which is absolutely a necessity as far as I am concerned.  My original was bought up at Boucher's in Swanton which is now Harvest something where I bought my last one.

Some people tried to talk me into the 0 Turn type mowers you see around town, but at the speed I see them travelling, God only knows what I would mow down.

[trussell]

Last time I checked, John Deere still manufactures their own tractors.  Henry, I know that your model was, in fact, manufactured by Deere.

[Henry]

Poor Trevor, he made I don't know how many trips to my house - He was working in the parts department up at the John Deere Place when I bought mine.  The kids wanted me to have a special back saver seat and the parts department told me they couldn't get one for it.  Trevor disagreed with them and followed up and sure enough, I do have one of those seats on my tractor.  Trevor doesn't work there any more, but I sure am very grateful to him for all his hard work to keep this old guy happy.

[special ED]

trevor knows my yard I think? very hilly ...I have a craftsman right now but I rolled it this last summer/fall and it still runs but I dont want to go through that again and was wondering if on kind is better than another for hills .I beleive they are all made in china anymore?

[trussell]

No Ed, most are made in Mexico.... I'd recommend not mowing steep hills to begin with!  a z-turn, having a low center of gravity and easy (once you get used to it) maneuverability is probably the way to go.  Unless you're going to go with a Deere, Toro, or other higher-end tractor, the Craftsman, Husqvarnas, MTD's are all pretty close in construction/durability/performance.

[roadrnnr]

I would Stay away from Craftsmen If I were you.

I bought their biggest baddest tractor a few years ago and the deck pulley broke the first summer. I had to wait two weeks for some one to come look at it and another two weeks for  them to ship me a new deck.

The next spring the same part broke again and again another month waiting to get it going.

And you all know how fast grass grows in Fairfax!

I complained and wanted them to take it back but they would not help at all. I Even went as high as the corp office in Chicago and got nothing but the runaround.

They kept telling me they would continue to replace the deck as long as it was under warranty,(Two Years) and then I was expected to buy a $1000 deck every year I guess.

I got rid of it and got a Ferris Zero turn over at Exit 18 in Georgia, whom I would highly reccomend

Sears is not the Sears we all grew up with.

Most of their stuff is junk and they won't stand by it anymore.

[PotterFXFD]

 I bought a Cub Cadet a couple of summers ago, bad choice. It mows nice but has been in the shop 2-3 times each summer. With a couple week wait for parts twice, pulleys and spindles for the deck . They must all be made in the same factory.

[Loctavious]

I'll second the "Not the Sears of Old" sentiment.  I bought a leaf blower a few years back.  Towards the end fo the first season, i started it, somethign sounded loose and then it never started again.  When we finally got it to the shop ( in williston) they said a part inside ( a piston i believe) had broken and it would be cheaper to buy a new one.  I just kicked out $99 for something that i used maybe 15x.  Oh yeah - it cost $50 for them to tell me it was junk and that they could trash it for free.  I took it with me as i knew they'd use it for spare parts and make even more money off me.

Now i rely on the good old back and rake to get it done!

[special ED]

thank you for all the replys,....does anyone know anything about the D R lawn mowers? the ones from shelburne ,I looked at their web sight very neat looking it goes from a push mower to a rider by flipping the handle bars over . I do not know if it would be good on hills but I would imagine that I could just get off my fat butt and push it up the hill LOL....

[roadrnnr]

thank you for all the replys,....does anyone know anything about the D R lawn mowers? the ones from shelburne ,

Don't know which mower you are reffering to but my brother in law bought one of those you walk behind and turn into a brush hog.

Looks like a nice quality machine and heavy duty