“Classic” riding mower recommendations please

Hey all, I’m finally building a small home on my farm this year (and a 40x60 workshop). As such, I’ll be needing a riding mower. I’ll be mowing at least an acre.

Lots of money going out the door on this project, including a new tractor (which I will use mow rough parts, but not gonna get a finishing mower). So I want to save money on the mower but not get junk I need to throw out in a few years.

can anyone recommend brands, vintages, whatever classic models that fall into the “if you see one of these for a decent price buy it” category. I know nothing about riding mowers. But I do know that there were good models made in prior years that weren’t made in China to sell at the big box stores

Any help you can provide appreciated

 

Don't know about the newer ones but my son got ten years out of a John Deere LA 105 from Lowe's. Parts available through John Deere dealers.
If you have a dealer close by, you might check on any trade ins of more "commercial" mowers. I've heard good things about Husqvarna, too.
Son replaced his with a zero turn. Another John Deere.

 

Could always try and find a used commercial walk behind, maybe even a Wright stand on type, less $ than a mid mount and far better quality than a crappy riding mower, that will need constant work, and parts that will be hard to find for the throwaway JD riders.

 

...not a craftsman...

 

I should have mentioned can’t do ZT or anything too commercial. Kids will be riding it for a few years hopefully

 

Solid advice!!

 

What are your thoughts on getting something 'higher' quality but with a smaller deck? Maybe a 36"? I don't have anything in mind but for an acre, I bet that would do the job.

Also, you could probably get a "for parts" mower chassy and drop in a new engine?

I have been pretty pleased with my cub cadet but, it really is more power than i need. I would have gotten a 46" but the mower shop had a used and still in good shape 60" for the same price. Sign me up. Fastest sale the guy had all day.

 

The old Case/Ingersoll, Deere, Bolens, Gravely etc. were all pretty solid units. Biggest issue is worn out decks, if you can find a good one they'll last a long time.

 

A stand on type commercial is far safer than any rider, mid mount not to mention a regular 21" push mower. A commercial walk behind is a different story, not for the youngsters.

 

Avoid anything you can buy at Lowe’s or Home Depot if you want longevity. I have a Deere d140 and it’s on its last legs at 96 hours. To be clear, it’s stored indoors, oil is changed annually with Deere oil. If you tighten the gas cap, it stalls due to “vapor lock”. I am watching this post as I am in the market for a new mower myself.

 

Look for an ariens GT tractor.
They are solid, extremely well built machines.

It's really an orange new holland tractor. Front, center and rear PTO, 42, 48 or 60" decks, all sorts of implements to run, snowblower, tiller, sickle bar mower, etc, 3 point rear

 

Well, it was partially your ash takedown post with your Ariens on display that got me thinking of highly rated "classic" garden tractors. Unfortunately, the only one in Ontario is about a 12 hr drive away from me

 

It's the wrong time of year to be looking for a used mower in working order. Demand is high now. Wait until the end of the cutting season.

 

I have an older cub cadet 2166, 42" deck that needed a starter solenoid. Popped that in and it's been running strong for 4 years. I think I originally paid $300 for it. They are out there on Craigslist.

 

That's what I was I was thinking...an older Cub Cadet...

 

Is mowing all you plan to use it for? The older garden tractors were designed to be year round workhorses. Mowing, plowing snow, snowblowing, tilling gardens, plowing gardens, many could run cat 0 three point implements, etc.

The best mowing vintage garden tractor in my opinion is Simplicity. They had tons of models spread out over many years. Broadmoors, Regents, Landlords, Barons, Sunstars, Powermax's, etc. They also made them under Allis Chalmers, Agco-Allis, and Deutz-Allis at different times, all essentially the same.

 

I would get a Zero Turn type mower. Big Dog is pretty good. I have a Kubota zero turn, I bought slightly used. I have about an acre to mow in my yard. I have been using mine for 4 or 5 years now. I gave it a full service once a couple of years ago, and I think I replaced the battery a year or so ago. Other then that I just sharpened the blades a few times.

The only real issue I had with mine was that one of the safety switches has a fault in in it and can cause a problem if hot, and will die when I got up off of the seat, while the motor is running. For some reason, it wasn't getting the right signal that I had disengaged the blades and or put it in park or something. It would die and then wouldn't start for a few minutes. There's a limit switch under the seat that supposed to kill the mower if you get up, while it's in gear or the blades are moving. It's a nuisance, and I bypassed mine, now I can get off now, no matter what, with the motor running. Too much safety crap, whatever happened to relying on common sense and your own brain and judgement, to not get hurt.

You need something with over 20 horses. I think mine is 22 or so. Mine is the upper end of the home owner versions. Stay at the upper end of the home owner's or low end of the professional mowers, just like chainsaws, IMHO. You will love the zero turn if you have anything to mow around at all. Ask the professional lawn mower guys what they use.

 

I bought a new John Deere 445 back in 2000. More mower than you need (60" hydraulic with cruise). But it's a beast. It tows trailers that my Gator won't. I can plow snow, till the garden, whatever. Runs great and parts are available on Amazon and eBay if you don't want to pay dealer prices. Older units in the 300 and 400 series are pretty solid as well.