I was cutting wood today, what else? It was the rest of a sugar maple, lady lives alone. She tells me she has a new Toro mower coming today. I wasn’t a vulture, but asked her plans for the older mowers, she has 3. She told me she thought about putting the Gravely 60” zero turn out by the road, $500. This mower has had issues 1+ years ago, new fuel pump seemed to fix it. Now she says the battery drains when it’s off. I started & drove it, fired right up, no smoke, ran fine. My almost 20 y/o Cub Cadet is having issues, testing out later today. This Gravely could use some TLC, though it has been serviced in recent years. I have 5 acres here, mow kinda half of it. I don’t mind a little work if needed. I didn’t get the hours, she got it used I think a fair number of hours. It’s built like a tank, tires good. I know it’s not a lot to go on, but I’d think the $500 is safe from an equity standpoint, like I could always get it back. Any opinion on those versed with a Gravely mower? I could come to like the zero turn.
I’ve heard they are good mowers but I’ve never owned one so take it FWIW. One consideration would be what year is it and are parts readily available?
I don’t think it’s over 15 years old. Since it’s running fine, I think my $500 is safe. I don’t know the hours, thinking 700 or so. It was down for a while with the fuel pump issue, fixed now.
Get it. Gravely is one of the best. My name is Mike, and I'm a hoarder in Ok. Lopi Endeavor and Republic 1250
Well, I would go for it. The only catastrophic failure that might be costly would be the engine or possibly the hydraulics.
$500 is nothing for a ZT. Gravely is owned by Ariens and I'm able to get any wear parts for my 30+ year old mower. Ask her if you can mow with it and if both sides act the same your probably fine.
If it starts runs and cuts for 2 years how can you go wrong? gravelly especially if it commercial is well worth it
I feel that’s a pretty low risk investment right there; especially if it runs and cuts. If you get it, give it a good once over and check all the fluids and filters. Cheap insurance.
Ok, went & picked up the mower, had to remove the discharge chute to fit in my trailer. So far I put on a few missing deck bolts, lubed & did an oil change of sorts. The oil was low & warm, with the quick drain I drained it then added fresh, I’ll get the filter later. I got attachments I’ll never use, sorting things out. Tires needed air. The SN dates to 2017-2018 online. It’s a beast, dirt simple to adjust the cutting height. The engine sounds great, 2700 hours on the meter, seems a little high. I got a bunch of blades with it, will try harder later to get one of the blades off the spindle. The blades on the deck could use attention, sharpening. With the 60” cut it makes short work of my yard. I haven’t found a grease zerk yet, the web says may not be any. There are none on the spindles, not even the front wheels, zero.
I had an engine blow up on a Toro commercial zero turn 2 years ago. It had 1600 hours on it. One of the hydros was weak. I decided to buy a new one. I got $500’for that with full disclosure of the problems. I say you did well.
Yeah that seems like a pretty good deal! Hydrogear 3100 drives...nothing wrong with that...those are serviceable and each have a filter. I nominate you for the May 1st "you suck" award...can I get a second?
I have to work a bit. The next thing I want to check is spindle condition. The blades are mediocre also, they could be replaced or sharpened too. I looked at a few spindle videos, done them before. I mostly want to check first, not blindly replace.
