Lawn mower

When I had a John Deere 54in walk behind with a velke I figured the racers should add in a walk behind class. It'd be like a modern day chariot race!

I have 3 1/2 acres to cut nice, another 3 1/2 to bush hog semi- annually, and 1/2 mile of driveways to plow or snow blow. I started with a JD 6504x4, 10 years later bumped to a 770 4x4, both hard gear drive, so I could keep the same backhoe attatchment. 60" mower, 4' bushog, 7' york rake, 5' bucket, and a 5' Erskine snow blow attachment. along with a 8' fisher on my F250.

Now everytime we go by the John Deere dealer he has one (with AC satelite radio, etc) outside calling my name and I try to explain to the wife how much healthier it is either getting out of the cold or not getting all the pollen and dust you gain with heat/ac. @ $40K she ain't biting.......yet

harddock wrote: Nothing runs like a Deere. With the right model you can use them year round. Snow blowing, digging, loading, cutting, Almost to the point that you hate to turn off the satilite radio and jump out of the air conditioned cab.

Kevin,
I do know what you're saying about having the luxury of having bigger equipment. It's real nice!! Up north, I've got a 1969 Bolens Husky 14HP hydrostatic. That old Wisconsin single cylinder engine does put out the torque!! One of these days I want to do a complete restoration on it. I mainly use the blower on it. It's a single stage, doesn't like the gravel driveway but still gets the job done. Man, in the old days, made in the good old USA did mean something!!!

Tim D wrote: Pete, did you know that equipment with a Honda engine, the engine is not the same as a complete Honda product. Stuff like mowers, generators etc. that have Honda engines, those engines are not made in the same factory as products made completely by Honda.

Tim,
I am aware of the fact that I didn't purchase a complete Honda product, but, as mentioned, didn't want to go out and spend $600 on a Honda!! The 26 year old Honda that did finally give up was purchased at a close friends (actually the best man at my wedding) Honda cycle/power products dealership. He's always filling me in on all the news about Honda!! Since I only plan on being around cutting the grass (none up north to speak of) for just a couple more years, it was actually his suggestion to go cheap. The Honda is still better than a Briggs!!

I wish I was able to go with a Honda generator when sveral weeks ago the need came up but did end up with a Briggs. With all of our power problems and being without power for 5 days, I didn't have a choice!! It was big time slim picking around here!!

Pete, did you know that equipment with a Honda engine, the engine is not the same as a complete Honda product. Stuff like mowers, generators etc. that have Honda engines, those engines are not made in the same factory as products made completely by Honda.

I am in the office of a John Deere, I really like the stamp of 7iron deck, but I do not like to have a control layout with a few things. If you can step up a full water and electricity, it's more durable system, and gives you more precise control...

Speaking of mowing the lawn, mine really needs it since it hasn't been cut in over 2 weeks!!! However, it's like a swamp out there. We have had so much rain lately it's scary. I believe it was Thursday morning when just to the northwest of me, they had 9" fall in just a couple of hours!!

I did have a Honda self propelled and it was the greatest for 26 years. Then, the one and only day my son decides to "help", it blew the bottom seal and out came all the oil. It really wasn't his problem since no one would be able to tell the oil was blowing out the bottom when cutting the lawn but it's just ironic my son was behind it!!!

I did not what to spend $500 to $600 again on a Honda so I went over to Lowes and bought a cheap self propelled with a Honda engine.

Billy,
What do you use? I know how proud you are about that Bermuda you have down there!!

Or, a push mower and a HIWATT Custom 50 half stack.

81nautique wrote: Hey sweet now your problem is do you get PP or Stargazer on it? Sorry just an old guy getting off track again. LOl

I think im going with airguides..... im no professional.... HAHAHAHAH

My favorite when I cut residential comercial was my 48" Honda Hydro Walk behind. I don't think they were very popular but they were a great mower with an oversized hydro pump on each wheel. With individual forward and reverse made a tight cut and left little trim work. I was always told the belt drive Toro's and such had a 150 lbs limit (velky). The Honda didn't have a given weight limit. Plenty of power and no trouble even pulling the car trailer around the yard with it. If not careful it would pull you right thru a wooden fence as it out weighed the other brands too.

That mower fueled the old boat and bought toys and upgrades for 10+ yrs. A friend offered it back to me this year for $800.   

I don't know what you guy's are thinking but I personally would buy the wife the best damn mower that she deserves

Not practical for you guy's, but the one on the left hasn't missed a beat since 1959.The one on the right is a late '40's model and is retired from mowing,but still has plowing duties.So I guess the the key is quality engines.

The mower buys you time for the boat and projects. You can also use the mower to buy you the boat, but you can't cut the grass with the boat.

You guys from up north are forgetting that grass grows almost year round here and maybe more in FL. I mow weekly from April through Sept. and only get a break from cutting from Thanksgiving to about Valentines Day. With the short days I have to work weekends that time of the year and there aren't many when I cant find something to do in someone's yard.   

Does an acre and a half really justify a $7K mower?   I would think $2.5K would buy all the mower you need. Your money, but damn that buys alot of boat stuff. Hell, that'll buy you a couple of running project boats.

Joel, they are handy, I've got 52in hydro walkbehind and I'd bet it can out manouver a push mower. What you really want behind it though is a Pro Slide, you have to learn to 'dance' on and of of the vehlky, with the Pro Slide you can stay on the whole time.

my idea of mowing, is hiring a landscaper....im tearing up cause i havnt mowed a lawn in 15 years