Riding mower recommendations

[surveyor]

When I originally posted this topic, I had only seen my house/yard twice and I hadn't realized what a slope I had in the backyard. I wanted the extra horse power and the better seat the D130 had. I also looked at Husqvarna and Cub Cadets, but the Husqvarna reviews had a common knock of the transmission going out, and I wanted to use my 10% coupon and Lowes doesn't sell Cub Cadet, only Home Depot.

In any event, you see a lot more older Deere mowers - both of my neighbors have them, than you do other models. I think if I maintain this one well and keep it inside, it'll serve me well.

My neighbor is a retired New Jersey fireman who until 2 years ago was a rep for Bunton Mowers, as well as experience in small engine repair. He's owned a Cub for the past 8 years and said the Deere is better than the other residential grade mowers on the market.

[George]

If I ever hit it big, I'm getting a Scag.

[Dwight Schrute]

My neighbor is a retired New Jersey fireman who until 2 years ago was a rep for Bunton Mowers, as well as experience in small engine repair. He's owned a Cub for the past 8 years and said the Deere is better than the other residential grade mowers on the market.

That's good to know. Ultimately, I felt like I was gonna be happiest with a Deere, and I didn't mind spending the extra couple hundred for improved reliability. As having just purchased a house and expecting a baby in August, I don't need another item on my to-do list.

[Dwight Schrute]

If I ever hit it big, I'm getting a Scag.

If we ever move from this house, it'll be to something with more land/privacy. A ZTR mower is a must.

[surveyor]

I've mowed twice with this mower since purchase. The immediate observations (3/4 acre coverage):

Cutting time and turning radius - Old mower had a wider turning radius and a bit slower, while essentially the same size. Old mower took 1.5 hours or so to mow. This one I can mow in an hour.

Fuel consumption - Old mower used 1 gallon of fuel per mow. New mower has used about 1/2 gallon total for two mowings.

[Dwight Schrute]

I've mowed twice with this mower since purchase. The immediate observations (3/4 acre coverage):

Cutting time and turning radius - Old mower had a wider turning radius and a bit slower, while essentially the same size. Old mower took 1.5 hours or so to mow. This one I can mow in an hour.

Fuel consumption - Old mower used 1 gallon of fuel per mow. New mower has used about 1/2 gallon total for two mowings.

Do you find you need to touch up areas with a push mower?

I have 1.4 acres - .3 my house sits on, and 1.1 directly behind it. I haven't decided whether I need to push mow yet. I've had a lawn guy do it entirely on a stand-behind ZTR.

[surveyor]

Do you find you need to touch up areas with a push mower?

I have 1.4 acres - .3 my house sits on, and 1.1 directly behind it. I haven't decided whether I need to push mow yet. I've had a lawn guy do it entirely on a stand-behind ZTR.

I owned a push mower for trimming work years ago, but donated it because I rarely needed to use it. I can mow close enough that all I need to do is trim with a weed-eater.

[George]

Do you find you need to touch up areas with a push mower?

I have 1.4 acres - .3 my house sits on, and 1.1 directly behind it. I haven't decided whether I need to push mow yet. I've had a lawn guy do it entirely on a stand-behind ZTR.

I have to have a push mower for a few sections on my property. We have a small fenced-in backyard that's too tight for the riding mower, another knobby spot in front of the barn that's angled too awkwardly for the rider, and a sizable chunk of a bank that's just too steep to ride.

Since I've already got the riding mower, I do use it a little more than necessary just because it leaves everything looking a little cleaner and doesn't make deep impressions in the lawn the way the riding mower does in some spots. Cuts out some weed eating, too.

The last time I mowed and weeded everything all at once - which is a six- to seven-hour job if all done in one day by myself - I decided to push my self-imposed limits with the riding mower on the aforementioned bank. Turns out I could do a little more than I originally thought (if everything's really dry) and I saved myself about twenty minutes of push mowing. You can probably mow grades you don't think you can/should at first, but still, be careful. I also went over the bank once the second time I ever tried to mow it. Fortunately I was pointed straight down hill; if I'd been sideways at all, I'd have rolled.

[Dwight Schrute]

I owned a push mower for trimming work years ago, but donated it because I rarely needed to use it. I can mow close enough that all I need to do is trim with a weed-eater.

This is what I'm hoping to be able to do. One reason I wanted a 42" cutting deck as opposed to a 46-48" was for tight sections like that.

[Dwight Schrute]

The last time I mowed and weeded everything all at once - which is a six- to seven-hour job if all done in one day by myself - I decided to push my self-imposed limits with the riding mower on the aforementioned bank. Turns out I could do a little more than I originally thought (if everything's really dry) and I saved myself about twenty minutes of push mowing. You can probably mow grades you don't think you can/should at first, but still, be careful. I also went over the bank once the second time I ever tried to mow it. Fortunately I was pointed straight down hill; if I'd been sideways at all, I'd have rolled.

I've got one section of the yard that worries me. The back 40 (as I call it) is about 6 feet higher than my front yard, and there's a little but fairly steep slope. I think my mower can handle it, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about it.

Otherwise, it's just a gentle slope.

[Dwight Schrute]

The last time I mowed and weeded everything all at once - which is a six- to seven-hour job if all done in one day by myself - I decided to push my self-imposed limits with the riding mower on the aforementioned bank. Turns out I could do a little more than I originally thought (if everything's really dry) and I saved myself about twenty minutes of push mowing. You can probably mow grades you don't think you can/should at first, but still, be careful. I also went over the bank once the second time I ever tried to mow it. Fortunately I was pointed straight down hill; if I'd been sideways at all, I'd have rolled.

I used it last weekend after it was delivered for the first time. The high center of gravity on it made me apprehensive about using it on the steeper sections of my backyard, but by the end of the cut - about 2 hours - I felt brave enough to try the steeper sections of my yard, and it handled them fine.

Those first couple of trips were a bit unnerving though, lol.

I had planned on cutting it again yesterday after getting back from vacation, but I cut it too dang short last time and it's not long enough to justify getting out on it yet.