Lawn Tractor

[MasterMech]

You old iron guys are missing something (and love your machines BTW. Nice find with the tiller Bret!). HittinSteel wants to MOW. And that's the one thing that the old iron generally does not do nearly as well as something newer. The old GT's don't turn nearly as sharp. (Striping with one is real frustrating!) A lot of the mower decks are an embarrassment in stark contrast to the durability of the tractor. The deck shells are easily bent out of shape (and just as easily pounded back into shape, ) and they often lack the blade speed, lift, and deck capacity (depth) to mow as nice as their newer offspring will.

You wanna pull stumps, till the garden or push snow? I'll take that old WheelHorse, Simplicity, AC, Deere, or Cub anyday. But my LT180 will mow circles around y'all and the lawn will look better when I'm done.

 

[Jags]

True dat. If you are looking for a golf course finished product, the higher deck speed is where it is at. As far as grunting through a heavy patch, I will take the Allis Chalmers deck any day. The deck height (and this is really only true of the allis/simplicity) and build is about as tough as it gets. But it ain't gonna give the finish of the high speed decks. I am not picky about my grass. My only requirement is that it is shorter than when I started.

 

[Ashful]

Oh... I wasn't voting for an old machine. My vote would be a Deere Z900. Anything less is completely uncivilized.

http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/products/equipment/z_trak_mowers/z_trak_mowers.page

 

[smokinj]

If your looking for a mower this late in the game a golf course is not in your future......

 

[Jags]

If your looking for a mower this late in the game a golf course is not in your future......

You should see the hay field I was mowing last night (in the rain). But this thing don't care much.

 

[wesessiah]

Not all K46's are created equal. The K46 in my LT180 and LT150 are not the same (and neither is the one in the X300) as the K46 Deere stuck under the L100 series. And even that K46 is/was better than the T-Series transmissions that are under the present day D100 series units.

The K46 benefits greatly from conversion to synthetic oil from whatever the OEM filled it with. Tuff Torq actually recommends 5w50 synthetic and I will be experimenting with some AMSOIL 20W50 in 2 K46's that have some considerable time on them. The K46 is only available in Lawn Tractors as far as I know, so if you aren't trying to use Garden Tractor type attachments with a K46 equipped machine, it should last a good long time. The K46 gets a bad rap from folks who paid little attention to anything other than the color of the paint and the price tag of the machine they were buying.

BTW, my LT180 blows snow and tows a loaded cart fairly regular-like and no issues with 300+ hours on the clock so far.

i'll admit, applying 90% to garden tractors along with lawn tractors is too much, but, john deere, and husqvarna both have garden tractors with a k46. husqvarna has it listed as a lgt (light garden tractor) and the x300 and x304 seem to be seen as garden tractors, but by traditional standards, and my own opinion, shouldn't be. even the top version k46 is only rated at 170ish lb/ft. i honestly couldn't afford anything with a k58 or up with my last john deere purchase, so the k46 has worked for me so far, but i mostly limit myself to mowing with it, and use the old craftsman gt for my pulling/engaging needs. maybe i overplay the weakness of the k46 based on my experience with them, but i've seen them give out easier than the old dana/spicer and peerless transmissions in lawn tractors. i guess my original point should have been that a newer lawn tractor in his budget wouldn't be as durable as an older garden tractor in his budget if used for more than mowing, and would be all around heavier duty. i won't claim the k46 as much of a weakling as some forums do, but, it's the lightest duty hydro (outside of the t40 being the lowest end k46 according to tufftorq.)

 

[HittinSteel]

Yep, I will be mowing 3 city lots (mine and 2 neighbors).

A lot of turns and tight spots, so something hydro for sure. I do not want to break the bank (limit of around $500), since I am taking on the additional mowing load gratis.

I have a 4 wheeler for other tasks.

Maybe a "newer" cheaper brand hydrostatic is the answer.

 

[Jags]

Maybe a "newer" cheaper brand hydrostatic is the answer.

 

[MasterMech]

but, john deere, and husqvarna both have garden tractors

I can't speak for Husqvarna (that line-up is huge, way too big IMO) but Deere does not market the X300 series as Garden Tractors. X500's and up are considered GT's.

 

[tekguy]

Yep, I will be mowing 3 city lots (mine and 2 neighbors).

A lot of turns and tight spots, so something hydro for sure. I do not want to break the bank (limit of around $500), since I am taking on the additional mowing load gratis.

I have a 4 wheeler for other tasks.

Maybe a "newer" cheaper brand hydrostatic is the answer.

i mow an acre.. 21" push mower for all the trim/close work and the tractor for all the wide open areas, its actually faster that way

 

[MasterMech]

Maybe a "newer" cheaper brand hydrostatic is the answer.

You know better.

 

[wesessiah]

I can't speak for Husqvarna (that line-up is huge, way too big IMO) but Deere does not market the X300 series as Garden Tractors. X500's and up are considered GT's.

i've never really been sure what they considered garden tractors, since they even have the x700 in the drop down for lawn tractors. i have to admit, i enjoy mowing with the k46 much more than a manual... i actually feel like striping my yard with it, lol.

 

[MasterMech]

HS, Check this out. Good units, especially for tight areas.

(broken link removed to http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/grd/3824413393.html)

Too bad it's not an STX38 Hydro, the hood on this one is worth half the price of the tractor.

(broken link removed to http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/grd/3752869362.html)

 

[HittinSteel]

Alright then.......keep the suggestions coming.

Is this junk? (broken link removed to http://mansfield.craigslist.org/grd/3835909197.html)

 

[HittinSteel]

what about the deere stx

(broken link removed to http://mansfield.craigslist.org/grd/3829246210.html)

 

[MasterMech]

what about the deere stx

(broken link removed to http://mansfield.craigslist.org/grd/3829246210.html)

Great tractors for small lawns, not as tough as the 165, 175, 185 but good machines nontheless. Looks clean and price is good.

 

[MasterMech]

Alright then.......keep the suggestions coming.

Is this junk? (broken link removed to http://mansfield.craigslist.org/grd/3835909197.html)

"19 HP Kohler Courage" = Headaches. Keep looking.

 

[HittinSteel]

Alright, I may call on that one.

 

[Bret Hart]

A bit too far to drive I'm sure but I think something like this could be a good choice.

(broken link removed to http://syracuse.craigslist.org/grd/3835476406.html)

 

[MasterMech]

Alright, I may call on that one.

I would try that LT155 too, more comfortable to mow with than the STX and foot controls for the hydro rule.

 

[MasterMech]

A bit too far to drive I'm sure but I think something like this could be a good choice.

(broken link removed to http://syracuse.craigslist.org/grd/3835476406.html)

Now that's what I'm talkin about! With the bagger too.... Iginition issue is most likely the ignitor module. Easy fix.

 

[MasterMech]

I want this thing ..... bad.

(broken link removed to http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/grd/3748997257.html)

 

[HittinSteel]

I would try that LT155 too, more comfortable to mow with than the STX and foot controls for the hydro rule.

aahhhhh now this is what I'm looking for.....

note to self, foot hydro is desirable.

 

[Flatbedford]

I want this thing ..... bad.

(broken link removed to http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/grd/3748997257.html)

What would you spray with that?

 

[MasterMech]

What would you spray with that?

Broadleaf herbicide, fertilizer, anything actually. Would open up a lot of options for me and liquid applications are often cheaper/more effective than granular. And you don't see those old Deere sprayers in good shape every day.