Rear Engine Mowers

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Packman88

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I am new to this forum and was pleasantly surprised how quickly my 1st question was answered so here goes for round 2. I am about to purchase my 1st riding lawn mower. Six decades of using a push mower are about to come to an end and I am struggling with what type and size mower I need. My yard is app 140x120 so not extra large but it is hilly. I was encouraged to get at least a 20HP vTwin mower to prolong the life of the engine. I set my sights on an XT-1 46 only to discover that it will not fit through my 48 inch gate.

I then decided to buy a JDeere S-120(22HP) mower as it would fit through the gate, however when I went to the website to order the mower there was a little blurb on the vendors web site that indicated smaller rear engine mowers were best for hilly properties.

Now I am thoroughlly confused the small rear engine mowers offered for sale had only 10 or 11 HP engines so how can this be ideal for hills, The 30 inch cutting width does not concern me but the small engine does. I do not know the degree of slope but it is probably the 15% maximum but part of the lawn is very fine bermuda (tifway type) and quiet slick So my question is am I being misled about the small rear engine mowers or is that really the best option for my needs.

Thanks and hopefully this is my last question before I actually own a riding mower.
 
ILENGINE

ILENGINE

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Don't focus so much on horsepower because unless you are mowing foot tall grass it will never be an issue. Rear engine riders have more weight concentrated over the rear drive tires which can lead to more traction that would be a concern on slopes. The thing to watch is if very steep will be better off to focus on full pressure lube engines, since on steep slopes with splash lube engines you can get the oil slinger out of the oil and they don't last long especially if the oil level is allowed to get slightly low. Full to add mark can be significate on a slope.

Traditionally that 30" rear engine rider would of had an 8 hp engine back in the 1960-1990 I will say. That 42 inch you are looking at would of had an 10HP engine. Starting around 2000 with the EPA lets make engines run cleaner also started the HP craze and the mentallity that HP sells mowers, which it does.

Push mowers that would of had 3-3.5 hp engines in the 80's now have 5-6.5 hp engines. Those 30" deck riders that had 8HP enignes now need 10-11. And a 42 inch mower that normally had 10 hp engines in the 70's now require 22-25 hp engines.
 
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Auto Doc's

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Hello Packman88,

This site does get clunky and lags at times, so be aware of that....


I own a 1988 Snapper RER with a 30-inch cut and the original 8 HP B&S flat head engine. It is a " workhorse" when it comes to close cutting in tight areas.

Rear engine riders have outstanding traction characteristics and handle odd terrain better than other traditional riders.

Demand has fallen off for RERs in recent years, so prices are quite inflated from what I have seen lately in the market. A decent used one that has been maintained would be a better option if you can find one.


Bragging rights are why numbers are inflated when it comes to horsepower. Not that long ago Briggs and Stratton was sued over inflating their "advertised horsepower" numbers.

ateupwithmotor.com

Understanding Gross Versus Net Horsepower Ratings < Ate Up With Motor

An explanation of the difference between gross horsepower and net horsepower and an effort to clear up some common misconceptions about the two.
ateupwithmotor.com ateupwithmotor.com
 
Its Me

Its Me

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[COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Packman88[/COLOR], people and the manufactory have become horsepower crazy, 8 HP will work fine, I used to have a mower shop years ago then they started the Horsepower race, customer paid more to still get the 3,200 RPM'S, blade tip was still the same no matter what the horsepower was, rear engine riders were good machines, simple to work on, I still have a 11 HP 30" cut Toro with the easy empty grass catcher, it's a 1980 model back when they were made out of a heavier steel, you will be happy with the rear engine, Joe​

 
ILENGINE

ILENGINE

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Its Me said:

[COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Packman88[/COLOR], people and the manufactory have become horsepower crazy, 8 HP will work fine, I used to have a mower shop years ago then they started the Horsepower race, customer paid more to still get the 3,200 RPM'S, blade tip was still the same no matter what the horsepower was, rear engine riders were good machines, simple to work on, I still have a 11 HP 30" cut Toro with the easy empty grass catcher, it's a 1980 model back when they were made out of a heavier steel, you will be happy with the rear engine, Joe​

Click to expand...
It is the Tim Taylor effect. More power.
 
Its Me

Its Me

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got it, I had seen somewhere that someone was selling a 7HP with a 25'' cut it was red, looks just like the old Toro that they called the 7-25, when I had the shop the salesperson says to me, they are a good seller, so I decided to get 4 of them, really thought they would be hard to sell, I was wrong some all four in a week, ordered several more through that season, the people in the city with small lots wanted and the would fit through the gate and once it left very seldom came in for repairs they were a very good machine.
 
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hlw49

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Does Snapper make their RER mower anymore. It is bullet proof. Forest Gump mower LOL I still have one but don't use it. I had one that was over 30 years old when I sold it. Had a guy come in one time and wanted a Forest Gump mower I had one and fixed him right up. Never have seen it back.
 
ILENGINE

ILENGINE

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hlw49 said:
Does Snapper make their RER mower anymore. It is bullet proof. Forest Gump mower LOL I still have one but don't use it. I had one that was over 30 years old when I sold it. Had a guy come in one time and wanted a Forest Gump mower I had one and fixed him right up. Never have seen it back.
Click to expand...
Snapper has been licensed by Briggs to DAYE. If I remember correctly production of the RER was ended a few years back.
 
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g-man57

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I have a Snapper RE - 28" with 12.5hp B&S. I bought it at an estate auction about 2012. LIke new back then - the tires still had all the 'hairs' on them from the molds. Came with the plastic grass catcher.
No battery in it. I pulled the rope a little to make sure it wasn't stuck and had compression. I couldn't start it as I couldn't pull the rope while sitting on the seat. But it looked so good that I decided to buy it. Was in short bidding war with another guy - he got to $375. I suppose he thought I'd go to $400. But instead I went to $500 and won the sale. I pushed it to a bank and backed my truck up to it, loaded it and took it home. Put my Jump Pack on it and it started right up. I have never had to take it back to the dealer - still starts/runs perfect. There's a lesson here for somebody. If you are trying to sell something, like a mower, get it running if you can. A $50 battery in my mower would have allowed bidders to start it and I bet the price would have been close to $1000.

I think Snapper quit making them (my opinion) because they were of such high quality that they had to be priced (new) at more than the Big Box MTD, etc., mowers. I know a new one back in 2012 was $1500 and the bagger was another $500. Too bad - they're great little mowers.
 
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