I'm entering year 12 with my trusty Craftsman / Kohler DYT 4000 riding mower.
I perform regular maintenance, I keep the mower clean, and I have 2 sets of blades so I always have a set that has been sharpened to swap in. It has rewarded me by having been perfectly reliable the entire 11 seasons (although it does blow grey smoke when I engage the blades these days). My lawn is about 1/2 acre of flat grass (and other plants, unfortunately), and I cut it once a week, at the highest setting and I bag the clippings since this mower has never been good at mulching. I store everything indoors, and do not let the mower get wet, and do not cut wet grass.
Anyway- I realize nothing lasts forever, and that very likely my reliability streak will come to an end at some point. A wealthy friend of mine bought this mower on a whim thinking that he'd cut his own lawn, (LOL) then realized it's still a lot of work so he parked it in his shed for a few years before deciding to roll it to the curb with only seven hours on it. The mower would not start, and although I'm somewhat handy, I did not realize that mice had eaten through part of the wiring harness, so I had the mower serviced 11 years ago and it's been running really well ever since.
I'd like to start doing research on riding mowers so I know what to look for when the time comes, and don't feel forced to rush into a decision. I am self-employed and am on a budget but since I maintain my home and machines (cars, appliances etc) myself, I am looking for a good reliable machine that isn't the most expensive, but also not the least expensive either.
Looking at the manufacturers, it appears that there are very few left, with most of them being manufactured by MTD under one name or another. As a child in the 80's I grew up pushing a Toro mower and snowblower so for nostalgic reasons I always am sort of partial to Toro products (but that is not a good way to select a quality product). I read taht MTD manufactures Toro as well.
I know I can always have my DYT 4000 repaired / rebuilt if / when it dies, and if that is a path I should consider, please let me know that as well.
I look forward to any advice experienced members of this group can provide.
Anthony
NJ
I perform regular maintenance, I keep the mower clean, and I have 2 sets of blades so I always have a set that has been sharpened to swap in. It has rewarded me by having been perfectly reliable the entire 11 seasons (although it does blow grey smoke when I engage the blades these days). My lawn is about 1/2 acre of flat grass (and other plants, unfortunately), and I cut it once a week, at the highest setting and I bag the clippings since this mower has never been good at mulching. I store everything indoors, and do not let the mower get wet, and do not cut wet grass.
Anyway- I realize nothing lasts forever, and that very likely my reliability streak will come to an end at some point. A wealthy friend of mine bought this mower on a whim thinking that he'd cut his own lawn, (LOL) then realized it's still a lot of work so he parked it in his shed for a few years before deciding to roll it to the curb with only seven hours on it. The mower would not start, and although I'm somewhat handy, I did not realize that mice had eaten through part of the wiring harness, so I had the mower serviced 11 years ago and it's been running really well ever since.
I'd like to start doing research on riding mowers so I know what to look for when the time comes, and don't feel forced to rush into a decision. I am self-employed and am on a budget but since I maintain my home and machines (cars, appliances etc) myself, I am looking for a good reliable machine that isn't the most expensive, but also not the least expensive either.
Looking at the manufacturers, it appears that there are very few left, with most of them being manufactured by MTD under one name or another. As a child in the 80's I grew up pushing a Toro mower and snowblower so for nostalgic reasons I always am sort of partial to Toro products (but that is not a good way to select a quality product). I read taht MTD manufactures Toro as well.
I know I can always have my DYT 4000 repaired / rebuilt if / when it dies, and if that is a path I should consider, please let me know that as well.
I look forward to any advice experienced members of this group can provide.
Anthony
NJ