How many hours is "too many" when looking for a used mower to buy?

[iqraceworks]

I've been looking around for a few weeks now at lawn mowers. My limit is $2000...and that's really more than I want to spend, but anything less really seems to be cheap junk. With the mowing I do, I will probably put 20 hours a year on what ever mower I end up getting.

It seems like with my budget, I'm looking at used lawn tractors/ZTR's that are 2006-2008 model, with around 200-300 hours on them. To me, that sounds like a lot of hours on a mower.....even if well taken care of. How many hours are the decks, bearings, and engines good for?

My main goal is to buy something that won't be a constant maintenance headache, and will last me for years to come.

Am I better off with something like this....

springfield mow.com

springfield mow.com

Or should I just buy something new like this Husqvarna riding mower.....and be done with it?

Shop Husqvarna 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48-in Riding Lawn Mower at Lowes.com

Edit: In before the "Buy once cry once......go buy a $9000 Kubota ZTR". :laughing:

 

[Carscw]

I've been looking around for a few weeks now at lawn mowers. My limit is $2000...and that's really more than I want to spend, but anything less really seems to be cheap junk. With the mowing I do, I will probably put 20 hours a year on what ever mower I end up getting.

It seems like with my budget, I'm looking at used lawn tractors/ZTR's that are 2006-2008 model, with around 200-300 hours on them. To me, that sounds like a lot of hours on a mower.....even if well taken care of. How many hours are the decks, bearings, and engines good for?

My main goal is to buy something that won't be a constant maintenance headache, and will last me for years to come.

Am I better off with something like this....

springfield mow.com

springfield mow.com

Or should I just buy something new like this Husqvarna riding mower.....and be done with it?

Shop Husqvarna 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48-in Riding Lawn Mower at Lowes.com

Edit: In before the "Buy once cry once......go buy a $9000 Kubota ZTR". :laughing:

300 hours on a mower is not that much for a six year old mower. But depends on how they took care of it. Did they grease it change oil when needed.

I got a new mower two weeks ago and have put 60 hours in it already.

Bring a grease gun with you and put some in every fitting if goes in easy you know he kept up with it.

One thing I look at when buying a used mower or car if they cleaned it real good to make it look new I stay away from it most times they are trying to hide a oil leak or something.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[motoman]

nothing powered by briggs...

 

[djdicetn]

I've been looking around for a few weeks now at lawn mowers. My limit is $2000...and that's really more than I want to spend, but anything less really seems to be cheap junk. With the mowing I do, I will probably put 20 hours a year on what ever mower I end up getting.

It seems like with my budget, I'm looking at used lawn tractors/ZTR's that are 2006-2008 model, with around 200-300 hours on them. To me, that sounds like a lot of hours on a mower.....even if well taken care of. How many hours are the decks, bearings, and engines good for?

My main goal is to buy something that won't be a constant maintenance headache, and will last me for years to come.

Am I better off with something like this....

springfield mow.com

springfield mow.com

Or should I just buy something new like this Husqvarna riding mower.....and be done with it?

Shop Husqvarna 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48-in Riding Lawn Mower at Lowes.com

Edit: In before the "Buy once cry once......go buy a $9000 Kubota ZTR". :laughing:

iqraceworks,
Personally, I never recommend used if you can afford new spending a few more dollars and I also never recommend big box retailers because if you need Warranty service they cannot provide that. For your purposes and needs you don't need a $9,000 Kubota, but $2,000 for a "good" new mower where your main goal is to "buy something that won't be a constant maintenance headache, and will last me for years to come" is a little slim. The Husqvarna lawn tractors, in my opinion, are the best bang for your buck out there, but if you could just save up another $500 or so and get a YT42XLS from a Husqvarna dealer you could experience a "mission accomplished". Take a look at the link below and you will see why(Kawasaki motor, locking differential hydro tranny, fabricated deck...with yes, a lifetime warranty, etc.). You'll be hard pressed to match this lawn tractor in anuy other brand for that kind of money(als, fo another $300 you can upgrade to that 48" deck with all the same bells & whistles in the YT48XLS). As you have already heard.....you get what you pay for Link follows:

Husqvarna YT42XLS - Garden tractors

P.S.
That Lowes Husqvarna you are looking at has a Kohler Courage:0(

 

[motoman]

djdicetn, I like the Husky with the Kawasaki you show us. Where the hell was it when I bought the craftsman dyt 4000 -intek? Or maybe it was simply newbie ignorance. The Kaw price is my out- the- door price in 04 with a tin trailer and 3 bagger system. Now that I have(possibly) debugged the craftsman it will probably last forever. motoman

Edit Just looked at the spec sheet. No word if the valves are hydraulic? Also a +$50 option called "carb." (If you want a carburetor it's $50 more?) The LSD would be very good here- on slight slopes with dew the craftsman just spins. Also the pic shows 21 HP , the spec 23HP ...

 

[motoman]

I've been looking around for a few weeks now at lawn mowers. My limit is $2000...and that's really more than I want to spend, but anything less really seems to be cheap junk. With the mowing I do, I will probably put 20 hours a year on what ever mower I end up getting.

It seems like with my budget, I'm looking at used lawn tractors/ZTR's that are 2006-2008 model, with around 200-300 hours on them. To me, that sounds like a lot of hours on a mower.....even if well taken care of. How many hours are the decks, bearings, and engines good for?

My main goal is to buy something that won't be a constant maintenance headache, and will last me for years to come.

Am I better off with something like this....

springfield mow.com

springfield mow.com

Or should I just buy something new like this Husqvarna riding mower.....and be done with it?

Shop Husqvarna 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48-in Riding Lawn Mower at Lowes.com

Edit: In before the "Buy once cry once......go buy a $9000 Kubota ZTR". :laughing:

Savvy people (many professionals) on this forum have pointed out that IF you know what you're doing many used low end tractors ($1800-$2000 new) are available cheap (? $900 to $500). It would help to know peculiarities of the models. Case in point, my new Craftsman dyt 4000 about $2000 in 2004... shiny red and pretty . Ran great until year 2 and the valve train failed. I see this model used for $500-$800 and beware even at that price . Point: new does not guarantee durability, but used is risky too. I think if you are not a mechanic, new, guided by this forum, is best if you can afford it.

 

[djdicetn]

djdicetn, I like the Husky with the Kawasaki you show us. Where the hell was it when I bought the craftsman dyt 4000 -intek? Or maybe it was simply newbie ignorance. The Kaw price is my out- the- door price in 04 with a tin trailer and 3 bagger system. Now that I have(possibly) debugged the craftsman it will probably last forever. motoman

Edit Just looked at the spec sheet. No word if the valves are hydraulic? Also a +$50 option called "carb." (If you want a carburetor it's $50 more?) The LSD would be very good here- on slight slopes with dew the craftsman just spins. Also the pic shows 21 HP , the spec 23HP ...

motoman,
I hear ya.....my experience with the 24hp Intek on the 2006 Craftsman 54" YS4500(made by Husqvarna for Sears) turned me off to Briggs....period. The husky tractor was very solid, but the Intek stunk:0( Two years later my next door neighbor went to a Husqvarna dealer and bought a 42" with a 15hp Kawa that would mow circles around mine. So would the old 1993 46" Lawn Chief from True Value that the Craftsman replaced that had a GREAT 16hp B & S Vanguard that never even used a drop of oil in 19 years(my son retired it last fall when I gave him the Craftsman). I'm not "small engine savvy", so fortunately my father-in-law repaired the 24hp Intek's choke that came apart inside the carb right after the warranty expired, so maybe it will make it a few more years for him. Hope you've got the kinks worked out of that Craftsman of yours now!!!!

 

[TnHusky]

I've been looking around for a few weeks now at lawn mowers. My limit is $2000...and that's really more than I want to spend, but anything less really seems to be cheap junk. With the mowing I do, I will probably put 20 hours a year on what ever mower I end up getting.

It seems like with my budget, I'm looking at used lawn tractors/ZTR's that are 2006-2008 model, with around 200-300 hours on them. To me, that sounds like a lot of hours on a mower.....even if well taken care of. How many hours are the decks, bearings, and engines good for?

My main goal is to buy something that won't be a constant maintenance headache, and will last me for years to come.

Am I better off with something like this....

springfield mow.com

springfield mow.com

Or should I just buy something new like this Husqvarna riding mower.....and be done with it?

Shop Husqvarna 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48-in Riding Lawn Mower at Lowes.com

Edit: In before the "Buy once cry once......go buy a $9000 Kubota ZTR". :laughing:

Igraceworks, I hear what dj is saying about the Kohler but I did a lot of research and what I found that most of the problems with the Kohler engines were with the single cylinder one's. I called different dealers and quizzed them about the Kohler engines and what I heard was favorable. So I took the plunge and bought the YTH24K48 Fast Tractor and I love it so far. I've put 7hrs on it and mowed again last night and it is smooth and stout and will move if you want it too. I will say though that if you don't need the 48" deck then do look at the Husqvarna with the Kaw engine, I believe it has a 42" deck on it and a locking diff, this id the one that dj recommended.
You would look god sitting on one of these. :thumbsup:

 

[jeffery9076]

200 to300 is not many hours. Look at paint ,Blade spindles Check safety things, Let us know what model and name brand some are crap. And be ready to pounce on a good deal