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Looking for some input on what tractor would be ideally suited for this task. Trying to stay under $1500. Currently I have a Honda self-propelled walk behind and I am thrilled with the quality, but it just seems to take forever to mow my yard. The property is flat as a board with no trees (yet), and one small garden out front about 20' diameter. Otherwise besides the fence around the backyard there are no obstacles.

I have been scouring craigslist for a used ride on mower but I am wary about buying a used one. I bought my Honda used but obviously there are far fewer parts and mechanisms involved in a walk behind mower. With a tractor and its transaxle, steering, PTO, etc it just seems that there are far more things that could be on the edge of failure on a used machine.

In the $1500 price range what would y'all suggest to get for a lawn tractor? I won't rule out buying used at all as long as I know what to look for. I've been eyeing such tractors (used) as the CC LT1045, JD LA115, Husky YTH21K46, CC Super LT 1554, and a 2005 JD GT235 that needs a tune up and a sharpened blade. Not sure if any of these are even worth considering used but they have caught my attention.

You should be able to buy most any of your top brand riding mowers for that money. Just check some near by dealers and see what they have. If you check out the big box stores don't forget Sears.

reynoldston said:

You should be able to buy most any of your top brand riding mowers for that money. Just check some near by dealers and see what they have. If you check out the big box stores don't forget Sears.

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I agree. For $1500. you should be able to buy a new rider. Do you want a catcher setup or just side discharge? Maybe a trailer?
I would go to your nearest service/repair shop. See what they have. See if they will do the warranty work. JD and CC are both good
mowers. Look at Snapper also. Good luck.

reynoldston said:

You should be able to buy most any of your top brand riding mowers for that money. Just check some near by dealers and see what they have. If you check out the big box stores don't forget Sears.

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Well when I think "Top Brand" I think Toro, JD, etc. Toros start at $1900 and go up, JD Select starts at $3000

silver1 said:

I agree. For $1500. you should be able to buy a new rider. Do you want a catcher setup or just side discharge? Maybe a trailer?
I would go to your nearest service/repair shop. See what they have. See if they will do the warranty work. JD and CC are both good
mowers. Look at Snapper also. Good luck.

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Side discharge is all I'd need. If I HAVE to bag I can stand using my walk behind once to take care of it. Trailer isn't necessary honestly.

Bottlerocket said:

Well when I think "Top Brand" I think Toro, JD, etc. Toros start at $1900 and go up, JD Select starts at $3000



Side discharge is all I'd need. If I HAVE to bag I can stand using my walk behind once to take care of it. Trailer isn't necessary honestly.

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When I say top brand I am thinking more like the MTD models they sell with different names on them. It is basically the same mower with who ever name is on it. MTD sells the same rider only paints it a different color for different company's. For his 1/2 acre of land they would be fine. MTD is only one brand and I am sure their are others. Yes they do make the pricey models also but all he said was 1500 dollars.

Bottlerocket said:

Well when I think "Top Brand" I think Toro, JD, etc. Toros start at $1900 and go up, JD Select starts at $3000



Side discharge is all I'd need. If I HAVE to bag I can stand using my walk behind once to take care of it. Trailer isn't necessary honestly.

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A John Deere D100 runs about $1500. new, A Craftsman 42" about $1350. A Snapper can be had for $1499. All new good units.
A John Deere can be a great used unit if you want to shop around.

I do not consider JD as a top brand in the $1500 price range. Just about any mower for $1500 is in a higher class then the JD.

Carscw said:

I do not consider JD as a top brand in the $1500 price range. Just about any mower for $1500 is in a higher class then the JD.

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There must be a reason you are saying this? or don't you like green and yellow for some reason. There are sure a lot of 100 series John Deere's in this part of the country. Myself I don't think they are any worst or better when any lite duty 1500 dollar lawn tractor. The OP only has a 1/2 acre of land also.

As everybody on here that knows me, I like craftsman mowers. I also have an mtd yard machines that is a great little mower. I like the Briggs and Stratton engines too. If I were to get a new tractor I would either go with a husqvarna or a cub cadet.

reynoldston said:

There must be a reason you are saying this? or don't you like green and yellow for some reason. There are sure a lot of 100 series John Deere's in this part of the country. Myself I don't think they are any worst or better when any lite duty 1500 dollar lawn tractor. The OP only has a 1/2 acre of land also.

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There was a lot of ford pintos on the road did not mean it was a good car.

I have a few friends that have JDs all of them have spindles break and decks twist.
I put them on a cub Custer ltx1040. Was like night and day for them.
The JD gives a good cut but is no good in grass over 4 inches tall or wet. The pulley design on the decks is crap the belts slip and burn up. They made the blade tip speed fast thinking that's what will sell a mower.
Just look on here at all the problems people have with them. Now I know what your going to say. You see more MTDs and AYP mowers in the shop. Maybe could be that they make thousands more mowers a year then JD

As I have said before john Deere makes very good farm and construction equipment but their mowers are over priced for what you get.

Around here the only place that sells JD riding mowers is lowes the dealer does not carry them but will order you one.

Carscw said:

There was a lot of ford pintos on the road did not mean it was a good car.

I have a few friends that have JDs all of them have spindles break and decks twist.
I put them on a cub Custer ltx1040. Was like night and day for them.
The JD gives a good cut but is no good in grass over 4 inches tall or wet. The pulley design on the decks is crap the belts slip and burn up. They made the blade tip speed fast thinking that's what will sell a mower.
Just look on here at all the problems people have with them. Now I know what your going to say. You see more MTDs and AYP mowers in the shop. Maybe could be that they make thousands more mowers a year then JD

As I have said before john Deere makes very good farm and construction equipment but their mowers are over priced for what you get.

Around here the only place that sells JD riding mowers is lowes the dealer does not carry them but will order you one.

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Sorry back in them days I wasn't a Ford Mechanic. I was a Chevrolet mechanic Lets start with the Corvair, Vega, and then the great GM diesel they put in their cars. Yes they sold a lot of them and they put money in my pocket.

Carscw said:

There was a lot of ford pintos on the road did not mean it was a good car.

I have a few friends that have JDs all of them have spindles break and decks twist.
I put them on a cub Custer ltx1040. Was like night and day for them.
The JD gives a good cut but is no good in grass over 4 inches tall or wet. The pulley design on the decks is crap the belts slip and burn up. They made the blade tip speed fast thinking that's what will sell a mower.
Just look on here at all the problems people have with them. Now I know what your going to say. You see more MTDs and AYP mowers in the shop. Maybe could be that they make thousands more mowers a year then JD

As I have said before john Deere makes very good farm and construction equipment but their mowers are over priced for what you get.

Around here the only place that sells JD riding mowers is lowes the dealer does not carry them but will order you one.

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Hahahaha the pinto my dad had one catch fire on him lol

reynoldston said:

Sorry back in them days I wasn't a Ford Mechanic. I was a Chevrolet mechanic Lets start with the Corvair, Vega, and then the great GM diesel they put in their cars. Yes they sold a lot of them and they put money in my pocket.

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See just like john Deere they sell a lot of them and it puts money in repair shops pockets.

I would like to have a vega now.

exotion said:

Hahahaha the pinto my dad had one catch fire on him lol

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I think it was a couple years ago john Deere had mowers that caught on fire.
My first diet track car was a pinto.
2.3 4cly 200 hp

Carscw said:

I think it was a couple years ago john Deere had mowers that caught on fire.
My first diet track car was a pinto.
2.3 4cly 200 hp

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Fun my first track car (drift) 83 rwd Toyota celica coupe 4cyl 22re ram air intake 3" straight pipe exhaust that thing moved (except on snow) it caught fire once when I installed the radio I failed to see the wire was going to bounce around on a piece of sheet metal well 2 months later it sparked and lit a small fire I had a gallon jug of water I put it out with. Ok so enough off topic just needed to say that

The money is important but to me how close is the dealer and will he have all your parts on hand

Carscw said:

I think it was a couple years ago john Deere had mowers that caught on fire.
My first diet track car was a pinto.
2.3 4cly 200 hp

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Not bad hp for a 4 bagner!

Carscw said:

I do not consider JD as a top brand in the $1500 price range. Just about any mower for $1500 is in a higher class then the JD.

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This is a shame that this is said. As I understand the 100 series is made in the US at the John Deere Plant In Greeneville, TN. Just why can't made in America mean something any more. Yes that is the reason I drive a Toyota car because the last Chevrolet I own was a money pit in repairs. This is sad but true.

Carscw said:

See just like john Deere they sell a lot of them and it puts money in repair shops pockets.

I would like to have a vega now.

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Back in the day my gf (wife now) had a vega with an alum. block. NOT a good idea!

gabowman said:

Back in the day my gf (wife now) had a vega with an alum. block. NOT a good idea!

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Subaru still does it

reynoldston said:

Sorry back in them days I wasn't a Ford Mechanic. I was a Chevrolet mechanic Lets start with the Corvair, Vega, and then the great GM diesel they put in their cars. Yes they sold a lot of them and they put money in my pocket.

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my dad was a GM mechanic,he LOVED the corvair and the vega was his favorite car to work on,he said he wouldn't own a vette if he had to work on it,...if this guy has a back yard with a fence maybe he should check into an F series JD or similar,nothing like mowing straight into a corner and not needing a walk behind to finish up all the corners.

reynoldston said:

This is a shame that this is said. As I understand the 100 series is made in the US at the John Deere Plant In Greeneville, TN. Just why can't made in America mean something any more. Yes that is the reason I drive a Toyota car because the last Chevrolet I own was a money pit in repairs. This is sad but true.

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my company made the steel for their seat decks and hoods, jd is super picky too, our division lost their business but I think it just went to another division,

tybilly said:

my company made the steel for their seat decks and hoods, jd is super picky too, our division lost their business but I think it just went to another division,

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I think they went with a cheaper steel

tybilly said:

my company made the steel for their seat decks and hoods, jd is super picky too, our division lost their business but I think it just went to another division,

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I think the JD L1xx series hood and fenders are made of plastic, at least the ones I saw at HD a while ago, thus no need for the steel your division makes.

Ya the john deere at lowes here has a fiberglass hood a briggs vanguard and the sticker says " not recommended for plowing "

I have had great luck with JD LA135 going on about 7 years with nothing but routine maint. I have a similar sized yard as the OP and well manicured grass. These cheapo tractors are great for flat properties under an acre in yards that are cared for. Anything that puts stress on the tranny like plowing, towing heavy loads, hills, etc will destroy these machines. As will running over obstructions like giant rocks, steel, multiple acres, etc. These are 'disposable' tractors. Parts are expensive and the engine is only rated for X amount of use.

I believe to get a solid JD garden tractor you need to spend 5k.

The Pinto 2.0 was pretty good. The Vega was sad. I had one. GM tried to mimic Porsche alloy in block where piston ran on the aluminum alloy. The fix was to sleeve with ...steel.
Ah the corvair...Looking back it was close to the first 911's, but as they say GM always killed their best young. Good rule of thumb IMO :Never buy any Motor Trend "car of the year."