Ride on mowers - advice please

[Vista]

Anyone know much about them?

 

Went to look at a used one yesterday but felt a bit of a novice as I'd no idea what questions I should be asking or what weak points or failings they have.

 

Any good / bad makes to recommend?

 

We don't really want to have to bag up the cuttings to dispose of them so how effective are mulchers?

[colr6]

How entertaining can grass cutting be?.........be ozone friendly, keep fit and be the envy of your neighbours, collect your cuttings up and build your own compost heap. Attract the wildlife like mice/ spiders/ hedgehogs/ birds/ rats I bring you.....

 

 

 

 

Have fun doing the chores, ...was this the type you had in mind?

[Vista]

We moved to a house with a bigger garden in December, admittedly I'd left it too long before getting round to it but I've been at it for two days (with breaks for the weather) and still have 1/3 to go. I could keep on top of it if I did it with my push mower most weekends but truthfully, I don't have time for that.

[Danish]

Do you want it just for cutting grass, or for pulling a trailer, roller, etc?

 

We used to have a Westwood "lawn tractor". It was a very dependable bit of kit, despite being abused by us to mange 15 acres of woodland. I would recommend the make, although that's a few years ago.

[irishtorag]

had a ride on mower as i have a 3/4 acre site but tbh i sold it and bought a selfdrive rover mower as it is a lot handier.

too many nooks and crannies so i had to strim as well and you still got to empty grass cuttings regardless .

 

just my opinion and xperience ,cut once a week and the wee rover mower will cut wet also as it has a wide box mouth

 

kenny

[colr6]

MTD/Westwood/john Deere all good makes, depends how much your spending, how old a machine your looking at. Few years ago had experience of MTD faults I came across on those, cutting decks corroding, tyres cracking, hot wiring of safety switches ( a clue of bad maintenance ) bearing failure on cutting decks. Like a car any decent machine will have a service history. People who spend good money on a decent machine will have them serviced. Tyres and batteries are not cheap. If you want lines in your lawn you need a roller and look for a good sized grass bag. Side exit are more proned to blocking up than rear exit

[Vista]

Just for cutting grass Jane. The garden is big but not massive so it doesn't need to be a very big ride on. My father has a cub cadet for his place and swears by it so I was thinking the baby of their range, the CC714TF. Problem is they're expensive and I have budget of very little as there's a lot wrong with our new house that we need to sort out.

 

http://www.mstgroup.co.uk/prod/ride-on-mowers/cub-cadet-cc714tf-38-side-discharge-garden-tractor

 

As to grass cuttings Kenny, I want one that can mulch it so I don't need to get rid of the cuttings. I'd let the grass get a bit long as I kept putting it off (first time it had been cut this year as I have been away so much) and ended up needing to take over 30 bags of cuttings to the tip on Saturday. Still got 1/3 of the garden to go too. What's a rover mower, something like this?

 

http://www.cubcadet.co.uk/product/robomow-lawnkeeper-600-robomow-lawnkeeper-500

[Vista]

MTD/Westwood/john Deere all good makes, depends how much your spending, how old a machine your looking at. Few years ago had experience of MTD faults I came across on those, cutting decks corroding, tyres cracking, hot wiring of safety switches ( a clue of bad maintenance ) bearing failure on cutting decks. Like a car any decent machine will have a service history. People who spend good money on a decent machine will have them serviced. Tyres and batteries are not cheap. If you want lines in your lawn you need a roller and look for a good sized grass bag. Side exit are more proned to blocking up than rear exit

I looked at a used Toro 266H yesterday, it seemed a pretty rugged well built machine but at 15 years old, how much life does it have left?

[colr6]

I looked at a used Toro 266H yesterday, it seemed a pretty rugged well built machine but at 15 years old, how much life does it have left?

Like anything it depends how it's been looked after. The things I would pay particular attention to is cutting deck corrosion/ cracks signs of welding/ noise tyres I know they don't go fast but tyres still pop the same. How easy it starts, if it's a sluggish to start and had lots of hours compression could be down.

[accord83]

Ride on mower, that's a sheep up here.....

[colr6]

Do you mind, keep your love life behind closed doors please

[irishtorag]

http://www.irishmowers.com/rover-lawnmowers.html

 

 

just a regular mower but good,

i use grass cuttings for under my laylandii trees.

great for trees and weeds and saves the landfill

[Vista]

Like anything it depends how it's been looked after. The things I would pay particular attention to is cutting deck corrosion/ cracks signs of welding/ noise tyres I know they don't go fast but tyres still pop the same. How easy it starts, if it's a sluggish to start and had lots of hours compression could be down.

It has about 1100 hours on it and looked superficially ok, engine cover was a bit beat up and starting wasn't great, sounded like a sticking starter solenoid a few times and took a little to get going from cold. It cut well and the tyres were good and deck looked ok.

[Vista]

A few pics, truthfully it looks a lot bigger than I need but has a new PTO clutch, a new drive belt and deck drive belt, blades look good too and it had been recently serviced.

[colr6]

Looks quite tidy, only problem you have with that is the grass cuttings, no bag

[Vista]

Looks quite tidy, only problem you have with that is the grass cuttings, no bag

Mulcher. I don't want to have to bag and dispose of it

[monkeymoreton]

It all depends on the size of lawn do you need a ride on or could you use a Toro timemaster 72cm deck.

[Vista]

It all depends on the size of lawn do you need a ride on or could you use a Toro timemaster 72cm deck.

Thanks for the suggestion. I wasn't aware you could get conventional mowers that large.

 

It's a pretty pricey piece of kit though and I am also looking for something that my wife can engage with whilst I am working away. I reckon she'll happily go for a drive around the garden on a ride on but if it means walking around, emptying the collecting bag and taking cuttings to the tip, I will just come back to calf deep grass every time.

[monkeymoreton]

What you posted would be perfect. I would look for side shoot ones as they seem to give a better finish

[Vista]

What you posted would be perfect. I would look for side shoot ones as they seem to give a better finish

Side shoot as in side exit like the Toro I posted pics of?

[monkeymoreton]

Yes if it has a mulching blade it won't leave lumps of grass unless it's cut in wet or really high.

[colr6]

You could always buy a horse 1, eats the grass 2, entertainment for the kids riding it when it's not eating the grass and it produces manure for garden. ....win win win

[Vista]

You could always buy a horse 1, eats the grass 2, entertainment for the kids riding it when it's not eating the grass and it produces manure for garden. ....win win win

 

 

So I substitute cutting grass with shovelling shit? Doesn't sound like your best plan!

[Vista]

Deal done, road trip to Kent to collect new garden toy tomorrow.

[colr6]

What did you end up getting?