Is thirty years too long to keep a lawn mower?

[JeepHead]

I like the older stuff way better than the crap they make today. I have a fondness for old 80's model JD and CC garden tractors.

 

[tradosaurus]

As long as my yard equipment works with little problems I will keep it.
Once I have to work at starting it then it's gone.

 

[Carl_NH]

You do nice work…

Thanks - the 1864 moved to a new home across the street so still work on it if needed.

It was in decent shape, had the deck sandblasted, then epoxy primed and painted, new bearings and belt. The rest of the metal was good, but the plastic hood and side panels required lots of welding and fixing - the engine had valve cover leaks into cooling fins, so new covers/gaskets, then a good cleaning of the cooling system.

 

[WinterDeere]

I like the older stuff way better than the crap they make today. I have a fondness for old 80's model JD and CC garden tractors.

I like the older stuff too, but not because it's better... because it's not!

Let's not compare today's crappy cheap lawn tractors with yesterday's expensive garden tractors. Apples to oranges, not a fair comparison, especially when you look at the prices charged, scaling for inflation.

Apples to apples, nearly every tractor made to day is WAY more capable and reliable than their equivalently-priced and marketed counterparts of 40 or 60 years ago. Again, scaling for inflation.

I really have to laugh when I see all of the belt-driven and chain-driven machines produced prior to Cub Cadet really making direct drive and driveshafts more common in garden tractors. You think those were reliable and capable?

I kept my beloved old 1963 Cub Cadet right up to less than 10 years ago. Solid little machine, first hydrostatic garden tractor ever made, and built like a tank. Yet stupid things still broke way more frequently than any modern machine, it took way more repairs and TLC to keep it running than my 2019 tractor, despite seeing way less and softer usage.

Sticking a rear diff sized for a pickup truck under a little 10 hp garden tractor looks impressive, and people look at it and say "so reliable..." But that comically-oversized rear diff is totally useless when the ignition system craps out.

 

[JeepHead]

I like the older stuff too, but not because it's better... because it's not!

Let's not compare today's crappy cheap lawn tractors with yesterday's expensive garden tractors. Apples to oranges, not a fair comparison, especially when you look at the prices charged, scaling for inflation.

Apples to apples, nearly every tractor made to day is WAY more capable and reliable than their equivalently-priced and marketed counterparts of 40 or 60 years ago. Again, scaling for inflation.

I really have to laugh when I see all of the belt-driven and chain-driven machines produced prior to Cub Cadet really making direct drive and driveshafts more common in garden tractors. You think those were reliable and capable?

I kept my beloved old 1963 Cub Cadet right up to less than 10 years ago. Solid little machine, first hydrostatic garden tractor ever made, and built like a tank. Yet stupid things still broke way more frequently than any modern machine, it took way more repairs and TLC to keep it running than my 2019 tractor, despite seeing way less and softer usage.

Sticking a rear diff sized for a pickup truck under a little 10 hp garden tractor looks impressive, and people look at it and say "so reliable..." But that comically-oversized rear diff is totally useless when the ignition system craps out.

I will have to disagree. The stuff from from decades ago were built way beefier and better than anything made today, apples for apples. The over-all build on these old machines were just better, they built them to last an not to just throw away. And as you pointed out, they had axles meant for real work. I would much rather replace an ignition system on an old tractor than a rear-end or hydrostatic transmission. My boss is going through this right now with his 6 year old Husqvarna GT and replacing the transmission, meanwhile the hydrostatic transmission in my 40 year old JD 318 is still trucking along like a champ. They don't make them like they use to, not even comparable..

 

[arto98607]

My 1976 John Deere 300 is running just fine!

I do have couple of Diesel powered commercial mowers and JD 430, but there are few places to mow where only the JD 300 with it's 42" mower deck will fit...

 

[WinterDeere]

I will have to disagree.

That's fine! We all do what works for us. I'm a big fan of old tractors and classic cars. I've owned several of each, and they're lots of fun to toy with and put to work, when you don't actually need to rely on them.

I can't even imagine breaking the rear end or HST on my 3033r... but I broke the front axle on my old Deere 855 MFWD! I also broke the transmission on our old Wheel Horse (early 1980's), and broke a connecting rod on one of my 1960's Cub Cadets. Another Cub Cadet suffered a bent driveshaft between engine and HST, which caused the thing to vibrate so badly it cracked the bung weld on the gas tank before the weekend's work was done. Old tractors had plenty of failures.

I don't need to waste cost on "over-built", at the expense of other components being improperly spec'd or designed, I just need everything on the machine to be built well enough. Design perfection is when there's no weak link, not having one part comically over-spec'd with deficiencies in other areas, which is the case in nearly all older tractors.

 

[sd455dan]

My 1976 John Deere 300 is running just fine!

I do have couple of Diesel powered commercial mowers and JD 430, but there are few places to mow where only the JD with it's 42" mower deck will fit...

YEP, I pulled a good sized trailer stacked with firewood more than a few times with the Gilson /Peerless manual trans and the MTD (Eaton Tecumseh Hydro)

but; From reports on here was told it is a very bad idea to try it with the much newer JD X500 and it's " Medium duty - ground engaging" K72 Hydro...

 

[arto98607]

JD 300 has Sundstrand 15 transmission, which as far as I understand has been one of the most reliable garden tractor hydrostatic transmissions ever made.

It was used in numerous JD models, including the Diesel powered JD 430

My JD 300 will turn 50 next year (I have owned & used it 33 years) and all that the transmission has ever needed was oil & filter changes about every 10 years.

I suppose they don't make them like that anymore...

 

[JeepHead]

JD 300 has Sundstrand 15 transmission, which as far as I understand has been one of the most reliable garden tractor hydrostatic transmissions ever made.

It was used in numerous JD models, including the Diesel powered JD 430

My JD 300 will turn 50 next year (I have owned & used it 33 years) and all that the transmission has ever needed was oil & filter changes about every 10 years.

I suppose they don't make them like that anymore...

The crap they make today for lawn care is absolute junk meant to be used for a handful of years and be sent to the scrap yard. Definitely not meant to last 30+ years like the old stuff was. But that's with most things manufactured today.

 

[arto98607]

The crap they make today for lawn care is absolute junk meant to be used for a handful of years and be sent to the scrap yard. Definitely not meant to last 30+ years like the old stuff was. But that's with most things manufactured today.

Yes the homeowner grade machinery is and the commercial grade mowers are way better choice in the long run.

Buying used commercial mower makes sense for most people with larger area to mow, but that's just my opinion...

 

[WinterDeere]

The crap they make today for lawn care is absolute junk meant to be used for a handful of years and be sent to the scrap yard. Definitely not meant to last 30+ years like the old stuff was. But that's with most things manufactured today.

It's easy to forget the vast volumes of crap made in the 1970's, simply because it's not around today. The old equipment you see today was the creme of the crop, while the majority has gone away due to bad design, bad function, cheap materials.

As an old house and history nut, I hear the same with old houses, all the time. People seem to think old houses were built better. Yes, a few were, and those are the few still standing. But if you look at any old map, you'll find the landscape was dotted with many more that have been torn down or fallen down, because they were even worse than what replaced them.

I'll take my new Deere 3033r over any CUT made 30 - 40 years ago. In fact, that's what I did, when I sold the 40- and 35-years old 750 and 855, to replace with a new 3033r in 2019. Way better than any CUT Deere made before it.

 

[JeepHead]

Yes the homeowner grade machinery is and the commercial grade mowers are way better choice in the long run.

Buying used commercial mower makes sense for most people with larger area to mow, but that's just my opinion...

I agree that it's better to buy a commercial mower over a homeowner model if you're mowing very much. The quality is definitely better. But I still don't see the commercial offerings of today lasting 30+ years.

 

[sd455dan]

It's easy to forget the vast volumes of crap made in the 1970's, simply because it's not around today. The old equipment you see today was the creme of the crop, while the majority has gone away due to bad design, bad function, cheap materials.

As an old house and history nut, I hear the same with old houses, all the time. People seem to think old houses were built better. Yes, a few were, and those are the few still standing. But if you look at any old map, you'll find the landscape was dotted with many more that have been torn down or fallen down, because they were even worse than what replaced them.

I'll take my new Deere 3033r over any CUT made 30 - 40 years ago. In fact, that's what I did, when I sold the 40- and 35-years old 750 and 855, to replace with a new 3033r in 2019. Way better than any CUT Deere made before it.

Well if we live long enough I would love to see a 3033r at 30+ years of continual use. Just passed 32 Years on my China Shanghai Rhino and less than a week ago it was needed to unload a 3600lb pallet of 80lb. bags of concrete for a deck (piers) we are having a crew build. I was almost able to unload it from the contractors F 350 Flat bed, but we thought better of it and took off a few bags. Next full load we just used the almost 50 year old Ford TLB -cake walk with the self leveling loader.

I Do not like the move to plastics in almost every part of lawn tractors up to utility tractors that they can get away with.
If the JD X 500 had been sold with a metal hood it would not have needed to be glassed back together.

The old equipment generally weighs more because there is more metal in general that was put into building it.
miniaturization of the new yard tractor and CUT drivetrain parts to just meet requirements sucks.
To small of stub axles, under diameter bearings, and ring and pinions, FEL's with small rod diameter and cylinder diameters for rated lift etc.
Nope less and less impressed with new tractors for what they cost.

 

[sixdogs]

I hope I'm not alone in thinking that 61 is not old. I was indignant when the whippersnapper (see what I did....) at the store said I could get a senior discount. I said "no way, I'm not old". Thinking old makes you old

Great quote. "Thinking old makes you old". How very true.

Most people don't realize it and start cutting back on things a little at a time and before you know it they're both old...and feeble. Don't be that guy.

 

[ultrarunner]

Often it starts with a simple injury and then being cautious thereafter.

Spouse can be a factor… a retired roofer was going crazy on retirement due to spouse micromanagement…

She made it her mission to oversee every detail making him long for his working days.

As to equipment why spend money when what you have does the task intended?

 

[5030]

I got this Giant-Vac 54 inch walk behind mower to keep up the sports field at the elementary school when my kids were there and playing one kind of "ball" or another. Volunteerism was still a thing then.

Well, the kids are grown and gone for some time now, but I still have the mower and use it to do the bulk of the lawn every summer.
The deck is getting pretty holy (sic) but the Kawasaki engine always starts right up, and it uses no oil.
But today, the drive belts to the wheels started slipping badly up even the slightest grade. The tension wheel is adjusted properly, so the easy option was to spray on some belt dressing. Good to go... till next time.
I looked "on-line" for replacement drive belts. They can run some good money. Like $90 each!

I've got a little bit newer Ransomes Bobcat just like it only in 48" that suits me better. I don't seem to quite as quick in the corners as I once was.

I'm just wonder when is the right time to send this one off. I'm sure it has another dozen years in it with just a little bit of TLC ;-)

IMO, all depends on the inital quality of any lawnmower and how good the engine is... If it's a diesel power mower with a heavy duty fabricated deck, 20-30 years is nothing.

 

[5030]

One thing for certain and that is... If it's gas powered and has an aluminum block V twin, it MIGHT last 20 years but I doubt it. Modern die cast luminum block engines are basically disposa engines.

 

[WinterDeere]

I Do not like the move to plastics in almost every part of lawn tractors up to utility tractors that they can get away with.
If the JD X 500 had been sold with a metal hood it would not have needed to be glassed back together.

A lot of people were unhappy with the initial switch to plastic, but it's been proven over 40 years that it lasts longer, and takes regular weathering and wear much better than the metal parts.

My 1986 Deere 855 had a plastic hood, but everything else on it was metal. When I sold the thing in 2019, it was 33 years old and that plastic hood was the ONLY part of that whole tractor that was still looking like new. The metal was all rusting, scratched, dented.

There have been many other comparisons done, YouTube is your friend, that show the plastic holding up better over decades, to everything but outright abuse. Drop a tree on your tractor, and metal will fare better. But for nearly everything else it will see in its lifetime, from weathering and rain to scratches from brush and low hanging branches, the plastic just holds up better.

The old equipment generally weighs more because there is more metal in general that was put into building it.

My older pickup trucks also weigh more than my newer ones, but broke down way more often, even when new. Weight and heft are a very poor measure of quality or reliability.

 

[ultrarunner]

My HR215 Honda walk behind mower with aluminum deck, driveshaft hydro and blade lock is a real workhorse…

After 25 years I replaced one rubber tire and probably should keep a spare on hand…

One pull start and blade brake are nice.

It’s kept all year outside under an open porch and still original bag.

Too bad Honda no longer sells mowers here.

I had several mowers that ran well in my property management business all succumbing to deck rust through… in a moment of weakness I asked the mower shop what is the best you have and he pointed to the HR215

My only other comment is this is a finish mower and mowing neglected 12 to 30” unkept grass is slow going.