How much life is left in an 800-1000hr mower?

jollygreengiant · Feb 26, 2021

Hello all,

I'm in the market for a new mower. I have about 1.25ac that is mostly flat, but I do have a couple steep road ditches that I mow. I'm open to both zero turns and riders. However I would like to be able to pull a small cart, spreader, and a roller. That rules out a lot of machines based on what research I've done on their transmissions. Oh, and just to make it more interesting my budget is $4k Canadian....

Needless to say I haven't found many machines in my budget. I do find some 15-22 year old Deere and Kubota machines, such as the 3xx, GX/LX series Deere's and a couple TG1860 Kubota's but these machines have 800-1000 hours on them. My question is, will they have enough life left in them to make them a worthwhile option? I realize prior maintenance plays a huge role, but I don't want to spend $3,000+ on an older machine if it won't last.

TIA.

jaydee325 · Feb 26, 2021

In 1997, I bought a John Deere 325 tractor. It had the single cylinder, air cooled Kawasaki engine and the Tuff Torq K71A hydro. It was an off lease tractor with 100 hours on it.

Served me well. Used it year round for mowing, snow blowing, and tilling. All maintenance was done by me per the manual or better.

At about 1000 hours, it developed a transmission leak around the shaft that is actuated by the foot pedals for direction and speed. Used it another 300 hours by adding about 200 cc's of oil every 5 hours or so. When I traded it in, it had 1300 hours on it and the dealer indicated the repair was not feasible due to cost. That was pretty much what my research indicated as well. At that point, I took their offer and let it go on a new Deere last summer. I figured it owed me nothing. If you were to find a Deere 325 garden tractor like I had that was well maintained with records and was leak free within your budget, I'd say you would have several hundred trouble free hours of use left. The leak I had seemed to be an odd case as I only found a few cases of the same problem in my research.

So, the answer to your question is, it depends. Many on here, many say that used professional grade zero turns with 1000 hours (give or take) on them prove to be a cost effective solution. But, I don't believe you will find a pro grade zero turn in your price range and hours target.

rademamj1 · Feb 28, 2021

Properly maintained machines can often do 3000+ hours before needing major maintenance. For me, 800 hours is not considered a high hour usage. Two years ago, i purchased a 2012 Gravely Commercial (Professional) Zeroturn with 2100 hours for $4100 USD, and the Kawaski engine was very well maintained and looks like I may get another 1200 hours on the machine. And at 50 hours residential use per year on only 3.5 acres, means I will most likely get to use it for about 20 years. Sometimes buying a used commercial or professional mower, with moderate hours makes a very good choice.

EddieWalker · Feb 28, 2021

I just read a story about a guy who has over 2 million miles on his Chevy pickup. So anything is possible if you are willing to work on it, and nobody trashed it too badly before you get it. In my opinion, I think that most gasoline engines are good for about 1,000 hours. I actually think that most will never get anywhere near 1,000 hours, so if you see one that has that many hours on it, you know it's been used a lot, and there probably isn't much left on it.

Small diesel powered lawn mowers/tractors, should be able to get 4,000 hours without too much trouble. Most of the rest of it will be worn out and destroyed by then anyway. If it's a diesel with 1,000 hours, it could be a decent machine if it was taken care of.

The biggest issue that you have with lawn mowers is that they sit for so long. Condensation is a big issue in some areas, as well as rodents, bugs and the weather. Here in Texas, wasps and dirt dobbers will cause all sorts of issues and mice will eat up the wiring or build a nest inside the engine area.

For the amount of land that you are going to mow, I would look at a brand new riding mower with a decent engine like a Kawasaki or something of that quality. A zero turn will do it faster, but it will beat you up more and cost a lot more. For an acre, the amount of time that you would save by mowing with a zero turn over a riding mower isn't significant enough to spend a couple grand more. Before buying my zero turn, I had an older Craftsman riding mower that I really enjoyed. Mowing was fun and relaxing with it. I did struggle with mowing on slopes, but for just mowing on an open and flat area, it was the best.

Another big advantage to buying new is that you won't be fixing what somebody else did to it.

Complete Turf Care · Feb 28, 2021

I was in the commercial lawn care business for about 18 years.

In my experience, commercial mowers were good for about 1200 hours and then would start to give problems. In my case, we would put about 300-400 hours a year on a mower and I would sell or trade them at about 1200 hours.

Most homeowners will put 40-50 hours a year on a mower, but commercial lawn care mowers will get 20-30 hours per week.

My point is that if you buy a used commercial mower with 500-700 hours on it, you should get good service for many years.

Carl_NH · Feb 28, 2021

Agree, anything over 800 hours unless you know the history will have some maintenance in the future. If you can find a Cub Cadet shaft drive GT 2550, or a John Deere 304 5-10 years old with 3-400 hours for $1500-2K those are decent machines.

For the money Simplicity make a decent lawn/garden tractor too, with 10 and 12 GA fab decks, and new ae in your price range. Broadmoor™ Lawn Tractor

buck12 · Feb 28, 2021

I have John Deere GT 235 which I bought used in 1997. I looked at the serial number years ago and if I remember correctly it was a 1996 model. It has the Briggs 18 hp rebranded JD. I estimate I have put over 1700 hours on the mower cutting my 1.5 acre lot. The motor has given no problems other than one starter. The plastic hood is crumbling but the motor and drive train have been good. I have replaced a few belts, pulleys, belt tensioner, clutch, etc over the years. The bolt which holds the clutch sheared several years ago and it was a bear to get the sheared bolt out

To me it is lawnmower, give it clean oil and air and cut grass. When it dies I will buy something else but with a metal hood.

I sometimes wonder if the Kawasaki motors are over rated my Dad and BIL both have JD 425s and both have had to replace the plastic timing gears.

Cycledude · Feb 28, 2021

My Kubota ZD21 currently has a little over 1200 hours and runs like new, it still has the original belt for driving the deck, I’ve done the maintenance myself , have replaced a few bushings and new blades a couple times. Will probably order a new belt for it this summer just in case .

4570Man · Feb 28, 2021

A gas mower is probably at the end of its run at that point. A diesel one will last a long time. I’ve got a 428D grasshopper with a Kubota diesel and 2500 hours. The Kubota diesel isn’t even starting to get tired and the drives are good. It is at the point seals and bearings are failing. I went through it pretty good the year before last and it put in a pretty trouble free season last year.

KennyG · Feb 28, 2021

We all love the quality build heavy duty equipment, but it doesn't seem to make sense here. With just over an acre in Canada, how many hours a year are you going to mow? Maybe 30 or 40 at the most. What is the cost for a homeowner grade zero turn in your area? With reasonable maintenance you should get 20 years or more out of it.

jollygreengiant · Mar 1, 2021

Thanks for all the replies.

For everyone saying to buy a new machine, will these new homeowner machines hold up to pulling a lawn cart and lawn roller? That is my big concern and hence why I was looking at used garden tractors.

shooterdon · Mar 1, 2021

Pull a cart or lawn roller occasionally on a mostly level lawn does not seem like a big deal. My Husqvarna rider is 11 years old and I have pulled a Handozer to maintain my 250 yard gravel drive and the area between the house, pond and pole barn.

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I cut just under 2 acres of grass and live in MI so about the same conditions as you have. I hate cutting grass and will get a ZT but the Husky keeps trucking away. If you buy a residential ZT and spend 20 hours a year cutting grass (it will be about twice as fast as a rider), it will last over 20 years. That is what I will do. I am 70, and if I am still cutting grass at 90 I will buy another "piece of crap".

Cycledude · Mar 1, 2021

Used to mow 20+ acres of cemetery with my diesel zero turn Kubota and also hauled a lot of dirt behind it in a small dump trailer, as long as the ground wasn’t to wet or soft nothing seemed to affect it.

Sonny580 · Mar 3, 2021

I have 4 simps. 1 is an 18 with 1200 hours, 3 of the 20's showing 2100 to 2600 hours and all still run like new. I use them for everything every day. all of them are hydro. I like the 20's because they have hi-lo hydro. range, diffy lock, turning brakes, and power steering on them. also rated for loader IF you could ever find one.
I have heard of these Kohler 18, and 20"s running 4500 hours or more.
I also have an allis 917, which is a simp. with 3500 hours on it and still doing o.k.
My Deere gt 262 is junk --Kaw motor blew at 500 hours and was replaced by B & S single 16 ---still runs o.k. --Deere plastic is garbage so thats all gone, just motor and frame ----mows good tho!

OzKioti · Mar 8, 2021

We have an old Murray 40" which I picked up cheap as an "as is, where is" basis from a dealer who'd just got it as a trade-in. I had a spare Kohler 16hp which bolted right on, and it's been chugging on for years. The main issue is the pressed steel deck is cracking and falling apart, so I thought may be time to look at a new mower, possibly a zero-turn.

My local dealer (who is thoroughly professional and ethical) asked about the terrain where we'd be mowing - area and slope. His advice was that unless you're regularly mowing large areas, with a ZT you'd be paying a high price for the little time saved over having a conventional rider mower. Also, more importantly, ZTs and slopey ground are a bad combination, due to the rear engine layout and operator also towards the rear, resulting in a sometimes precarious stability situation.

Even though he sells them, he very easily talked me out of getting a zero-turn!

He also said that what kills the transmissions in many rider mowers is asking too much from them as regards towing things, or pushing them too hard on sloping ground.

OzKioti · Mar 8, 2021

As I mentioned above, the deck is pretty sad, but the grass shute is positively on life-support:

Having just replaced one of the jack-shaft housings (bearings shot), I was motivated to do something about the shute. I got a 5 gallon drum and cut it down, and while it looks odd, at least it offers better protection from flying debris:

The problem is that replacement parts are simply not available, and the frame of the old Murray, the transmission, and the replacement Kohler engine are all good! So it looks like a little more thin steel deck welding might be the go to give it another few years. As they say - waste not, want not.

buck12 · Mar 8, 2021

LGvaltra said:
As I mentioned above, the deck is pretty sad, but the grass shute is positively on life-support:

View attachment 689324

Having just replaced one of the jack-shaft housings (bearings shot), I was motivated to do something about the shute. I got a 5 gallon drum and cut it down, and while it looks odd, at least it offers better protection from flying debris:

View attachment 689325

The problem is that replacement parts are simply not available, and the frame of the old Murray, the transmission, and the replacement Kohler engine are all good! So it looks like a little more thin steel deck welding might be the go to give it another few years. As they say - waste not, want not.

I like that repair.

stevem5215 · Mar 19, 2021

My 1994 Steiner has around 900 hours on the ONan engine. I'm expecting it to last another 10 years at least. (It will probably outlast me) And I have experience with a 1990's old Grey (in color) Craftsman 12.5 hp 38" riding lawn mower (you might remember them). It finally gave up the ghost last year and we gave it away but it was a good running machine for all those years. So, just because a machine has hours on it doesn't mean it won't last. It depends on how it's been maintained and stored. Keep it inside out of the weather and the body will stay in good shape for years along with the mower deck. Keep it outside and in the rain and snow and it'll reduce it's life. I personally wouldn't hesitate on a machine that was in good condition with hours on it. As long as it was taken care of.

Steve