Buying Advice Lawn Tractor for 1/3rd Acre Flat

[MikeFitz11]

Hello everyone,

I'm very inexperienced in the area of lawn tractors, but I'm moving to a house with 1/3rd acre. The yard is flat and open, seems perfect for a lawn tractor. So far I've looked at John Deere LA series, as well as the X300. I've also looked at the Simplicity Regent. I bought a membership to Consumer Reports and they have the JD X304 and X300 rated near the top, unfortunitely they do not rank Simplicity.

I've had several recommendations for each tractor. Supposedly the LA series was designed for yards like mine, but after reading hundreds of poor reviews, I'm really hesitant to go in that direction. It appears the X300 is a safer bet, but I've read many people who insist you need to buy at least an X320 or higher. As for the Simplicity, I dont care about the lawn striping, and I know just as little about their durability.

Bottom line: I just want a tractor that will cut grass for many years with the least amount of problems on a flat 1/3rd acre. What do you think the best option would be for me given the work the tractor will be called upon for? Thanks for any input!

 

[DonWorrell]

Look in the JD Lawn and Garden forum. It has an excellant discussion on what mower to buy for a 1 acre lot. Really there isn't much difference in mowing a 1/3 arce verse a 1 acre lot. Just more ground. Same problems!

Don

 

[MossRoad]

If all you want to do is cut grass, get a Snapper like this:

Rear-Engine Riding Mowers by Snapper

It is small, will cut that sized lot in under half an hour, stores standing up in your garage to take up less floor space, has a good cut and can be outfitted with a leaf vacuum cart if you have fall cleanup chores or want to bag your clippings. They are built well and last for years.

 

[LBrown59]

Hello
1* As for the Simplicity, I dont care about the lawn striping, and I know just as little about their durability.

1* Simplicity is one of the best .
At least they don't make any of the BBS cheapos.

 

[Soundguy]

If it was me.. I'd spend only about 700 or 800$ and get one of the economy units like a murray from walmart. When I bought mine 13 or 14 ys ago.. 700$ got you 12.5hp and 42" cut. I've looked around lately and think you can get close to that. tsc had ?huskie 38" cuts for 800$.. havn't priced walmart..

I change the oil in my mower yearly.. and clean the air filter and clean the plug.. make sur ethe tires are aired and sharpen the blades at the end of the year then hit them with a lil black spray paint. I sweep the deck off after cutting and blow debri off the air cooled engine.. check the belt yearly, and feel for loose deck pullies yearly.. a lil stabil in the fuel for the last run before winter.. etc. IE.. normal minimal maintenance for a yard machine.. keep some grease on the bat terminals.. etc.

I've had 13-14 years of good solid service with notheing other than blade replacement and aI think this is her 3rd battery? maybee 2nd? Local garden/engine shop sells the murray blades or for a couple bucks cheaper a uni-will-fit.. I have bene using those.. generally get about 3-4 ys on a set of blades depending on rainfall and rocks..

For the $$ I paid for the mower, and the life I've gotten out of her, if she died tomorrow she's own me nothing.. I'd spend another 700 or 800$ and get the same one, and have less money invested in the log run than if I had bought a high end mower 14 ys ago, plus i'd have a new mower, not a 14yr old expensive one..

14 ys and 700$ is 50$ a year.. not too bad. I just serviced mine and other than the deck is beginning to wear out... she still looks serviceable.. probably need a belt next year..etc.. mower still starts of first lick.. never fouls plugs.. I'd say she's at least 85-90% of the original 'power' she had and capabilities when new... ( sharp blade and clean gas makes most of the difference )

sure you can pay up to 2500$ for a rider or up to 4500$ for a ztr.. but you can also spend 800$ and laugh all the way to the bank..If it's spinning blades with a seat.. brand pretty much is just bragging rights anyway..

soundguy

Hello everyone,

I'm very inexperienced in the area of lawn tractors, but I'm moving to a house with 1/3rd acre. The yard is flat and open, seems perfect for a lawn tractor. So far I've looked at John Deere LA series, as well as the X300. I've also looked at the Simplicity Regent. I bought a membership to Consumer Reports and they have the JD X304 and X300 rated near the top, unfortunitely they do not rank Simplicity.

I've had several recommendations for each tractor. Supposedly the LA series was designed for yards like mine, but after reading hundreds of poor reviews, I'm really hesitant to go in that direction. It appears the X300 is a safer bet, but I've read many people who insist you need to buy at least an X320 or higher. As for the Simplicity, I dont care about the lawn striping, and I know just as little about their durability.

Bottom line: I just want a tractor that will cut grass for many years with the least amount of problems on a flat 1/3rd acre. What do you think the best option would be for me given the work the tractor will be called upon for? Thanks for any input!

 

[James Loehr]

1* Simplicity is one of the best .
At least they don't make any of the BBS cheapos.

Almost any lawn tractor will handle less than an acre. I had a Craftsman for five years. strong briggs engine,good working hydo.trans but the thing was falling apart otherwise. loose steering,mower deck needing some parts. I just replaced with a Simplicity Regent. I'm very impressed with the cut and I don't stripe the grass. The ride and cut quality makes me wonder why I rode that sears thing so long. Yes anything can cut grass but not if you take pride in the finished job.

 

[Soundguy]

wow a craftsman only lasting 5ys and falling apart to boot.. makes me feel good about that 14yr old cheapy murray I got..


soundguy

 

[jenkinsph]

If it was me.. I'd spend only about 700 or 800$ and get one of the economy units like a murray from walmart. When I bought mine 13 or 14 ys ago.. 700$ got you 12.5hp and 42" cut. I've looked around lately and think you can get close to that. tsc had ?huskie 38" cuts for 800$.. havn't priced walmart..

I change the oil in my mower yearly.. and clean the air filter and clean the plug.. make sur ethe tires are aired and sharpen the blades at the end of the year then hit them with a lil black spray paint. I sweep the deck off after cutting and blow debri off the air cooled engine.. check the belt yearly, and feel for loose deck pullies yearly.. a lil stabil in the fuel for the last run before winter.. etc. IE.. normal minimal maintenance for a yard machine.. keep some grease on the bat terminals.. etc.

I've had 13-14 years of good solid service with notheing other than blade replacement and aI think this is her 3rd battery? maybee 2nd? Local garden/engine shop sells the murray blades or for a couple bucks cheaper a uni-will-fit.. I have bene using those.. generally get about 3-4 ys on a set of blades depending on rainfall and rocks..

For the $$ I paid for the mower, and the life I've gotten out of her, if she died tomorrow she's own me nothing.. I'd spend another 700 or 800$ and get the same one, and have less money invested in the log run than if I had bought a high end mower 14 ys ago, plus i'd have a new mower, not a 14yr old expensive one..

14 ys and 700$ is 50$ a year.. not too bad. I just serviced mine and other than the deck is beginning to wear out... she still looks serviceable.. probably need a belt next year..etc.. mower still starts of first lick.. never fouls plugs.. I'd say she's at least 85-90% of the original 'power' she had and capabilities when new... ( sharp blade and clean gas makes most of the difference )

sure you can pay up to 2500$ for a rider or up to 4500$ for a ztr.. but you can also spend 800$ and laugh all the way to the bank..If it's spinning blades with a seat.. brand pretty much is just bragging rights anyway..

soundguy

Good post!
Hard to argue with $50/yr.

 

[Robert F.]

1* Simplicity is one of the best .
At least they don't make any of the BBS cheapos.

What does "BBS" mean?

 

[Soundguy]

big box store was what I believe he was refering to.

soundguy

 

[doall]

for A 1/3 acre I might even look at a large big wheel push mower. Probably still wouldn't take more than an hour and if it last 14 years you'll only have $15 a year or so in it. just kidding, I think sound guy must have got a 1 in a million machine. I would get a better quality mower, never had much luck with the murrays and such lasting very long or cutting even without putting a little work into the deck once or twice a year. I am mowing about 4 acres at my house and 6 at my mom's though.

 

[JoeinTX]

Once again, SoundGuy scores a direct hit.

Don't underestimate the Yard Man/MTD/Murray rigs at the local whatever for $800. Don't overestimate the JD/Cub offerings for 3 times the money. They are far more similar in content and design than you might imagine. They are, however, far different in marketing and paint color and price.

I purchased a home on 1 acre here in DFW 4 years ago. It's on a slope, full of trees and rocks and stobs, lots of little nasties. I went down to the local Big Blue Box and bought a Troy Bilt Pony for 1k. You can buy the same rig from Home Depot in green wearing the MTD brand for the same money.....just depends on the color that suits you. It's been one heck of a riding mower. Maintenance has included, apart from oil and such, a few sets of mulching blades until I went with the Severe Duty types and haven't looked back and recently a new set of drive belts. That's mowing approximately 30 acres a year (1 acre x 30 weeks of cutting on average) in predominantly 90-100F heat. I take care of it, wash it after every mowing, and store it inside..........and the thing could darn near pass as brand new. BS motor runs like the day I bought it and it doesn't use a lot of gas either. Can't find a darned thing to complain about with it.

I have something to compare them against. My dad owns a recent JD hydro rider as well as a Craftsman riding mower. Do not care for them as the JD doesn't ultimately cut grass any better than any other common rider and the Sears is a cranky son-of-a-gun to use. Prefer the Troy Bilt over any of them and not just because I paid for one. I, like now, will tell anyone to pick one of them for the money over any of the others.

Save your money. One small motor and belt system is not marginally better than any other. Do not pay for paint or brand............they will let you down. As for riders go, purchase price is the ultimate decider. Wal-Mart still sells a 14.5hp MTD/Yard Man (red, green, or yellow) that I used to cut cemeteries and joint properties for many a year for about $800............GO WITH IT! Good little mower and you won't regret the money later.

 

[LBrown59]

What does "BBS" mean?

B ig

B ox

S tore

 

[Soundguy]

for A 1/3 acre I might even look at a large big wheel push mower. Probably still wouldn't take more than an hour and if it last 14 years you'll only have $15 a year or so in it. just kidding, I think sound guy must have got a 1 in a million machine. I would get a better quality mower, never had much luck with the murrays and such lasting very long or cutting even without putting a little work into the deck once or twice a year. I am mowing about 4 acres at my house and 6 at my mom's though.

the biggest problem I see with most equipment that doesn't last long is usually related to operator abuse or gross neglect.

I can't tell you how many tractor's I've bought that were working.. yet the owner couldn't remember changing the oil that decade.

IE.. gross neglect...

if it's not a lemon.. or doa / infant mortality.. preventative maintenance and proper use and care should net you years of use on the average machine.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. and as far as JD.. I'm not impressed with them if my neighbor is any corelation.

he mows 2.5 ac 2x per month with his. He's had 3 of them in 10ys... ( I mow my land with a TRACTOR )

soundguy

Once again, SoundGuy scores a direct hit.

Don't underestimate the Yard Man/MTD/Murray rigs at the local whatever for $800. Don't overestimate the JD/Cub offerings for 3 times the money. They are far more similar in content and design than you might imagine. They are, however, far different in marketing and paint color and price.

I purchased a home on 1 acre here in DFW 4 years ago. It's on a slope, full of trees and rocks and stobs, lots of little nasties. I went down to the local Big Blue Box and bought a Troy Bilt Pony for 1k. You can buy the same rig from Home Depot in green wearing the MTD brand for the same money.....just depends on the color that suits you. It's been one heck of a riding mower. Maintenance has included, apart from oil and such, a few sets of mulching blades until I went with the Severe Duty types and haven't looked back and recently a new set of drive belts. That's mowing approximately 30 acres a year (1 acre x 30 weeks of cutting on average) in predominantly 90-100F heat. I take care of it, wash it after every mowing, and store it inside..........and the thing could darn near pass as brand new. BS motor runs like the day I bought it and it doesn't use a lot of gas either. Can't find a darned thing to complain about with it.

I have something to compare them against. My dad owns a recent JD hydro rider as well as a Craftsman riding mower. Do not care for them as the JD doesn't ultimately cut grass any better than any other common rider and the Sears is a cranky son-of-a-gun to use. Prefer the Troy Bilt over any of them and not just because I paid for one. I, like now, will tell anyone to pick one of them for the money over any of the others.

Save your money. One small motor and belt system is not marginally better than any other. Do not pay for paint or brand............they will let you down. As for riders go, purchase price is the ultimate decider. Wal-Mart still sells a 14.5hp MTD/Yard Man (red, green, or yellow) that I used to cut cemeteries and joint properties for many a year for about $800............GO WITH IT! Good little mower and you won't regret the money later.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I agree with Moss, find a used Snapper rear engine rider.

Soundguy, you are the luckiest guy I know getting that kind of life out of a murray/MTD. Our QC manager at my former job had one. The tranny died after 3 years and he was told $700 to fix it.

Many times, a Snapper RER will outlast the engine. The design is so simple.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I agree with Moss, find a used Snapper rear engine rider.

Soundguy, you are the luckiest guy I know getting that kind of life out of a murray/MTD. Our QC manager at my former job had one. The tranny died after 3 years and he was told $700 to fix it.

Many times, a Snapper RER will outlast the engine. The design is so simple.

The tranny or the deck will usually be the first to go on a inexpensive rider. They are most more alike than different. Any mower will mow a flat yard with no obstacles. Hills, ditches and stumps are mower killers.

 

[doall]

the biggest problem I see with most equipment that doesn't last long is usually related to operator abuse or gross neglect.

I can't tell you how many tractor's I've bought that were working.. yet the owner couldn't remember changing the oil that decade.

IE.. gross neglect...

if it's not a lemon.. or doa / infant mortality.. preventative maintenance and proper use and care should net you years of use on the average machine.

soundguy

I'm probably meticulous as anyone on keeping up my toys. Mine gets washed after every use, blowed off with compressed air, all fluids checked every time.
change oil every 50 hours. Calls for a 100 but its hot and dry here.

 

[6011Artist]

I'm with SoundGuy on this one. You only have 1/3 of an acre, perfect mowing conditions, so go with the cheaper mower and take care of it. I too have gotten 12 yrs out of an MTD mowing an acre of yard. I do the back with a tractor/bush hog. Save your money unless owning one of those high dollar mowers means a lot to you.

Some guys have to have only the best, others buy what is needed and bank the rest.

 

[schmism]

why not just find a gently used riding mower on your local criagslist.

even better one those old guys that likes to putter with mowers and has like 10 riding mowers out front his place for sale.... you know he has them running in tip top shape and only wants a few hundred bucks for one. and on the up side if you ever have problems you already know were to take it to get fixed.