She's Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

[cowboydoc]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

Charlie,
No it's not any kind of a trick question. When we moved to our new place my wife wanted a big yard. At the other place I had made it all into pasture for the most part. I told her that was fine but I was going to get a bigger mower. They brought out this 935 which I thought would be good but it's terrible on the hills. Not enough traction and it has the bar tires so it takes out chunks of the lawn. Dealer said he would put turf tires on it and weights for the wheels or said he had that 455. Also it's so dang big that it's hard to get around the house and the trees, took out the air conditioner last week! I wasn't real impressed with the cut either. Maybe I was going too fast though, /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. I called the dealer and he said he had a nice 455 there with a 60" deck if I wanted to try that. What I had originally planned to do was buy a 485X with a 64" deck but this dealer has alot of used ones and has been trying to talk me into a used one. I think his prices are right just trying to decide which way to go.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

<font color=red>935 which I thought would be good but it's terrible on the hills. Not enough traction and it has the bar tires so it takes out chunks of the lawn. </font color=red>
That is surprising to hear. I have hills and tight places on my lawn, as well. The Jacobsen is only a little clumsy, as expected with 72" deck. The rear steering and tight turning radius make it more maneuverable than the little Kubota B7100. The traction with turf tires has been good enough to handle up to 20 degree hills, although the power and now the worn out HST are a little anemic for those areas. I would have expected the 935 Deere to be similar, but it obviously isn't.
If the only function of the machine is to mow the lawn, you may want to try a Dixie Chopper, Exmark or Skag commercial ZTR. The pros around here swear by them, even on pretty steep areas, and run faster than any of the small tractors. They are in about the price range you're looking.
They are really neat toys.
Of course, if you really want to do it right, a Power Trac is the answer. (Had to throw that in.) And they even have some in green, if it has to be that color.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

Those 6" stumps will get you every time...

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

Now that you mention it, I see the similarity to the old Ropers. My dad had one for about 10 years. Was burning a little oil when he got rid of it, but it still mowed fine. Only thing he ever replaced was the battery, drive belt and a tie rod.

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

<font color=blue>...I've got a question for you....</font color=blue>

Huh....?

Hi Richard,

Do you have a coin in your pocket...? Now pick heads or tails... /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

I don't have the foggiest idea about lawn mowers... Hey... remember... you're talking to a guy who just bought his first ever riding lawn mower... (automatic at that!) /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

LOL. Ok I just thought you might have that handy dandy price deal that you do on tractors to see what the average prices were. Wasn't looking so much for your opinion as to how the prices were. Don't worry about it though. It's not that big of a deal. Talk to you later.

 

[Steelfan]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

John, I've got a question about the "Automatic Transmission"? Does the shifter only have forward, and reverse? Does the speed selector have a lever that is ran by a belt? My Dad has an old Montgomery Wards 12HP Tractor , that is "Automatic". Its called Transaxle. You can shift without stopping, but sometimes if not adjusted correctly the belt will slip when you try to climb a hill. About 25 years of Garden Tractor use can teach a guy a lot. Never owned a JD or Cub Cadet. Hard to part with that much money, when I can get a great cut with my Wheelhorse, and Sears Craftsman. Both are about 15 years old, and they still cut like a champ. Can't part with either of them, even though I got the TC21D. Have fun with the MTD.

 

[b8200hst4wd]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

I've used one of those at an eldery neighbor's house to mow with but technically it has more hp then my Kubota but it can't put it to the ground

BTW, I think Harv could retro-fit a FEL to fit it /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

<font color=blue>...Does the shifter only have forward, and reverse? Does the speed selector have a lever that is ran by a belt?...</font color=blue>

Hi Kent,

The control lever is "Forward, Neutral, Reverse", and a pedal to control the speed (just like a go-kart /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif)... the more you press on the pedal the faster it goes... yes it has a couple drive belts "buried" in the middle of the mower, besides more belts for the 46" mowing deck... and also a transaxle...

I'll try to get a couple pix's sometime... or go to any Walmart or True Value store that sells MTD products and you'll see the same things... a zillion different prices for basically the same product.../w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Well, I'm convinced now... without ever owning a riding mower in my life... I told my wife if this thing ever breaks... I will go out and buy a "automatic" only, absolutely no gear job for me & minimum 18" turning radius... this is a very productive way to mow... especially around obstacles and on hills... to speed up and slow down and just plain get the job done the quickest way possible... /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/16-178353-WizardPixleftside-1024cropped.jpg>...a pix from the left side showing the "control" lever FNR...</A>

 

[Steelfan]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

John,
Looking at the picture, she looks a little different then the MW. On the MW the lever on the left side is for speed. Goes from 1-7, and brake is there too. Forward, reverse, and neutral are in the middle under the steering wheel.

I've got 2 geared tractors now, but I got pretty good with the shifting. Still not like the Hydro on my TC21. My tractors both have a high, and low range lever. Used for mostly garden use. Pulling stuff. I've never had either of them in Low range. I couldn't do without a garden tractor around here. The flower beds, and banks. I'd never try to take my TC21 on some of the hills, that I take my Wheelhorse, and Sears. Enjoy your new toy. I like the "automatic" idea. Kent

 

[djradz]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

The deck doesn't look anything like the two AYP products we've bought in the last 5 years - one Sears 46" and one Ranch King 50"(Quality F&F). AYP decks are more curved and rounded on the top. It does however look an awful lot like the MTD decks on the MTD and Yardman machines sold around here.

 

[8NTX]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

As a matter of fact, it looks EXACTLY like my MTD Yard Machine I bought last year except mine is green. Same seat, same shifter, same deck, same steering wheel, same cowling, same key, same PTO lever, same pedals, same everything. Got mine at Lowe's. I also got a bargain, a 17HP, 42" deck, reg. price $1238.00, closeout $812.00. Works pretty good too. My wife has claimed it, since she won't get on the 8N.

 

[LBrown59]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

M-ultiple
T-ractor
D-efects

 

[GerardC]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

<font color="red"> M </font>erchandise

<font color="red"> T </font>hat

<font color="red"> D </font>elivers

 

[GerardC]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

The snow blower is on year 8 and the LT is on year 4. NEVER any problems with EITHER ONE! Gerard

 

[GerardC]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[rdln]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

There should be a law against digging up these kinda threads /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[8NTX]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

Gonna have to agree with Gerard on this one. Lotsa folks really don't like MTD, but I've had nothing but good luck with mine. In 3 and a half years I've had no problems at all. Only thing I do is change the oil every year. And I mow roughly 1.5 acres once every two to three weeks from April through November, in extremely dusty conditions, tall weeds, etc. Even takes down small brush with no problem. Starts every time and I'm happy with it.

 

[Rainbow6]

Re: She\'s Red, Automatic... & I bought her...

Go to town man, cool mower! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif