Smallest quality built lawn tractor

[Sonoma]

At the moment I live in a house with a half acre lot in southwest PA. It seems that the smaller lawn tractors get, the lower the quality. I'm looking for a lawn tractor capable of plowing the occasional 3-5 inches of snow on an asphalt drive and parking area, and mowing the lawn. Deck size needs to be 42" or smaller. I liked the Jd Lt 150 until I saw the throwaway sealed transaxle. It seems like they dont seem to deal with load very well. I think plowing would wear it out too quickly. I don't need something big, but I want something that will last a long time.

Thanks

 

[HGM]

I own an LT150. Most guys here know I'm not happy with it. I dont want to bash JD for it, I think I bought the entry level version of what could be a good mower. My recomendation, not being totally familliar with your needs(I live in the south=no snow to peak of) would be for at least one or two sizes larger than any MFG base model. The 150 doesnt have greese fittings on the spindals for one example. If I remember correctly the 160 does along with other things like an HR meter, this shouldnt be your main criteria for buying. However, if it has more service capabilities, you can keep it up. The LT150 IMO is a throw away mower. When it breaks it breaks.... Good luck with your choice. I know allot of guys are happy with their JD, they also ahave larger models..

 

[wallace]

Check out Simplicity
They have just redesigned the Regent
I would spend a little more up front and you will be happier down the road
A nice bang for the buck is the Conquest.
It has automatic traction control and posi lock diff.heavey duty trans.

 

[1962]

i use wheel horse(toro). there are lots of local dealers around, so service or parts are not a problem. all of mine are garden tractor size. heavy duty enough for snow plowing, roto-tilling and mowing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Sonoma]

Money is not an issue but size is. I need to be able to fit through gates, but still want something that will last.

 

[Spiffy]

I don't think it's what you had in mind, but CubCadet makes a commercial model built exactly for the quandry you mention:

size is more of a constraint than money.
Cub Z-Wing

With a small lot you probably won't benifit from the time savings of a Z, but they will cut 1/3 to 2/3 of the time from most mowing tasks, really saving on the reversing or trimming time.

Now on the negatives:

It's only a couple year old design, but I think they'd have any bugs pretty well worked out.

You may need to do a little searching to find a snow-blade kit for it; perhaps modify a Dixon blade (they also now have a 44" with similar concepts to the CC ZWing for narrow gates: they call it BlackBear). The lawn mower dealer around here uses a Dixon for pushing snow and swears it outperfoms a tractor style [of which he barely stocks anymore]; I think he does use tire chains though.

Dixon with Blade

Good Luck!
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Spiffy]

Just realized, I should expand on the BlackBear:

It isn't quite like the CC, where both sides swing up for gates. It just has some deck widths available that when you lift the deflector it will fit many common gates. So no 48" cut for the width of 36", but I think a 44" & 34" inch cut for 42"& 36" gates, respectively.

Sorry about any confusion! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

<font color="red"> edit: Some nagging thing in the back of my head says that 44" cut only accomadates a 46 or 48" gate; the CC, however, actually does "gain clearance" when up, so the point may be mute if you like yellow and black. </font>

 

[Louisiana_John]

Here is a good mower the smallest they have is 44"

http://www.grasshoppermower.com/03/products/frontmount/600/600_main.html

He is the link to the snow blower and snow blade.

http://www.grasshoppermower.com/03/products/frontmount_implemnt/snow/snow_remove_main.html#Snowthrower

I have ther 721D with a 61" deck 2nd one. The first was a small gas model.
John

 

[GreenQuality]

I live in Sw pa. also .i would suggest looking at Cub cadet 2000 series ,auto transmission takes a filter,shaft drive,11 gage frame, grease zerks every where!!! pro quality engines,if you live near rt 51 take the exit north 201 check out angelo equipment, they might have the 2138 with 38"deck and a single cly koholar command i think it's16 hp shaft drive. might get for under 2 grand, hope this helps,I have the 2180 i cutt alot of grass in the mountains great tractor for the hills!! Merry Christmas! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Boog]

I had a LT133. It also had the unserviceable tranny that is filled with a type of grease (not oil.) I had it 5 years and never noticed any leakage from it. I used it on a half acre to mow and pulled wagon loads of wood each winter from the woodpile to the basement window. I did not push snow with it, but pulling the wood wagon, I often worked it hard -- spinning the wheels with chains and wheelweights on it. Sometimes I'd dig ruts in the lawn and spray the kids in the wagon with flying snow/grass/ mud. The tranny held up fine. Also, those units CAN be taken apart and repaired if needed; they are not completely "throw-away." If it were me I'd not worry about the durabillity of the small Deere trannys. Weight of the small machines would be more of a concern -- I found that I could not get enough traction in the snow even with weights and chains. I now have a Deere GT235 and it is a huge difference; I have the chains on it but yet have to put the weights on it as it goes much better in a few inches of snow than the lighter LT133. They make blades for the small Deeres, but you will find that you can not push big snows very well at all. I don't have a snow blade because any time it snows enough that my cars will not just go through it, a lawn or garden tractor would not be big enough to move the snow. I have only had to have the neighbor plow (with a farm tactor) my driveway a couple times in 7 years.
Joe in northern Ohio.