What Riding Mower SHOULD I buy?

[MossflowerWoods]

Gents,

I suspect the long and short of my situation is the old JD STX-30 (or STX-38 according to the name-plate) for sure will get sold soon, and the LX266 is giving me fits, not because it is not a great mower, but I fear because my property is killing it.

I am currently mowing 2+ acres of grass with hills, too many rock edged plant beds, ponds, steep hills, gravel drive, steep hill edges, etc. I am mowing a couple trails which are mostly grass, but are not "smooth" surfaces. I am also mowing the edge of the horse pastures, the edge of the gravel drive, and some spots of grass up near the gate.

Most of the trails I bush hog, but some of them are nice walking trails near the house and too small for the Hog.

It is taking myself on the push mower on the edges and tight spaces, and around trees etc, and me on the LX266 on the side slopes, my middle daughter on the STX30 doing all the outlying areas, and my oldest daughter on the LX266 doing the large flatter areas in the "yard". It takes the 3 of us something well over 3 hours continuous to finish.

I seem to recall a ZTR is not good on slopes (I have some very steep slopes that I typically hang off the side to mow now, or mow close to straight up and down).

I can't really use a finish mower, the slopes are too steep and my tractor too heavy for the yard.

I'd like to be faster, and I'd like to be safer so the girls could mow MORE, not less.

I'm very curious to hear what y'all recommend.

Thanks in advance,
David

 

[frankroberts]

(I have some very steep slopes that I typically hang off the side to mow now, or mow close to straight up and down).
David

I know a guy who did this all the time.....for a while. Last time he did it the mower rolled and came down on top of him. One foot was cut up pretty bad. Not good but that's your call.

I have a new Husqvarna rider with a 46" deck. The safety sensors on the seat will not allow 'hanging off one side'. Unless you are sitting square in the seat the engine will quit.

frankroberts.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I know a guy who did this all the time.....for a while. Last time he did it the mower rolled and came down on top of him. One foot was cut up pretty bad. Not good but that's your call.

I have a new Husqvarna rider with a 46" deck. The safety sensors on the seat will not allow 'hanging off one side'. Unless you are sitting square in the seat the engine will quit.

frankroberts.

If I lean too far it cuts the PTO.
Somehow I HAVE to get it mowed and it is far too much area and too steep for doing it with a push mower.

This is EXACTLY why I am asking for advice.

David

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Get a BX1860. :thumbsup:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Get a BX1860. :thumbsup:

Or one of the new Kioti SCUTS.

 

[Martian]

What about a front mower? Expensive? Yes. Mow good? Yes. I've never had the budget, or need for one, but I think they are about right for what you describe. They will cut mowing time down, larger deck, have a ROPS for safety and with the deck in front its easy to get 'close to the edge'.

Might even consider JohnThomas' F series Kubota he's selling - though you might benefit from 4x4.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Get a BX1860. :thumbsup:

CTF,

My LX266 is already 16 hp. A BX1860 is only 2 HP more... And it will cost ALOT more.

The New Kioti SCUT is the former Boomer 1025 Shibuhara... and it is pretty $$$ for a mower and when I already have a bigger tractor, hard to justify...

David

 

[CompactTractorFan]

CTF,

My LX266 is already 16 hp. A BX1860 is only 2 HP more... And it will cost ALOT more.

The New Kioti SCUT is the former Boomer 1025 Shibuhara... and it is pretty $$$ for a mower and when I already have a bigger tractor, hard to justify...

David

Oh, well. I had to try.

FWIW, the 18hp on the BX will be a LOT different than the 16hp on the LX. Remember, the BX has a diesel engine. :thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

David I wonder if you can get by with a 6 foot rear rotary cutter and sharpen the heck out of the blades and keep them sharp with your angle grinder with a 60 grit flap disk in it. That way you can sharpen it on the tractor. With it sharp, they will cut pretty good, and still have the advantage since the blades swivel out of the way, if you hit a rock or root they wont wad up like a fixed blade finsh mower will. Not quite as good as results as a finish mower, but pretty good. Maybe just an idea.

James K0UA

 

[downslope]

(I have some very steep slopes that I typically hang off the side to mow now, or mow close to straight up and down).

My wife saw me leaning like that when I was cutting on a steep edge of the driveway after dinner last night. She thought the meal had given me gas and asked if I was leaning over to let it pass:laughing: