Whatever you feel like thread.

[MossRoad]

Well, I do like kids and the help. I do think kids should be driving things to help them with auto's when that time comes.
View attachment 1820577

I told my dad that and his reply was something along the lines of "Keep pushing, boy."

I've mentioned the year I moved out they bought a snowplow for their LandCruiser, a riding mower with deck, plow and blower, a walk behind snow blower, a leaf blower and probably some other stuff. Dad's reply when questioned why so long??? "Because we had you."

 

[tacticalturnip]

Well, I do like kids and the help. I do think kids should be driving things to help them with auto's when that time comes.
View attachment 1820577

I share that same thought; the only thing keeping me from passing mowing off to my 13 year old is pure selfishness. It's relaxation for me, but soon enough I'll give that up.

Already told him this summer I'll be teaching him how to use the Kioti.

 

[5030]

Arly, hope you pressure washed the deck before you put it up for the winter and sprayed it with motor oil. Considering how thin the deck is, if you don't winter treat it, it probably won't last very long. Grass cud is acidic.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I think I may get one more mow done this fall. Six years and 240 hours on the ol girl. Still looks new. Hoping for at least 10 more years.

 

[MossRoad]

I think I may get one more mow done this fall. Six years and 240 hours on the ol girl. Still looks new. Hoping for at least 10 more years.View attachment 1825970

I just did my last mowing last weekend up here in South Bend. We still have roses blooming. Supposed to get some snow maybe next week.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I just did my last mowing last weekend up here in South Bend. We still have roses blooming. Supposed to get some snow maybe next week.

I've mowed into December a few times. Fields could almost use another mow too

 

[DK35vince]

I think I may get one more mow done this fall. Six years and 240 hours on the ol girl. Still looks new. Hoping for at least 10 more years.View attachment 1825970

I have 11 years and 500 hours on my Hustler Super Z with 72" deck.
Solid built mower, I'm expecting 20+ more years from it.

 

[shooterdon]

I think I may get one more mow done this fall. Six years and 240 hours on the ol girl. Still looks new. Hoping for at least 10 more years.View attachment 1825970

I assume even a mid priced mower will last 1000 hours if a person keeps it clean and changes the oil/filter regularly.

 

[WinterDeere]

I just passed 1200 hours on my 2007 Deere 757 ZTrak, still going strong. I stripped and repainted the deck last winter, not sure it was worth the effort, but figured it couldn't hurt as the old paint was coming off in a few areas around fastners.

I also ended up putting new heads on the motor this year, not that it was running poorly due to the originals, but because I could see the valve guides had pushed out a bit on each, and wanted to do the swap before any chance of rocker/guide collision. Common problem on the Kawi V-twins, apparently.

So, $1k in maintenance, and assuming the bottom end of the motor holds up, should be good for another 1200 hours over the next 18 years. By then, then deck will be shot, and I'll probably be too old to want to keep bouncing around on the thing.

 

[ArlyA]

This being a Ego zero steer mower review the mulching drained its battery doing the tinny church yard. Mulching takes real power...

 

[WinterDeere]

Mulching takes real power...

Not just that, but many passes over the same area. Effectively, probably like mowing 5x the equivalent space.

 

[5030]

I think I may get one more mow done this fall. Six years and 240 hours on the ol girl. Still looks new. Hoping for at least 10 more years.View attachment 1825970

Least you have a heavy gage fabricated steel deck unlike the EGO with it's formed sheet metal deck. Like my front mount Kubota. the deck weighs a couple hundred pounds.

 

[5030]

I've NEVER done that. I let the wind remove the leaves to another location.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I've never really noticed an increase need for power when the lawn is covered in leaves

 

[WinterDeere]

I've never really noticed an increase need for power when the lawn is covered in leaves

Same. The only time I notice my mower wanting for power is when the grass is thick and lush in May. I'm sure leaves take more power than wilting October grass alone, and that would affect battery life, but it's not so much that I ever notice any increased engine load. May is definitely worse than October, in that regard.

But even a slight increase in load, combined with vastly higher travel distance due to multiple passes while mulching down leaves, probably work together to consume battery charge.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I'll notice when cutting 8" grass, to 4"... Which is often around here. Grass is weed free and fertilized three times per year, so it's quite thick. The leaves are like tissue paper in comparison

 

[MossRoad]

This being an Ego zero steer mower review the mulching drained its battery doing the tinny church yard. Mulching takes real power... View attachment 1832273

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[ArlyA]

I didn't get a photo of it but the leaves where being blow to the center so as to cut and re-cut them. By the time I asked my assistant to go the other way, while the deck was fully raised, it was plowing them since they were much taller than the deck. YRMV.

 

[shooterdon]

Arly, you using standard or mulching blades?

 

[ArlyA]

Arly, you using standard or mulching blades?

Seems they are not. Whatever came with the machine.