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Dixon'dfixie choper and X-pert all al good riding mowers ';of sourse they are also zero turn. X-pert is probaly the best for the money.Everyhting Honda makes is good but expensive but they last a long time.
Location: Prescott Valley,az summer/east valley Az winter
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Kohler motors are great! Definitely would point you in direction of Zero turning radius. Would also show a great preferance to a joystick control way over two arm controls! That said in an area of the midwest I would recommend Swiess~ but parts are a little hard to get except through factory~ next model I'd recommend is Snapper~ widely available! Had mine that I bought secondhand for six years~ with only grease, oil changes and new blades!
When I moved into a house with NO lawn I gave it to my son who expects to use it for years
PS~ this type of mower is made for large lawns and commercial use~ new they are in about the $8-10,000. range~ for a five or six foot cut.
[quote=deckdoc;10773360]Kohler motors are great! QUOTE]
We have had a Husqvarna riding mower with a Kohler engine for three years. I always really liked the way it ran, until recently. I was mowing the lawn when it started smoking like crazy. I immediately stopped mowing, and it looked like all the oil was running out underneath. We had a mower repair person come and pick it up. We got a call today that there is a hairline crack in the engine block case, just off from the bolt hole below the fly wheel. This mower cost us $2,000 and only has 76 hours on it. Maybe this was a fluke, as the repair person said he thinks it's a casting defect. When I find out if Kohler will stand behind their engines with a problem like this, when it's not under warrantee anymore, I'll let you know what I think of them, lol.
We have had a Husqvarna riding mower with a Kohler engine for three years. I always really liked the way it ran, until recently. I was mowing the lawn when it started smoking like crazy. I immediately stopped mowing, and it looked like all the oil was running out underneath. We had a mower repair person come and pick it up. We got a call today that there is a hairline crack in the engine block case, just off from the bolt hole below the fly wheel. This mower cost us $2,000 and only has 76 hours on it. Maybe this was a fluke, as the repair person said he thinks it's a casting defect. When I find out if Kohler will stand behind their engines with a problem like this, when it's not under warrantee anymore, I'll let you know what I think of them, lol.
Wow. I hope that is a fluke. And it only has 76 hours on it. That's just poo poo.
Yeah, the Kohler in my JD lasted about 2 1/2 years with about 160 hours before it threw a rod. (Yes, it was maintained as according to maintenance schedule...and then some.)
Wasn't thrilled with that--hated it too--it was because of Kohler's reputation I bought that mower over a similar model with a different brand engine...
Well, I called Kohler corporate today about my situation. They offered to supply a new replacement engine and pay for 2 hours of labor. Anything over the 2 hours of labor, we have to pay for. We also have to pay for transportation to an authorized Kohler repair shop. So, I think that they are stepping up to the plate, and I am pretty impressed that they are offering to make things right! I'll let everyone know how this all works out after all is said and done. So far, they are being amazing.
Honda has always made a good riding mower, they ain't cheap, but the good stuff never is.
Troy-Bilt changed from an independent manufacturer of excellent but expensive lawn and garden stuff to a brand of MTD back around 2000. The old Troy-Bilt/Bolens mowers are excellent if you can find one used, but the new stuff is apparently junk.
I know the older Gravely lawn tractors are good, but maybe the same thing has happened?
Don't know what kind of area you want to mow, and how smooth a mow you want, but if you are looking at a bigger area and can live with a job that wouldn't be accepted at Pebble Beach, consider getting an old antique IH Cub tractor and a belly mower. Such a beast will never wear out and will always be worth what you paid for it or more, if you buy a good one "right". I have an old IH Super C tractor, just love it, keep a Battery Tender on it and change the oil once a year - that's it for maintenance. I just prefer to listen to that old 123 engine purr along rather than a 1 or 2 cylinder "Briggs and Scrapiron" putt.
Of the brands you have posted I would go with John Deere, but the best mower I have ever used or owned is the "Walker" brand. Commercial grade quality that does a fabulous job of mowing. Highly recommended,
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Walker is the best
