School me on riding lawn mowers

[coppertales]

I have a 21 hp Sears that has been trouble free for 4 years.  I mow about 2 acres at my camp.  The only thing I would do different is get a lawn tractor with a transmission instead of belt drives.  I have a spare belt so the original will  never break.  Just change the oil regularly.  I have had to change the battery after 3 years.  The reason I went with a Sears is because you can get parts anywhere there is a Sears store and on line.....chris3

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

http://fredericksburg.craigslist.org/grd/2309823242.html

an example

got one just like it  had it 13 years

[41magsnub]

http://fredericksburg.craigslist.org/grd/2309823242.html

an example

got one just like it  had it 13 years

When the prices is $300 (bumpass)...  do I want to know what "bumpass" means?

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

its a neighborhood

[Boomhauer]

When the prices is $300 (bumpass)...  do I want to know what "bumpass" means?

VA has some...odd names for places. Shortpump, for example. My family doesn't think it's amusing that I giggle at the names when I visit them.

[41magsnub]

I wondered if "lawn tractors" maybe the new code phrase after the adult section was shut down on CL  :)

[sumpnz]

Update.

Picked up a mower today.  Got a 2.5 year old Craftsman 54" with a 27hp Kohler.  59 hours on the meter.  It came with a mulching kit (never used) and a box scraper/grader.  Everything was clean and tight.  Hopefully it'll last a long time.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

I wondered if "lawn tractors" maybe the new code phrase after the adult section was shut down on CL  :)

I think they moved to the massage section.

[Brad Johnson]

Hopefully it'll last a long time.

It should presuming you keep it serviced and clean, especially under/on the mowing deck.  What kills most lawn equipment is neglect, not use.

Brad

[Declaration Day]

Update.

Picked up a mower today.  Got a 2.5 year old Craftsman 54" with a 27hp Kohler.  59 hours on the meter.  It came with a mulching kit (never used) and a box scraper/grader.  Everything was clean and tight.  Hopefully it'll last a long time.

I don't know anything about Craftsman mowers, but that's the same engine my Dixie Choppers have.  Oldest one has 3500 hours, and will be getting its first repair this week.  It has a leaking valve cover gasket, which will cost about $5 and a few minutes to replace.  

Dixie doesn't power its mowers with junk.

Keep the oil clean, replace the spark plugs and air filter once a year, and that engine will last you a lifetime.  Good choice!

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

my lil 11 hp craftsman is 21 years old.  stored under a tarp  have ripped the tranny out once  but i use it for pulling trailers around yard

[grampster]

I have a Husqvarna YT150, twin blade, 42" swath, 15 hp Kohler one lunger, hydrostatic tranny.  I bought it new in 1999, 386.6 hours on it now.  Around $1400.00 back then.  I replaced the belts a couple years ago, mainly because I got something jambed up in it and damaged the belt.  The switch that engages the mower was giving me some problems last fall, but some duct tape squared that away.   Has a pressurized oil system which is a plus.  A lot of riders engines are gravity lubed and if you have slopes, can cause a problem.  Some new plugs now and then, change the oil now and then, clean and change the air filter now and then.  I just put tubes in the front tires as they were slowly losing air.  New battery a couple years ago.  Runs like a top.

I change the blades in the fall for blades that have more lift and attach my Cyclone Rake to drag around behind to get up my oak leaves.  22 oak trees.  If you have leaves, the Cyclone Rake is the absolute best system for many reasons.  28 years of leaf picken' using every tool known to man, I know what I'm talkin' about.  Cyclone Rake.  God's gift to the overtreed homeowner.

 

[sumpnz]

Had an issue while running it tonight.  With a freshly filled tank of gas the engine would surge and then die.  Throttle is all the way up and it would die as soon as I tried to engage the blades.  No clogging that I can tell.  It would protest even just driving with the blades off.  What's going on?  Fuel filter?

ETA: SWMBO ran the tank dry.  But it ran for a good 20 minutes before surging and dieing.

[Jim147]

There should be a vent in the cap to let air in and fuel out. If it is plugged or covered it won't let much fuel out.

Missed the ran it dry. May have had some crude in the tank that is plugging filter or has gotten to the needle and seat.

jim

[roo_ster]

I only mow an acre but I mow slopes with the riding mower that most folks wouldn't take the push mower to.

Did that as a kid with the family lawn tractor.  "See, this stretch I only mow downhill," and hold on for dear life.

my 18 year old craftsman is still ticking  got it free from a guy  "its broke!"  new battery and it started right up

I know that guy and have bought other stuff from him.  Wish more guys like him were around when I needed pricey mechanical stuff.

my lil 11 hp craftsman is 21 years old.  stored under a tarp  have ripped the tranny out once  but i use it for pulling trailers around yard

Dang, I thought I was sometimes hard on equipment.  I am but an amateur in that league by comparison.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

my 400 buck 5 k y2k generator has been under a piece of plywood under a tarp.  religious about stabil in gas as well as keeping tank full and running the carb dry each time i use it.  i put it in my storage trailer last night  just on a lark i tried to start it.  3 shots of thrust did the trick.  and it was 2009 last time it was started.