Best Bang for the Buck Riding Mower for 1.4 acres?

[My_guy99]

This is what they recommend, sounds like B S to me! cut and paste:

FOR CONSUMER USE IN LAWN TRACTOR AND RIDING MOWER APPLICATIONS OIL CHANGING IS NOT EMPHASIZED AS MOST HOMEOWNERS AREN’T EQUIPPED OR IN THE HABIT OF CHANGING TRANSMISSION OIL. FOR MOST CUSTOMERS, THE TRANSAXLE WILL OUTLAST THE LIFE OF THE MACHINE. BUT, IT MUST BE SAID THAT CHANGING OIL WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, IN COMMERCIAL AND HEAVY USAGE APPLICATIONS OIL CHANGING IS RECOMMENDED AFTER THE 1ST 50 HOURS OF OPERATION AND EVERY 200 HOURS, THEREAFTER. THE FILTER SHOULD NEVER REQUIRE CHANGING UNLESS THE TRANSAXLE IS REMOVED FROM THE TRACTOR OR RIDING MOWER AND OPENED FOR REPAIRS

 

[Carscw]

The sealed units will last for many years. I see no need to break them open and mess with them. Like has already been said they will out last the rest of the mower.

The big thing is when you buy a $1.300 mower you know it is not for life.

On a low end mower you need to worry more about the deck and steering not the transaxle.


Of it makes you feel better to take them apart then do it. Do I think it helps. No

 

[Ric]

See this is what I mean about someone talking about something they might not know the whole story about look up the reasons on why hydrostatic transmissions fail and maybe you understand what I'm talking about. When they fail your going to have to spend all this money to have it sent to a service shop and service by them how much money do you want to pay for that!

It says it's a sealed unit to me that means sealed to DEATH! anything with moving parts must be serviced, I don't know what you may be thinking but me sealed units is not a good enough excuse for me!

I called the manufacturer and they told me that they don't feel them prior to leaving the facility they are told by Sears not to feel them that they will fill them themselves! Also I was told that supposedly they use the incorrect weight oil which is definitely not good in my opinion that's hence the reason why they probably fail so early!

Also the manufacturer recommended that I buy another case for the bottom if I wanted to service it again making it easier for me to drain the fill again, two drain plugs one for the pump one for the transfer case!

My want to do your research before you start speaking on something that you might not know about!!!!

I really don't think you understand, when a sealed unit comes from the factory it's supposed to stay that way for the life of the mower and it's not to be messed with, just because in your own words a sealed units is not a good enough excuse for me doesn't mean you are right in for breaking into a sealed unit. If the unit was serviceable it would have drain plugs and it doesn't. I mean really even the manufacturer recommended that I buy another case for the bottom if I wanted to service it again making it easier for me to drain the fill again. It seems like I said the same thing in my earlier post that the manufacturer said THE TRANSAXLE WILL OUTLAST THE LIFE OF THE MACHINE. The thing is if you have a commercial unit that's being used 6 days a week 3 to 500 hrs or more a season and it is and it's set up to be changed fine I may agree with you but I'm sorry there's no need to service a sealed unit.

 

[wmblalock]

I guess I could go either way with changing the fluid in a seal hydro tranny.
Under normal circumstances, for the manufacturers expected life span, they should need no service.
On the other hand, it's in their best interest to limit that "life span" so you buy another tractor.
I don't believe any lubricant lasts forever, and I do believe that changing the fluid could help extend the life span.
Even if you only did it once, say at the 5 year mark (half the expected life span).

As far as the deck rusting, and motor wearing out, that doesn't scare me as much, because I know the deck is the biggest weakness of these mowers typically, and thus I would probably coat the deck inside and out with epoxy or some other coating to protect from rust after the 2 year warranty ran out. That is why, if I take measures to extend the rest of the mowers life, I want to make sure I choose the longest lasting tranny in this price range to keep this thing running as long as it can.
That's why I am debating between the Craftsman / MTD with Hydro tranny and the Ariens / Husqvarna with CVT tranny and want to choose the best one of the two.

I fully understand a $1500 mower is not a lifetime investment, but if I could take care of it enough to make it last 10 years, I would feel that I got my money out of it.

 

[My_guy99]

I really don't think you understand, when a sealed unit comes from the factory it's supposed to stay that way for the life of the mower and it's not to be messed with, just because in your own words a sealed units is not a good enough excuse for me doesn't mean you are right in for breaking into a sealed unit. If the unit was serviceable it would have drain plugs and it doesn't. I mean really even the manufacturer recommended that I buy another case for the bottom if I wanted to service it again making it easier for me to drain the fill again. It seems like I said the same thing in my earlier post that the manufacturer said THE TRANSAXLE WILL OUTLAST THE LIFE OF THE MACHINE. The thing is if you have a commercial unit that's being used 6 days a week 3 to 500 hrs or more a season and it is and it's set up to be changed fine I may agree with you but I'm sorry there's no need to service a sealed unit.

RIC believe what you want but I believe a picture would explain a thousand words!

This guy has the same Trans an around the same hours on his mower as mines! His doesn't move anymore mines still looks perfect...

 

[My_guy99]

O yeah those are shavings in a non serviceable Trans you speak of!

 

[My_guy99]

And if I wanted to make it easy on myself he said I could buy this bottom case or just tap the holes myself, here's the email explain that as well!

I know my stuff, you don't even have this tractor why r you even concerned!!!!!

Below is my Trans perfect!

 

[Carscw]

I guess I could go either way with changing the fluid in a seal hydro tranny. Under normal circumstances, for the manufacturers expected life span, they should need no service. On the other hand, it's in their best interest to limit that "life span" so you buy another tractor. I don't believe any lubricant lasts forever, and I do believe that changing the fluid could help extend the life span. Even if you only did it once, say at the 5 year mark (half the expected life span). As far as the deck rusting, and motor wearing out, that doesn't scare me as much, because I know the deck is the biggest weakness of these mowers typically, and thus I would probably coat the deck inside and out with epoxy or some other coating to protect from rust after the 2 year warranty ran out. That is why, if I take measures to extend the rest of the mowers life, I want to make sure I choose the longest lasting tranny in this price range to keep this thing running as long as it can. That's why I am debating between the Craftsman / MTD with Hydro tranny and the Ariens / Husqvarna with CVT tranny and want to choose the best one of the two. I fully understand a $1500 mower is not a lifetime investment, but if I could take care of it enough to make it last 10 years, I would feel that I got my money out of it.

I wish I could tell you which one will last longer but truth is I have broke both.

I have a 1981 ace mower ( mtd ) that still pulls good.

A 2005 husqvarna with a hydro that pulls still like new.
On all my mowers especially the hydro I let the clutch/ brake out and let it run in neutral for a min to warm things up.

What I do know is a hydro has a max rpm that it is made to run at. And is not the best for pulling a trailer or plowing snow.
If your not doing a lot of backing up I would go with a cvt.

I still think the cub cadet is the best mower in the $1500 price range.

The mtd variable Drive set up is one of the best. You have a non hydro that works like a hydro. With the transaxle only having 1 gear forward and one gear reverse there are less moving parts to wear out.

There are pros and cons with each mower you are looking at but in your price range they are all about the same and one is going to last as long as the other. Do just sit on them and see what one feels the best or go with what one looks the best.

Or go with what engine you like.

 

[wmblalock]

I wish I could tell you which one will last longer but truth is I have broke both.

I have a 1981 ace mower ( mtd ) that still pulls good.

A 2005 husqvarna with a hydro that pulls still like new.
On all my mowers especially the hydro I let the clutch/ brake out and let it run in neutral for a min to warm things up.

What I do know is a hydro has a max rpm that it is made to run at. And is not the best for pulling a trailer or plowing snow.
If your not doing a lot of backing up I would go with a cvt.

I still think the cub cadet is the best mower in the $1500 price range.

The mtd variable Drive set up is one of the best. You have a non hydro that works like a hydro. With the transaxle only having 1 gear forward and one gear reverse there are less moving parts to wear out.

There are pros and cons with each mower you are looking at but in your price range they are all about the same and one is going to last as long as the other. Do just sit on them and see what one feels the best or go with what one looks the best.

Or go with what engine you like.

Thanks for the advice! I will probably go check out quite a few this weekend and see how I feel then.
Are all motors in this range about the same as far as quality? The only one I saw with a "better" motor in my opinion is the Ariens (husqvarna) with the Briggs V-Twin. The rest are all single cylinder Briggs or Kohler (usually courage)

 

[Ric]

And if I wanted to make it easy on myself he said I could buy this bottom case or just tap the holes myself, here's the email explain that as well!

I know my stuff, you don't even have this tractor why r you even concerned!!!!!

Below is my Trans perfect!

You can just do what ever you like, I could really care less. What concerns me is the fact that your handing out information on sealed unit transmission that is not true according to the manufacturer and the statements you yourself posted earlier by the manufacturer. And just for your info you should look at my mower photo album before you shoot your mouth off about me not owning a tractor again.