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Hi everyone,

Glad to be a part of this community and I hope to learn alot! I'm in the market for a new rider and am considering this unit:
Ariens 42 in. 21 HP Briggs & Stratton Automatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower-960460054 at The Home Depot

Any thoughts about this model (positive and negative) will be greatly appreciated.

I currently own a used 8 yr old Craftsman rider that I traded my Toro push mower for but am sick of it, I've had alot of issues with its (new belts slipping off of pulleys, main gear shaft frozen up, etc..). Plus I'm ready for something a little more powerful than a leaf blower.

Thanks everyone,

John

Looks to be another Husqvarna Outdoor Products made unit. In other words. A generic lawn tractor that becomes a Craftsman, Poulan, Ariens etc. depending on a sticker, a stamping, and maybe a change in paint color or at least a bit different shade. Engines, seats, and batteries are sometimes different between the basic generic and the one with a cuter sticker. That one is a pretty basic light tractor with an average mowing deck for that type tractor. Most folks like them. Millions are in use by various makers and all are about the same price, same deal. They are a basic unit, not heavy duty by any means, and are far and away from the old time stuff that would plow a very large garden. Find out where your service centers are and read your warranty very well.

gforce211 said:

Hi everyone,

Glad to be a part of this community and I hope to learn alot! I'm in the market for a new rider and am considering this unit:
Ariens 42 in. 21 HP Briggs & Stratton Automatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower-960460054 at The Home Depot

Any thoughts about this model (positive and negative) will be greatly appreciated.

I currently own a used 8 yr old Craftsman rider that I traded my Toro push mower for but am sick of it, I've had alot of issues with its (new belts slipping off of pulleys, main gear shaft frozen up, etc..). Plus I'm ready for something a little more powerful than a leaf blower.

Thanks everyone,

John

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Seems like it gets good reviews. I would say as long as you are mowing less than 2 acres and it is relatively smooth it should make you a good mower.

Though I would get the one with the Kohler for a little more money. Just my personal pref. for Kohler over Briggs.

I've got the next model up - the 46in 22hp V-Twin. Had it since the end of September. It's a good machine and like the others have said, it's a Husqvarna under the hood. The maintenance stickers list Husqvarna parts. Quality of cut is good and I think it will last a while given good maintenance. Maintenance is key on these machines.

The one I have has an interesting transmission - it's a General Transmission Element V CVT. (Element V Automatic - By General Transmissions) The thing I like about it is that from what I've been reading on various forums is that low end mowers have no way to service the transmission. They design them to not be serviced and after a few years the transmissions end up needing to be rebuilt or replaced. You have to step up to big $$ to get one with the ability to filter the oil and change it. If all works out, this new type of transmission should be better in that regard.

The only thing I don't like about the model you linked to is the fender shift. Our yard has some obstacles and with a pedal shift it's easy to drive it like a car. With a fender shift you'll have to constantly be using that to adjust speed.

All in all I think the Ariens is a solid loe budget unit. Not the best but not the worst. I'd say solid middle of the road.

Have you looked at the cub cadet ltx1040.
It is in the same price range.
Has 4 deck wheels and a hour meter
And a control panel that tells you when to change the oil. And tells you why it will not start if it is a safety switch.
I got one this past April have put over 700 hours on it with no problems.

I think for the money it is a lot more and better built tractor.

A guy I work with recently bought a Cub Cadet 1042KW, at least I think that's the model number. He got it from a local dealer and paid $1,400 for it. I do know it has a 42" deck and the Kawasaki motor. If I were in your shoes, and could afford another $100, I'd find a Cub dealer and take a look at them and see if you could get a similar deal. Of the two John Deere mowers I have, one is an entry level model with a Briggs engine, the other is of much higher quality with a Kawasaki engine. There is no comparison between the two.

I don't get the hangup on Briggs. I've had very good luck with their engine and the V-twin in mine is smooth as can be. It's new but seems to start up right away and with proper maintenance should last a long time. Kawasaki is probably fine but you can get Briggs parts everywhere should you need them and Kawasaki may be harder (and more expensive) to get. I know around here most of the mower dealers close at 5-6pm, have banker's hours on Sat, and nothing on Sunday. We have Ace and a few other local places that stock Briggs parts.

The LTX1040 looks like a good unit but if you're paying that you may also want to look at the Ariens with the V-twin ( Ariens 46 in. 22 V-Twin HP Briggs & Stratton Automatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower-960460056 at The Home Depot )

The 1042KW is a $2k mower, well above his budget.

itguy08 said:

I don't get the hangup on Briggs. I've had very good luck with their engine and the V-twin in mine is smooth as can be. It's new but seems to start up right away and with proper maintenance should last a long time. Kawasaki is probably fine but you can get Briggs parts everywhere should you need them and Kawasaki may be harder (and more expensive) to get. I know around here most of the mower dealers close at 5-6pm, have banker's hours on Sat, and nothing on Sunday. We have Ace and a few other local places that stock Briggs parts. The LTX1040 looks like a good unit but if you're paying that you may also want to look at the Ariens with the V-twin ( Ariens 46 in. 22 V-Twin HP Briggs & Stratton Automatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower-960460056 at The Home Depot ) The 1042KW is a $2k mower, well above his budget.

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I like briggs never have had any trouble with them.
The ariens 46 is a good mower I looked at it but got the cub only because I needed the 42 inch deck

Carscw said:

I like briggs never have had any trouble with them.
The ariens 46 is a good mower I looked at it but got the cub only because I needed the 42 inch deck

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My comment was not directed at you. I see in a lot of forums and such people say stay away from the Briggs. I've always got good service from mine as long as you take care of it. Nothing against Kawasaki - they make a great engine too. Honda IMHO is vastly overrated.

I think any of the mowers would do well for the OP - Cub, Ariens, Husqvarna, Craftsman as long as he maintains it and lives within it's limitations.

itguy08 said:

I don't get the hangup on Briggs. I've had very good luck with their engine and the V-twin in mine is smooth as can be. It's new but seems to start up right away and with proper maintenance should last a long time. Kawasaki is probably fine but you can get Briggs parts everywhere should you need them and Kawasaki may be harder (and more expensive) to get. I know around here most of the mower dealers close at 5-6pm, have banker's hours on Sat, and nothing on Sunday. We have Ace and a few other local places that stock Briggs parts.

The LTX1040 looks like a good unit but if you're paying that you may also want to look at the Ariens with the V-twin ( Ariens 46 in. 22 V-Twin HP Briggs & Stratton Automatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower-960460056 at The Home Depot )

The 1042KW is a $2k mower, well above his budget.

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I don't have a hang up with Briggs engines. I owned them all my life and have had very good luck with them, and we're talking more than 10, not just 2 or 3. Briggs parts are more easily found, but with the internet, even Kawasaki parts are available everywhere. As far as the price of parts, I do know Kawasaki ignition system parts are higher. You said the 1042KW is a $2,000 mower......that may be the MSRP, but I can assure you that mower can be had for $1,400.

mullins87 said:

I don't have a hang up with Briggs engines. I owned them all my life and have had very good luck with them, and we're talking more than 10, not just 2 or 3. Briggs parts are more easily found, but with the internet, even Kawasaki parts are available everywhere. As far as the price of parts, I do know Kawasaki ignition system parts are higher. You said the 1042KW is a $2,000 mower......that may be the MSRP, but I can assure you that mower can be had for $1,400.

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I doubt seriously you can buy the 1042KW for much less than the $1999. You may get it from a dealer for a little less but not much. It has the Kawasaki engine so there not going to deal much on that mower. You can probably get the KH model for $1799 it also has the 22hp V twin but it's the Kohler which is one of the better engines on the market at present time. If you want a cheaper price tag you'll have to drop back to the single Cylinder model LTX1040 @ $1399 or maybe the LTX 1045@ $1699.There all good mowers.

Ric said:

I doubt seriously you can buy the 1042KW for much less than the $1999. You may get it from a dealer for a little less but not much. It has the Kawasaki engine so there not going to deal much on that mower. You can probably get the KH model for $1799 it also has the 22hp V twin but it's the Kohler which is one of the better engines on the market at present time. If you want a cheaper price tag you'll have to drop back to the single Cylinder model LTX1040 @ $1399 or maybe the LTX 1045@ $1699.There all good mowers.

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I have no doubt you know the market, and I'm not disputing what you're saying. However, I do know of at least one person that has purchased a 1042KW for $1,400. It was purchased earlier this summer by a guy that I share an office with and we have worked together for 10+ years.:confused3:

mullins87 said:

I have no doubt you know the market, and I'm not disputing what you're saying. However, I do know of at least one person that has purchased a 1042KW for $1,400. It was purchased earlier this summer by a guy that I share an office with and we have worked together for 10+ years.:confused3:

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I'm not doubting you at all. The reason I say that about the KW is because I know Kawasaki doesn't normally give breaks on their engines like others do and the dealer doesn't normally have a lot to play with in money to give much of a discount, they don't have the mark up on the mowers with the Kawasaki engines like they do with Kohler. Same thing with Echo stuff VS Stihl, I can always get a lot more of a discount on Echo than Stihl.

Without the sampling the pros have I would not choose Briggs due to quality problems with mine. We see the consumer reports on reliability with cub cadet at the lower end. So is this a nerd report, or real?

Ric said:

I'm not doubting you at all. The reason I say that about the KW is because I know Kawasaki doesn't normally give breaks on their engines like others do and the dealer doesn't normally have a lot to play with in money to give much of a discount, they don't have the mark up on the mowers with the Kawasaki engines like they do with Kohler. Same thing with Echo stuff VS Stihl, I can always get a lot more of a discount on Echo than Stihl.

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Well, maybe my buddy caught the dealer either drunk (my dad has done that) or needing money very badly, he paid cash for the mower. Back several years ago dad was looking to buy a new bass boat. He had been looking mainly at aluminum boats as the price is usually lower than the nicer fiberglass boats. He happened to stop by a dealership to ask about the price of a fiberglass boat with a particular size motor. The price the guy shot him was several thousand lower than other comparable fiberglass boats. He bought it on the spot! When we went back to pick it up, the dealer confided to dad that he had qouted him the wrong price. I noticed a partial case of whiskey in the corner of his office!

motoman said:

Without the sampling the pros have I would not choose Briggs due to quality problems with mine. We see the consumer reports on reliability with cub cadet at the lower end. So is this a nerd report, or real?

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I trust nothing Consumer Reports says. They are out to make money just like everyone else and personal experience often goes against their "surveys".

here in Canada we have mtd mowers that are the cheap ones u can get a new one for a fare price from the big box stores if u take care of them the last ok for what they are

IMO some of the consumer report stuff is ok, but sorting it is the hard part. A lot depends on how the survey questions are phrased and how long they keep asking the same question (product life). I have answered their inquiries on products . They stopped asking after year 3. A recent tire test looked totally bogus. They raved about Michelin Alpines for snow traction. I have a set that will not bite snow over 3 inches. I once followed a transparent deck stain life test. The brand type disappeared after two years with no explanation.

I may be biased but Kawasaki is hard to beat. Honda is good but, again, over rated.

The reason I am biased is because Kawasaki Motor Co. shells out a bunch of money every year to update dealer Mechanics on their product. That and their warranty is one of the best. Toro is good too.

FWIW I hope Kohler starts minding their business. QC is not what it should be.

YMMV

Ric, I owe you an apology......so let me sit down with my plate of crow and start feasting. I asked my buddy at work today just to be sure I was telling his story correctly. He looked at another mower that he was able to negotiate down to $1,400, but it wasn't the KW, he paid $1,700 for the 1042KW. :ashamed: Still a pretty good deal from what you're telling me though, just not as good as I thought. Again, I apologize.