What mower do you use and why?

[jcrossfield]

I have a nine year old Encore ProLine 48" ZTR. I looked at all the ones the local parks and rec were using and chose the Encore mainly because of a local dealer. The eXmark dealer was a real so-n-so and the other dealers were too far to travel. I have had goosd luck with the unit. I have serviced it regualr and stored it in the garage. I mow 5 or 6 acres with it.

 

[FRISKY]

I use a Dixie Chopper, 60" mower for the 3-acres around the house and a John Deere 175 Hydro with front blade for lightweight dirt/snow work.

I have had many mowers and wouldn't trade the 2001 Dixie Chopper for any new mower on the market.

 

[buster57]

Honda HRC 216 Commercial. Cost, $1000.

I was going thru a new Costco Mower (Generic-cost about $300) every year and a half. I asked my Kubota dealer what the difference was between a commercial mower and a home owner version and also what usually breaks first?

I now have lots of experience and know his answers were honest and accurate but the may surprise 'normal people' when you first get the response....

"A home owner will use his mower 75 times a year-max. Your average lawn service business will use them for at least 50 lawns a week."

When I asked him how things break, with no hesitation he said "loading the mowers on and off the trucks or trailers is about 95% of the failure mode of a modern (commercial) walk behind lawn mower." The crews are dead tired? totally understand.

I have now had my Honda HRC 216 for about 5 years and zero problems no matter how hard I am on it. I do maintain it perfectly and store in next to my Kubota/Stihl equipment so it is pampered...


This is my WB, I have JD and Kubotas for the big stuff.

 

[Gareth]

I have a JD X540 due to contracts that we have - 54" deck, 26HP (If i remember correctly!).
Couldnt go for a bigger tractor because the contracts are smaller areas on large estates so would have problems with access etc.
Great machine - extremely good quality cut and relatively quick too.
We use JD walk behinds (C52) as the build quality is second to none - bullet proof!
Great finish from them too.
We have a billy goat zero turn walk behind finishing mower too - not great though as it's belt driven rather than hydro and doesnt have much grunt behind it in longer grass.

 

[shaggyha]

Kubota G21 48" cut 21hp diesel engine the best!!!!!!

 

[DonegalTDI]

Husqvarna PF 21 AWD

Bought for speed of cut, mulching ability and quality of ride.

 

[GentlemanFahmah]

Kubota L3600GST w/72" LandPride rear discharge grooming deck; '02 Craftsman 42" 18Hp w/hydrostatic variable; '10 Craftsman 46" 21 hp; AgriFab Mow-N-Vac; Echo string trimmer; 21" rotary.

I have a 15 acre place with a lot of fully developed pasture/lawn. I like the GST (glide shift transmission) Kubota with the 6" 3 blade rear discharge grooming deck behind which allows me to easily stab under trees and landscape features in the big areas, and the rear discharge scatters the cut grass nicely for good thatch. Up closer to the house I am using the Craftsman lawn tractors. I got a new one this year. This is my 4th Craftsman Lawn Tractor in 20 years and I'm very happy with them. I am hard on mowers - really hard on them. It takes me a little over 10 hours to fully cut this place one time so everything here works for a living including lawn tractors. I have a pool and the mow-n-vac cart behind the Craftsman lawn tractor leaves the area around the house and pool totally cuttings free so nothing tracks in either the house or pool - ever. Those things are worth their weight in gold to me. Fall cleanup for leaves also is a breeze because of that vacuum cart and I can't say enough good about it for me and my situation.

Fortunately, because I'm heavily involved in antique vehicles, I have a full shop with all the fixins to properly maintain the fleet.

 

[jandg]

2008 CC M72KW Tank. Used on 6 very rough acres & does the job excellent. The big block kawi motors have a great sound also...
Joe

 

[grnspot110]

Mid 80's era, John Deere F525, 48". Because it tears up the yard less than the Bush Hog Zero Turn I've used for the last 9 years! ~~ grnspot110

 

[ReggieDeere]

Are you considering riders or walk behinds?

I have about 5-6 acres total to mow so I am definitely looking for a riding lawn mower. If I used a push mower for that much land I'd have a heart attack.:ashamed: