Mower

[Midwayman]

So I have about 8000sqft of lawn. Its a pretty big lawn and last year I had a service. This year I'm thinking of getting a mower and doing it myself. A Good SP 21" unit looks $400-500. I thinking that might take awhile. Especially in late july or august. Looks like I can pick up a used small deck rider (30"ish) for $600ish on craigslist. The rider will be a bit more storage hassle, but much easier to mow with. What one should I get?

 

[Midwayman]

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/grd/4433084094.html
This seems like a likely suspect.

 

[Zivic]

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/grd/4433084094.html
This seems like a likely suspect.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/grd/4439921457.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/grd/4412652818.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/grd/4440980249.html

 

[iamwiz82]

Any reason you are not looking at push mowers? It's good exercise and it doesn't take that long for a 90'x90' plot.

 

[BUTCH1]

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/grd/4439921457.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/grd/4412652818.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/grd/4440980249.html

$4,500 for a single 90X90 lot is kinda overkill, OP, Snapper makes a decent small rider for around $1,200 or just get a self-propelled Toro for around $4-500.

 

[Zenmervolt]

IMO 0.2 acres (a bit over 8,700 square feet) really doesn't justify a riding mower and I'd be looking at a mid-to-high-end self-propelled in that situation. Even something like a Honda HRX 217HYA would be overkill on the high end IMO, as that's what I use for my 2-acre lot (between 0.5 and 0.75 acres of maintained lawn). In your scenario something like a Honda HRR 216VKA should be plenty.

ZV

 

[SearchMaster]

I would recommend getting a cheap used push mower to help decide your needs. That doesn't sound like a very big lot (I think my front yard is at least 20% bigger than that). I had a me-propelled push mower for a couple of years but it was taking me 2.5hrs and I just didn't want to spend that much time on it (especially when we had good rain and it needed twice a week cuttings). If you can do your lot in 30 minutes or less, a push mower should be fine unless there are other considerations.

I mow my lawn and two of my neighbors' lawns (one is elderly and the other only comes up a couple of weekends a month at most) with my ZTR in about an hour now.

 

[Zivic]

$4,500 for a single 90X90 lot is kinda overkill, OP, Snapper makes a decent small rider for around $1,200 or just get a self-propelled Toro for around $4-500.

the lesco was 1200 bucks... just listed what I would be looking at. I would get a good mower. as long as your lawn is green (weeds or grass) a good cut will make it look awesome.

I run a 52" scag zero turn on my .75 acres of lawn. My lawn has always been nice, but since I got a good mower, it pretty much is the nicest in town; and I can cut it in 25 minutes. I used to have a POS JD from the depot. I think a 100 series. My grass never looked like this until I gave it a proper cut

 

[mvbighead]

+1 for a walk behind mower. I have a 52" deck on a used commercial Exmark and it has been awesome. My lawn is a bit closer to 2 acres though. I would figure a 32" deck walk behind might be adequate for what you are doing.

 

[Midwayman]

Yah, I know its small for a riding mower, but the lot size is bigger, that's just the lawn area. We have a little over 1/3rd acre I think. Other than time my main concern is that I'll probably like doing it a whole lot more if I can grab a beer and drive around for 30min vs push a mower for 45 when its 90+ and 100% humidity. If I did a walk behind I'd really want a 30" deck and that getting into rider territory. The small snappers are 28-33" decks, and look easier to store than tractors

I guess I just have bad memories of push mowers from growing up.

 

[mvbighead]

Well, just for reference, the 30" walk behinds (especially commercial models) generally take an add on called a velke. If you have hilly terrain, a walk behind is great as you can walk it up steep hills, and ride down behind on the velke.

 

[BUTCH1]

the lesco was 1200 bucks... just listed what I would be looking at. I would get a good mower. as long as your lawn is green (weeds or grass) a good cut will make it look awesome.

I run a 52" scag zero turn on my .75 acres of lawn. My lawn has always been nice, but since I got a good mower, it pretty much is the nicest in town; and I can cut it in 25 minutes. I used to have a POS JD from the depot. I think a 100 series. My grass never looked like this until I gave it a proper cut

Nice lawn, a lot has to do with blade maintenance, too many people just go year in year out never sharpening the blade(s). Keep in mind that OP's lawn is nowhere as big as yours, a Skag ZTR is a machine that's used a lot by lawn services, I've seen several using them around town, expensive but if your livelihood depends on it you want a quality machine like a Skag or Exmark, it's just that they are kinda pricy for most homeowners.

 

[Zivic]

Nice lawn, a lot has to do with blade maintenance, too many people just go year in year out never sharpening the blade(s). Keep in mind that OP's lawn is nowhere as big as yours, a Skag ZTR is a machine that's used a lot by lawn services, I've seen several using them around town, expensive but if your livelihood depends on it you want a quality machine like a Skag or Exmark, it's just that they are kinda pricy for most homeowners.

if you watch craigs, you could get a nice commercial grade walk behind with the same deck for the price of a POS big box store rider.

My mower was more money than many here have spent on their cars. It was a big investment, but for the time savings alone it was worth it. I can cut my grass in 1/3rd the time compared to even my old rider....AND it looks exponentially better.

 

[billbobaggins87]

about 8000sqft of lawn this calls for a walk behind. Honestly nothing else

 

[Pulsar]

So I have about 8000sqft of lawn. Its a pretty big lawn and last year I had a service. This year I'm thinking of getting a mower and doing it myself. A Good SP 21" unit looks $400-500. I thinking that might take awhile. Especially in late july or august. Looks like I can pick up a used small deck rider (30"ish) for $600ish on craigslist. The rider will be a bit more storage hassle, but much easier to mow with. What one should I get?

1. On no planet is that considered large. Mine is 90,000 sqft, and still considered a medium sized lawn.
2. Get a walk behind.

 

[Midwayman]

Like so?
https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/grd/4423800481.html

 

[Midwayman]

1. On no planet is that considered large. Mine is 90,000 sqft, and still considered a medium sized lawn.
2. Get a walk behind.

I get that 90ksqft is big, but on no planet is that a "medium" lawn in the context of homeowners. That's like 2 acres of lawn. Thats several times larger than the biggest plots of land in my area. Around 1/2 acre is typically considered the break even point for riders, and that's no small lawn unless your home is the biltmore.

 

[Zivic]

Like so?
https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/grd/4423800481.html

exmark, lesco, scag.... commercial grade. something with a kohler or Kawi engine.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Yah, I know its small for a riding mower, but the lot size is bigger, that's just the lawn area. We have a little over 1/3rd acre I think. Other than time my main concern is that I'll probably like doing it a whole lot more if I can grab a beer and drive around for 30min vs push a mower for 45 when its 90+ and 100% humidity. If I did a walk behind I'd really want a 30" deck and that getting into rider territory. The small snappers are 28-33" decks, and look easier to store than tractors

I guess I just have bad memories of push mowers from growing up.

Fair enough. And those old Snappers were pretty good little mowers for what they are. As others have said, just make sure you have sharp blades; that will make a big difference.

ZV

 

[Midwayman]

exmark, lesco, scag.... commercial grade. something with a kohler or Kawi engine.

Yah, most of those are 50", way over $1000 or both.

There is this
http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/grd/4434011214.html

But it doesn't seem like a 26" deck would be worth it over a 22" considering the extra expense. If I were running a real commercial operation....

 

[BUTCH1]

Yah, most of those are 50", way over $1000 or both.

There is this
http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/grd/4434011214.html

But it doesn't seem like a 26" deck would be worth it over a 22" considering the extra expense. If I were running a real commercial operation....

Once again though your paying a premium for a machine designed to work all day, every day in a lawn service, since you only have a single lawn to cut (and a fairly small one) a consumer-grade Snapper or Toro will do just fine and last you for 10 years easy

 

[HeXen]

Likely just me but I never liked the striped lawn look. It's weird.

 

[Midwayman]

I sort of accidently picked this up for $375

Its local and they had a best offer and I put in one way lower than I thought they would accept.

 

[HeXen]

^I want one like that. But since I have a rider, I just need one to get to the area's my rider can't reach too easily. I'll probably get a cheap o to replace my worn out 10 yr old Lawn Boy, it doesn't run too good after I did it's first tune up and oil change last year.

 

[BurnItDwn]

8000 sq feet is not even 1/5 of 1 acre.

Why on earth would you shell out the $$$ for a riding mower. If you're going to shell out thousands of dollars, then just hire the neighbor kid to mow it for $25 a week or whatever???


Otherwise, It's like $300 for a brand new Toro, or a lot less buying used.