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Lawn Care Equipment

benk777

benk777

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I'm wondering how large your lot is, and what equipment you are currently using to care for it. Next year I will be going from a 1/3 acre to 2 1/3 acres, and to be quite frank my Toro self propelled mower has been slacking with it's current responsibilities. I would go with a zero turn now, but would be very limited due to the size of my fence gates. When I do go zero turn, I plan on going with a Scag 48". My trimming is done with an Echo, and my blower is a weak B&D plug in model.

Ben
 
i just moved from a 2 acre lot to a condo. but with the 2 acres i just had a 22hp riding mower. i could mow the entire place in 30 minutes or less with that thing
 
My lot's just under ½ acre.

I've got a 6hp Honda self propelled 22" mower, and it takes me just under an hour to get it all done.

Echo line trimmer (commercial model) Echo chainsaw, and Echo blower. I need to pick up an edger, a hedge trimmer, and a power pole saw (all Echo of course)



Ben -

The Scag stuff is pretty decent, but also look at

Bad Boy: http://www.badboymowers.com/

Dixon: http://www.dixon-ztr.com/

Toro: http://www.toro.com/professional/lce/index.html

Cub Cadet (not from a big box store, you'll get no warranty that way): http://www.cubcadet.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=10051&catalogId=14101

Grasshopper: http://www.grasshoppermower.com/

John Deere (again, DO NOT buy from a big box store): http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalog/GC/category/printableversion/GC_ZTRM_printableVersion.html


For a lot that size, you'd do well to go ahead with a small commercial mower, rather than a homeowner model, it'll last longer, and get the job done much faster.
 
Gummi,

The Scag is a commercial mower, and in performing my due diligence I have in fact found that money spent on a commercial unit will more than pay for itself when compared to all of the costs associated with a homeowner model.

Another couple of questions for those that use gas blowers. Will the gas blower work in place of raking, especially with the heavier stuff like wet grass? When purchasing a good gas blower, am I to be using the mph as the main measuring point?

Thanks.

Ben
 
It depends on the type of grass, and how wet it is whether it'll blow or not.

The shape of the nozzle can manipulate the air speed.

Total effectiveness IMO, is a balance between the most CFM and speed. I tapered my tip with a heat gun on my last blower, haven't done it on this one yet.


When you buy a mower, the Kohler engines are a bit of a pain to work on and get parts for sometimes. Look for a Briggs, Wisconsin or Honda (I'm starting to like the Robin engines too, made by Subaru) Honda would be my first choice, I've always had very good service out of them.
 
Gummi Bear said:
My lot's just under ½ acre.

I've got a 6hp Honda self propelled 22" mower, and it takes me just under an hour to get it all done.

Echo line trimmer (commercial model) Echo chainsaw, and Echo blower. I need to pick up an edger, a hedge trimmer, and a power pole saw (all Echo of course)



Ben -

The Scag stuff is pretty decent, but also look at

Bad Boy: http://www.badboymowers.com/

Dixon: http://www.dixon-ztr.com/

Toro: http://www.toro.com/professional/lce/index.html

Cub Cadet (not from a big box store, you'll get no warranty that way): http://www.cubcadet.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=10051&catalogId=14101

Grasshopper: http://www.grasshoppermower.com/

John Deere (again, DO NOT buy from a big box store): http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalog/GC/category/printableversion/GC_ZTRM_printableVersion.html


For a lot that size, you'd do well to go ahead with a small commercial mower, rather than a homeowner model, it'll last longer, and get the job done much faster.
Click to expand...

That's a good list GB, don't forget Dixie Chopper though
http://www.dixiechopper.com/2009/
if I needed a big commercial zero turn I would pick Dixie.

I'm not sure how big my yard is, but it's pretty big by today's standards. (Small town) Anyway I bought a Cub hydrostat rider 4 years ago, 42" deck. I like it and it did cut down on my mowing time but I really want a zero turn, mowing is not my favorite thing to do.:beat-up:
Also have an old 22" push mower that by all rights shouldn't still be running, it's been abused for so many years I've lost track. Every time I pull it out of the shed I have to check the gas and add oil:D It's hard to believe that thing still starts up on the 2nd or 3rd pull.
 
my brother has a Dixie Chopper. he loves that thing
 
How did I forget them?!?!?! Their diesel mower claims 8 acres per hour!!!!!! That's flippin fast!
 
Gummi,

Scag's are offered with Kawasaki engines as well. What is your opinion on them?

Thanks.

Ben
 
I've never had a Kawasaki in a piece of equipment other than a generator on a jobsite. It seemed fine, and that was 10 years ago. I've never used anything of theirs bigger than that 5-6 hp offering.

Their motorcycles, PWC, ATV, UTV (thrillcraft, according to the greenies) are all top notch; I'd assume that their industrial engines are as well.
 
i had a Kawasaki Ultra 150 jetski. that thing was badass and i never had a problem with it
 
I mow about 1 1/2 acres of yard every week. My neibors are from Illinois and only use their houses on holiday weekends, so they pay me to maintain their yards for them.
Ive got a Craftsman lawn tractor with an 18-hp B&S engine and 42" deck. Ive also got a Honda Harmony II 5.5 hp 21" walkbehind mower and a 32" Honda trimmer.
I also have a couple chainsaws that I use for cutting firewood and doing general yard cleanup. Ive got an Echo CS-520 (50cc) that I use either a 20" or 16" bar (depending up whether Im felling or limbing). Ive also got a Stihl 021 with a 16" bar that I use for limbing. I like the Echo better though because with the 16" bar that thing just screams and rips through any kinda wood like its not even there. The Stihl is a good saw, but its only 35cc, so its nowhere near as fast as the Echo is.
Ive also got an Echo ES-210 leafblower that I use for cleaning grass clippings off of the driveway and sidewalk.
If I had it to do again, Id buy a Kubota tractor instead of the Craftsman. A Kubota would be more money, but its also much more of a quality tractor.
 
Gummi Bear said:
When did Kubota get into the mower business? They've got a complete lineup, and I really like their equipment (I've spent a lot of time on Kubota tractors)!

http://www.kubota.com/f/products/Mower.cfm
Click to expand...
Yup, Kubotas are nice but expensive. Not sure when they got into the mower business but Im glad they did. I was disappointed when Honda got out of the riding mower/lawn tractor market, so its nice to have options other than Deere or Simplicity.
If you want quality you gotta pay for it though and they really arent much more expensive than a decent Deere or Simplicity.
 
[YOUTUBE]akaanteVCs4[/YOUTUBE]
 
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