Used mower recommendations... rider or commercial walk behind.

[tcb]

Ok folks...

I just moved into my new place. It is a shade over half an acre. I cut/edged the entire property yesterday with my 21" crapsman push mower and my weed eater. It took damn near 4 hours. That is unacceptable. It is 11ty billion degrees out side and I feel like I've been beat with a shovel.

With all the other $$$ outlay with purchasing the house, I probably cannot afford to get anything other than the cheapest of the cheap new riders, so I'd prefer to find an older used mower, either a rider or a dual blade old school commercial walk behind.

Anybody have any old mowers that they recommend for durability, easy to work on, easy to source parts, etc.....

I'm thinking one of the old snapper rear engine riders, if I can find one, should fit all my criteria.... ala this style....

[D'Animal]

Those Snapper riders are like ride on brush mowers. If you can get the front wheels over it, it will mow it.

What kind of finish cut are you looking for. Well Groomed or just the weeds knocked down?

[tcb]

Originally Posted by D'Animal

Those Snapper riders are like ride on brush mowers. If you can get the front wheels over it, it will mow it.

What kind of finish cut are you looking for. Well Groomed or just the weeds knocked down?

It's St. Augustine grass, so it mows well regardless of what you use. My pushmower looks like a pro job.

I used to cut on one of those snappers when I was a kid, same type of grass, and it did a decent job if memory serves me correct. Of course my folks no longer have that mower...

But to answer your question, it doesn't need to be HGTV quality grooming.... but better than looking like I just bushogged a briar patch.

[D'Animal]

If your yard is smooth, that snapper will do you fine. Look for a Hy-Vac model if you can. It will have a round deck and a rolled lip under the deck and a highlift blade. The discharge will be much better.

If your new yard has some uneven spots, that snapper will scalp the yard when the tire goes in a hole. I'm sure you already know this since you have some seat time on one.

[tcb]

Originally Posted by D'Animal

If your yard is smooth, that snapper will do you fine. Look for a Hy-Vac model if you can. It will have a round deck and a rolled lip under the deck and a highlift blade. The discharge will be much better.

If your new yard has some uneven spots, that snapper will scalp the yard when the tire goes in a hole. I'm sure you already know this since you have some seat time on one.

The yard's not 100% smooth, but I think this mower will get it done. Is the lip on the deck the only way to ID the Hy-Vac model?

[Hilux]

For commercial...ExMarks the spot


but I want one of these.(Great Dane)

YouTube - Mower wheelies

[D'Animal]

The deck on the Hy-Vac is round like a donut and the lip is rolled in. On the picture you posted is a standard one. The deck has a flat spot on the left side and the lip is rolled out.

Originally Posted by tcb

The yard's not 100% smooth, but I think this mower will get it done. Is the lip on the deck the only way to ID the Hy-Vac model?

[tcb]

Originally Posted by D'Animal

The deck on the Hy-Vac is round like a donut and the lip is rolled in. On the picture you posted is a standard one. The deck has a flat spot on the left side and the lip is rolled out.

gotcha....

[tcb]

Originally Posted by Hilux

For commercial...ExMarks the spot


but I want one of these.(Great Dane)

YouTube - Mower wheelies

Those are a bit of overkill. I'm talking a 36" walk behind, not a freakin transformer.

There's a Respiffed Yazoo in the paper down here, but I worry about the fact that yazoo is out of business and I'd have no idea where to source parts should the need arise.

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by tcb

There's a Respiffed Yazoo in the paper down here, but I worry about the fact that yazoo is out of business and I'd have no idea where to source parts should the need arise.

Yazoo was bought out by Kees. A company if Yazoo/Kees was formed. Kees is still in business nad has joined the "What Color Do You Want It" selling techniques. AYP and MTD have done this type of marketing for years. They (Yazoo/Kees) are sold under the Snapper Brands as well as the Husqvarna Brand. They are made in Beatrice, Nebraska.

Commercial mowers use very little specialty parts. Bearing for the spindles can be bought at a bearing wharehouse as well as the 5/8 belts that most of them run. Springs and levers are generally bought at an Ace harware or farm supply store. Engine parts and electrical are common.

[tcb]

Originally Posted by D'Animal

Yazoo was bought out by Kees. A company if Yazoo/Kees was formed. Kees is still in business nad has joined the "What Color Do You Want It" selling techniques. AYP and MTD have done this type of marketing for years. They (Yazoo/Kees) are sold under the Snapper Brands as well as the Husqvarna Brand. They are made in Beatrice, Nebraska.

Commercial mowers use very little specialty parts. Bearing for the spindles can be bought at a bearing wharehouse as well as the 5/8 belts that most of them run. Springs and levers are generally bought at an Ace harware or farm supply store. Engine parts and electrical are common.

You are now my official lawn care equipment guru.

All things being equal, Respiffed Yazoo 36 inch walk behind or Old School Snapper Hy-Vac?

[TX Cruiser]

Snapper Comet. Everything else is just a pos mower.

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by tcb

All things being equal, Respiffed Yazoo 36 inch walk behind or Old School Snapper Hy-Vac?

If they were the same price, I would go for the Yazoo.

If the Snapper is cheaper, and it should be, check the left rear axle where it comes out of the axle housing. This is between the wheel and the housing/frame. The axle has a tendance to wear into the housing when the bearing/sintered bushing is worn out. It is repairable but a major pain to do.

[FJ60Cam]

Forrest Gump is selling his ride

[IronYuppy]

TCB this is you in ten years:

[Weedhopper]

Somebody did that last year. From Georgia to Maine, I think. I do know he stopped in CT. and got his mower fixed for free. There may have been a thread on it.

[tcb]

Originally Posted by IronYuppy

TCB this is you in ten years:

I might have to see that one... Hopefully it takes me longer than 10 years to get to that point.

[tcb]

Originally Posted by D'Animal

If they were the same price, I would go for the Yazoo.

If the Snapper is cheaper, and it should be, check the left rear axle where it comes out of the axle housing. This is between the wheel and the housing/frame. The axle has a tendance to wear into the housing when the bearing/sintered bushing is worn out. It is repairable but a major pain to do.

Thanks for all the info, Dan. It will help me tremendously in my search.

The guy with the Yazoo is asking $400. *Supposedly* the entire thing has been rebuilt.

The only small rider I've found so far semi-local is a Yardbug and I've read horror stories about those. I've got no idea what a Comet in decent condition will sell for in my area. Any idea what they go for out there ,for a decently clean one in good mechanical condition?

[wob]

I may have an old snapper lawn mower at my folks house. It's free, but shipping would kill the deal, I'm sure. Oh, and it's been sitting for 20some years (if it's still there).

[fsusteve]

I just picked up a Snapper Comet for 200 bones, mint shape. I love this thing, the yards look awesome and it's stupid easy to maintain, I weigh two fity and it's 8 horse pulls me with no problemo....

[tcb]

Originally Posted by fsusteve

I just picked up a Snapper Comet for 200 bones, mint shape. I love this thing, the yards look awesome and it's stupid easy to maintain, I weigh two fity and it's 8 horse pulls me with no problemo....

Word... $200 is twice as nice as $400. Now I just have to track one down. I'm tipping the scales at about 250 as well, so that was my other concern. I remember the one my folks had being quick when I was a kid..... but I wasn't quite as big back then.

[beaufort-fj60]

Originally Posted by wob

I may have an old snapper lawn mower at my folks house. It's free, but shipping would kill the deal, I'm sure. Oh, and it's been sitting for 20some years (if it's still there).

nice, Indian giver.



I'd like to find a working snapper

[wob]

Originally Posted by tcb

Word... $200 is twice as nice as $400. Now I just have to track one down. I'm tipping the scales at about 250 as well, so that was my other concern. I remember the one my folks had being quick when I was a kid..... but I wasn't quite as big back then.

If it's too slow, just slap a bigger engine on the back. Shouldn't take more than an hour or so.

[fsusteve]

Originally Posted by tcb

Word... $200 is twice as nice as $400. Now I just have to track one down. I'm tipping the scales at about 250 as well, so that was my other concern. I remember the one my folks had being quick when I was a kid..... but I wasn't quite as big back then.

I will say that I prefer a steering wheel over handle bars but that's really my only bitch. It cuts like a push mower, doesn't leave tire ruts and sips gas.

[tcb]

Originally Posted by wob

If it's too slow, just slap a bigger engine on the back. Shouldn't take more than an hour or so.

My searches have turned up some nicely modded Comets... One guy slapped a big ass honda engine with an electric start.

[fsusteve]

Originally Posted by beaufort-fj60

nice, Indian giver.



I'd like to find a working snapper

I bet you would Elmer....

[tcb]

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