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Everyone on the board seems to be very opionated, so here's a question. I have a little over an acre to be cut. Is it worth buying buying an expensine tractor or do the cheaper ones hold up just as well. I am debating on buying one of the John Deere's from Home depot or a Sears model. Anyone with info on a good one or any to stay away from. Are the automatics worth the extra money?
I bought a murray 42 inch cut automatic a few years ago....I keep it clean and do the PM religiously think I paid about $800 for it....not a problem to be found...looked into buying a snowplow attachment for it...but just couldn't justify spending $1300 for a attachment for the tractor.....so I moved to Florida instead...tractor is over 5 years old and still running fine....just make sure you change the oil , clean the aircleaner and sharpen the blades on a regular basis.....from what I'm told only one company is making the auto trans for the lawn tractors so they all use the same one no matter what the dealer says...and I know of no one who has had a problem with them...
Home Depot by me also carries a Scotts brand tractor which is made by Deere. My son has one, very happy with the tractor and a few hundred below the cost of the Deere and still made by them.
I have the hydrostatic drive and it's awesome. One pedal, push farther go faster, push opposite with the pedal goes reverse. Even the kids have no problem at all with it. Well woth it.
Deere is hard to beat if you got the money. When we did the lawn care here (in house) there were 4 of them. Just remember one very important thing. If you buy it from HD they don't work on them if there is a problem. You need to bring it to the local shop.
Now go back and read all the posts on "gee, I got a great deal on my boat elsewhere but the local dealer won't fix it before all the other work is done". I know this to be fact at least here in MA. at my dealer.
I hope you get my drift.
Now, have you looked at getting a commercial walk behind? Yes you need to walk or buy a sulkey to stand on but it will out cut any tractor style mower made. And it does a much better looking job. Plenty of good, clean used ones available as well. I prefer the look of nice straight lines. Can't do that very well with a tractor.
__________________ 2003 Boston Whaler 255 Conquest w/ twin 200 HPDI's
I've never been a racist. I don't like the white half either.
My grandparents have had murrays for years. About 10 years useful service then they buy a new one. Brakes seem to wear out quick...other than that no real problems.
My father bought a Toro Wheelhorse 18hp (Kohler engine I think) with hydrostatic drive about 4 or 5 years back. Night and day difference between that and the murray. Much heavier built, awesome cut...very level. Much "heavier duty" tires than the murray also.
But the kicker is the hydrostatic (hydraulic) drive. It is great. In fact we have pull a 29' pontoon and 20' center console around with it regularly with no problem (just make sure it is on flat ground...tried launching the 20' with it...not enough weight...rear wheels slide, front lifts off the ground...scary). But it will launch an retrieve a 15' jon boat w/ no problem.
Best part is it has infinitiely adjustable cruise control. Sweet tractor.
Unfortunately I am still in the push mower size yard...but when the time comes for a riding mower I will definately get one w/ the hydrostatic drive.
I had a craftsman 38" deck for 13 years and sold it for 100 bucks. It is still running. I am bad and didn't do any PM just kept it clean and inside. Now I have
a Kubota L3710 with a 72" deck. I have cut my mow time from 4 hours to 1 hour. With you having a little over an acre to mow a CUT (compact utility tractor)
may be over kill but I find all kinds of uses for the FEL (front end loader). If you want more info here is a website www.tractorbynet.com lots of info on the board.
Kinda like the hull truth for tractors and mowers.
Check out the latest edition of Consumer Reports. They reviewed lawn tractors. Should help to answer a lot of your questions. "Less time mowing = more time fishing!"
I have the John Deere LX172. I bought it about 10-12 years ago. It runs as well today as it did the day I bought it. I use it to mow the lawn & plow the drive way in the winter. The only thing I've had to replace is the fuel filter and a headlight. Very well engineered. I would purchase another in a heart beat.
I have a 1987 model JD 160 (12.5 HP Kawasaki, 38" cut, 5 speed manual) that I bought used in 1993. This tractor has been great (especially the Kawi engine), and on the 1/2 acre I mow it catches he!!. Unfortunately I don't think the new models at HD have the Kawi engine. For reasons of long term parts availability I wouldn't buy anything but JD (or possibly Cub Cadet).
You might consider cruising the local want ads for a slightly used one at substantial savings - mine was spotlessly clean and the nubbies were't even worn off the tires - for about half the price of a new one (Previous owner was moving from a postage-stamp sized yard in Cary to a condo in Colorado).
The only attachment that's left is the original '59 plow blade. It had a mower deck, snow blower, sickle bar, and a drag harrow, but throughout the years, my dad gave away/sold the attachments. I have restored the tractor back and repainted it back to the gold/light blue color that was how it was in 1959.
I want to get a belt drive mower deck for it, or maybe just tow behind rotory cutter.
To answer your question, no, the cheaper mowers do not usually hold up as well. For an acre though, one of the bottom end Deere units from HD would hold up just fine with regular maintenance.
Between the Deere and the Sears brands I would go with the Deere.
If you want to spend just a little more though look at the smaller zero turn models. I believe Toro still has a small zero turn in the $2800 range. I used to be a Toro/Wheelhorse dealer and that model with the 16HP Onan was my biggest seller.
Once you have used a zero turn mower the lawn tractors and riders seem like toys.
Can't beat a Kubota. I have an older model B5200 13HP diesel with the hydrastatic transmission which is over 12 years old (600 hours) a still runs like a charm. This beast has a solid steel frame, like a real tractor and the mower deck has the thickest steel on any tractor I have seen. While they are more expensive than most you can see the difference in the quality and they will last a lifetime...if you take care of them.
I would go with the quality, you see many contractors in our area with them.....but reagrdless get a tractor with the hydrastatic transmission...otherwise you will regret it!!
I had a Snapper Zero Turn before upgrading bigtime to a Walker. THe Snapper is indestructable, does a great job cutting the grass in a manicured fashion, and took about 35 minutes time off mowing the 1.3 acre lot I have. I used to have a Husquvarna tractor...recommend the zero turn Snapper ......can't be beat.
Lawn Tractors 
