I thought about used, but to be honest, I want to start with a clean sheet. Don't want to be stuck with someone elses problems.
When I'm in Gaspe', I'm on the mower pretty much every day (I admit I love it!), so I like the idea of new. A friend comes once a year with a big tractor to cut the front, but there is still lots of cutting to be done.
Those are both good tractors. I know several owners of each and they love 'em.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I wouldn't buy either especially if it's from a "big box" store!! No repairs and franchise dealers won't touch them, or make you wait !!! They aren't the same grade as the "real" dealer sells. Simplicity has the best cut in industry, I've had mine now for about 9 years now 22 HP, Hydrostatic trans, 44" deck, 36" snow thrower and no problems what so ever. Those other ones have a very weak rear end & are referred to as "washing machine" housings!!! I use mine to move 20' car trailer [empty] & my "very heavy" horse trailer converted to utility use, around the yard!!
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
Pete's advice to stay away from the big box stuff is good advice. It is nothing like the dealer stuff.
We have sold and serviced Simplicity for 30 years. I've seen many other brands come through as trade ins etc and I feel we sell the best product out there. I'm not trying to sell you one so I have nothing to gain by saying that but the Simplicity is a "cut" above the rest!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
If you REALLY want to reduce mowing time, buy a Ferris or Simplicity (same corporation) zero turn mower! Customers buy their first one of those after a conventional garden tractor/mower and come back just grinning saying they cut mowing time in half.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
If you REALLY want to reduce mowing time, buy a Ferris or Simplicity (same corporation) zero turn mower! Customers buy their first one of those after a conventional garden tractor/mower and come back just grinning saying they cut mowing time in half.
True statement, 0 turns are great but only single use, can't put attachments like blower, or tiller etc. They do cut in half the time once you get used to controls for steering & turn on a dime, but hard to drink a beer with both hands required to steer it!!! Got to get your priorities straight!!
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
My lowly Poulan 42" has been fantastic. It's almost 8 years old and hasn't given me a stitch of trouble. I bought it off the previous owner of our house for $600. It was only a few months old at the time. All I've done is change the oil and one spark plug and sharpen the blades. Each lawn cutting is a minimum 2 hours (4 if I do the back field). I'm not easy on it either. It has the old school 6 speed transmission. No expensive hydrostatic to act up. I haven't even had to replace the belts yet! My neighbor paid something like 6 grand for a Kubota lawn tractor and it's had a lot of problems. The latest was a seized idler bearing.
There is something to be said about the smaller and cheaper mowers. We got this older 42" 18hp Columbia Hydro a few years back for 400 bucks. Probably similar to yours Todd. I think it's MTD built.
It had been re-engined once already, and burns a ton of oil now. so much it fouled the plug every 3 tanks or so. The splash lube engines just don't last. Regardless, the little mower takes a beating and is still in really good shape chassis and deck wise. Does a really nice cut.
I could simply re-engine it again for 400, but the truth is it's too small for my size XL body. Need something bigger. I'm not interested in a zero turn at this point, It'll be a tractor this time, until a real Tractor comes along.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
When I retired I treated myself to a new John Deere 540 liquid cooled garden tractor. This was intended to be the last tractor I will buy and after 6 years of use it has given me no cause to doubt that it will be.
With a 54 deck and the capability for a number of attachments it more than does the job for me. It effortlessly hauls around my 8 x10 snowmobile trailer to cart around yard waste, tree cuttings, top soil etc.
I am sure there are comparable machines out there that would perform and last as I expect mine will but Nothing runs like a Deere.
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72 Nova SS, 66 Beaumont Sport Deluxe, 09 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe
good thread, my old Toro Wheel Horse that came with the house has a 48 inch deck on it. I would not want one any narrower then that. Ever year I patch it up and it does all the rough areas and the zero turn Z18 Kubota does most of the work around the house. They do cut the grass in half the time and being diesel it sips the fuel. I have the B2620 for the large area out the back and it handles the 60 inch blower for the winter. just as a side note I was a big believer in dealer service but paying $425 for oil, filters and sharpening the blades is just too much. I can buy Kubota filters and new blades off ebay for cheap cost and do it my self. I did see Princess Auto has a 24 hp hydro with a 54 inch deck on for $2499. no idea what make it is
One other aspect to look at is ease of dropping mower deck for cleaning or swapping attachments, or belt replacement. I know from going over to local shop, some you have to dismantle half the tractor to get at it. I can drop deck in less than 4 minutes on mine!!! Also stay away from running Ethanol crap!!! See more repairs to fuel systems rotted out!!!! Mechanic there tells customers not to use that $hit but they don't listen, & back each spring for "won't start" & PAY $$$ to clean carb & replace fuel lines AGAIN!!!
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
Also stay away from running Ethanol crap!!! See more repairs to fuel systems rotted out!!!! Mechanic there tells customers not to use that $hit but they don't listen, & back each spring for "won't start" & PAY $$$ to clean carb & replace fuel lines AGAIN!!!
Yes, we deal with that endlessly in the shop. Premium fuel only in any of these things, you'll more than get your money back in the end if you do that.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Id recommend you shop for 1 size larger, worth the money if you plan on keeping it. And the old John Deere etc. machines were all built much heavier than the new Chinese models. Going up one size will get you a better quality. Make sure you have a good local dealer and buy a high volume model with good parts availability.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Also stay away from running Ethanol crap!!! See more repairs to fuel systems rotted out!!!! Mechanic there tells customers not to use that $hit but they don't listen, & back each spring for "won't start" & PAY $$$ to clean carb & replace fuel lines AGAIN!!!
Yes, we deal with that endlessly in the shop. Premium fuel only in any of these things, you'll more than get your money back in the end if you do that.
Carl just to clarify, not all "premium" is ethanol free!!! Shell V plus is excellent, some Esso & CTC are also "clean" but you have to check!!!! You can also buy a ethanol checking kit from Briggs & Stratton & check your own fuel content! Works for me.
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
Id recommend you shop for 1 size larger, worth the money if you plan on keeping it. And the old John Deere etc. machines were all built much heavier than the new Chinese models. Going up one size will get you a better quality. Make sure you have a good local dealer and buy a high volume model with good parts availability.
Unfortunately Don we have no local JD or Kubota Dealer in Gaspe. But there is a really good lawn equipment shop that can get any parts quick.
I do agree with going up larger to get the heavier construction. Now I'm getting up pretty pricey trying to get the better Hydro drive axle. It's amazing how fast the price rises.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
In the maritimes, premium has no ethanol. I do check this annually and it was the last time I looked. No ethanol in my carbed motors or anything not used on a regular basis.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
