Ride on lawnmower guide

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irish boy

Original Poster:

3,524 posts

235 months

Sunday 18th March 2018
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Ok so we import/distribute/retail garden machinery. A couple of members that know what I do and have asked me for advice suggested I put a post up to assist anyone looking a new ride on as the weather picks up.

What size of tractor do I need. Theres no absolute answer to this, the smallest 25" machine will cut 2 acres, if you have the time. Generally standard domestic 'tractor' shape machines start at 30" and go to 50", with 40" being the most popular.

I would look at engine brand and size as well, obviously the big names ie Briggs, Honda and Kawasaki are the ones to look for. On the smaller 30-33" machines 350cc is ample, 36" and above I tend to recommend one of the bigger units. 500cc minimum but also a V-twin cylinder if possible. Similar to a v8 in a car, these are more relaxed, lower reving and generally under less pressure. They also have an oil pump/filter so are more suitable for slopes.

How is the grass collected. Theres 3 main ways, straight up between the back wheels, up a pipe on the side or it is a mulch machine which I'll look at later.
The side pipe machines are very often discounted due to their poorer performance in wet grass, but they have 2 big advantages that are often overlooked. The bins on the back can be lifted off and tipped over a fence/into a trailer or they can be lined with bin liners.
Generally tho the straight thru collection is the most popular due to its more compact nature and its wet performance.

Mulch machines generally are either out front machines or zero turns. We do well with both but make sure you buy the correct machine, the front decks leave a lovely smooth fine finish and are very manoeuvrable, the zero turns are faster, generally come with a fabricated deck and are more robust but do not leave as good a finish. They suit people who have a large area, but not all set out as fine lawns, they will handle longer rougher grass and can also side discharge. Also if you choose to mulch you need to cut more often.

Brand. Generally it is good to go with something that has a dealer near you for servicing and parts for when the worst happens and you catch a tree root or break a belt. GGP would be one of the biggest uk brands, imagine very loosely vw/seat/skoda/audi. Mountfield, Stiga, Atco, Alpina, Castelgarden etc are all manufactured by GGP in Italy (33" machine and a couple of others are Chinese made). The are different colours and slightly different spec eg Stiga would be considered the Audi of the group hence gets led lights etc. They are a solid choice and have good parts back up.

Countax are still made in the uk, I liken them to Bristol, made in an aircraft hanger by a small workforce, expensive, latest ones not as well built as their reputation would suggest but have followers that will buy literally nothing else. We sell a few, they need a very good pdi before they go out, but customers are generally happy with them.

Husqvarna are generally spot on, reasonable price and performance. Ford/Vauxhall. Good parts availability. Some build issues the last couple of years but they are on top of it now. Market leaders on front decks and robots. Possibly leaving the tractor market soon.

John Deere, well made machine but the biggest complaint is poor in even damp conditions. May not be an issue to those in the south but up around Scotland it could be a factor. Can be improved with high lift blades and some other mods.

Ariens, UK's fastest growing zero turn machine and a solid choice if you want a zero turn. Go for the ikon range tho as you get the fabricated deck as standard along with a twin cylinder kawasaki for less than £500 more than the standard zoom.

Alko, probably my top choice. Made in Austria, superb in damp/wet conditions, even the 36" comes on a 656cc v twin briggs and they are very well put together. They also have an offset deck with no timing belt which is a good thing, timing belts keep the blades in check but if you hit a root and knock the timing out it has to be reset which is tricky at home. With Alko I tend to think Volvo. The t20 is the range topper at £3600 but they go down to £2100.


When buying a machine the dealers wont have a massive margin, under £500 is the norm so do not be expecting loads off, but ask for some extras, does it come with a mulch plug? Battery charger for the winter? Cover? Tow kit for small trailers/aerators/scarifiers etc? Generally these are low cost to the dealer and can be worked into the deal. Some are offering finance, some various length of warranty etc. Also check if the dealer collects it for servicing, can be an issue for those with no trailer, I know dealers who charge £3 per mile.

Hopefully this was useful to someone, any questions just ask.




Edited by irish boy on Thursday 18th April 15:55


Edited by irish boy on Thursday 18th April 15:56


Edited by irish boy on Thursday 16th April 09:08


Edited by irish boy on Thursday 16th April 09:09


Edited by irish boy on Wednesday 30th June 10:26

V40TC

1,994 posts

183 months

Sunday 18th March 2018
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Same machine as cossers here been faultless, tows small trailer too,
grass collector easily removed with a sheet of OSB to roll it along to lift onto the carrier on the Mower.
works very well on wet leaves in autumn too using just the sweeper.
worthwhile investment for large areas to maintain.

JWH

489 posts

263 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Hi - do you have any experience of the larger Cub Cadet tractors. I'm looking for something to mulch 1/2 acre of lawn and side discharge 2 acres of fairly rough paddock. My primary desire is toughness and reliability and the XT3 with the big 54 inch fabricated deck looks appropriate to me, any thoughts?

irish boy

Original Poster:

3,524 posts

235 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
JWH said:
Hi - do you have any experience of the larger Cub Cadet tractors. I'm looking for something to mulch 1/2 acre of lawn and side discharge 2 acres of fairly rough paddock. My primary desire is toughness and reliability and the XT3 with the big 54 inch fabricated deck looks appropriate to me, any thoughts?
Nothing wrong with cub cadet, good well built machine.

For that job I’d also be looking at a zero turn for speed/manoeuvrability etc. The commercial apex 52” with the Kawasaki would be the one, I supplied one this week to a customer doing pretty much what you are on 1.9 acres and he loves it. Similar price circa £4500+ vat with mulch and side eject kits.

https://www.ariens.com/en-gb/lawn-products/zero-tu...








Wonderbadger

13 posts

108 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Hi, for mowers that have collectors, what sort of finish can I expect with the collector off. I'm thinking specifically about the Westwood/Countax with standard deck rather than the XRD with mulch plug, do they jet leave long rows of tea grass or is it possible to get a mulch plug and blades for the standard deck?

Bill

52,485 posts

254 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Where do Toro fit in?

And (it's like the ice cream scene in City Slickers. hehe ) what would you suggest for 3/4 of an acre garden that's 1/2 fairly hilly orchard that mostly gets some paths mown through it? I have a C600 with a failing hydrostatic box and a 36" HGM deck at the moment. I'd actually consider a walk behind it it was wide enough.

alfabeat

1,103 posts

111 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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I have a john Deere x165 and with about 70 hours on it, the K46 Tuff Torq box is goosed. I have quite a slopey couple of acres to cut and now as soon as it gets warm, it gets no drive. Common problem I think. I've tried changing the oil, which gave a mild improvement for a short while.

A new hydrostatic unit for it costs about £800. But I'm reluctant to go down that route as it will just happen again I suspect. My neighbour has the same tractor and his is the same.

So.... I'm thinking of replacing it but don't want anything with a K46 hydro unit in it. Do other manufacturers use the same unit in them?

Wonderbadger

13 posts

108 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Hydrostatic gearboxes do seem to be the cause of a lot of mower failures, are they worth the hassle or for a garden like mine where three aren't too many obstacles is a manual more reliable in the longer term?

JWH

489 posts

263 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
irish boy said:
JWH said:
Hi - do you have any experience of the larger Cub Cadet tractors. I'm looking for something to mulch 1/2 acre of lawn and side discharge 2 acres of fairly rough paddock. My primary desire is toughness and reliability and the XT3 with the big 54 inch fabricated deck looks appropriate to me, any thoughts?
Nothing wrong with cub cadet, good well built machine.

For that job I’d also be looking at a zero turn for speed/manoeuvrability etc. The commercial apex 52” with the Kawasaki would be the one, I supplied one this week to a customer doing pretty much what you are on 1.9 acres and he loves it. Similar price circa £4500+ vat with mulch and side eject kits.

https://www.ariens.com/en-gb/lawn-products/zero-tu...


Thanks very much, food for thought!

irish boy

Original Poster:

3,524 posts

235 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Gearboxes can be a pain. I keep coming back to Alko but again we find them more reliable than the husqvarna or jd boxes

All alko gearboxes are Hydro Gear. The others use Tuff Torque and they can be plagued with issues between slipping and general failures. I believe Alko U.K. last year had zero warranty claims on the hydro gear. Just google hydro gear t3 hd, proper box.

Edited by irish boy on Saturday 21st April 22:57


Edited by irish boy on Sunday 22 April 00:27

Bill

52,485 posts

254 months

Sunday 22nd April 2018
quotequote all
I went and had a good rummage yesterday and I think I might have sorted mine. The lever to unlock the transmission so you can push it is corroded and wasn't quite pushed back in all the way.

Wonderbadger

13 posts

108 months

Sunday 22nd April 2018
quotequote all
irish boy said:
Gearboxes can be a pain. I keep coming back to Alko but again we find them more reliable than the husqvarna or jd boxes

All alko gearboxes are Hydro Gear. The others use Tuff Torque and they can be plagued with issues between slipping and general failures. I believe Alko U.K. last year had zero warranty claims on the hydro gear. Just google hydro gear t3 hd, proper box.
Thank you for the info, obviously hydro done properly is a great thing for ease of use so it's good to know Alko do a proper job. I'll do some more research on them. One more question though, from what I've seen it looks like their base model has a collector, which we would never use and would have to then pay extra for a mulch plug which would still be a compromise rather than a mulch only deck. Is there an I option to get the lower models as a non collecting mulcher?

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Sunday 22nd April 2018
quotequote all
OP how about Kubota?

irish boy

Original Poster:

3,524 posts

235 months

Sunday 22nd April 2018
quotequote all
Wonderbadger said:
Thank you for the info, obviously hydro done properly is a great thing for ease of use so it's good to know Alko do a proper job. I'll do some more research on them. One more question though, from what I've seen it looks like their base model has a collector, which we would never use and would have to then pay extra for a mulch plug which would still be a compromise rather than a mulch only deck. Is there an I option to get the lower models as a non collecting mulcher?
Yes the T18 comes as a side eject or mulch only machine.

http://www.al-ko.com/shop/uk/products/lawncare-equ...

irish boy

Original Poster:

3,524 posts

235 months

Sunday 22nd April 2018
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
OP how about Kubota?
Good quality stuff, generally bought by commercial guys or clubs. Rare on private lawns due to price and weight.

We anyone coming in with the requirements of either diesel or shaft drive we will generally sell them an Iseki. Made in Japan, generally as tough and rugged as they come. They also take the horse power rating from the blade rather than the output shaft meaning in reality they are 20% more powerful than the kubota, and they come with power steering.


They website is as bad as the product is good.


http://www.iseki.co.jp/english/products/riding/sxg...

robinh73

917 posts

199 months

Monday 23rd April 2018
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What does the OP think of Honda ride ons? I have an old Westwood ride on which is due to retire shortly and also a small Honda self propelled mower for the smaller stuff, which is brilliant, but I don't know if the Honda ride ons are any good at all?

acme

2,971 posts

197 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
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Morning Irish Boy.

Interesting thread as I need to get one soon ish. I'd never heard of Al-Ko before but your comments re the gearboxes made me look, any thoughts on their small Solo one? With half an acre the smaller ones seem adequate, and with experience of using this type as a kid I know they can do the job massively quicker than even a decent walk behind.

I too would be interested in your views on the Honda's as I'd also consider their equivalent small one.

Longevity is my key criteria, the one we had as a kid, Mountfield I think, was 14 years old when we moved and was still going strong with just one carb failure.

http://www.al-ko.com/shop/uk/products/lawncare-equ...

Thanks in advance.

steveonts

170 posts

76 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
quotequote all
Really helpful guide, thank you.

Ive got a meadow that I need to cut, previously used a small tractor with a flail topper attachment which was a nightmare. Too big for the job I reckon. Looking at a ride on to handle it now. These ride ons dont have any problem with brambles and saplings growing in the grass do they?


Timmy40

12,915 posts

197 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
quotequote all
steveonts said:
Really helpful guide, thank you.

Ive got a meadow that I need to cut, previously used a small tractor with a flail topper attachment which was a nightmare. Too big for the job I reckon. Looking at a ride on to handle it now. These ride ons dont have any problem with brambles and saplings growing in the grass do they?
For that my friend you want an Orec Rabbit!

http://www.fgmclaymore.co.uk/our-brands/orec/rabbi...

It is a serious mower.....£3.5k, but it's the proper job.

Edited by Timmy40 on Wednesday 25th April 15:56

irish boy

Original Poster:

3,524 posts

235 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
quotequote all
acme said:
Morning Irish Boy.

Interesting thread as I need to get one soon ish. I'd never heard of Al-Ko before but your comments re the gearboxes made me look, any thoughts on their small Solo one? With half an acre the smaller ones seem adequate, and with experience of using this type as a kid I know they can do the job massively quicker than even a decent walk behind.

I too would be interested in your views on the Honda's as I'd also consider their equivalent small one.

Longevity is my key criteria, the one we had as a kid, Mountfield I think, was 14 years old when we moved and was still going strong with just one carb failure.

http://www.al-ko.com/shop/uk/products/lawncare-equ...

Thanks in advance.
Good little machine, small but reliable. It actually has a rope back up for starting which I haven't seen for a long time on any make. Very handy when you let the battery slide over the winter.

Nothing wrong with Honda either, tend to be a bit slow but work well.

Good guide in the telegraph here too.....


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningequ...