Riding Mower Recs and Advice

ZTR

HD has the John Deere D105 lawn tractor for $1499...
I've had one for years...
real good turning radius and they last...mine came with a little trailer as a promo...

I've got a nice sized yard for a subdivision and have been looking at the rear engine Snappers. I'm just tired of pushing which takes me about 45 mins and I'm not moving slow.

Snapper 28". Had mine for 9 years, still runs great. My lot is just under 1/2 acre

Reading some of the reviews on the new rear engine Snapper and it doesn't look good. It seems that the new ones have a lot of problems. Back to research some more.

For any riding mower, don't replace the mandril bearings on the cutting blade assembly with the bearings you get at a lawn mower shop. Go to NAPA or automotive parts store and replace those bearings with automotive bearings. The original mower deck bearings and the replacement bearings are cheaply built, more expensive, and don't last nearly as long as the same size automotive bearings. Found this out the hard way.

Have a Hustler Raptor ZTR, welded deck opposed to stamped deck, and under 3k. It's not as smooth (stopping) as my dads old grasshopper but to be expected.

A bonus is its kind of like a Honda 300 Fourtrax, WHEN you stick it, you can get off pick up the back out of the ruts do the same with the front and get back on and drive it out.

Bought a used 31" Snapper RER on Craigslist for $350. The new models are not made anywhere as good.

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Hustler Raptor ZTR,

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Just bought the raptor limited with upgrades seat, tires, and engine guard.

I freaking love this mower. Its cut my mowing time in half. Cuts well and plenty fast.

You don't need much.

I repair and sell both Mtd and husqvarna. Not a big fan of Deere and marking up on parts which are normal parts.
The idiots that tell you All the mowers are made by the same mfg don't know what they are talking about.
My shops repair atleast 80 mowers a day just in one shop x by 4 shops
and I do extended warranty work for the big boxes. My techs and I also go to the industry schools to keep updated on the changes. Yes I see a lot of units 90% fuel related issues.

In your price range
Entry level residential zero turn
(Best bang for the buck)
Troy-bilt 42" mustang $2,299
I rarely see them in the shop, small, and got a great price. Not much for a diy person to fix and simple less stuff on mower less to fix.

I would go up the Cub Cadet to husqvarna and look at their 42" rider.

I think they still got $100 at dealer off cub cadet so 42" XT1 $1,399 instead of $1,499.
I think homecenters put them on sale $100 off at times also.

I like the XT1 Cub Cadet that was redesigned in 2015 over the husqvarna. Husqvarna did cheapen the line and go with a general transmission that is a composite CVT. cub Cadet went with tuff torq hydro which is a better transmission. Cub rides better, better steering, and don't see the belts being thrown off on the XT1 series.

I still like husqvarna but the XT1 cub cadet is friendly to use, easier to steer, and it's been a great unit at under $2,000 price point.

Now at dealer level I carry XT2 cub cadet 42" with EFI engine over carb engine for $1,799. Worth every penny grease able spindles, push button start, and quieter engine. At dealer level we offer $100 off so it's really $1,699.

Not a big fan of deer due to they haven't improved on their deck system. Dollar for
Dollar you get more from husqvarna and cub cadet probably gaining in quality.

I did sell hustler and dropped the line once they went in lowes and made a homecenter
Model. I can offer better prosumer units for less money in other brands.