ME Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 (edited) I have always had a hankering for a ride on and I probably still don't need one if I am honest. I have however told Mrs ME that if I buy one, lawn mowing will change from a domestic chore (womans work), to a diy job (mans work). So bearing in mind it isn't a massive garden, what do we know? I am seeing that many of the newer ones have variable speed rather than gears. I am also seeing many identical small ride ons that are probably made in the same Chinese factory but branded differently depending on the manufacturer. Anyone on here deal in these machines or have some knowledge? Cheers ME Edited May 2, 2013 by ME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 (edited) If you are going to do it you have got to get a nice Green John Deere one its no good getting a cheep Chinese or Jap one . Edited May 2, 2013 by four-wheel-drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 If you are going to do it you have got to get a nice Green John Deere one its no good getting a cheep Chinese or Jap one . Just steer clear of Chard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBW Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 We use ransomes and hayter cylinder machines and John Deere rotarys they're all good machines and if they're well maintained they'll last forever apart from the usual fresh blades/ cylinders/ sole plates its are used all day every day cutting grass in cemetery's and parks/ grass areas in built up areas and the only breakdowns we have are operator errors The misses would love one at home to save her breaking a sweat shoving the hand machine around the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Looks ideal: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 I have a Westwood T1600 Hydrostatic drive 48" cut. Cost £1000 SH maybe 5 years ago. It has been a pain - steering, punctures, grass collector on the blink, belts breaking and stretching, starter wont, etc. However, you get to know how to fix these things and it becomes a friend, albeit a high maintenance one. I'd like a new one but they are £4K+, so me and my Westwood have another year together, yet again. When it dies or I move, it will be the end of an era. I cant recommend any ride on lawn mowers - I think they are all prone to problems. It is a unique relationship - a man and his ride -on, a bit like getting married and potentially just as stormy. On that basis alone go for one you like - looks will keep you happy when mechanical integrity lets you down. Or you could paint some flames on it, it could happen naturally though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 My current one is a Countax. Had it about 5 years and no problems so far. It does a good job of cutting in the wet and picks up well with a powered collector, although I had a mulching deck fitted on it so don't use the collecting thingy very much. Another advantage is that it's rear discharge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 (edited) John Deere. Lovely to use. An upgrade from a Forest Gump Snapper... Measure your gates before you buy! Edited May 2, 2013 by guest1957 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Just look at all of the places that you can go on it. ( I love this film it was on TV the other day ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 john deere are great ,look for a briggs n stratton engine,or rarer tanaka both very good if nondistinct make,snapper are pooh.used to sell westwood,countax snapper,alko hayter at a massey dealers .drive belts and bearing failures are a constant unless u got john deere or kubota money.anything chineese good luck theyre getting there but not yet.as kes says youl grow to love your mower and it gets you in the shed away from putting up shelves,painting n decorating etc atb clakk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Albert Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 Do they come with go-fast stripes, big-boy exhausts, fluffy dice etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 We have had Countax and Westwood, both make have been good. We have just got a new John Deere diesel and it is a step up in price and quality. I do think that the grass collection system on our old Countax which was a sweeping system is better than the Deere blow system if the grass is wet. For a domestic garden cutting every week or two go secondhand, hydrostatic with the option of flashing lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 Go cheap and pimp up as much as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 Whenever I hear ride on mower I think dad life http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=DOKuSQIJlog&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDOKuSQIJlog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 We have had Countax and Westwood, both make have been good. We have just got a new John Deere diesel and it is a step up in price and quality. I do think that the grass collection system on our old Countax which was a sweeping system is better than the Deere blow system if the grass is wet. For a domestic garden cutting every week or two go secondhand, hydrostatic with the option of flashing lights. we've had 2 westwoods over the years and as said they do take a bit of maintenance but none collect the grass as well as the sweeper system. The last one was 2nd hand about 5 years ago and it was a case of spend 1K on a larger second hand or on a cheapie chinese new one and it was definitely the right move. John deere are good but the finish they leave isn't the same and as said the collection system is fine if it is dry but damp you can forget it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 I have a Stiga and haven't had any problems at all, and they're yellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted May 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 (edited) I didn't say that I was buying Chinese. I was pointing out that many of the smaller machines are all identical looking barring the branding. I am trawling Fleabay for a decent secondhand one. I am going to visit a few ride on specialists this afternoon to see what they have. Edited May 3, 2013 by ME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petethegeek Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 This one looks like a nice ride on model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 This one looks like a nice ride on model. That's a Stiga! It didn't come with a fit bird though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 how big is the lawn ME or is that the point we start suggesting you will spend longer turning round than cutting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil3728 Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 I have one of these, not sure with model. Best thing about it, it mulshes the grass so no clipping to deal with. http://www.husqvarna.com/uk/products/riders/husqvarna-riders-for-homeowners/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 Yes, get the one that vaporises the grass so there's nothing to stop for or empty. And get it in cherry red with some sweet rims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted May 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 how big is the lawn ME or is that the point we start suggesting you will spend longer turning round than cutting Garden is 35ft wide and 120ft long. As I said in my original post. I know I don't NEED a ride on. Just like people don't NEED guns or cars. I just feel for Mrs ME struggling walking behind her existing mower.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 I know need is an iffy thing but by the time you can't get in the corners and spend more time turning than mowing you'll work out why, you might as well buy one on ebay you can pimp up and race you could even get it sponsored by a certain freight company and invite your 7 year old number one fan to races Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerSim Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 We have a Husqvarna - it was expensive, but it is AWD, ( necessary in the hills! ), and it is superb. Personnally i would steer well clear of Briggs and Stratton - get one with a Honda or Kawasaki or maybe Kohler. Mulching decks are marvellous - self composting without the hassle = simple. Also go hydrostatic if you can, as these are very easy to use.. You can always landscape your garden to suit the mower - we got rid of the corners - so you just drive round and round, and then a quick tidy up with a strimmer, and ta dah! job done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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