FWIW, I went from a small ride-on tractor to a commercial Bob-Cat push
mower years ago and I remember that it actually took me less time with
the push mower than with the tractor! Like a dummy, I eventually ran
out of time to mow and sold the Bob-Cat to a landscaper. Now I have
the time and I'm seriously thinking about buying another mower... and
I definitely don't want a tractor. One big reason is that the
tractor's weight and wide tires can sometimes rip up the lawn. Plus
they are clumkers to store. I have a half acre with a 3000 sq ft
colonial and attached garage. The better half has used her green
thumb to make the shrub beds look better and better each year, and her
bed designs have helped reduce the amount of lawn to be cut, but the
scalloping means lots of twists and turns.

I'm going to start searching for an old BobCat or Sensation mower,
maybe one that's been reconditioned. They are light, have aluminum
decks, rear mesh bags, and they can cut moist grass if necessary
without clogging.

Mike


On Sat, 12 Jul 2003 13:12:59 GMT, "William Plummer"
wrote:

My advice: be sure you really want a lawn tractor. Although I have used my
Sears for 16 years, it is not as maneuverable as one of the wide,
zero-radius mowers made by Honda and Torro. The tracter would be OK for big
fields but I waste a lot of time turning at the ends of runs and going
around flower beds and trees.