Anyone have any suggestions/problems with specific brands they'd care to
share? I'm interested in the 2003 - 2004 model Troy-bilt models carried at
Lowe's and the Craftsman models at Sears; 18.5 Hp, preferably automatic
transmission but I'd like to hear from the gear-jockeys, too. Thanks.

Hydrostatic transmissions are the way to go, especially if you have
obstacles to go around. I've used both types and I can tell you I will
never go back to shifting gears.

"evolutionman 2004" wrote in message
link.net...
Anyone have any suggestions/problems with specific brands they'd care to
share? I'm interested in the 2003 - 2004 model Troy-bilt models carried
at
Lowe's and the Craftsman models at Sears; 18.5 Hp, preferably automatic
transmission but I'd like to hear from the gear-jockeys, too. Thanks.

Hydrostatic transmissions are the way to go, especially if you have
obstacles to go around. I've used both types and I can tell you I will
never go back to shifting gears.

"evolutionman 2004" wrote in message
link.net...
Anyone have any suggestions/problems with specific brands they'd care to
share? I'm interested in the 2003 - 2004 model Troy-bilt models carried
at
Lowe's and the Craftsman models at Sears; 18.5 Hp, preferably automatic
transmission but I'd like to hear from the gear-jockeys, too. Thanks.

Check out Home Depot too, I got my 12hp Scotts several years ago and still
running strong. I think there made by John Deere? and get the automatic, I
cant imagine having to shift gears


"evolutionman 2004" wrote in message
link.net...
Anyone have any suggestions/problems with specific brands they'd care to
share? I'm interested in the 2003 - 2004 model Troy-bilt models carried
at
Lowe's and the Craftsman models at Sears; 18.5 Hp, preferably automatic
transmission but I'd like to hear from the gear-jockeys, too. Thanks.

Check out Home Depot too, I got my 12hp Scotts several years ago and still
running strong. I think there made by John Deere? and get the automatic, I
cant imagine having to shift gears


"evolutionman 2004" wrote in message
link.net...
Anyone have any suggestions/problems with specific brands they'd care to
share? I'm interested in the 2003 - 2004 model Troy-bilt models carried
at
Lowe's and the Craftsman models at Sears; 18.5 Hp, preferably automatic
transmission but I'd like to hear from the gear-jockeys, too. Thanks.

On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 17:57:59 -0700, "John"
wrote:

Check out Home Depot too, I got my 12hp Scotts several years ago and still
running strong. I think there made by John Deere? and get the automatic, I
cant imagine having to shift gears


"evolutionman 2004" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Anyone have any suggestions/problems with specific brands they'd care to
share? I'm interested in the 2003 - 2004 model Troy-bilt models carried
at
Lowe's and the Craftsman models at Sears; 18.5 Hp, preferably automatic
transmission but I'd like to hear from the gear-jockeys, too. Thanks.

For your reference I've been running my 12.5 HP Deere ride-on (RX 95)
for 17 years, and in Florida we mow all year long !!

On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 17:57:59 -0700, "John"
wrote:

Check out Home Depot too, I got my 12hp Scotts several years ago and still
running strong. I think there made by John Deere? and get the automatic, I
cant imagine having to shift gears


"evolutionman 2004" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Anyone have any suggestions/problems with specific brands they'd care to
share? I'm interested in the 2003 - 2004 model Troy-bilt models carried
at
Lowe's and the Craftsman models at Sears; 18.5 Hp, preferably automatic
transmission but I'd like to hear from the gear-jockeys, too. Thanks.

For your reference I've been running my 12.5 HP Deere ride-on (RX 95)
for 17 years, and in Florida we mow all year long !!

Last year I traded in my John Deere for a Dixon 4515 ZTR.
I can't say enough about how great it is. I would have liked a
Grasshopper or Exmark, but they were $7000.

Not sure what you're looking to pay. My Dixon was $4200 with the
mulching kit. My John Deere had cost the same, but that was with a
bagger and PowerFlo.

Anyway, my mowing time went from 4 hours to 1 1/2 hours for just under
2 acres. And I have to do zero push mowing, the Dixon gets right down
in the ditch areas with no problems.

new lurker wants info on your Dixons' mulching kit.
Was that a clipping bagging system?
I have1 acre and 38 mature oak trees that are prolific leaf droppers and am
considering moving up from my 12 year old Murray 42'
Thnx
ted

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 14:40:41 -0500, "CHMS" wrote:

new lurker wants info on your Dixons' mulching kit.
Was that a clipping bagging system?


No, it doesn't bag. The kit consists of mulching blades and a
baffle. But I can tell you it does a great job mulching.

I have a locust tree that drops pods. Anyone who knows these pods
knows how tough and hard they are.

I didn't want to shell out for a lawn sweeper, so I decided I'd try
mulching them. Ground them to fine powder.

If you're mechanically inclined you could find yourself an older Deere 200
series. Depending on what you want to do, a 212/214/216 would be a good
choice. These things are near bullet proof and had an assortment of
attachments. You could get one of these with a deck, snowthrower or tiller
for a pretty decent sum, and much less than new would cost. These things
have a huge following, so there is repair/restoration info galore!

I have a 212 I got for free. It had been sitting under a deck for about 12
years. I cleaned out the tank, put in some fresh gas, poured a little
Marvel Mystery Oil into the cylinder, turned the engine over by hand a few
times and it fired right up. Had to rebuild the carb before putting it into
service and I also repainted it.

That was 6 years ago and it is still cranking along. It is a serious work
tractor and I've added things like weights and ag tires, and will soon be
adding hydraulics. Also have aquired a snowthrower for it and a blade.
Been working on finding a tiller.

Like I say, you should be pretty good with a wrench if you want to own one
of these, but they are real workhorses if you are inclined to fix one up.



wrote in message
news
On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 14:40:41 -0500, "CHMS" wrote:

new lurker wants info on your Dixons' mulching kit.
Was that a clipping bagging system?


No, it doesn't bag. The kit consists of mulching blades and a
baffle. But I can tell you it does a great job mulching.

I have a locust tree that drops pods. Anyone who knows these pods
knows how tough and hard they are.

I didn't want to shell out for a lawn sweeper, so I decided I'd try
mulching them. Ground them to fine powder.