Thread: riding mower question

I had a Craftsman before, cost me 1800 for it, 18 hp, 42 inch cut, we cut less than a 1/4 acre with it for 4 seasons and it blew the seals inside the motor and I had to change 3 pullys during that time. I don't feel like I got my money out of it and won't buy another one... I have a friend that has the John Deere zero turn and what took almost 3.5 hours to cut with a regular riding mower or a small tractor with a grooming mower attatchment, he can now cut in about 45 minutes to an hour. Another friend has a Bushhog brand zero turn and he has been cutting about 5 acres with it for the last 4 years and only problem was a flat tire, and several thousand cheaper then the Deere... When you are looking at them, like someone said earlier, get it from a dealer. Lowe's and such sell alot cheaper built mowers. Look at the thickness of the deck and if the spindles and pullys and such have grease zerts on them. The biggest problem that I know of with mowers are the pully bearings going out due to lack of lube.