Walk Behind Mower advice

[Joel]

It doesn't seem right to post this in this section. If it needs moving, moderators, please have at it.

I'm trying to find a way to cut the time it takes to mow my lawn. I have over 1acre to mowe with several trees, a barn, fences, etc, so a riding mower, although ok, takes too many passes. Too many circles. I'd like to buy something new. I'm also concerned about cost. A normal push mower (20,21inch type) is what i'm using now but it takes forever.

Has anybody had any experience with semi-pro walk behind mower? I'm thinking about this one:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/cub-33in-wide-cut
I'm tired of hitting thick/tall grass and having to slow down to keep from knocking off or make a second pass to get everything. This looks like it should have enough HP.

Thoughts?
thanks.

[Bob McCarty]

Why not do the bulk of the mowing with your Cub and do the final trimming with the push mower?

Bob

[Joel]

I have a Super A-1, but even with a cub, I think the turning radius and uneven ground would get me.

[Eugene]

On the acreage I use herbicide and a sprayer on the fence line and around buildings. This lets me mow close enough with one of the tractor mowers.

Around the black walnut seedlings, I weed eat a couple times a year to get clearance for the tractor mowers.

[gitractorman]

Those Cub Cadet "widecut" mowers are really nice. Lots of power and the deck mows really well. I've used several and sold several to friends, who all love them. One friend has one at his house and just bought another to use at his apartments because it's easy to walk up into the bed of a pickup with a set of ramps.

[Joel]

Those Cub Cadet "widecut" mowers are really nice. Lots of power and the deck mows really well. I've used several and sold several to friends, who all love them. One friend has one at his house and just bought another to use at his apartments because it's easy to walk up into the bed of a pickup with a set of ramps.

Thanks. I should I have asked earlier, but do you know what the life expectancy on one of these would be and if they're likely be ok purchased used?

[gitractorman]

All of the Cub Cadet versions of this mower have an hour meter up on the handlebars. A Briggs or Kohler engine is rated at about 2000 hours before overhaul. I know the several that I have had have been in the 400 to 600 hour range, and still looked, operated, and ran like new, only showing some wear on the front wheels and mower deck where it was run into things or scraped while trimming. I would think one in the 500 hour range, should run about $500 to $650 in price, and would be a good buy. If you figure 100-hours a year of typical lawn mowing, that machine would have about 5 to 6 years of use on it, and should easily have 10 to 15 more years of life.

I do know that there are some specific things on the mower deck that does wear and sometimes break. The belt tensioner mechanism is prone to breaking, and I've had to weld at least one. The front gauge wheels are pretty easy to bend out of place and I've seen those brackets welded too. Also, several of these I've seen have the floats sticking in the carburetor, so if you leave the gas on while letting it sit, it will fill the crank case with gasoline. If you try to start it like this, it will hydrolock the engine, and can blow the piston rings out. One friend with an older, White version of this mower used it commercially, and blew up his engine because he didn't have the carb rebuilt, and the crank case kept filling with gasoline. He forgot once and tried to start it, but the back pressure blew a hole in the piston. Truthfully, it's no fault of the mower or the engine. Everything is prone to this happening if the gas tank is much higher than the engine.

[outdoors4evr]

Perhaps I am not "getting it".
If a riding mower (42"-54" deck) takes too many passes to mow one acre, then why would a 33" deck walk behind take less passes or less time?

I also mow about 1 acre and it takes less than an hour with the 184. Mowing under trees and around kids playsets do take more effort with the 184 than it took with a lawn tractor. The great thing about the loboy is that it doesn't chug the gas. The 184 eats about 1 gallon per hour while running full throttle with a 60" mower. For an "old carbureted tractor" this thing is very fuel efficient.

You may want to look into getting a Velke or a Sulkey so you can ride behind it.
http://www.russopower.com/products/wright-stander-2-wheel-velke-x2-gvkx2-3r-15-red/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shop&utm_campaign=feed&gclid=CPzjqfvBkr8CFeFAMgod-VEAxg

[Barnyard]

I think he means too many passes around a tree since the turning radius will not allow you to get up close all the way around with one pass. Where as a walk behind will do the trick.

[Joel]

I think he means too many passes around a tree since the turning radius will not allow you to get up close all the way around with one pass. Where as a walk behind will do the trick.

That's right. I want to be able to turn sharp without paying for a zero turn. Thanks for the idea though. Also, I failed to mention, I think I'd better opt for walking for my waist's sake.

One day when I have open fields and land I will be looking at getting a 184 or 185. I've got some long term plans, but for now, I'm in the what is quickly becoming the great metropolis of Raleigh. Most houses around us are on less than 1/4 acre.