Recommened Me a Ride on Mower - New or Used

cornflakes on 09/05/2025 - 22:01

Need to grab a ride on mower for my 2 acre property as pushing a normal mower is getting a bit tiresome.

First of all, should I just go new and not worry about having to repair a used one with issues? Or is it better value to find a used one in good condition?

I'll probably pass on the zero turn mowers just in terms of cost.

Just like I would with road vehicles, I buy it based on the reliability of the engine. So for those with experience, what engines have you found to be the most reliable or one with readily parts available? What brands use which engines??

Brands? John Deere? Husqvarna? Toro?

Any other tips etc, as this will be my first ride on.

Thanks in advance.

Home & Garden Lawn Mower

Comments

  • freefall101 on 09/05/2025 - 23:28

    If you're worried about reliability, I'd go electric. Not much can go wrong, no faffing with fuel and oil and filters and such. It'd take longer but IMO the lower noise would make it worth it.

  • Nugs on 10/05/2025 - 06:08
    +1

    We have a John Deere L110 that came with the house so not sure of it's age. It has a Kohler engine and seems strong at a little over 400 engine hours on the meter. The mower itself has needed/needs some repairs from breakages i.e. mower deck attachment has been repaired with hardware store brackets, front deck linkage welded back together after snapping, and the seat bolster is broken. Recently replaced exhaust pipe, have previously replaced mower deck spindle.

    Consumables like belts and filters are easy enough to obtain. JD have a parts finder which aids in tracking down parts

    Overall durability I would say is ok, it does get a hard time, clearing long grass up down and across bumpy slopes which has probably led to some of the breakages. If it was used on 'lawn' I would expect only basic maintenance
    .

  • Euphemistic on 10/05/2025 - 07:19

    Reputarionally Toro are cheap and nasty. Having operated a couple of toro zero turns, can confirm they are not as good as a couple others ive tried.

    Get something with a common engine. Honda, kawasaki etc. Alrhough, if the budget is healthy enough battery powered is an option worth considering. If youre only mowing weekly it will coat nothing to run and can be charged off oeak or on solar. Will also be less maintenance and quieter. I'm hoping the next ride on supplied for work will be battery.

  • JIMB0 on 10/05/2025 - 07:22
    +2

    Here's one for sale. It's easy to start and instead of a catcher it has a fertiliser attachment.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=685635188923877&id=1…

    • Protractor on 10/05/2025 - 10:44

      Choice bro

      • JIMB0 on 11/05/2025 - 18:12

        Fully road legal across the ditch in NZ.

        • Protractor on 11/05/2025 - 20:05

          Needs a Cat' Bulldog on it's 'bonnet'.

  • mt19 on 10/05/2025 - 08:40

    Greenfield? Been almost the same design for decades, drives with belts and cork plates rather than hydrostatic. Smaller cutting decks but for 2 acres shouldn't be an issue. Easy to service; the Briggs engines have heaps of parts and just seem to keep on going.

  • brendanm on 10/05/2025 - 08:53

    I'd be more worried about the quality of the deck and spindles etc than the engine itself.

  • tenpercent on 10/05/2025 - 08:56

    Recommened Me a Ride on Mower - New or Used

    New

  • Yummy on 10/05/2025 - 16:04
    +1

    Multiple robot mowers? You just ride your cold beers under brolly.

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