[Ole JIM]

I*M new here & after reading questions? & Answers! & being a Retiree & living in Upper New England--MAINE--where the Ground Care season is rather Short compaired to most further South--all though this Spring w/ all the Rain grass seems to be Growing over night? I appcrate the INFO on Mowers even Visted Home Depot--& being a Simple GUY! I looked over every thing they Had in the Mower dept--does any One make a Commerical that Don*t have all extras on It? as Most I SAW had far too many Handels ECT for ME! HD had a bunch of John deer Riders & yard mans Heres a Stupid Question? Who makes all these diffeant Brands? as they All looked alike to ME? w/ the Excetption of Color! & seeing its nearing JULY is It too Late? to Start? way up north here! I liked one of the JDs a 36 incher? but the Price Scared Me! especially after reading the BOX stores are Selling a Cheaper Model? that the JD dealers? I exsisting? on a Fixed Income I can*t Afford to BUY JUNK! I saw a couple advertised in the local Paper went & looked NOPE! Sorry!--so its back to I Dono? I have a Nice 88 Dodge 4X4 & a 28Ft Car twin axled Trailer a Roller I built & a power Line Cutter & a small 3 inch Chipper Rakes & Shovel s & Hoes! a couple of Chain Saws one Small & one Large--shurn rake-- & the Wife thinks I*M Crazy? but Stopped Kidding ME when WE had Brwakfast at the local Resturant this Morning & I mentioned I was thinking? of doing Mowing & yards again & when WE arrived HOME the Phone was Ringing off the Wall as People that Know ME wanted ME to Do Theirs! but I have too GO look E*M over! First! as un-seen? ia a NO! NO! w/ ME! been there & Done That! & I*LL Admit I*M a Bit SCARED! & starting Out w/ my Ole 20 inch Mower? that really dose a Great JOB & gives ME a Lot of Exersize! & My purchase of a Must Weed Wacker--& all I know is a Streight Shaft--$100.00 may Not be big Bucks to some of YOU? but Sure is to ME! as that $100.00 would BUY Me a lot of PEPSI on these HOT Days! & I know I*LL have to DO a lot of Lawns to be Able to BUY a Rider!--any HELP & Suggestions Appricated! THANKS in Advance GUYS [[Shacky]]--Ole JIM--

[TrickyDick]

Man....

I'm not much of a lawn guy but for what it's worth my advice is this- Buy a good commercial mower. DO NOT buy one from Home Depot both because they are not going to fix it for you and because nothing sold there is meant to run 30 or 40 hours a week. Find a commercial dealer with a service center and get the best mower you can afford. A com. walkbehind will run 3500-6000 and a zero-turn rider 7000-12000. Something smaller like a 36" will be a little cheaper but still couple grand. Find a good, knowledgable dealer to help with selection and to fix it quick when it breaks.

[Ole JIM]

Originally posted by TrickyDick
Man....

I'm not much of a lawn guy but for what it's worth my advice is this- Buy a good commercial mower. DO NOT buy one from Home Depot both because they are not going to fix it for you and because nothing sold there is meant to run 30 or 40 hours a week. Find a commercial dealer with a service center and get the best mower you can afford. A com. walkbehind will run 3500-6000 and a zero-turn rider 7000-12000. Something smaller like a 36" will be a little cheaper but still couple grand. Find a good, knowledgable dealer to help with selection and to fix it quick when it breaks.

Thanks Tricky Dick for the Good INFO I was at Barn here locally that Sells just about every thing? & there was a GUY there that Tinkers On equipment from lawn mowers to Heavy Equipment-Dozers & Excavators--& in Chatting HE mentioned that HE had a {Sulky?} mower a Toro I think? that He would really give ME a Deal On?? I went over & looked at It! Weird?--looking Thing! a Rider w/ the Mower in Front & along control Handel--& a small metal plate YOU stand On--he showed ME how it Worked! & I tried IT!--& I was Surprised?? as It Worked great--as I had never heard nor ever Seen One!--it looks brand NEW but He says its an Old Model--& He completly re-built It! & as I was there while WE were Playing w/IT an Older man stopped as He saw US! & in chatting w/ HIM He is a Retired Landscaper & He had a number of this same Model & HE Swore by them! {Quote!} Best Dam Mower I ever Bought! Told ME He had the Maintanance Book & Service Manual for them--& He took my mailing address so HE could Send them to ME! & Where He used to Buy all of His Parts! & Quoted!! thier Weird Looking! but Do one Hell of JOB! & Easy to Fix! as He did all the Re-pairs Himself & the Tinkerer Loaded it into my Pick UP & told ME to try It for a couple of Weeks! & then WE can Dicker! so if? You See! what? Appears to be a GUY standing Up right & NOT Walking-not Moving his Legs? & going all over the place? Its ME On the Weird Sulky! I got to Laughing! as Its Really Weird! to SEE it in Operation! & Here its Raining! so May bee? Tomorrow? I*LL try it Out? any of YOU! ever Had one of these? all I know! IS! Who Ever Designed this Thing was One very Smart Guy! Thanks --Ole JIM

[GLAN]

Also with the equipment dealers.....they may have some good used mowers, or may have a board where LCO's list equipment they want to sell.