Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Hey Gang! I have been absent/quiet for awhile. I've been busy with many repairs & some personal quandries...

Like Kevin (Vangellis), I began looking at new tractors last week. Heres why:

My JD 160's starter problem STILL exists (yeah, I know - its been over a YEAR ) so that was kind of bugging me. Then I went to use the 160 for my first cut of the year, and I couldn't get the starter to crank no matter what I did. I recently acquired a literally like-new, JD STX46 tractor with ultra low hours, minus bagger for $500. I had no intentions of keeping the STX until I used it (since the 160 was dead) - what a nice machine! So I figured that if I want to keep the STX, I need a bagger. HMMMMM... the 160 has a bagger, so will it work? All the bag attachment hardware fit ok, the chute needs to be altered to mount on the deck, and the chute needs to be modified to curve into the hopper's top. I could just purchase the plastic chutes for $140, but that also requires a power-flow attachment for an additional $400. UH, no way! - I'll modify & fabricate something. All in all, no biggie so far. OK - I noticed the STX's grass discharge velocity was rather lackluster due to its flat, no-lift blades. OK - so I need high lift ones. This shouldn't be a problem, right? HA!! I began searching for 16" high lift blades & came up empty. Apparently Deere never made many 46" cutting deck designs, so the blades are hard to find. I found Gator's, but I wanted to see them before purchasing, as I didn't want to spend $60+ on useless blades (the STX has a 3 blade set-up) that will not allow me to bag my clippings. After some exhaustive, non productive internet & local searching, I decided to go to the local JD dealership to see if they could help me with my quest. He found an old commercial walk behind high lift blade but its no longer available & even this blade would require modification to make it fit my application. We then both perused thru books for over an hour & came up empty. Feeling rather frustrated at this point, I begin thinking about a new tractor. What the hell, I work hard - I deserve something nice. The Deere L118 was my choice but the price was $2500 plus another $325 for the bagger, plus tax. I go looking for blades & almost buy a tractor instead - my wife would have LOVED this one. So I go to Lowes to look for blades (again, no luck) & notice the Cub Cadet 1042. Nice little machine but I still would be in the $2k price area for tractor & bagger plus tax. After thinking about it for 2 days, I searched again & found a small, mail order farm supply house that offered the Gator high lift blades for $33 out the door, so I take a chance & order them. I have the bagger issue mocked up & almost completed. I finally get to the 160's starter for the 50th time. I find a corroded positive battery terminal & replace it - no change. I check voltages at the starter & all's fine. Apart comes the starter for the fourth or fifth time in a year. Everything looks & tests fine. I'm stumped. Then, somehow I decided to remove the connector from the back of the ignition switch for laughs. Guess what - all SEVEN terminals were badly rusty & corroded. They would pass sufficient voltage, but would NOT pass proper current. I take the Dremel & clean up the spades & lugs. After applying tune up grease to the connections, I slid the connector back on & the starter problem is FINALLY fixed! YIPPEE!! Once I get the blades on the STX & get the bagger/chute finished up, I can sell the 160 knowing its 100% and then have a sweetheart of a tractor for a fraction of the cost, and that makes me even happier than buying a new one.

Moral of the story - I gave it a few days & didn't make a snap decision. I want to add about 200' of PVC six foot privacy fence & enlarge my patio this year. Buying the tractor would have really killed my budget due to a rash purchase. I'm glad I didn't pull the trigger!

Thanks for listening!
Marty

Where did you find High-Lift Gators?

LL

Marty, glad you made out well my friend! I like to see happy folks!

"I begin thinking about a new tractor. What the hell, I work hard - I deserve something nice."

Hi Marty. Funny how that works.  LOL
I just wanted to replace an engine in my "parts" tractor and now I'm looking at new Simplicity's. But your statement is true.
The deal breaker is the tech from Briggs finally gets back to me this morning and says either of the replacements I'm looking at will require modifications and I'm not about to start sinking too much into a 15 year old tractor. Another thing that changed the past week is that I'm going to start taking care of my neighbors property also. So now I'm looking at 2 1/2 to 3 acres in total, and then some. My 1990 Simplicity 12.5LTH is still running good, but a new tractor would be nice. The statement of yours quoted above is where I'm at right now. I was out looking this morning and I am close to pulling the trigger. I think.   LOL
Glad you got your problem solved.

                                                                                                      Kevin

Good Deal Marty.  I always try to work out my decisions with some time.  When the mowers give me personal injury trying to start them, out they go and in comes a newer or better one.  I once twisted my knee trying to start a riding mower.  I got on and off many times, that time trying to jump it.  That mower isn't with me anymore. 

Thanks guys for the compliments!

Heres a link to Agri-Supply for the blades, GOOD prices guys & gals! http://www.agri-supply.com/catmain/2700008.htm

Kevin - Your needs require a larger deck - what size are you looking at? I would think 54" would be right on. Happy shopping!

The new blades came today - I'm a bit skeptical about how they will work. I'll keep you all posted...

Marty

Hi Marty. I'm going with the lower end Conquest package. I already pushed the envelope with the finance minister
by going with that model. It has the 20 hp Briggs Vanguard V-twin with a 44 inch deck. That actually works for me. I would have liked a 54 inch for out in the flat, but the 44 inch will save time with the trees and bushes to go around. It only took about 30 seconds of sitting on it, to really like it. I moved the seat up to accomadate my short legs and boom. A perfect fit. Just waiting on the finance app to get approved, hopefully today, then close tomorrow morning. C'mon already.  LOL

                                                                                                                            Kevin

Hey Kevin, smaller decks give a more shapely looking cut too. The wider the deck the more it will skip over areas that are a little lower.

Marshall wrote:
Never thought of it that way, but sounds good to me.   LOL
                                                       Thanks,   Kevin

I would agree with Marshall's statement bigtime! I have seen first hand a difference when I mowed a lawn with a 32inch deck and it looked so nice, then I mowed it another time with a mower that had 54inch

Well, my report on my STX's progress is not good.   I just installed the trio of Gator blades & found these the "high lift" blades (90-407) provide very little propulsion of clippings in order to bag, and now I also have two, one inch strips of uncut grass left after I make a pass. Granted the grass was slightly damp, but I don't feel these made a change for the better. My flat, low lift JD blades (M41967) cut perfectly but offer no bagging ability. I am saddened & very sorry to say, my JD STX46 has to go. Believe me, I am really upset about this as the STX would have been a real step up from my 160 by offering a MUCH better seat, wider cut, better turning radius, and it simply is GORGEOUS... Marty