Mower problems.

[Spectrum]

I suppose at 16 years old it had to happen sometime, the last two cuts have left a strange line on the grass, it looked like one of the blades (Two blade ride on) had bent, so measured all four tips all the correct height, so went yesterday to get a mower lift, four places four stupid prices and two was for a 200Kg lift. Back home Amazon Fr 400Kg lift, box steel not tubing as most of the others, and 65€ delivered . So decided to clean and start to have a general check of the pulleys etc, then it happened as I moved the deck it flexed so flap wheel on and got rid of a load of crap and paint, only to reveal a large crack on the edge of the deck so out with the grinder, fortunately its easy to get to not much rust so good metal to weld to, so busy this morning welding the crack and some extra bits on for strength. New deck is 500€ but not worth it will buy a new one for next season.

[niemeyjt]

That is a good life for a pressed steel deck - my Carroy flail deck went through after 10 years so now looking for a similar model with a blown gearbox or bearings to do a 2 into 1.

[Bayleaf]

Neighbour is asking if his MTD ride-on disaster is a "small weld repair". We say not, as the rusty area looks substantial.

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[rabbit]

RC-320-Ts-Ride-On-Mower-23-150x150.jpg

The problem with ride on mowers is access to the cutting deck for cleaning. If the underside is not cleaned it rusts. My experience is they last about 5 years. I decided to spend a bit more (ok a lot more) and bought a Husqvana rider with a cutting deck at the front that lifts up. It is also better build quality. I clean the cutting deck after every mowing and spray with WD40 or old engine oil. I have had this mower for 11years and I think it will last at least another 10. Yes it was expensive but the lifetime cost is much lower

[L Austin France]

I suppose at 16 years old it had to happen sometime

What make is the mower?

[L Austin France]

RC-320-Ts-Ride-On-Mower-23-150x150.jpgThe problem with ride on mowers is access to the cutting deck for cleaning. If the underside is not cleaned it rusts. My experience is they last about 5 years. I decided to spend a bit more (ok a lot more) and bought a Husqvana rider with a cutting deck at the front that lifts up. It is also better build quality. I clean the cutting deck after every mowing and spray with WD40 or old engine oil. I have had this mower for 11years and I think it will last at least another 10. Yes it was expensive but the lifetime cost is much lower

Ditto my Stiga Villa . After 11 years the deck has a bit of rust but not unexpected as I can't always be bothered to clean it after use. Plenty of life left in the old chap yet

[niemeyjt]

I must admit, money permitting, I would like an out-front mower along the line of those above.

Another option, at least on a pedestrian mower, is an alloy deck which resists corrosion better - unless you put loads of fertiliser on your lawn and the mower then picks it up - but that is not a good idea for many reasons.

[Bayleaf]

We have two Kubota ride-ons for our work (and three or four self-propelled walk-along mowers). One was bought new, back in 2006, as a recommended one for professional use - it can collect or chuck out. The second one, a side-shoot and mulcher (we never use the mulcher mode) was bought second-hand from some clients who sold up their holiday home. It had hardly been used.

We service them annually, clean underneath regularly, and although there's obviously been various breakdowns and repairs (they work bleddy hard!), they're still going strong. We did also have a triple-blade out-front Kubota when still in the UK, but it got sold with the business, and there wasn't any room left on the removal lorry anyway! That was an amazing machine.

We also have a really old Honda ride-on (possibly 30+ years old?) that came originally came from MST in Tiverton (who sadly sound like they're finally folding. ). So old, the whole body is made of metal rather than fibreglass. It's been in retirement for several years, as we couldn't work out why it was only running on one cylinder. But now that our son has caught the mechanic bug, it's being hauled out and used as a project. OK, so it's petrol run, and less efficient than the diesel powered Kubotas, but it's just a different experience and if we get it fixed, still prefer to use it on the rough, bumpy orchards we have to deal with for people. It's had a varied life - from originally just mowing, to pushing big bales of shavings around large chicken sheds, to pulling a "table on wheels" when we owned and ran a Pépinière. Super lush machine - if we can just get it working again!

[Hotrodder]

~When my lottery win arrives there will be a diesel Kubota on my shopping list.
No. Sod that.
I'll just pay someone else to do it while I soak in a hot tub.

[Blaze]

We've had our Mr Bricolage ride-on for over 15 years and it's still going strong (Briggs & Stratton engine). The cutter is underneath a steel deck. I clean it (with difficulty) after every cutting, top and bottom. OH takes it apart pretty well every year and services it. It's done sterling work and apart from replacing the courroies and blades, we've spent nothing on it. It's done a lot of work over the years though we had other machinery for more heavy stuff.