TDMP
Member Since: 16 Jul 2006
Location: South Gippsland
Posts: 511
  
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On a non D3 topic...
I am looking to buy a ride on mower. I have tested a couple of cox mowers and was very impressed. Also looked at (not driven) Greenfield, and they seem pretty similar. Both are Australian made and both are similar in price - that is, about $1,000 more than all the other O/S manufactured brands.
Anybody with any experience with ride ons that can help me out? Do I go Australian made or do I save $1K and go foreign? Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
(Epicurus BC 341-270)
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 3rd Jan 2008 1:09 pm |
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Andy V6SE
Member Since: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 46
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I'm facing the same question!
We don't have a very large lawn but my oldies are incapable of handling heavy petrol hand mowers.
Can anyone help?
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| 3rd Jan 2008 3:19 pm |
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catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
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Andy V6SE wrote:Can anyone help?
have you tried weighing up the cost of outright purchase to say having someone like Jim's mowing do the job.
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| 3rd Jan 2008 4:45 pm |
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captain_sugar
Member Since: 05 Sep 2006
Location: Hradec Kralove
Posts: 1095
  
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Andy V6SE wrote:my oldies are incapable of handling heavy petrol hand mowers.
Personaly I have the experience with my grand-uncle that his weekly walk behind the mower kept him healthy and fit longer.
It would have been a mistake to put him on a ride-on mower.
Of course, the mower must be mower with traction (not pushing) and can not be heavy for older people.
If you decide for a ride-on mower I can recommend you the toro (wheelhorse) recyclers.
the recycling (mulching) reduced mowing my garden from 8 hours to only 4 hours, not to talk about the green arms and frustration from emptying the blocked tunnel.
By the way, "Jim" is mowing my lawn as well in the meantime.... but with my mower. Czech Republic is quite different from beverly hills so finding a company to maintain the garden is not evident.
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| 3rd Jan 2008 5:31 pm |
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RetiredBob
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: New South Wales
Posts: 183
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Tristan
I currently (3 years) have a Viking and am very happy with it. I am impressed on how easy it is to remove the cutter and mulching insert. I use the mulcher attachment on the lawns and take it off for out in the paddock. I have also had a Greenfield for 20 years and it has done some serious work. Unfortunately the cutter base collapsed and have not got round to repairing it so now all I use it for is as a horse when the grandkids visit - safe no blades. The price of a new one put me off when I wanted to upgrade. If I was looking for a new mower I would have to seriously look at the John Deere - I have heard excellent reports on them.
Regards
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| 3rd Jan 2008 8:37 pm |
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TDMP
Member Since: 16 Jul 2006
Location: South Gippsland
Posts: 511
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thanks retiredbob.
do you have any sloping ground to mow? I have land sloping up to 20degrees and was impressed with the cox's ability to climb it.
also, do you do the servicing yourself? otherwise, how do the servicing costs of the viking and greenfield compare?
thanks again (in advance) Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
(Epicurus BC 341-270)
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| 4th Jan 2008 12:48 pm |
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RetiredBob
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: New South Wales
Posts: 183
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Tristan
Very minor slopes only. No problems with either.
I did all my own servicing and no problems.
Regards
Bob
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| 4th Jan 2008 8:01 pm |
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Nigel Tracey
Member Since: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Lausanne
Posts: 395
 
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Can you guys get MTD mowers ? Ohio USA based although I guess fabricated else where now ?
Had a Lawnflite of theirs for 3 years and all was OK. Servicing, reliability etc.
They have a very big range
http://www.mtdproducts.com/corporate/index.jsp Mrs Jones ? We've come for your Liver
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| 4th Jan 2008 8:16 pm |
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Rob Bruce
Member Since: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 687
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Had a Victor ride on with a 15 hp petrol motor, flimsey thing and did not hack the distance. so I got a three cutter bar mower to go on the back of my TEA20 Ferguson tractor, what took me 4 or so hours now takes me half an hour 
Rob
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| 5th Jan 2008 9:38 am |
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Andy V6SE
Member Since: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 46
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Quote:
Of course, the mower must be mower with traction (not pushing) and can not be heavy for older people.
Sounds like a good idea~ Will have a look after they move to the new house.... with big a garden... 
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| 5th Jan 2008 3:53 pm |
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trm
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: brisbane
Posts: 75
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I have a john deer twin deck which gives 42 " cut, with catcher. 20 hp, and with hydro static gearing, ie reverse forward by pushing the level, which way you want to go. that saves a lot of time around trees, gardens, less hand movements ie no changing of gears
great mower, leave the 3/4 acre lawn done in 1 hour from start up to clean and put away.
had a cox and greenfield in the past, would not go back to them.
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| 5th Jan 2008 10:43 pm |
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TDMP
Member Since: 16 Jul 2006
Location: South Gippsland
Posts: 511
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TRM
trm wrote:I have a john deer twin deck which gives 42 " cut,
I have been warned against such large cutting decks on the basis that they 'scrape', ie. because of the size they can tilt easily over rough ground and the ends gouge the ground - have you seen this as an issue?
trm wrote:had a cox and greenfield in the past, would not go back to them.
I'd be interested in hearing what problems you had with cox & greenfield??
regards Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
(Epicurus BC 341-270)
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| 6th Jan 2008 12:00 am |
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pbhawkin
Member Since: 14 Dec 2006
Location: Mudgee
Posts: 377
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TDMP,
I have got a John Deer with 54" cutting deck and 25Hp for my 2.5 Acres and very little issue of tilting as it is essentially all house block flat lawns. I used to have a Honda with a 40 inch deck and 12 Hp and the John deere does it in almost half the time. It has the twin levers for steering and rear engine and can tow trailers.
Mind you cost about $7000! regards
Peter
__________________________________________
Oct 2013 SDV6 3.0 HSE.
2007 TDV6 SE E-diff, adaptive lights sold 1/2014
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| 6th Jan 2008 7:41 am |
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trm
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: brisbane
Posts: 75
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the block i have is a mix of level, to slopes of 1 to 3. I have never experienced a digging in of the deck at any stage.
unlike most i mow the lawn at a height of 1 1/2 " not 1/4", it promotes better lawn, less weeds, and in times of drought which we have had here for 6 years, more moisture in the ground, and better greener lawns than my many neighbours who love crew cutting it
the difference with the other machines is the cut of the lawn it self. the other issue is move ability around trees, gardens, and when can go forward and back instantly, you will appreciate it just like driving the disco, permagrin, you are driving the vehicle not having to change gears from forward to reverse, or up from 2nd to 3rd etc.
yes it is expensive to other machine, but so was the disco
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| 6th Jan 2008 8:39 pm |
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TDMP
Member Since: 16 Jul 2006
Location: South Gippsland
Posts: 511
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thanks for the comments - I am now reassesing the whole thing.
trm wrote: in times of drought which we have had here for 6 years,
I hear that youve had some rain recently Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
(Epicurus BC 341-270)
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| 6th Jan 2008 11:10 pm |
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