Riding Lawn Mowers Are Not For Everyone

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Thanks for watching. After getting a riding mower, I thought my problems would be fixed. Unfortunately I was wrong.
This video is meant as entertainment, always practice safety.

[@covishen]

I am definitely and outlier. I live in northwest Minnesota and have about 10 acres of "lawn" I need to mow regularly to keep the trees and weeds down. It takes me about 5 hours to mow with a 46 inch deck. I also have a snow blower attachment, a fertilizer spreader, wagon, etc, so for me yes, it is very useful.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, I envy you land.

[@steveg5122]

My grandfather for a few years had a 07 or so craftsman riding mower, when he moved to a smaller house he did sell it, it honestly only helps if you have a yard with good straightaways, i was not allowed to use it due to "having too much fun" i just never knew how to use one due to just using 22" push mowers prior to this larger property. the wide turns were my issue too.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Steve Greer!

[@TheLawnmowerLady]

Nice move to pull one of those studs on the carb. That double nut trick usually works well.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

it does, took a while to figure that one out, thank you The Lawnmower Lady.

[@haneyoakie14]

I have used the double nut very successfully ever since I learned it from Bruce’s Shop.

[@GuysPlayingWithTools]

A rider is not for everybody but, once you get used to it, it can become your favorite toy. It took me a season to really learn mine. I cut my yard in 45 minutes, including edging and blowing and all that. The actual cutting time went from almost 2 hours with the self propelled to 25 minutes on the rider(.35 acre yard). I do loops from the outside in and go wide on the last 3 inner "rows" of each section, then go back and play around a bit to put a pattern in it.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, thanks for the tips!

[@GuysPlayingWithTools]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE I was hell on wheels the first few cuts but didn't even know it until later. For a little yard? Nope, too much setup time compared to a regular mower... for a bigger yard? Oh yeah, you will eventually get trailers and whatnot and use it for everything

[@LorandHungary]

I went from 4 hours to about 45 minutes all included. One of the best purchases of all time. The only annoying part are the wait times i got on parts (in europe). Still waiting for the replacement part 2 weeks later and yard starting to look like a forest.

[@GuysPlayingWithTools]

@Bene Lorand But think of the fun you will have powering through the tall grass. 🙂

[@patthesoundguy]

I am biased... I have been running lawn and garden tractors for about 40 years at this point, and I own 2 mowing ride ons and a garden tractor that gets used for snow plowing and snow blowing. I find if the lawn is big enough, it's worth having a ride on mower because it really can save time. A 42" deck mows much faster than a 21" push mower can. I find as long as you keep up on maintenance a tractor will serve you well and not cost a lot, it's when things get abused or neglected that it starts to cost the money. The aftermarket will definitely save you money, especially with a john deere if you can match up the belts, some parts can be Husqvarna AYP. I have a couple videos on the Kohler engine that's in that John Deere, they love to have worn out fuel pumps, but are otherwise awesome. It's well worth repairing a ride on within reason, because they are getting almost unaffordable new.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, I'm mainly talking about wear items, like belts and tires. Spindles can be rebuilt but it's just something people need to be aware of, when getting a rider. thanks again.

[@richardc2124]

I have a relatively small yard. However, I have bone spurs in my knees and walking on irregular ground is painful. I did get a free riding mower from a cousin. Blades, belts, carburetor, odds and ends, it cost quite a bit despite being free. I still need to trim tight areas with a weed whacker, but despite the manueverability issues with the rider, it does keep my knees from swelling and pain. If not for my knees, I would of stayed with the push mower. I did add a trailer hitch (car type 2" ball) that allows me to move my utility trailer around handily, without needing to hitch to the car. So I am finding it useful.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Richard C for sharing that.

[@watermanone7567]

Yes I would, I mow about 2.5 acres during the summer. I have a JD LX277 with a Kawasaki FV500 engine for my personal use and have only had normal maintenance issues like Belts, oil and filters, fuel filters, etc. Have had to adjust valve lash only two times in the last 12 yrs. and replaced one fuel shut off soloniod. Best engine on the market. I repair Briggs, Kohler etc. with way more issues. Briggs compression release issues are common and I see failures often. Can't get them from Briggs that have a 6 months back order. I have used aftermarket ones with some success, knock on wood. I had to replace the tie rods on the front end and changed wheel bearings. Does not hurt grass when turning, if alligned correctly. I put a 1/4 inch hardware cloth over the shoot discharch for leaves and use high lift mulch gator blades. Sometimes it takes a few pases to completely chew up the leaves. Thanks for the video, hope you get your own place soon.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Nice, and thank you Waterman one for the information I really appreciate it.

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

This won’t win me any popularity contests, but I could care less what anyone thinks about my property. Last year I didn’t mow at all. The Summer before is when I started working on small engines when I spotted a curb find lawn tractor two houses up the street. Brought my tools and drove it home the next day. At 73 then I really wanted something to mow that didn’t take so much physical effort. After getting it running well I mowed and it was weird but really great to sit down while mowing! Since then I’ve acquired three more to restore and flip in addition to several dozen other pieces of equipment to repair and flip. Nowadays I take in more repairs than working on my freebies to flip.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, nothing wrong with a rider, it's very comfortable especially if you have some feet, ankle, or knee issue. thank you Rein Ciarfella.

[@StevenEverett7]

I live in the country and have a yard that's quite large so a rider is a must if I don't want to spend all my time behind a push mower. When driving through residential areas I always chuckle when I see someone with a riding mower cutting a "postage stamp" size lawn.🤣🤣🤣 On the other hand, because I live in the country my home is surrounded by forest. There's no way that I'd be able to mulch all those leaves into the lawn. I'd estimate that I pick up 10 to 15 pickup truck loads of leaves each year.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

wow! that's an incredible amount of leaves!

[@ganprottas6259]

2/21/23 For our use, out Ariens lawn tractor works great! I tend to cut in a spiral pattern. I start from the perimeter and work my way to the center. Once I get to the middle, I go back and forth to get the rest cut. Looks good enough and the jobs done. I try to alternate cutting patterns, as not to compress the grass roots. Our yard is not a tv lawn, but it's nice to have a good looking yard to be proud of. Tires are a HUGE expense. Luckily for us, the tires on it hold air and have great tread left. I still wish turf tires had a bit more meat on them. Perhaps my favorite property of a lawn tractor being that I can tow our 10 cubic ft Wheelhorse dump cart. If I can find a vintage garden tractor (with a beefy transaxle) that is in decent shape, with the owner's manual and for dirt cheap, I'll buy it, so I'll be able to tow more weight. For now I'll rock our LT. Question - This tractor of ours needs some carburetor adjustments. (The choke and the throttle are the same lever.) It idles fine, runs great on half throttle, but when I put it on fast (between half and choke), it stalls out. It also stalls on choke, but it's supposed to, so that's not an issue. I read the manual and it said the carb has been present at the factory and shouldn't require any adjustments. A year ago, the OEM Kohler carb was leaking fuel, so a family friend installed a new Walbro carb on it. This Walbro unit is the one giving me trouble. Since it idles, my guess would be the turn the power adjustment screw 1/4 of a turn and then try it again. Please share your thoughts, Gan

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Gan Prottas for the information, and yes I typically the spiral method for fields larger than 70'x70' and it works great. Yes I would turn out the screw a quarter turn, at a time, until it will stay running, but which screw is it? Is it the "Air" screw , near the inlet of the carb or another location? The other one, is, was the new carb, meant for an engine, of the same displacement. If not, then it may not be able to deliver enough fuel, because of jetting size.

[@steveg5122]

The main issue with tractor style riding mowers is they lure you in with a sense of "it will be like driving a car" and that is how they hook you on a mower that costs a lot with less features than a good push mower. Features you'd expect like mulching are optional at the 1,800 buck price point for some riding mowers. It's entirely upsell, the only time that a riding mower like this can make sense is if you got a ton of land, and need to pull around bags of seed/fertilizer to the back of your property, and don't wanna drive a car out onto the land.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you are correct. they won't mention it's not suited for a regular lawn, as long as they get that sale!

[@Techsupport-ch1jv]

From my dad's point of view it works if you have kids that know how to use a weed wacker, then it doesn't look weird to the neighbors.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice way of looking at it, thank you Techsupport101

[@danielpadgett2831]

Owning a zero turn or riding mower can be very expensive too but if you keep up the maintance on them it does help

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you are correct, most are not willing to pay the high costs, and I don't blame them.

[@bobmcl2406]

I have about an acre to maintain (including the house). Lots of slopes, hills, and trees, and the surface is fairly rough. I have tried a couple of riding mowers (machines I was repairing for neighbours or family) but I found many of the same things you did: hard to work around edges, wheelspin on hills. In addition, I get knocked and shaken around by the rough surface. Hard on my old back! I find I am much happier with a 22in self-propelled walk-behind. It takes me about 1:45 to do everything.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Bob McL for sharing, sometimes you just go to use what works!

[@cantgetright742]

I’m glad I have one it saves me a lot of time. There are some parts where the ground is too steep to mow so it doesn’t work out for all the yard. But for the most part it’s a major time saver. I’ve had it for 5 years so far and have only replaced the battery so far.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

agreed

[@krisw8597]

I had one exactly like that mower. I used it for years, then gave it to my FIL when I purchased my zero turn… really is a great mower, still runs today. I had zero issues with it, and that particular Kholer engine is a commercial engine, should be good for a long time.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you got that right, aside needed some new tires this has been a great rider.

[@1thinkhealthy]

It depends on how many things you need to fix on an used one. After getting a zero turn I would hate to go back to a mower like this one. Also for mulching you should have mulching blades and a chute block or a mulching kit. When I bagged my bagger kept getting clogged up. I change my mulching blades to high lift and wow! No more clogs and the job went so much faster.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes, the zero turn is faster, and much more capable at maneuvering

[@woodlanegardenequipmentrep9149]

These are where the money is for my business...I specialise in tractor mowers.i have found that folks who have the acreage and money to buy these, usually will pay to have it repaired.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes you are absolutely correct! thank you wood lane garden equipment repairs

[@andybecker2693]

I mowed with a garden tractor for about 20 years. It would take over 2 hours to mow. I borrowed a zero turn about 3 years ago when it went down. It cut my mowing time down to an hour. I finally bought a zero turn and will never buy another tractor.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, thank you Andy Becker.

[@jesterr7133]

It works for mine. I got all 6 of mine for free. Only one ran when I got it. I am constantly working on them, but I don't have much money wrapped up in them. It does add up though. I just bought a deck belt for one. Another needs a starter. Another has a busted compression release. Another needs a hood and wiring harness. I will invest the money if it is worth more than I have to put into it. I am still in the green on all of mine so far.

[@brianandrews7099]

Having used a riding mower since I was a teenager (so, for 35 years), I do love them! That being said, I have found that if you under or oversize your riding mower or if you gardening style includes planting lots of flower beds, trees, or bushes very close together; a riding mower might not maximize your time at all and may only frustrate you when you use it. Personally, I don’t mind the extra maintenance that comes along with a riding mower and I have found that just throughly servicing it at the beginning of the season keeps breakdowns to a minimum. They really are one of my favorite toys! That said, I don’t have enough property to justify buying nor do I have any interest in a large zero turn mower. To each his own but I have always found them somewhat goofy looking and the driving position looks awkward. I understand they have their place, but I see a lot of them mowing yards that are too small and it becomes obvious that it’s either the homeowner’s toy or they they are just mowing to impress the neighbors.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you are absolutely correct, riders are great, and maintaining them is the key to keeping them useful. Thank you Brian Andrews.

[@robertbaysinger1309]

I'd suggest a zero turn with a FRONT mount deck if you still want a rider. Be mindful of the deck size, bigger isn't always better as you'll want to be able to get into tight areas to minimize weed eating later.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Robert Baysinger!

[@aaronjohn6586]

1 have a Husqvarna with a 42" deck and a 15 hp Kohler engine. It is almost 20 years old and have used it to cut thick grass, haul everything from hay bales to drain rock. Except for basic maintenance, there have been few things done to it. I mow 3/4 of an acre several times during spring and early summer. So, I think that in the end it depends on your needs and what you end up with.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

very well said Aaron John.

[@lawrencecarroll2031]

So I asked my son in law if he'd like a rider mower for his approximately 3/4 acre lot, he said "no, since I sit at a desk all week at work, mowing with my self propel is the only exercise I get"!!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

ah! you make a good point.

[@Renault_75-34MX]

My grand parents had a larger articulated front deck style ride-on, but they did have quite a big garden, and two area's that were fenced off for sheep. That Mower also had a small ball hitch to two the car trailer my grandpa used for the sheep, or transporting the mower when needed. Once I was about 10 or 11 and trusted enough, they even let me mow the lawn with it. Because my work has taken over the garden equipment part of a place that was closing, and I'm one of the few to have a BE driving licence (car and trailer can way 3.5t max each, 7t in total), I'm one of the people to be on pick up/delivery service for mowers, mainly Stiga push, but also a few others, and JD, Stiga and Stihl for the ride-on's. And I've found that it's more fun if you have a bigger Mower and the space to use it. The smaller ones aren't that nice to drive, but a Stiga Park can be good fun.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, thanks for the information. And yes having the room for the rider helps out, immensely

[@Unholyfaith1]

bought and fixed up an old 2001 white mtd riding mower with a 38 inch deck for $50 and its been hell in terms of repairs and breakdowns as it sat outside for 20 years uncovered, but made mowing a 10k sq ft property a lot easier and a little faster.... but it did make me need to edge waaay more because i have too many tight areas and not alot of turn radius. I do hate the extra edging though. Also have a craftsman 42" we found in the dump with only a head gasket blown on it on a 5+ acre property and its essential (probably even under sized) when you have big open fields that need mowed.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes using a riding mower has it's ups and downs

[@pollym.2126]

Can never go wrong with the john deere 324. Very easy to maintain and start

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

totally agree, these have great engines

[@M.TTT.]

Higher quality like Simplicity or any rider without a k46 trans is good, but they're meant to be a jack-of-all trades machine (mowing, cart pulling, snow plowing). I think they're great if you actually have a big enough lawn. Otherwise a toro timemaster is nice.

[@M.TTT.]

oh and a vacuum and bagger setup is amazing for leaf season.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thanks for the information

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I bet

[@josephmeadows8521]

I bought my first riding mower from my friend for $150, and it had 3 problems Bad carburetor Bad battery Bad tires Although my friend bought those parts and I bought it from him and we fixed the mower so it runs better😇 When the engine goes out due to no compression, I'll keep the engine as a trophy and a memory of my friend because he has helped me when I needed it

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, that sound like a cool way to celebrate it.

[@josephmeadows8521]

I know😁 I was also planning on customizing my riding mower to make it look cool because it's a bolens, and I love bolens😇

[@brucecoleman7412]

Changing the deck belt is usually pretty easy. However, the transmission drive belt can be a huge pain in the ***. As a senior citizen I couldn’t live without it.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes you're right. the last drive belt I changed was very challenging to say the least.

[@eathans_small_engines8665]

I need a riding mower. Not to mow with but to haul

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

ah,, they do a great job at that.

[@eathans_small_engines8665]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE yup hauls my junk around town easily

[@TecumsehRulesbcserk]

I’ve got a 1/4 an acre empty land up at a lake that I plan on building a cabin on eventually and there is a rule up there that you have to keep your land in good shape and not overgrown so a wildfire is less likely to happen. So I could see a riding mower come in handy for that, but the only drawback is that I’ll only be using it two times a year which is bad on the batteries.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that makes sense

[@DeanCharles123]

In your case, perhaps a rider with a single blade and the engine in the rear design? Cub Cadet makes a nice one, or a zero turn might be the best option for you?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

actually you're right, I did have one and used it a bit before I sold it. Yes it was a bit better because it was much more maneuverable

[@samfeldman1508]

I have about 10K square feet. My backyard is fenced and I can barely get my 22” through. Also,my shed is packed. I also have a desk job. So, with all that said, while I could make a riding mower work, it’s just not worth it.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

makes sense, thank you Sam Feldman!

[@LawnmowerMaster]

I have a x350 for commercial use and my own yard and the 42in deck is plenty big. I almost bought one with a 54in deck and power steering because that is what the John Deere dealer recommended. Also have you encountered any gas powered reel mowers?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, and the gas reels are very rare in my area. I might have seen 1 or 2 in the last few years.

[@haloondrugs1173]

One thing I wonder is of the cylinder liner is changeable like on industrial diesels

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

on this one, I don't think so.

[@RealWickedAlliance]

Excited to see a riding mower video.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

one's in the pipeline.

[@jeffreybaker7406]

I had a coworker that was really lazy. He wanted me to sell his Craftsman T240 in the middle of winter because it had a flat tire, the deck wouldn’t engage and it wouldn’t start. I advised him that it was winter and it would be hard to sell after I fixed it. He told me to get whatever I could get for it. I charged the battery and it fired right up. The hour meter only had 9 hours on it. I took the flat tire to a tire shop and they fixed it for free. I looked at the deck and put the belt back on the pulleys and everything worked as it should. I told him that the mower was fine and ready to be sold. He was happy, but ready to get rid of it and wanted the cash. I gave him an offer of $500 as a joke. He straight looked at me and said he couldn’t do it for that price. He said he’d sell it to me for $450 minus the labor I put into it. That brought the mower down to $300. He then asked me to fix his generator that he’d completely neglected. So I fixed his generator for half of what I would normally charge because he insisted that he would pay me. I told him to apply it to the mower and he was good with that. At this point I only owed him $150 for the mower. I paid him for the balance of the mower. However, he left his fully repaired generator sitting in the back of his truck for a week during a massive rain storm and then left it under his leaky porch uncovered for several months. All the rain got into the gas and of course it wouldn’t run. At 1st he was mad and thought I didn’t do the job properly. Then I showed him the pictures and video of what I did to repair his neglected equipment. I always take pictures of the equipment and damage and what I fixed as well as video the equipment running as it should just to prove that I performed a thorough repair and to cover myself if there’s complaints. I fixed his generator again and gave him a very decent discount and charged him $100. After all these transactions and repairs, I only ended up spending $50 for a mower that’s worth over $2,000. I’ll take it!

[@urbanitesgarage3299]

Lol yep I’ve fixed a lot of mowers that will stop working a month later come to find out it’s almost always their fault , bad storage or bad gas that messed up first time

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, good way to CYA. thanks Jeffrey Baker.

[@M.TTT.]

those craftsman cost a lot more than they're worth, but depends on your area for how much you could sell it for.

[@jeffreybaker7406]

@@M.TTT. very true. However, I only ended up paying $50 for essentially a brand new mower.

[@M.TTT.]

@@jeffreybaker7406 oh yeah, thats a good deal then 100%. Your time/labor should also be valued more, but I understand how that goes.

[@marshmower]

Im saving mine for if i get another injury or something and i keep it in the garage. You have to keep the great outdoors away if you want to not get hosed with maintenance bills. Also the appearance is preserved. You could always sell it and get an extra$200-$300 based on appearance. We're talking years down the road as these will appreciate in value. Count on it.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I completely agree with your idea

[@jesterr7133]

The trick to the riding mower game is to have 6 of them, lol. When one breaks down, you just crank up the next one and repair each one as the next one breaks down. I have 3 Troy Bilts, 2 Craftsman, and a Deere. I can usually keep at least two of them fully operational at a time,lol.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

You got that right!

[@theguy9208]

My ride-on is great to have. It can pull my landscape trailer out when i otherwise might sink my car in the mud, and its been a great little runabout through the winter too. Im kinda dreading getting the deck back on because it means losing my ATV lol Its a 20+ year old MTD 600 series 42inch with a briggs 'industrial/commercial' 17.5HP i just got it for $180 back in october '22, there isnt anything particularly wrong with it that isnt expected of 20 year old equipment. the front cover with the lights is missing and the exhaust pipe has become disconnected from the actual muffler. i dont cut customers lawns at night and the neighbors out here in the country cant hear/dont care so i cant be asked to fix it lol. I burned through the front drive belt when a stick jammed it up but it was $42.99 and simple to replace, only thing to be removed aside from the deck (which i had removed for more ground clearance already) was the engine, you unbolt and slide it back to get the new belt on instead of attempting to remove the pulleys from the shaft. It is 100% belt driven, no hydrostatic or other systems to go wrong. My only complaint is how dang expensive all the attachments are what with the canada tax and all. the snowblower is over $1000 used or like $1800 new, and the plow blade doesn't typically sell for under $400 used even though its only about $500 new.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

very nice mower you got there! And yes, they know that can Gouge you on the prices for the attachments, shame really

[@curiosity2314]

It would be fun to drive something different but like you my front/back are just shy of whats needed fr a riding mower. Always did want one. 😁

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

actually it's really fun, just stay off the hills, because they can be tricky

[@robertsmarr9592]

Well I have one thing to say about certain lawn mowers my grandmother gave me a lawn mower it was a John Deere LT160 some you cherish when you lose that one like losing a part of your self I lost my grandmother in 2018 I don't have much left of her

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Robert Smarr

[@robertmailhos8159]

That is the same one I have a John Deere lt 133 38 inch cutting deck 13 h.p Kohler over Head valve

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes I've seen it in your videos. you do great work with it!

[@robertmailhos8159]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE I try to only thing is that the engine is making slot of soot I'm not sure why it is doing that do you have any suggestions on this matter

[@electroddxful]

Great video 👍🙏👍🙏

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you RayFpv!

[@iowafox2206]

I've tried using riders on the lawn I have currently in the house we have been renting. First was a John Deere 212 it was way to big and cumbersome for my yard as well as problematic. The 2nd was last summer a free John Deere Sx95 (waterboy style rider) it was smaller and like a zero turn kinda. Worked better but my self propelled Honda pushmower does a better job overall and a little faster as well. Until I get a bigger yard I'm probably not going to get another rider mower.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I'd take the Sx95, those are great, Thank you Iowafox.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I had a good one but the Tube killed it. BLESSINGS!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that's a shame.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE They do it sometimes. I was going before computers and we can actually send letters back and forth if they DIE!

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

One of the very best lawn/Garden tractors were the exclusive first run of the Craftsman Turn Tight Series T240 T260 T310 were built to last built like little tanks 2019 to 2021..unfortunately the newer versions 2022 to present have been downgraded

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you for the information

[@haneyoakie14]

Is that a Koehler Command? Or Courage? Or a different Koehler? I noticed it does not have a solenoid on the carb. A friend of mine has a John Deere that I work on fairly frequently and it’s very similar, but not that exact one that you have there.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

neither it's a CV13S, it's the better engine to have. The others you mention, I've dealt with on I think the Courage is the one, I'd stay away from.

[@haneyoakie14]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE they say it takes a lot of courage to own a courage

[@amongust69]

I have a ride on mower with almost 800 hours on it and she mows 6 kms every week or 2 and 200 hours ago it got a new belt and spindle runs hard it will run without choke but barely it sputters and when you put any form of load on it she goes into v8 mode and blows black smoke and sometimes it diesels, just wanna get your thoughts on how to fix the barely running iss

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

interesting description of the issue you're having. From the last time it ran, before replacing the parts, has it had any extra gasoline put into the thank? I'm leaning towards a fuel issue. Otherwise, the belt was put on the wrong orientation causing too much load on the engine

[@amongust69]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE now that I think of it I did lose my plastic gas can nozzle last year when I was filling it up, the belt it on right it has the diagram on the deck it always gets new fuel every week and when you even go forward just a little bit or even just let it idle it sputters and stuff its had no service since 400 hours ago not even a oil change.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

gotcha drain the fuel from the tank, and the carb and get some new fuel and see what happens

[@josephmeadows8521]

I have a problem My friends old tiller has a compression issue, it has 23 PSI of compression Do you think the rings are stuck because this tiller was made back in 1970

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that's a possibility but I'd do a leak down test to see where the air Is leaking at first. If it's the rings then either they're worn or the cylinder is damaged

[@josephmeadows8521]

Oh okay but can stuck rings cause this too buddy

[@ethanmiller3935]

We have an acre and a half and besides the house, driveway, and some trees spaced out around the yard. It is all grass. So a riding mower is a must. I had to push mow 2/3 of the yard once when the rider went down, and that wasnt fun at all.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that does sound like a real pain!

[@hosocat1410]

I have about half an acre. I mow the perimeter with my push mower, then mow the rest with my riding mower.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that works great that way.

[@woodlanegardenequipmentrep9149]

....I think you are overthinking your mow pattern...you can only mow where it can go....I usually mow in flats..after cutting a large headland, and going around obstacles....

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I think you're right.

[@raresr4092]

I thought that was an LT160 deere. Used to own one and went to an x350. hell of a good mower and you cant beat them older kohler engines. always had super good luck with mine. Also do you know why people ride around with the hoods off there mowers? i could never figure that out and i thought it was kinda silly... All i got from one guy is oh the filter is old and clogged so if i take it off it runs better and im like just buy a new filter? he didnt say no more. if its because of a filter i dont know why people just dont buy one.... anyhow was curious.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

LOL.. most often the hood Is broken. To keep the margin as high as possible even on a mower that costs as much as a used car, the plastics for the hood, are not durable at all and after a few years, will eventually crack and break. Believe me, If I had a hood, It would be on the rider.

[@billsmith1770]

i have 2 yards to mow . one is 1/2 acre , few obstacles . i mow it with an actual farm tractor w/59 inch belly mower . takes 20 minutes . the other is about 3/4 acres , divided into several sections , more obstacles . i mow it w/48 inch deck rider . takes about 45 minutes . with any rider you need to be able to drive mostly around and around till finished . you'll probably cover some of the same territory more than once . if you can push your yard in 20 minutes , you're healthy , and you live in an area where highs aren't normally 90 to 100 degrees , it's probably not worth it to get a rider .

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you make a good point

[@sticustom]

Ride on is not a viable option at my house as the yard is too small but my next door neighbour has one and he has it to show off. It takes him forever to mow for reasons I don’t understand. My lawn takes around and hour to mow including doing the edges but his takes two hours or more yet grassed areas are comparable in size. On the other hand my daughters land is an acre in size and the ride on is invaluable for saving time but remember there are no major obstacles like big trees etc so it’s pretty plain sailing when mowing.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I know what you mean, but with a sharp blade and making a slower pass, seems to make the cut look better. At least , that's what I've been told.

[@sticustom]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE he could achieve a better cut in an hour with a push mower. He cuts the footpaths ( sidewalks) of other peoples houses too and the footpath looks good but the front yard looks terrible until it’s mowed. Some have told him to stop doing it. There’s a reason why he does it but I won’t go into it.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that is true, as much as I want to use my rider, my push mower cuts beautifully.

[@sticustom]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE less damage to the grass means a better lawn and a lot of that is blade speed and sharpness.

[@twisted1253]

I have had riding mowers for like 3 years now and they are great i had a john deere 185 and ifs great i never had to do anything to it except change oil and put gas in it older mowers are just more reliable

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Twisted 125

[@therandomman6647]

I knew riders seemed too good to be true!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

they're good, just not as good. thank you TheRandom Man.

[@JohannZ100]

I have a John Deere LA150 My dad. Bought it brand new in 2007 he bought it because he said "John Deere made superior farm equipment". Keep in mind this was 2007 when he was thinking this. This tractor is supposed to mow 3.5 acres with a pond and a fenced in spot as well as a huge flower garden with Azalea and camellia bushes and crepe myrtles and an oak tree the earliest memories were it was fine for two years then it started developing deck issues either 2009 or 2010 the hex pattern for the spindle shaft formed into an egg shape then the belt was fine but the pulleys were bad the spindles went out with it the pulleys due to the grass being three feet tall my neighbor long before he passed away from covid had to use his craftsman garden tractor then later a bob-cat fast cat than a predator pro bob-cat to mow our yard because my dad is a local musician and played in restaurants private parties benefits bars he also drove trucks during the week that's why dad used the John Deere only a few times a year if he had time the grass was in dire need to be cut its gone as tall as my waist. We rebuilt the deck three times the Briggs engine has been okay its in my opinion better than a Kohler 2012 came the valves lost adjustment my dad quit fooling with it I would sit on it and I did not know I would screw up the steering gears from rocking the steering wheel back and fourth 2014 came dad got it started the steering was messed up dad gave up my dad said if you can fix it it can be yours late 2020 came around I got a few junk mowers then I fixed the steering the engine anti backfire valve was stuck ran like crap but I got it to run better over time and 2022 I rebuilt the deck. And I spent almost 450 dollars in parts that are aftermarket I'm scared to find out how much the John Deere dealer would want I assume around 700 dollars honestly if it had better stronger metel made machined pulleys not stamped with splines and stronger larger bearings for the spindles and two belts to drive the deck one from the engine to the deck then one for the blades so a two belt system and better made idler pulleys John Deere has never ever done changes to the edge 54 inch deck for the 100 series other than the covers. The property has changed dramatically the flower garden has been over grown with trees but I made trails with a electric hedge trimmer a chainsaw and my Toro timecutter which is a piece of crap but I love it and I hate it 🤣 I plan to get a Kubota ZG227 with a 60 inch deck a riding mower isn't for everyone this John Deere came from a dealership it would be around 4000 dollars in today's money🙄 it been good other than the deck. Sorry if this comment is long.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

not a problem thanks for sharing.

[@jesterr7133]

Lol. I have one of those John Deere's. I don't think I have ever seen one with a hood. That design was terrible, and those hoods are astronomically expensive. Mine also has a malfunctioning kill switch, and the previous owner cut out a section of the wire harness to disable it. It essentially has to be hot wired to start it. I haven't figured out what I am going to do about that one yet.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I know right, if someone ever designed a replacement hood for theses engines with 3d printing, they'd make a pretty penny

[@gearhead366]

For a small yard, I think a riding mower is unnecessary. I typically get "new" (maybe used) lawn equipment every time I move. I get equipment suited for the new yard. I sold a riding mower once I found that it was too much for the yard I had at the time. Now I have a large yard, and have a zero turn. I would not want to try to mow my current yard with anything less. Many of my previous neighbors had riding mowers, and I thought they were silly for having one. They take up a lot of room. As for the cost of owing and maintenance... just like with push mowers, proper maintenance goes a long way in minimizing repair costs. Fuel consumption... yeah, you can't get away from this one. A 20+ HP engine will just use a lot more fuel than one with 6 HP. No way around it.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

agreed

[@wildefox1478]

My yard is way too small to use a riding mower, however I do own a John Deere riding mower like the one in the video but in a lot better shape because I mow a neighbor's yard and they have a large front and back yard and it works quite well.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, and yes you can definitely have too much mower for a yard. But it looks cool. thank you Wildefox

[@PageMarker1]

Riding lawn mower for 1/4 acre?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

actually it's more than that, I would also take care of an additional spot of almost 2 acres

[@PageMarker1]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE That makes a lot more sense. I've got an L120 for 2-1/8 acres. I've found the key is in maintenance and starter fluid...)) Got a kevlar belt to put on for the upcoming season, dropped the deck last fall and a 2 year old belt had a bad slice in it. Oil change, air filter, and spark plugs with a set of spare blades & I should be set to go. Best wishes, Sir!

[@urbanitesgarage3299]

Don’t care about what your neighbors think about the way you cut your grass, I do it barefoot lol

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice, I appreciate your insight.

[@M.TTT.]

I'd step on a bee (again) if I were barefoot lol

[@regularpit1508]

If you have a commercial riding zero turn they are awesome if you have 10 Acres and tight spaces.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you're right about that, I miss my commercial, should have never sold it.

[@marshmower]

They can save your ankles on hills. Not too steep or you need a weight on the front. The factory tires usually don't have enough grip to get you in too much trouble but nothing is idiot proof. Be careful and when in doubt try mowing diagonally. And fix yer brakes if they are bad. 😅

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that's some good advice

[@HomerSimpson14]

Never use ether as starting fluid, because it is 5x more explosive than gasoline, and if it detonates between the piston rings, it could start burning oil.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thanks

[@trevorbenes219]

Yes I like riding expeshly when one has a v twin Briggs or appose twin Briggs

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you got that right, those are great engines.

[@FrecciaBensino224]

I think normal lawn mowers are just better

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

in a lot of way, I agree.

[@robertsmarr9592]

If you do use your push mower for Leaf mulching wear a mask you will get dirt and dust all in your mouth and nose I own my own lawn service I have done that and it sucks

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

good tip

[@leebarker539]

Your story is well told. However, how you look from your neighbors' point of view when you're working in your yard seems like a separate issue, not related at all to the mower. But your mileage may vary!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Good point

[@tnrodgers]

Acreage is important for a riding mower, and a riding mower is important for acreage. Suburban homes rarely need a rider, way too much work to be pimpin’ your rider.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

true

[@SleepLevelLow]

riding lawn mowers are for bigger yards. i own 40 acres in the woods and mainly cut 3 or 4 acres and have never had to work as hard as you did. riding lawn mowers also work best in open meadows with little to no trees. so yeah riding lawn mowers are truly not for everyone.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

wow nice!

[@robertsmarr9592]

Someone else you can get that will work with your mower a Cyclone Rake yes they're about the same price as a riding mower what they're worth it and you can actually use them all year round

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that would be a great idea.

[@noahgamingvideos1584]

that why it always breaking because it second hand lol

[@andreworli4117]

In my experience, ride on mowers are white elephants.🤔😎

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I can see that.

[@Redneckfisherman06]

I need a fuel pump for my zero turn but can't afford it

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

if it's a 20 hp engine the price range on amazon is $10-$13

[@Redneckfisherman06]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE 24hp craftsman vtwin

[@mikespain8655]

I riding mower is slow, unable to stripe easily like a zero turn, time consuming around lots of trees, and takes lots of turns to get yard mowed. 3\4 acre and down should use a self-propelled mower, 1 acre and up use a zero turn. Most people are lazy, so they opt for a rider even on 1\4 acre lots.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

very true, they are not for everyone. I would like to use this more but things aren't working out like I want to.

[@garofalo1707]

I find rider's are high maintenance.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes very true.

[@justinschuyler]

Love your videos but these “background” ones aren’t it

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

it's winter give me a break

[@justinschuyler]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE oh my bad lol. I live in Florida so it’s never winter here.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

not a problem, I've got some stuff coming in so give me a weeks or so, thanks for understanding.

[@rogermurph101]

Sounds like you’re a decent small engine mechanic, but a horrible grass cutter. I have a small yard, I can cut the front and back in 30 minutes with a push mower. I can do it in 12 with a rider. 20-25 minutes total with edging, trimming and blowing. A rider will absolutely save you time, you’re just not using it right.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thanks and no. I go slow on purpose.