An old one compared to the new Spin Off's.

[gcbailey]

I just can't believe he put a Nova in that group. j/k

My FIL has a bad boy zero turn and has a factory blade for it, yes they do make blades for those. However he'll be the first to admit it was the biggest $500 he's ever wasted.

[Merk]

I used to teach a small motor class using Briggs and Stratton training/teaching manuals. There was a section on average life of a push mower, lawn tractor and garden tractor. A push mower has an average life of 2 years. A lawn tractor has an average life of 3 to 5 years. A garden tractor has an average life of 5 to 7 years.

My newest garden tractor is 14 1/2 yeas old. It has 980 hours on it. I expect to put another 1000 hours on it before I do anything to the motor.

A good example is I can buy a new push mower from wal mart cheaper than I can buy a new short block for a push mower.

[Sam Mac]

I like the wide frames or older thank you. The newer stuff is good for mowing but that's about it as far as I'm concerned. I've been fixing up a couple 2000 series the last couple weeks and do not have a burning desire to see any more.

[johncub7172]

Originally Posted by gcbailey

I just can't believe he put a Nova in that group. j/k

My FIL has a bad boy zero turn and has a factory blade for it, yes they do make blades for those. However he'll be the first to admit it was the biggest $500 he's ever wasted.

Nova,... Ha!, you got more laugfhs than a stack of commic books! Your funny! try the 69' Chevy with a 396, Hurts 4-speed on the floor!

[gcbailey]

like I said, I was teasing about the Nova. I know a guy with a Nova and a "tweaked" 350. I'd take it. Although I'd rather have a Chevelle, which you didn't list... if I was going the GM route.

I know it would never happen but it would be cool if MTD would come out with something modern retro for the 50th anniversary. I can dream...

[Merk]

by Wild Bill
Dale: Whoever wrote those B&S manuals needs to take a class in 'real life' usage of their engines.

You be surprise how many don't know how to check the oil level or do regular maintance.

There is a huge difference between a small owner who does regular maintance and most who just turn the key or switch on. The majority of small motor home owners don't brother to do the regular maintance like most do on this site. Most don't know or don't care to. I've worked on several small motors in the last few years that had the cooling fins plug so tight that you had to use a screw driver to remove the grass, dirt and whatever else. The oil look like tar when I drain it. One guy I work with rather buy a new push mower every 1-3 years than pay a shop $50 to $60 to do spring maintance.

The best one I had was a lawn tractor that the owner and another repair guy thought the starter was bad because it didn't turn over the motor...even on 24 volts. It turns out to be no oil in the crankcase. Needless to say the motor seize up because of the lack of oil. I ask the owner if the motor smoke some and when is the last time you check the oil??? His reply was I just add gas.....never check the oil. The motor was smoking some.

The last 3.5 horse power Briggs I had apart had a plastic camshaft in it.

[Cub Cadet 123]

Wild Bill's original statement in this thread was well put. Not all of the new stuff is junk or cheaply built, but it is specialized. My commercial zero turn has a welded 11 gauge steel deck and frame, not stamped like the residential zero turns. It also has rebuildable transmissions and the residential versions are not rebuildable. The plastic parts are what drives me crazy......the little plastic safety switch in the seat malfunctioned so it wouldn't run with the brake released-----solution, pop out a small plastic part in the safety switch (30 second fix)!!! Some of the re-designs that Cub Cadet is making is falling back on the older, simpler technologies, like the gravity feed fuel systems are now replacing their electronic feeds that they put on just a year or two ago.

There is low end, middle, and high end items that are out on the market. The zero turn "Tanks" that Cub Cadet has out there are exactly that, they are Tanks with 28hp diesel engines they will mow your grass at about 12 mph and can shread up small farm animals without a hiccup. Despite building them solid, they are for mowing only.....my zero turn has no attachments available other than a hitch and a bagger. Some of the cheaper JD's (I don't know if CC did this or not) have fixed decks which scalp your yard. They tried to cut cost in too many ways and as a result, I think that they put their reputations on the line!!! People who buy these lower end machines from the box stores are becoming disappointed with their purchase and are likely to seek other brands the next time they purchase one!!! The older cub machines are certainly the best all around in their class and will continue to be the standard by which other GT's are measured!!

BTW: Nova is Spanish (No va!) for "No Go!".:biggrin2.gif:

Cub Cadet 123

[gcbailey]

Originally Posted by Cub Cadet 123

The zero turn "Tanks" that Cub Cadet has out there are exactly that, they are Tanks with 28hp diesel engines they will mow your grass at about 12 mph and can shread up small farm animals without a hiccup.

Do I want to even know?

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Sorry, I missed the Chevelle.... sometimes I read too fast or don't pay attention, something like that.
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I definitely don't like the plastic, that is my ONLY gripe with my 2544. That hood is a shame, however even on the $10K JD x700 series, they have plastic hoods... What's funny is MTD's low end Lowe's model has a metal hood, but their "premium" Cub Cadet line doesn't offer any except on the 3000 series....