4 year update - Maintenace on Riding mower (Page 1/2)
CoolBlue87GT OCT 23, 02:36 PM
I posted getting this mower 4 years ago from an estate sale for $250, has been running well, The other day I thought I might need to replace it.



Thank goodness it was a simple fix.
Patrick OCT 23, 06:45 PM

quote
Originally posted by CoolBlue87GT:

I posted getting this mower 4 years ago from an estate sale for $250...



Great deal! Just keep that baby going. Look at all the money you've saved!
CoolBlue87GT OCT 26, 10:18 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

Great deal! Just keep that baby going. Look at all the money you've saved!



Your right, many of our neighbors pay $70 to $100 dollars a week (or more) for a lawn service to come and cut their grass. I do mine for about a gallon of gas.
CoolBlue87GT JUN 21, 08:23 PM
Did some more maintenance, the mower deck was in bad shape, the previous owner had bent up the deck on one side, he hitting something. Part of the metal was missing close to the blade. It wasn't safe anymore.



I treated it to a new Husqvarna deck, which is an exact replacement.





It was a fairly easy task to move the various brackets and hardware from the old deck to the new one. Took about an hour, No cussing was necessary, everything fit.

I replaced the belt also. When I gave it test run, it was very smooth, ran like brand new. I gave it a new battery also.

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 06-22-2025).]

Patrick JUN 22, 02:20 AM

Since I last posted in this thread 1-1/2 years ago, I've now acquired my own lawn tractor to maintain. I suspect being a Fiero owner has prepared us for working on these things!

Nice looking replacement mower deck!
blackrams JUN 22, 08:01 AM
Considering a new mower myself but after researching the price of new zero-turn mowers, decided my mower is doing a very fine job. It's the operator that needs replacing.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 06-22-2025).]

steve308 JUN 22, 11:36 AM
My Troy Bilt 'pony' died after 17 years of faithful service. I don't want to spend $3,500.00 + on a deere, cub etc that only come with hydrostatic drives that I can't work on. My quest to replace my belt drive 17.5 hp- 42 inch deck mower resulted in the following adventure. Store 1 (tractor supply) Had one in the back. No matter what they did they couldn't make it start (yes it had gas). Found one 15 mies down the road. Drove down, they pushed it outside started it and drove it onto the trailor. Got it home, drove it off, engaged the blades and it stalled. Would not restart and yes it had gas. Called the tech-line. The nice lady from India or Pakistan could not help but did provide a local service number for me to contact. I called, they have not provided Troy Bilt service or support for the past 5 years. Pushed it back on the trailer, drove it back 15 miles and turned it back in. (glad it was on a visa an not the store credit card). Stopped into Lowes on the way home. They had one Craftman assembled parked out front. Guess what, It would crank but wouldn't start! Sales guy said they had a couple more in the back with the same problem! Has anyone else experienced and fixed the crank but no start issue with a brand new 17.5 hp MTD powered mower? Troy-Bilt / Craftmans / Murray?
Larryinkc JUN 22, 12:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by steve308:

My Troy Bilt 'pony' died after 17 years of faithful service. I don't want to spend $3,500.00 + on a deere, cub etc that only come with hydrostatic drives that I can't work on.




Have you thought about re-powering it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju9jGUI_gXQ

I mow with a 1972 Bolens Hydro garden tractor. When the old 12HP Wisconsin finally gave up I replaced it with a 15HP Lifan.
It was an easy swap and has been reliable for 12 years so far.

CoolBlue87GT JUN 22, 12:23 PM

quote
Originally posted by steve308:

Found one 15 mies down the road. Drove down, they pushed it outside started it and drove it onto the trailor. Got it home, drove it off, engaged the blades and it stalled. Would not restart and yes it had gas




I know mine has a brake / seat interlock. If you try to start it w/o the brakes locked, it will not start. Also if the gear is not in N, it will not crank. Make sure your seat interlock is pluged in under the seat. Someone may have disconnected it. Just a guess.

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 06-22-2025).]

steve308 JUN 22, 05:39 PM
Update and thanks....On the two Troy-Bilt (AKA red MTD) both the one at the store and the one I purchased, took home and returned were in the correct starting mode, had gas etc. Same on the Crafrman (AKA more red MTD) T100 at lowes that would not run. I was successful at Home Depot today as a 10% off coupon was in my mailbox yesterday. I purchased a cub cadet (AKA yellow MTD). Got the last pre assembled one. Store started it, cut some grass with it and loaded it up. Lawn sucessfully cut. Didn't want hydrostatic but it's what I got.