04-14-2016, 01:24 PM
This is my history with riding lawn mowers. Keep in mind that while I had a fairly large yard to mow (about 1.5 acre) it was relatively flat and free of rocks or heavy growth. I also kept them stored inside during the winter.
Bought a cheap Craftsman in 2001. First time I used it all the oil poured out of it. It was under warranty, but when the guy came out to fix it I told him I wanted my money back because I did not trust a mower that would blow apart the first tome I used it. They agreed to give me one that was more expensive as an equal trade.
Next summer when I tried to use it it would not start. Still under warranty the guy came out and put in a new battery. He told me that this always happened. he had me compare the weight of the battery that came in the mower and the new one he put in. The original weighed about half as much and he told me they never lasted more than a year.
That mower only lasted two more years before it broke down. I had it fixed and in less than a year it broke down again. At this point I was so mad at spending so much money working on what I considered "new" mowers I decided to just buy a used one for $300 dollars.
Went through 2 used mowers in 2 years and decided to but another new one. This time I bought a cheap one from Wal Mart (Murray?). That one lasted less than 3 years until a belt broke. While I had it sitting on blocks to replace the belt it was stolen.
I then bought a cheap Troy Bilt from Lowes. It broke a belt in less than a year. when I went ot the store to get a new belt under the warranty they told me that since I did not pay for the upgraded warranty the only thing they could do was ship it to the factory to get repaired. I blew a gasket and went off on them. They eventually just gave me the belt.
That mower is still just about 3 or 4 years old and this summer it died, I was not using it at the time, but the person who was told me there was just a lour POP and it dies. I tried to start it, but it did not even try to fire. all it did was spin the starter. I loaded it up and took it to a shop to get fixed. Just 2 days ago they called me and told me they could not find anything wrong with it. they started it and drove it around for a while with no problem. that cost me $40 and I am sure there is still something wrong with it that will make it die the next time I use it.
Meanwhile my parents bought a cheap riding mower about 20 years ago and are still using it.
Bought a cheap Craftsman in 2001. First time I used it all the oil poured out of it. It was under warranty, but when the guy came out to fix it I told him I wanted my money back because I did not trust a mower that would blow apart the first tome I used it. They agreed to give me one that was more expensive as an equal trade.
Next summer when I tried to use it it would not start. Still under warranty the guy came out and put in a new battery. He told me that this always happened. he had me compare the weight of the battery that came in the mower and the new one he put in. The original weighed about half as much and he told me they never lasted more than a year.
That mower only lasted two more years before it broke down. I had it fixed and in less than a year it broke down again. At this point I was so mad at spending so much money working on what I considered "new" mowers I decided to just buy a used one for $300 dollars.
Went through 2 used mowers in 2 years and decided to but another new one. This time I bought a cheap one from Wal Mart (Murray?). That one lasted less than 3 years until a belt broke. While I had it sitting on blocks to replace the belt it was stolen.
I then bought a cheap Troy Bilt from Lowes. It broke a belt in less than a year. when I went ot the store to get a new belt under the warranty they told me that since I did not pay for the upgraded warranty the only thing they could do was ship it to the factory to get repaired. I blew a gasket and went off on them. They eventually just gave me the belt.
That mower is still just about 3 or 4 years old and this summer it died, I was not using it at the time, but the person who was told me there was just a lour POP and it dies. I tried to start it, but it did not even try to fire. all it did was spin the starter. I loaded it up and took it to a shop to get fixed. Just 2 days ago they called me and told me they could not find anything wrong with it. they started it and drove it around for a while with no problem. that cost me $40 and I am sure there is still something wrong with it that will make it die the next time I use it.
Meanwhile my parents bought a cheap riding mower about 20 years ago and are still using it.
