Craftsman Riding Mower Ground Drive Belt Diagram

How to Choose a Riding Mower

If you're a homeowner with a yard, a riding mower is imperative to help you with upkeep. Less arduous than a push mower, a lawn tractor or riding mower covers a lot of ground in little time. There are a few factors to consider as you make your choice.

Different Types of Riding Mowers

Not all riding mowers are created equally. In fact, there are a few different types to choose from, and it depends heavily on what type of yard you're trying to maintain. Some curvy, bumpy yards will require a mower with a large turn radius while smaller, flat yards can make do with a simple mower. Some choices include:

Rear engine riding mower: This is the smallest type of all the riding mowers and is the easiest to use and maintain. They take up less space and are well-equipped for smaller yards (one acre and under). However, they cannot take attachments and don't have a high turn radius.
Lawn and garden tractor: Don't let the name "tractor" throw you off _ essentially, these are large riding mowers. They are tough and durable and cover a lot of ground. You can hook up attachments to them, they can cover yards well above an acre, and the turn radius is moderate.
Zero turn mowers: These mowers are tough and durable like lawn tractors but are the best choice for bumpy, hilly yards or yards with many curves. Such as with a lawn tractor, they do take attachments as well.

There are other features to consider when looking for a tractor and mower for sale other than turning radius and power. Some other features that homeowners find important are:

Cutting width: A mower with a larger cutting width can get a job done in less time but may not be ideal for smaller spaces.
Top speed: A mower with speeds of up to 13 mph provides great efficiency.
Price: The least inexpensive mower model, when purchased new, is slightly less than $1,000. For this reason, homeowners may look to used ride on mowers for sale for a more economical choice.

Differences in Transmission

While differences in a riding mower's transmission may not help its efficiency, it will contribute to how easy a tractor is for you to use. The type of transmission a mower is equipped with then becomes quite important. As you're researching used mowers for sale in Ohio or other states, do pay attention to the type of transmission. You will generally find:

Manual transmission: Just as with a manual transmission vehicle, you will have to shift through different speeds as you are mowing. Some mowers include a clutch, but most do not. A manual has up to six speeds.
Automatic transmission: Also similarly to a car, this only has several speeds and no clutch. The speed is then controlled by how much pressure you put on the gas pedal.
Hydrostatic transmission: A hydrostatic transmission makes no difference as to how you operate the vehicle, but it means that that the mower uses fluid instead of belts, which offers you a smoother ride while working.

Used vs. new mowers

There is absolutely nothing wrong with looking for old mowers for sale for a more economical choice. However, just as with a car, it's a good idea to have the mower thoroughly checked over by a mechanic before purchase. Have the mechanic check the transmission, tires, belts and motor before you agree to buy.

Riding Mower Maintenance

Whether you're looking for greenfield mowers for sale, other brands or a sickle mower for sale, they all require maintenance. Generally speaking, this is a once-a-year chore you take care of in early spring. Most mowers require the same amount of maintenance. Make sure you check the fuel and oil levels before every use. During the mowing season, make sure parts are lubricated and belts and fasteners are tight. Never operate the mower if the blades seem loose. At the end of the season, disconnect the battery and the spark plug wires to help save battery life when you're not mowing.