[AT] New little tractor bargain.

[Francis Robinson]

	Three years ago I bought a 20 HP 42" cut Yard-Man lawn tractor from Wally
World. We have used it to mow about a zillion acres (actually we mow about 8
acres) and at times I have used it to hog stuff down that was taller than it
was... After 3 very hard years we have been really pleased with it. I have
worn out about 4 sets of blades on it. Not just worn back a little but worn
to a nub...   :)  I also wore out a couple of deck drive belts. This summer
I put a pair of tie rod ends on it and a little bearing at the bottom of the
steering wheel shaft. Considering that I also use it to mow steep road
ditches and several rough lots with it the durability has been excellent. I
did decide that maybe I should replace it this winter and had been looking
around. Wally World had one of the next model up sitting in their L&G dept.
that had sat for quite some time. I kept watching it because it was getting
a little old for a new mower. They had not however cut the price much at all
on it. Some time back I noticed that it was gone but a couple of weeks ago
they had brought in one that was a return, maybe even that same mower. It
had a sticker on the hood that said, "does not run". It was a 22 HP 46" cut
and had been cut from $1500 (was once almost $1700) down to $800. I looked
it over and it could have not been run an hour or so. The black coating was
still on the blades except at the leading edge. I asked the clerk if they
had any idea why it did not run. She said she would check and I asked her to
see if I could talk to the manager because I wondered if they would consider
cutting the price a bit more. I thought another $50 to $100 might buy ant
parts I might need. She came back and said that they didn't know what the
problem was but that the dept. manager said if I wanted it I could have it
for $500... I about sprained my shoulder getting my wallet out...   :)   I
went back with a trailer and brought it home and started looking at it. When
they gave me the manual the plastic bag was marked "will not run for very
long at a time". I filled the tank, double checked the very clear oil and
installed the battery, which was just sitting in its hole (backward) and was
not connected. I used a jumper pack and it started right up. We have been
mowing with it all week and it has yet to misfire even once... Runs perfect,
cuts perfect. I have no idea what its problem was before. Since I got it so
cheap I am keeping the old one instead of selling it. We now have almost
matching his and hers mowers.   :)
	Between those two, the Yanmar 1500 and 5' finish mower and the #$%& CUB and
its Woods mower and the 6' bush hog maybe we can keep the grass mowed.



Francis Robinson quote: "People that throw out trash while driving are
trash..."

"farmer"

Francis Robinson
Central Indiana, USA
robinson at svs.net