Suggestion for a lawm mower for hilly backyard

[marcoball]

Hello guys. Could you please suggest a riding over lawm mower for my hilly backyard and push mower?
I read that the transmission would break if the lawn mower is not meant to be used on hills.
I was hoping to not spend more than 5k.

Thanks!

 

[chieffan]

My suggestionand that is all it is: #1: Get a Garden Tractor - NOT a Lawn tractor. #2: Fill the back tires with fluid or at least weight it down good, like #50 each wheel or both would not hurt.. #3: Make sure the engine in the tractor has a pressurized oil system. Most GT's will have this. Some of this may have to be mowed up and down the steep part, and mow when it is dry. Some of it may be a bit of a challenge but looks to be room for turn around top and bottom. Hard to say from photos.

 

[MNGB]

2X on what Roger posted

 

[Dougt]

If all you want to do is cut grass, I'd suggest a zero turn. Hard to tell what the drop is from the pics. Look for something with a pressure lube system. Lack of lube is what kills a lot of engines on hills. Another thought is to watch how you mow it. On my zero turn if I'm mowing up a steep incline it tends to put the oil at the backs of the pistons and starts smoking and tries to slug the engine.

 

[Sawdust]

Welcome aboard glad to have you. I’m not familiar with Zero turns other than a few around me that have them and heard some complaints about not pulling too good on hills. That could be the way they are setup though. I agree with Chieffan on the GT’s.

 

[Propane1]

Rear Differential lock would be helpful too. Along with the weight. Chieffan’s post pretty well somes it up as to what to do.

Noel

 

[dodge trucker]

Well that depends. If you buy a low quality hydro you're right. They won't last long with hills. Try to find a used commercial one like a bobcat, grasshopper, scag, hustler and you'll do fine.
Otherwise if you are wanting a tractor an older ariens, wheel horse, bolens cub cadet, etc
Many of these had the same sunstrand hydro unit, which was quite rugged and more importantly serviceable. If the machine you look at has a "sealed for life" transmission don't walk, RUN away.
With older machines many preferred gear transmission for hills BUT don't try shifting/clutching while on an incline.
A lot of newer machines look like they are gear drive but they are actually hydro, especially the cheaper models

 

[ericforster]

Something like the international cub 129works well on hills. It has a rugged hydro built by international harvester. For stability I would go with a zero turn. Im partial to the toro z master, but would consider a ferris. You arent likely to find a z master cheap. The zero turns have a lower center of gravity and the z master cuts well side to side on angles close to 60 degrees. I run a 52 inch grandstand mostly at work, but ocassionally use the 60 inch z master. The cut is excellent and they take on hills better than most machines. Ferris is second choice because the stability is similar but the deck has a different spray pattern for the discharge.
You could do more with a gt, but the center of gravity is higher, and not nearly as stable. With slope changes, that may be an issue.

 

[dodge trucker]

No, the hydro itself on a 129 is the same ol sunstrand bolted to a cub rear end. But that's a good one. The 1250, ,1450,1650 series is much the same (not completely identical but close) and the next generation of cub cadets, main differences are an electric pto clutch instead of manual and isolated rubber mounts. The hydro transaxle are the same between the 129 and the 1x50.

 

[TAHOE]

Grasshopper zero turn with the wide double wheels on the back. I used one for many years mowing steep inclines and hills, once you learn the mower, they stick like glue. They are set up slightly different than standard zero turns and have a low center of gravity.