Pictures: this moment

[JSinMO]

Local farmer that used to own the land our neighborhood was built on cuts the small field in our neighborhood for hay twice a year. He's also got attachments for raking and bailing the hay. This attachment hydraulically raises and lowers.
My girls wanted to check out the tractor. I did back them up about 20' when he got near us.
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Now I’ve got equipment envy! That a pretty nice mower conditioner. Kids always like to see the tractors run. Good idea keeping them at a safe distance.

[Eugen]

Great feature!

[Spike188]

20240605_172943.jpgI helped the neighbor out. His yard is a hay patch. His 5 year old Husqvarna Hydrostatic mower didn't last on the hill.20240605_172653.jpg

Why didn't his mower last?

My neighbors hill is more extreme than ours. Hydrostats on my yard would do about 5 years. 2 hours mow time in the heat of the summer takes out the pumps. Even 0 turns will not last on our hills. He is looking at a rebuild kit that is $900 cd.

[MattA]

20240605_172943.jpgI helped the neighbor out. His yard is a hay patch. His 5 year old Husqvarna Hydrostatic mower didn't last on the hill.20240605_172653.jpg

Why didn't his mower last?

My neighbors hill is more extreme than ours. Hydrostats on my yard would do about 5 years. 2 hours mow time in the heat of the summer takes out the pumps. Even 0 turns will not last on our hills. He is looking at a rebuild kit that is $900 cd.

He could probably buy the whole tractor used for that price. Maybe pick up a used transaxle? Might help if he cleaned the grass off the transaxle regularly so that the cooling fan was more effective. Anyways how did your 4016 onan do with the RM60 deck in the deep grass?

[Spike188]

Why didn't his mower last?

My neighbors hill is more extreme than ours. Hydrostats on my yard would do about 3 years. 2 hours mow time in the heat of the summer takes out the pumps. Even 0 turns will not last on our hills. He is looking at a rebuild kit that is $900 cd.

He could probably buy the whole tractor used for that price. Maybe pick up a used transaxle? Might help if he cleaned the grass off the transaxle regularly so that the cooling fan was more effective. Anyways how did your 4016 onan do with the RM60 deck in the deep grass?

@MattA In 2002 we started out with a i year old Massey Ferguson (Simplicity) 2616H. It went through 2 motors and 3 hydrostatis
all of the replacement parts were off of used Simplicity build tractors picked up off of Kijiji, running. in most instances they had minor issues and the previous owner wanted new, The most ever paid for a used unit was 1/3 the price of a new tractor. After donor tractor would canablized then sold for parts and scrap.

My neighbor's Husquivarna has an electronic locking differential which is a bit pricey and a bit rare. He seems to be more a consumer type when it comes to riding mower.

When the 3rd motor failed on the 2616H, it was winter and snow was deep. The snow blower on it had several holes worn through the auger cage. I was desperate for a quick fix and found a 444 with deck and blower 5 minutes away for $1400. it was a snow eating beast and the beginning of the 12 step program. One of those steps lead to a 4016 and a 60" deck. I founds the 4016 local and purchased the deck off of @Jancoe.

The deck has new blades, belts and a new center shaft assemble with the center anti scalping roller removed. The roller was removed so that tall grass would not be packed down and left mostly uncut. The neighbor's grass was at least 18" tall in places. Grass discharge was an issue if ground speed was to fast or the stems were to tough. The first cutting of over and acre required 2 passes in most spots, and about 2 hours of blade time. A week later the 2nd cutting took about an hour and the yard had a nicely trimmed look. There are still a few spots where the clippings from the first cutting a still visable.

[Toolslinger]

My neighbors hill is more extreme than ours. Hydrostats on my yard would do about 5 years. 2 hours mow time in the heat of the summer takes out the pumps. Even 0 turns will not last on our hills. He is looking at a rebuild kit that is $900 cd.

What kind of hills are you dealing with? My Walker is 20 +/- a couple, and no serious issue with the hydrostatic drives. We have always been good about changing the oil, and using the recommended synthetic oil every year. It hauls hills all the time, and every cutting is 3-4 hours. In fact, they're on their second engine now, and that one just plain wore out first...

[Spike188]

Neighbors yard over 1/3 of neighbors back yard is steep enough that the 4016 with 4 D10 weights will spin out if stopped on the hill. Around the front and sid of his house I sit on the high side finder to maintain traction.

About 1/4 of my yard falls into the same category. About 50 of our driveway is to steep for stopping and restarting our vehicles on unless we desend to the road and do a running start. During the winter, snow removal on our drive is impossible to do running up hill.

Another neighbor has a back yard with 1/4 acre that can only be mowed going down hill. It's an amusement park ride on that section.

I have never seen a topographical map of our property.

[Toolslinger]

Yep, that's some unpleasant hillside to maintain. (sure looks pretty though) I have a section that can't be cut going up, and no way would I side hill it as far as what the lawn mower cuts. Probably a 1/4 - 1/3 acre that way. The rest of the "lawn" isn't as bad. While I have cut it my whole life, I still hate cresting the edge to go down. Particularly so since we went to the Walker, and there's nothing to hold on to...

The "fields" have more of that crappy slope, but I generally don't go after them with the smaller equipment, and the old gear tractors don't really care about any kind of abuse, as long as I keep all 4 tires on the ground. (or at least 3)

[MattA]

@Spike188 sounds like your neighbor should look into a 4WD garden tractor.

[Spike188]

@MattA The past owner of next door had a Ford 4wd compact with a mid mount deck and front end loader and snow bucket. I could not get up early enough to plow my own snow when he was around. I was chicken and would not mow our side yard with it due to fear of rolling the tractor.