Are you sick of pushing a lawn mower around the yard for hours, but just can't afford the high price tag of a new ride on lawn mower? If this sounds like you, then your best option may be buying a used one. Although a new mower might last you a little longer, buying a used ride on lawn mower has some great advantages as well.
One advantage of buying used is that you can easily find a better riding mower than you could afford to buy new. You can get one with a more powerful engine, wider mowing deck, more durable components, and even a zero turning radius. Superior lawn mower tractors tend to last longer than their cheaply-made counterparts, so buying a great used mower might be smarter than buying a cheap new one.
Used Lawn Tractors
When looking for a used ride on lawn mower, keep in mind that many sellers also have attachments that came with the machine. You can often negotiate to purchase the mower and either get the attachments for free, or pay a small price for them. Since attachments generally cost hundreds of dollars each when bought new, getting them thrown into the deal is a great bargain if you need them. Common attachments to look for are baggers, mulching kits, pull-behind carts, and snow throwers.
When shopping for used ride on lawn mowers, here are a few things to check:
Look for signs of rust on the mower. Rusty tractors can fall apart pretty quickly
Make sure the engine isn't leaking oil or gas, and it starts and runs smoothly
Check the tires for wear to avoid having to replace costly tires.
Inspect the belts on both the engine and under the cutting deck for wear. A major cause of lawn mower breakdowns is a snapped belt.
Drive around the yard and make sure it brakes and switches gears smoothly and easily. Ride on lawn mowers can have either automatic or manual gear shifts.Where to find a good used mower
You can find used ride on mowers both online and in print classifieds. Sites like craiglist.org and kijiji.com are good places to look. In addition, your local lawn mower repair shop might have some good used mowers for sale as well. Although they might cost more than buying them from an individual, there are some great advantages to buying one at a store. First, the store most certainly checked out the mower and made any necessary repairs. Second, a shop will most likely give you at least a one year warranty, so you will have some peace of mind in case it breaks down. You won't get this if you buy it from an individual. Depending on the type of ride on mower that you want, expect to pay anywhere from a hundred dollars up to a few thousand dollars for a barely used top of the line lawn tractor. Sometimes buying two or three used ride on mowers can work out cheaper in the long run than buying one new one.