Found a grasshopper mower it's in good shape has 271 hours on it it is a 618
52" deck 18 hp koler eng 2001 they are asking 4400 and is there
anything I should be looking at to make sure it is as good as they say

THANKS

 

i really dont know anything about the company so i dont know if this is a good price or not, but couldnt you buy a brand new one from a different company like craftsmen for half that price? Just running that buy you incase you are willing to pay that much for a lawn mower.

 

You could, but you'd be getting a Craftsman

Seriously though cullenkyla, they have been making a mower similar to that for a lot of years. The 618 was around when I bought my 721 twelve years ago. At 271 hours in 5 years, I doubt it has any real problems. Obviously make sure it doesn't look like it has a lot more than that many hours. Making an hour meter stop working isn't rocket science, if you know what I'm saying. Take a look at the trans oil. Make sure it is full, look for obvious signs like really, really clean spots compared to the rest of the machine, stuff like that. I mention that because my 721 lost a hydro at under 600 hours and it wasn't fixed right the first time. Really clean parts in that area might be a sign something has been worked on.

I have said nothing bad about Grasshopper so far, but I will say I am not too fond of the company. I think there are better machines out there, and unless they have changed a lot over the last few years, ones with better customer service. Another thing I will add is that I think a Kohler 18hp powering a 52" deck is a little on the low side in the modern era. I think my 21 hp, 3-cylinder liquid cooled Kubota is a little on the weak side for that deck. Grasshoppers use a powershaft driven by belts off the engine. The power then goes through a Quick disconnect driveshaft and into a gear box on the deck that from there, drives belts that drive blades. I found that complex system to be a great selling point, but less than spectacular in the real world. If it is going to be used as a pure mower, you may want to look at other offerings.

 

I would check the belt conditions, teh spindles on the deck, see how the blades look, sharp or dull? oil clean or black and burnt smelling in the motor? stuff like that, and test it out yourself to see how you feel running it first. it will BY FAR outlast a craftsman mower, or those JD riders you can get at home depot, as those are residential machines, the Grasshopper is commercial grade, and built to work HARD, day in day out.

 

i had a 14 hp twin cylinder craftsmen mower, in the condition i got it in i was suprised it even ran. It had that wierd setup of the cylinders too one on each side. it worked, and if i wanted to put money into it i coulda had a real nice mower. i think ride ons are too simple to break down lol. I mean yeah theres those pesky deck bearings, and stuff like that but really i think they all last, unless you abuse it. Its not like craftsmen makes the engines on these things anyway, briggs and straton dose for most of them, and those engine will last for YEARS. And 4,500 for a lawn mower is mighty steep ( i mean come on, it is a lawn mower, most cars are for less!!). Consider on how long you plan to use this mower, for 4,500 i would use it until i died. Or else just go to a cheaper one. Then again if you own qiute a large amount of area to be mowed constantly as it grows then buying there better mower at the price may be a better choice.

 

I suppose you are going to do alot of mowing with a 52 " deck, lol

 

we are going to be mowing about 4 acers, we mow my mother-In-law place. Son
just turned 12 would like to mow a few yards At this point I have a Scott mower
that I got at Home Depot not the best mower but better then some

 

2 years ago I bought a Kubota zero turn, 21horse diesel, 60" deck. It was more expensive than the Grasshopper you are looking at and I only have 1 regret - I should have bought it much sooner. My mow and trim time went from 4+ hours a week to 1.25 hours. I'm mowing 4+ acres wvery week and another 10 once a month.

Drive a few before you decide.