Hydrostatic - worth the money?

[ktandchris]

Basically I am afraid that I won't be able to fix the hydrostatic mowers myself and I don't want to shell out money to a repairman. Thoughts?

[Sasquatch52]

Man, hydros are the way to go. Are you buying a really old mower or a new one? They are way easier to manuver than belts. I recommend a hydro. I have a lesco hydro and have never had a single problem.

[GeeVee]

You need to divulge more details.

How much work do you intend to do and with what mower?

You may not need to be proficient at repair.....

[Phil Nilsson]

Basically I am afraid that I won't be able to fix the hydrostatic mowers myself and I don't want to shell out money to a repairman. Thoughts?

I'd say you should attend classes in mower repair because they'll be "down" often no doubt, and this will save big $$$ in the long run.

[jrservices]

I'd say you should attend classes in mower repair because they'll be "down" often no doubt, and this will save big $$$ in the long run.

How do you know they would be down often? Is this because you are guessing he has little repair experience? Hydros rarely go down, and will go a long time, as long as regular maintenance is followed.

[Stephen M.]

I'd say you should attend classes in mower repair because they'll be "down" often no doubt, and this will save big $$$ in the long run.

In the past several years of running hydros, I've had only 1 out of 4 down with hydro problems. That machine was a Walker; and that isn't to say anything negative about the machine.

I've been running a 52" Exmark hydro for 10 years and still have the original hydros even though its on its 3rd engine, which is going. The 52" hydro is sidelined for deck problems; and o crud, I just "had to" go out and buy myself my 1st liquid cooled mower: Scag Tiger 29 hp Kawi with 60" deck. SWEET.

If you take Phil's advice, you will probably say "screw it" with the lawn care and go strictly small engine repair and make more bucks like GM.

[GeeVee]

What experience do you have Phool?

[GreenUtah]

pumps and wheel motors are extemely reliable, in fact I've only EVER had to replace one pump and rebuild one on any mower in decades of mowing over hundreds of millions of sq. ft. of cutting. Motors, belts, bearings, frames...all gave out long before, which are also on every single belt or gear drive. Now, that being said, if you do not have a mowing schedule to justify the increase in initial costs between a belt drive and a hydro, you cannot realize any benefits in efficiency. You would be better off with the cheaper piece of equipment, spending the difference on growing your company. It wont' be a maintenance difference issue.