Lesco vs Exmark

[mariner]

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You guys are getting off track here. Look at what makes up the mower. All of the parts are the same as all other mowers. A steel deck, Kawasaki engine, and a common used transmission(peerless). Lesco is no different or any less quality than any of the others. Most places only give a 1 year commercial warranty where Lesco gives 2. I think your all caught up in the names alone.

[lawrence stone]

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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by mariner</i>
<br /> Lesco is no different or any less quality than any of the others.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

You could get away with cutting warm season turf with a lesco but the deck performance will sux donkey when in comes to cutting some nice heavily fertilized bluegrass in May that the last time is was cut 10 days.

I tried to sell you a good mower (Toro 32") but you wanted a "new" mower. Now when you go to sell that piece of junk in the spring you will be lucky to get $700 for that dog.

Ignorance is bliss so enjoy that warm fuzzy feeling while it lasts.

[cole1980]

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Hey mariner,
Steve swares by the Lesco. So it must perform pretty well. I wouldn't say you will be selling it in spring. But, it truely will not hold up compared to an Exmark. Even though dollar for dollar you may get a few more features on the Lesco. But this theory has proven itself over and over. You get what you pay for.

E.Cole

[qualitylandscaping]

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Mariner: Thanks for stickin with me!

Cole: Any mower will hold up, if you know what your doing and ya take care of it. The Lesco's have some of the best parts in the business. Lesco uses Peerless transmissions, which all REAL commercial mower manufacturers use. The 14hp Kawasaki, is more than enough for a 48" WB. Comparable 48" models from other manufacturers give you only 12-13hp, and still cost more. The deck is made of steel, and it's the strongest stuff I've ever seen. Mine is a 1998, I tried a new one, and mine runs as good or better than the new one!

Stone: Since you don't use Lesco's, how would you know how they cut?? I cut my Heavily Fertilized Kentucky Blue in May, with no problem and still striped better than most. And BTW, I payed alot more than $700 for my 98, they're worth it. So unless you use them, you can't say they suck. But you don't use them, so keep your incorrect comments to yourself.

Most people are never lucky enough or rich enough to own one of these machines. We are all lucky to even be in the biz, doing what we want to do. If you really want to compare sucky mowers to good mowers, take a Craftsman or a Murray and put it next to any of our machines. There is alot more difference between lets say Craftsman and Lesco. If the machine is made with good quality parts, it doesn't matter what brand it is. If you can slap 2500+ hours on it, it is a good machine. Stop saying which brands are better because its all in your minds. Lesco, Toro, John Deere, Scag, Exmark, Ferris, Husqvarna, Kubota, Gravely, etc.. are all great machines. They all have good parts in them and can take the torture of commercial mowing...

[Green Giant]

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Steve...
You missed my point. I was in the discussion about who makes the Viper.
I've been dealing with Lesco since I started in 89.
I have the first edition Viper AND a 36WB hydro. They have both seen a lot of punishment and a ton of work. They have taken all I have thrown at them and performed very well.
The new plus about the Z2 is the drive system. The pumps they use now are the same as they use on the DC. More ground speed and reliability.
Call the tech. dept. at Lesco in Ohio to verify it.
With what I saw yesterday looking at the new Z2 I would not hesitate to buy another one.

[qualitylandscaping]

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Giant,

I don't need to call anybody. Lesco is my dealer,,, for life. I'm buying everything from them. No problems, great labor rates, great machines, everything in stock.. Who cares who makes it.. The thing works great, I'm not worried about who made it..

[Green Giant]

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We are in agreement then.[]
That's the way I look at it too.[]

[mariner]

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Qualitylandscaping,
You said it all my friend. I don't worry about any of these other badmouthing clowns on here who claim to be "professionals." They are theoretical fools. They believe everything they read. I've got very dense kentucky bluegrass in my own yard and I ran through it in 5th gear(about 6 miles an hour) like it was melted butter leaving a great stripe. So, use what works for you and don't listen to those caught up in the advertisements.

[Zack.]

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All WB's are not created equal.

14hp is enough on a 48"?

Mabe for summer cuts but to pull double blades in the fall & spring I prefer a 17hp.

eXmark put a 15hp on their Viking 32" & I would never go less than a 15hp on a 36". That 15hp/32" combo rocks in heavy turf & on leaves with doubles.

Makes the mower more versatile.

[mariner]

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Yu have just got to see a lesco in person. It is a sweet machine.

[grasshopper]

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In October 1996, LESCO announced a joint venture with MTD Products Inc. The joint venture, Commercial Turf Products, Ltd. (CTP), elevates LESCO to the forefront of equipment producers with world-class manufacturing capability and the expertise to innovate. Production began in early 1998 in a newly-acquired plant in Streetsboro, Ohio.

I was mistaken Steve. Bobcat does not make Lesco, htat is what a salesrep told me one day. But after lookign it up, Zack is right in the fact that MTD is making Lesco. When it comes to these mowers, the engine and the transmission are pretty much standard on all brands (Kaw/Kohler and Peerless). However, the spindles are actually very important as well, which vary among brands. As for the engine power you stated on your Lesco with 14 HP, Bobcat puts a 17 HP on it's 48 and a 15 HP on it's 36. I have never heard anywhere either that Bobcat mowers don't last long. I work in the Washington DC area (one of the biggest areas of the country for this business) and around here there are basically 3 brands that dominate te industry....ExMark, Scag, and Bobcat. I never see any company using Lesco mowers. I am not saying they aren't good, or just as good, but there may be a reason that there aren't any dealers in this area, and they stick to smaller areas where the big competition does not exist. When it comes to everybody's opinion on the best brand, I think the areas of the country you are from will dictate that. My suggestion for you Arustad is to buy whichever brand you can get serviced in the shortest amount of time, and then the deal you get. If it comes down to two brands, factor in everything on the mowers (engine size, grips, etc.) and take the one that you find to be a better offer for the price they give you.

[tipptop]

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Wow people are defending their machines with passion here. I just purchased a 54''Lesco Z two. For my part-time operation it made sense to go with the Lesco as it was $2500 less than most competition. I am very impressed with it's cut, however I do find the fixed deck a problem in some places but it comes down to the operator to forsee where it can and can't go. I put a Peco collection system on the back and the finished cut is wonderful to behold. I do not see many Lesco's with the big lawn companies here in NJ but that's a marketing problem for Lesco and not an engineering issue. Again my dealer promised a loaner if the machine goes to the shop for repair OR a regular service so that got my vote to seal the deal.

[odin]

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Quite a few lesco around here for walkbehinds but ive seen few lesco ztr's only one or two.

We just got a lesco walkbehind dont know how the durability will be but the thing sure cuts great .
Leaves a first class cut and stripe.If it holds up good with the cut it gives i would buy lesco again.Lesco dealer around here is pretty good.
That is gonna be the key though will it hold up as well as scag exmark toro etc.