OT what do you mow your lawn with

 This was on craigslist.

"Looking for a more out of the box way to excersize. Be the coolest guy on your street cutting the lawn with this bad boy. you can save gas and get those rock hard abs you always wanted. This bike will cut your grass to emaculate conditions. It comes stock with this excentric two tone seat. The rust on the mower gives it an antique look that will have the cat lady next door going wild for your loins. For Ten extra dollars i can throw in a basket and headlight. Is your kid bouncing off the walls, ile even throw in some training wheels so you can put that bastard to work. This model is a three speed so you can really tear it up. Do your neighbor kids have an annoying bike ramp in the streets all the time. well snag that sucker and set it up infront of your trees, this bad mother will easily catch 6-7 feet of air allowing you to trim those troubling branches, as well as demolishing the ramp into oblivion so those damn kids wont be gathering infront of your house to practice for the x games. Comes with your choice of 12/40 oz beer holder that doubles as an ash tray."

Keep your kids healthy !

1 thing to consider is that you DAUGHTERS are going to be mowing. Mowing can be some work. I'd get a small rider mower. They will think it is fun and it won't take them as long, and not as physical as mowing by hand.

Hey Adam,

Check this website out.  http://www.opeonthenet.com/

Lot's of good folks there who can help you out with your decision.

Henry

2 acres to mow.

'85 Kubota (Diesel)tractor with 60" cut.

Snapper just like the one Forest uses.

John Deere rider with 2cyl Onan 48" cut.

Honda pusher when I am feeling spunky.

Echo weed whacker.

Cheers,

Craig 

FWIW, I have an electric mower.  It goes anywhere my 100 foot extension cord will let it.  Of course, I don't mow in the rain or when the grass is wet!  Actually, the double insulation combined with GFCI outlet it plugs into are probably good enough to prevent shocks, but I use rain or wet grass as an excuse to not mow.  I have plowed through some pretty high grass after rainy spells when I couldn't get out to mow for a few weeks, and it has never been a problem.  However, for the smaller kids, perhaps a self propelled or a rider is the way to go. 

I have to mow the grass because my wife swore she is done with mowing grass.  When she was in her early teen years, she had to mow 1.5 acres with a push mower.  Then, as soon as her younger brothers were old enough to do the mowing, her dad bought a riding mower.  She's still bothered by that...

Don

Why take the time to learn when ignorance is instantaneous?..... Hobbes   (to Calvin)

Kerr - The health and fitness for me is not an option, its my lungs that are bad, not from smoking but are closing off and exerise will not help (or so I have been told) I still try and do as much as I can. however we moved to a single level home so I would not get too tired going up and down stairs. so for me I don't think even the self propelled walk behind is the answer, but it might help entice the girls to push it. I have a (home built) mobility scooter that I had considered mounting a reel mower to but as far as i can tell the drag of the blades maybe more then the electronics can handle and will kill the scooter. still looking into that though. maybe just so I can help out once and a while.

 

And Alex I hear that rabbits also mow grass well (and taste good) 

---

If it breaks, Improve it !

I suggest that you get a push mower and consider the job a part of your health and fitness (and the girl's too).

My dad always looked at it that way and our yard was about twice that big, though it was broken up a bit by hills and stuff so it could be done in sections spread out every few days. He finally bought a self propelled push mower in his later '50s when his health began to have issues. But never a riding mower! Even the walk is good for you, even if it is a driven mower.

Now that I've got my own place, the yard is smaller, but the lot is much hillier and I went with a lightweight push mower and get a nice workout each time (about 40 min for the whole yard, the workout is like going for a brisk bike ride, but with lawnmower smoke).

Though, depending on your health issues, and the amount of effort your girls want to put into their own health and fitness at that age, you might have to choose differently than I have.

Now that I am in my mid 40s I am finding that shoveling the snow, and mowing the grass, are "chores" that have as much to offer me for my health as I put into them "just to make the place look nice". It is pretty hard to win that argument with teenagers though, as they are so young and inexperienced with life and how much work it is to keep fit and be able to enjoy it, so that part is going to have to be up to you.

Norm

Are you speaking from experience? Zip "stubby" Tph

1.5 acres mown by the same John Deere 180 w/42-inch cut for the past 22 years...time to retire it and looking now for a replacement.

I have 1/2 acre. We use a 38" cut, riding mower by MTD, Fits through 4' gates. Mostly used by my wife.

(I HATE yardwork)

Make it idiot proof, and someone will make a better idiot....

 

love the flames!

---

If it breaks, Improve it !

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cub-Cadet-YARD-BUG-w-30-deck_W0QQitemZ160289345513QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160289345513&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

$175 (but needs an engine)

Bill

Sheep.

Environmentally friendly, and edible...

Metric is for people who can't do fractions.

~Mike

I noticed in an old Quicksilver photo a little Yard Bug rider. I had one of these for a while and loved it. Small (will fit though a doorway), light, manueaverable, reliable and extremely easy to use. My preteen daughter loved using it. 

Currently mowing a lot more ground and use a Home Depot John Deere with a 48" cut. Does a decent job, has been decently reliable, and parts are easy to get. For my rough cut work (and snow removal) I use an ancient Gravely rear engine model....

Either would be overkill for your purposes, but I think a battery powered mower or an electric (I've had a couple of the latter) would not be enough... so I'd go for a small lightweight gas, either a rider or self propelled.

Bill

A (used) John Deere riding mower.  I think the engine is a Kubota 15 HP. 

If it was my daughter, I would buy a simple riding mover with an auto transmission. 

 

mtgibby                                                                                                               

"Democracy is two wolfs and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

I like The robo mower but 2k !

 

as for the ride-on mower. not sure if I would be able to sit and bump around in the summer heat. I could install a canopy I guess. and I was thinking the kids are mowing it anyway!

The 24 volt mowers are claiming 7 to 10000 sq feet depending on the grass condition. So you might have to either get a second set of batts or mow over 2 days. 

may have to check out a small ride-on mower.

 

Zip- how big is your lawn?? and yes the gravely is a well built machine!

---

If it breaks, Improve it !

1980 Gravely 8000 series with a 50" deck. Might be a bit of overkill for your lawn though....

I bought the thing three years ago from a neighbor that's more nuts about Gravelys than we are about Minis. I could've bought a rider from Sears/Home Depot etc. for the same money but figured I would have to buy another in 5-6 years... With a little care, this one will last another thirty years.
Just like our cars, they sure don't build 'em like they used to.

Edit: Whatever you chose for a mower, make sure to impress on your children the safety aspects of running the thing. And only allow it to be run under supervision for a while. The machine really doesn't care if it's mowing grass, fingers or toes.

 

Heres what you need Adam........

http://www.friendlyrobotics.com/videos/robomow/

 

A FATHER CARRIES PICTURES WHERE HIS MONEY USED TO BE 

1130cc, 12g295, SW5 cam, LCB, HIF38, CA spec.