Lawn and Garden tractor shortage.

[WheelhorseBob 1,549]

I was reading a local newspaper article this morning and it appears as though Covid has struck the lawn tractor market with shortages. So, along with toilet paper and chicken wings we can add lawn and garden tractors. On the bright side I was able to convince my wife that my forward thinking has perched us upon a veritable goldmine.....😂😂😂

[ebinmaine 67,498]

I'll be sure to share this with my own local war department. 

She has 3 tractors. I have 2 done, 2 projects. 

There's another that's ownership has been undecided as of yet. 

 

We should be doing well. 

 

[Lee1977 6,659]

Most companies stop selling Garden Tractors long before Covid struck. You could get look-a-like Garden Tractors made with sheet metal put together with sheet metal screws

With engines that they keep changing the names of every couple of years because of the bad rap people give them. They have some tractors that will talk to your phone but that doesn't

do much when you need to plow the garden or snow or mow the yard. So not much lossed if Covid is the cause.

That my opinion, you didn't ask for it but got it anyway!

 

[pacer 3,169]

4 minutes ago, Lee1977 said:

Most companies stop selling Garden Tractors long before Covid struck

 

I think that is a valid comment....... seemingly to get a lawn & GARDEN tractor you have to go the recent? terminology of "SCUT & CUT" tractors. With SCUT being 'small compact utility tractor' (I think thats right?) and CUT "compact utility tractor", Which of course puts you in the 10K range and up! And, with the popularity of the 'ZTR's' I wont be surprised if a tractor type LAWN mower will slowly disappear. We are already seeing the cost of the ZTR's coming down to the 2-3k range.

 

But, at my - quite advanced - age and having 3 big D horses and an MF tractor, 3 with decks and one for towing, etc, I wont have to worry about any of that.......

[Mike in NC 341]

Our local box store received 5 or so lawn mowers, I am not calling the garden tractors as they are not what we would call LGT, in on a friday and all of them were sold by saturday. Usually they have 15 to 20 out in front of the store. For the last year or so, you are lucky to see 1 or 2 out front.

[slim67 2,735]

33 minutes ago, pacer said:

 

I think that is a valid comment....... seemingly to get a lawn & GARDEN tractor you have to go the recent? terminology of "SCUT & CUT" tractors. With SCUT being 'small compact utility tractor' (I think thats right?) and CUT "compact utility tractor", Which of course puts you in the 10K range and up! And, with the popularity of the 'ZTR's' I wont be surprised if a tractor type LAWN mower will slowly disappear. We are already seeing the cost of the ZTR's coming down to the 2-3k range.

 

But, at my - quite advanced - age and having 3 big D horses and an MF tractor, 3 with decks and one for towing, etc, I wont have to worry about any of that.......

To me the 2-3k ZTRs are the same quality as the lawn tractors they’re parked next to at Lowe’s or Home Depot. The higher priced Simplicity or John Deere’s are up there price wise with the good ZTRs like Scag,Hustler, Exmark etc so I see people buying those way more than the good garden tractors, You can cut the grass and a lot of it in no time with a zero turn. Sadly I see the gas powered ,two wheel drive garden tractors less and less,

[Ed Kennell 38,174]

1 hour ago, WheelhorseBob said:

On the bright side I was able to convince my wife that my forward thinking has perched us upon a veritable goldmine.....😂😂😂

One of my biggest fears.... When I take that long dirt nap,  Mrs K. sells my guns, boats, fishing gear, and tractors for what I told her I paid for them.     

[squonk 41,118]

The only way you'll see a ZTR on my lawn is when I'm unable to mow it my self and I have to hire somebody. 

 

Kind of a funny story. At my son's house in Buffalo. Everybody has a tiny yard. I can mow my son's yard in less than 15 minutes with a pusher and that includes getting it in an out of the shed. We're sitting on his front porch and this landscaping truck pulls up to mow the yard across the street. This guy fires up the 0 turn and starts mowing. The other 2 guys go grab the trimmers. The guy on the 0 turn is done and has it back on the trailer before 1 of the other guys gets his trimmer started! 

[squonk 41,118]

1 minute ago, Ed Kennell said:

One of my biggest fears.... When I take that long dirt nap,  Mrs K. sells my guns, boats, fishing gear, and tractors for what I told her I paid for them.     

I got a penny jar just waitin on her call Ed! 

[Ed Kennell 38,174]

Just now, squonk said:

I got a penny jar just waitin on her call Ed! 

Thanks Mike, I'll sleep much better now.

[Handy Don 12,227]

1 hour ago, pacer said:

With SCUT being 'small compact utility tractor' (

sub-compact utility tractor

[rmaynard 15,459]

41 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

One of my biggest fears.... When I take that long dirt nap,  Mrs K. sells my guns, boats, fishing gear, and tractors for what I told her I paid for them.     

When you are six feet under it won't matter anyway unless that's all you left for her to live on. Mrs. M says it's all going to the highest (maybe the first) offer. 

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

That's the reason I just brought one of my 312-8's back to life recently.Hopefully,I've got enough Wheel Horses and mower decks to last me the rest of my life.Key word is HOPEFULLY.Keep many greased,oiled and running.You can never have too many back-up mowing and snow removing machines.

[Ed Kennell 38,174]

2 hours ago, rmaynard said:

ighest (maybe the first) offer

Does Mrs M have Mikes number?

[EB-80/8inPA 1,641]

7 hours ago, Lee1977 said:

Most companies stop selling Garden Tractors long before Covid struck. You could get look-a-like Garden Tractors made with sheet metal put together with sheet metal screws

With engines that they keep changing the names of every couple of years because of the bad rap people give them.

 

Now, I heard a rumor that the small green machines at one of those home improvement chains were made by <insert name of yuuge lawn tractor manufacturer here> under license, and that the transmissions contained plastic parts good for the life of the warranty only.  If that’s true, then a well preserved or shiny “new” Wheelhorse will one day become much more appreciated and sought after than they are now.  They’re America at its best fer cryin out loud!  Hat’s off to all you guys keeping them alive.  We’re not hoarders, we’re curators!

Edited August 8, 2021 by EB-80/8inPA

[WheelhorseBob 1,549]

31 minutes ago, EB-80/8inPA said:

Now, I heard a rumor that the small green machines at one of those home improvement chains were made by <insert name of yuuge lawn tractor manufacturer here> under license, and that the transmissions contained plastic parts good for the life of the warranty only.  If that’s true, then a well preserved or shiny “new” Wheelhorse will one day become much more appreciated and sought after than they are now.  They’re America at its best fer cryin out loud!  Hat’s off to all you guys keeping them alive.  We’re not hoarders, we’re curators!

Yes, with your permission I’m going to explain to my bride of 31 years that we are curators of Americana! On another note, I believe Deere and Simplicity still produce honest to goodness garden tractors. It must be a tough business though, my mid 90’s 520H with deck, two stage snow blower, wheel weights and chains was close to 8 grand in 1995 dollars. An x7 series Deere is probably over 10 grand but given inflation it’s not out of line.

[EB-80/8inPA 1,641]

36 minutes ago, WheelhorseBob said:

Yes, with your permission I’m going to explain to my bride of 31 years that we are curators of Americana! On another note, I believe Deere and Simplicity still produce honest to goodness garden tractors.

As far as the green machines go, it’s my understanding that that’s true of the larger ones, but the happy homeowner units they’re selling at the big box store are green in name only.  In any case, you don’t need my permission to go down that perilous road with your better half; Good luck with that, Bob, and let us know how it works out for you!

[EB-80/8inPA 1,641]

Hey, where’d that quote go?  I’ll figure this out yet…. 😤

Edited August 9, 2021 by EB-80/8inPA

[Howie 886]

I'm not sure where the story on the greens machines started, but remember reading in a trade magazine

years ago that that company wanted to cash in on the cheap mower market to compete with said large

manufacturer. Father-in-law had a small shop and got the magazine.

None of the parts interchange like all the others that big company makes so to me it does not look like

that is what goes on. I have serviced a ton of both.

[kpinnc 12,049]

As long as there are idiots who take a 2 year old lawnmower to the dump, companies will keep selling them. Almost no one gardens anymore (present company excluded), unless they build some raised bed contraption. 

 

Zero turns are popular, but they only do one thing: mow grass very fast. Mine is built like a tank, but I wouldn't put a lawn trailer behind it for fear of the cost of repairs, and mine has full hydraulic pumps and cast iron wheel motors. Most of the newest "commercial grade" models have pot metal transmissions and still cost $15K.

 

Can you imagine how expensive a cast iron transmission, hardened steel geared, bulletproof engined, top of the line comfort garden tractor would cost today? Heck, a Kohler Magnum or Onan P series alone would cost 3 to 4 thousand bucks. BUT- It would probably be worth it!

 

 

[EB-80/8inPA 1,641]

9 hours ago, Howie said:

I'm not sure where the story on the greens machines started, but remember reading in a trade magazine

years ago that that company wanted to cash in on the cheap mower market to compete with said large

manufacturer. Father-in-law had a small shop and got the magazine.

None of the parts interchange like all the others that big company makes so to me it does not look like

that is what goes on. I have serviced a ton of both.

Thanks for dispelling that rumor.  I’ll be looking forward to correcting the know-it-all who told me it with great certainty!  I’m inclined to believe the planned obsolescence aspect may yet be true, though, if for no other reason than how low the build quality bar has to be set to compete price wise in that market.

[953 nut 55,229]

17 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

One of my biggest fears.... When I take that long dirt nap,  Mrs K. sells my guns, boats, fishing gear, and tractors for what I told her I paid for them.     

I have told my wife that when I kick the bucket she should just post the sad news on Red Square and let everything go for free. At that point I'm done with it so the time has come to give everything new homes.

[DoctorHfuhruhurr 137]

On 8/8/2021 at 2:06 PM, Ed Kennell said:

One of my biggest fears.... When I take that long dirt nap,  Mrs K. sells my guns, boats, fishing gear, and tractors for what I told her I paid for them.     

 

You're not going to be buried with your stuff?  

[DoctorHfuhruhurr 137]

On 8/8/2021 at 11:30 PM, kpinnc said:

As long as there are idiots who take a 2 year old lawnmower to the dump, companies will keep selling them. Almost no one gardens anymore (present company excluded), unless they build some raised bed contraption. 

 

Zero turns are popular, but they only do one thing: mow grass very fast. Mine is built like a tank, but I wouldn't put a lawn trailer behind it for fear of the cost of repairs, and mine has full hydraulic pumps and cast iron wheel motors. Most of the newest "commercial grade" models have pot metal transmissions and still cost $15K.

 

Can you imagine how expensive a cast iron transmission, hardened steel geared, bulletproof engined, top of the line comfort garden tractor would cost today? Heck, a Kohler Magnum or Onan P series alone would cost 3 to 4 thousand bucks. BUT- It would probably be worth it!

 

 

 

[tom2p 2,394]

been to the area Home Depot and Lowe's and noticed no lawn tractors