A riding mower, also known as a ride-on lawnmower, or a tractor lawn mower is a special type of lawn mower on which the operator is seated, unlike the push or tow lawn mowers. Now the question how long do riding lawn mowers last? Well, like other lawn mowers, a riding lawn mower will last more than 10 years with proper care and maintenance.
The riding mower is usually larger than a push lawn mower. And it is suitable for large lawns. If you need to mow an extra-large area like golf courses, municipal parks quickly and effectively, then Zero Turn Mowers would be a perfect option for you. Most of the riding lawn mowers use gasoline rather than electricity as a source of energy.
How Long Do Riding Mowers Last?
Here are the things you need to know about riding lawn mowers…
Average Life Expectancy
If you buy a riding lawn mower from a renowned company and maintain it properly, then it can last up to 10-15 years. And if it’s not taken care of, it will last not so long. Lawn mowers have different load capacities, and it depends on the size and manufacturer. The serving hour also varies from brand to brand. The number of hours they last also varies. Here is the data on the life expectancy of some of the popular brands below…
Husqvarna: They produce a variety of lawnmowers for small-sized lawns to large-sized lawns. They can be operated from 400 to 1000 hours, depending on the model and uses. And the Husqvarna riding lawn mower will last up to 20 years with proper care and maintenance.
Cub Cadet: Cub cadet lawnmowers are pretty much similar to Husqvarna both in functions and life expectancy. So these can serve around 500 to 1000 hours depending on the model. With proper care and maintenance, it can serve you for up to 15 to 20 years.
Briggs and Stratton: They also produce a variety of lawn mowers for normal workloads. Their mowers grant productivity of around 600 hours. With effective care and maintenance, you can easily almost double it to 1000 hours and more.
John Deere: John Deere always offers sturdy lawn mowers. Their smaller mowers easily can serve between 500 and 1000 hours. The large mower with 2 or 4 cylinder engines can serve between 1,500 and 2,000 hours. The number of hours can be defined with the intensity of usages. And they can last for over 15 years with proper care and maintenance.
Overall, a mower can serve on average 500 hours without much problem. You can double it with some tricks.
Depend on the size of the engine
Basically, gas-powered riding lawn mowers are the most powerful lawn mower type as they come with powerful engines. In most cases, small riding lawn mowers come with single-cylinder engines, and large riding lawn mowers come with double-cylinder or multiple cylinder engines. However, the power and performance of a riding mower mostly depend on the size of the engine. Moreover, the overall longevity will also depend on the engine.
Manufacturing quality and usage of riding lawn mowers
The manufacturing quality and the usage is really an important factor for increasing the life span of your riding lawn mower. If your riding lawn mower is manufactured with top-quality materials, then the overall longevity will be high for sure. Apart from that, the longevity will increase if you use your riding mower properly. You need to check the oil levels regularly and maintain them properly. In addition to that, you need to clean your mower with a pressure washer.
Here are the different parts of the riding lawnmower that may affect the final life expectancy…
Blades: After every 30-40 hours of usage, you need to sharpen the blades of your riding lawn mower. And you should replace the blades after sharping them a maximum of 5-6 times.
Engine and gas tank: The engine is the most important part of a riding lawn mower. You must have to take proper care of your engine. To be more specific, you should always keep the gas tank full. Because working with little oil can damage your engine quickly. If your engine doesn’t function properly, then you need to replace it.
Carburetor and other components: Rust is the basic enemy of the carburetors of lawn mowers. Basically, the rust will affect after 5 years. But you can experience it earlier if you leave your lawnmower outside in the rain. So you should store your lawn mower in your garage after every use. Moreover, you should use a riding lawn mower cover to protect it from dust and derbies.
How to Increase the Life Expectancy of a Riding Lawn Mower?
We have mentioned several times that proper care and effective maintenance can enhance the final life span of a riding lawn mower. So here are some of the initiatives that you can take to take care of your riding lawn mower.
Sharpen the blades:
You check the sharpness of the blades before each mowing session. In fact, you should sharpen the blades after every 30-40 hours of mowing. In other words, sharpen the blades at least once per season.
Regular usage:
We need to use every type of machinery regularly to keep them functioning well. And here in terms of riding lawn mower, the fact is completely the same. To be more precise, you need to use your riding mower regularly to keep them functioning well. And regular usage is an important part of taking care of your riding lawn mower.
Check and change the oil regularly:
You should check and change the lawn mower oil after every 50 hours of usage. And you should always use top-quality oil for your lawn mower.
Use efficient spark plug:
A spark plug with defects can damage the engine cylinder and reduces the overall engine life expectancy. And you can’t ignore it anyway. So you should follow it up regularly and make the replacement when it is needed.
Clean the air filter regularly:
The air filter is also an important part of a lawn mower, and it should be checked periodically, at least 2 to 3 times per season. And it’s better to replace the air filter after each time the oil is changed. Moreover, you should clean the air filter on a regular basis.
Maintain the belts:
Ensure that the belts are tight and properly greased after regular periods to keep the engine smooth. Check them for wear and tear and damage. Replace when needed.
Make sure the belts are tight enough and properly lubricated after regular periods of time to keep the engine running smoothly. And also make sure they are not worn or damaged. If so, then you should replace it immediately.
Maintain the battery properly:
Battery maintenance helps keep the mower in good condition. Take it off in winter and use a battery charger in maintenance mode to keep it in good condition in winter. Moreover, you need to check the water level every 10 hours of operation if you have a battery where possible.
Extra Tips
You should wear heavy footwear, eye protection, and hearing protection in the case of engine-powered mowers.
