G'day,
i would defiantly recommend looking at the cox range of ride on lawn mowers. they do not contain a manual nor hydrostatic drive system, rather a friction drive system which is basically 2 big clutch discs and a clutch cone (smaller, moving clutch disc). they are very simple and basically indestructible. the speed is regulated by pressure on the accelerator pedal, witch is a heal toe type set up. i have owned one personally for 2 years, but operated one with well over 1500 hours (yes you herd me)for years. i have probably put over 700 of those hours and its been a pleasure as far as cutting lawn goes. with a few basic tools and a little basic knowledge you can service them your self no problems. i could go on all night but i wont bore you. my model is the 1332 (13 horse power, 32" cut) i payed $3500 for it almost 2 years ago but the recession may have kept the prices down. the advantage of having a relativity moderate deck instead of the bigger ones is there is a smaller object to keep in motion so the disc essentially has more power making it easier to cut longer grass (i have cut lush couch well over 1 meter high no problem)
if the cox doesn't do it for you there is another Australian made machine called greenfield, which is similar but in my opinion not worth it for the extra money!
hope this helps!
any more questions on the coxes, or any other will be answered to the best of my knowledge
regards jay
