Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Hi all,
     Well my machine was ready early!  Went to the dealer  and saw my machine parked outside. I go and check it out and whats this??? A 12.5HP briggs instead of the 10.5HP!!! NICE! Then Tom the salesman showed me how it works again. This is  the first time I have really spent any time behind such a machine  Wow, this ain't your 21" push machine!!!  Stong power that will rip out of your hands if you are not careful!  I cruised the parking lot doing 180's and such...all is good. Next, Tom drove it up the ramps into my pickup bed.  When I got home, unloading was a snap...just used the levers while it was in gear as breaks and the engine not running.  Next I grabbed my gas edger and did my property. Next I filled it up the Bradley  with gas (Had a small amount in there already) and set the choke, made sure it was in nutral and the blades were off. One pull and the 12.5 HP Briggs was to life  I started the blades nice and slow and put it in gear and I was off!  I will say it again...Wow, this ain't your 21" push machine!!! Went to the end and grabbed a lever and a super fast 180 and back I came! This machine in 2nd gear is already faster than my 21...I am gonna like this!  Back and forth I went learning how to hold a perfect line (seems you can muscle it a bit to hold the line better than using the levers) and looking at just how nice this thing cuts grass!!! Then I see my neighbor/buddy stop with his truck and get out. He is in awe at my new purchase. He checks it over real close and see's how rugged it is built. I show him how it works and how smooth this big engine is. With that he says "You win" LOL!   He will be next to buy one of these!  When I was done mowing, I decided that it should be a bit lower so I pulled the front pin and moved a washer to the top...very easy to do. Next I did my lawn AGAIN!!! And more practice is a good thing! I think this will take a couple of mows before I really get comfortable with this machine.  When I was done I looked at my watch...I was able to do my full lawn with the old machine in about 4 hours (This includes blowing out the edges with the leaf blower)...this machine,  way less 2 hours and I mowed TWICE!!!  The suction was soooo strong that it pulled the dirt/clippings off the sidewalk! No need to get the blower! Next I stepped back and looked at my lawn...it was perfectly even (just like when the guys come with all the big $$ Scags) and my lines were pretty straight (This will get better with practice. I seem to over shoot the 180 turn a bit). The I got down on my hands and knees and looked closley at the grass where it had been cut...nice and clean! PERFECT!!I am VERY HAPPY so far with this machine!!! With a big old smile on my face, I grabbed my compressed air and blow off the body and whiped the rest down with a towel and put it away. This was a good purchase!

Pluses:
Wow, this ain't your 21" push machine!!!
Seems very well built!
You can see in my pictures why I like this machine over the Xmark of the same size. The Xmark drive belts are very small. The Bradley was as large as the Xmarks big machines!
Very fast tranny. Went in 3rd gear and it was about as fast as I would want to walk in a straight line.
Excellent cut!
Plenty of  power...but lets see what happens when the grass is a little wet.

Negatives:
Wow, this ain't your 21" push machine!!!
Reverse is not real strong. You have to help it a bit. Wasn't like this in the dealers parking lot. Most likely because the belts were perfectly clean.
Thats it!!!

As for pictures, click below or cut and paste.
http://www.pbase.com/cleanmaxx_brian/mower