WAYNE - Think it was KRAIG who posted the price lists for the different models a couple months ago. I seem to remember you could buy almost TWO #86's for the price of a 169.
For a LOT of people that difference in cost made a LOT of difference in the buying decision. For the most part TIME to mow grass was plentiful in summer. Critical times were spring & fall when mowing wasn't necessary, with random periods where things like combining oats, or baling hay HAD to be done to beat the weather. Mowing the yard could wait. So all of Dad's CC's were 7 then finally 10 HP GD's. It seemed like we mowed a WHOLE lot, but actually it was little patches scattered over about 1-1/2 acres. Think I mowed maybe 2/10ths of a mile of road bank weekly. If I mowed Everything I'd have to add gas to the 5 quart tank on the 70 to finish.
Hydraulics on a lawn mower were probably laughed about at first. But with the bigger mowers & attachments like on SGT's they make sense. There were several situations where the ability to run aux. remotes would have been great if there had been more PSI & GPM. I'd have to check some of my books but I think it was in the 1950's when hydraulic systems became "standard" on FARMALL tractors. Most dealers had a "standard LIST of Options" they got on every tractor they ordered which helped reduce variation on service & repair parts. Most tractors were ordered for Stock, very few were special ordered, but that did and still does happen. I've actually read in many farm magazines that the big ag companies are considering going to ALL special orders, finished inventory is way too expensive for dealers to sit on anymore.
For a LOT of people that difference in cost made a LOT of difference in the buying decision. For the most part TIME to mow grass was plentiful in summer. Critical times were spring & fall when mowing wasn't necessary, with random periods where things like combining oats, or baling hay HAD to be done to beat the weather. Mowing the yard could wait. So all of Dad's CC's were 7 then finally 10 HP GD's. It seemed like we mowed a WHOLE lot, but actually it was little patches scattered over about 1-1/2 acres. Think I mowed maybe 2/10ths of a mile of road bank weekly. If I mowed Everything I'd have to add gas to the 5 quart tank on the 70 to finish.
Hydraulics on a lawn mower were probably laughed about at first. But with the bigger mowers & attachments like on SGT's they make sense. There were several situations where the ability to run aux. remotes would have been great if there had been more PSI & GPM. I'd have to check some of my books but I think it was in the 1950's when hydraulic systems became "standard" on FARMALL tractors. Most dealers had a "standard LIST of Options" they got on every tractor they ordered which helped reduce variation on service & repair parts. Most tractors were ordered for Stock, very few were special ordered, but that did and still does happen. I've actually read in many farm magazines that the big ag companies are considering going to ALL special orders, finished inventory is way too expensive for dealers to sit on anymore.
