mower rebuild cost

I wanted to share a recent receipt for a mower I worked on. To properly rebuild a mower the parts cost more than most folks might think. I will cut and paste and add a few more comments for clarification at the end. Obviously cut and paste from word – not so good!
RECEIPT March 11, 2016

Donn’s Mower Shop
3501 Hoxie Gorge – Freetown Rd.
Marathon, NY 13803
(607) 849-4442

Customer:

Count Part Price Total
1 Mower body – good condition 400.00 400.00
With inner shoe, push bar, inner shoe hinge, outer shoe
Timing bar, lift system, new seat, 4 ½ cutter bar
3 Stub Guards w/ bolt 5.50 16.50
7 Double guards – 218 w/ bolts 11.00 77.00
4 Wear plates 1.20 4.80
4 Hold downs – adj L600 6.50 26.00
1 Pitman stick (used) 40.00 40.00
1 Knife head cap 11.00 11.00
2 Knife head wear plate 6.00 12.00
1 Inner shoe sole 9.00 9.00
1 Outer shoe sole 11.00 11.00
1 Inner shoe ledger plate w/ bolts 8.00 8.00
1 Outer shoe ledger plate w/ bolts 5.00 5.00
1 5 foot knife (cut to 4 ½’) 80.00 80.00
1 Grassboard w/ spring, bolt 35.00 35.00
1 Dolly wheel 190.00 190.00
1 Shaft set up 150.00 150.00
1 Pitman shaft 22.00 22.00
1 whiffle tree (used) 5.00 5.00

TOTAL $1,102.30

Further clarification. There is not really any labor included in this bill. This mower was built as a group project. The only labor of mine included is about $100 out of the cost for a custom shaft set up. Some would point out that a dolly wheel is either not really needed, or possibly even detracts from the mower. I just happen to like them and found it an easy way to set shaft for a one horse mower. This could save $190. If you remove the cost of the shafts however, remember you will need a tongue, evener, and possibly a neck yoke. many folks would like to reuse the cutter bar parts found on the mower, and in a few cases this may be possible, but usually new knifes, hold downs, and wear plate are the best way to to start with a newly rebuilt mower. These parts would cost even more for a longer bar as this bar was assembled with a 4 1/2 foot bar.

I just wanted to share all this for folks considering buying or working on a mower. When you see a good rebuilt mower for $800 or $1000, don’t hesitate if this is the machine you need. Please feel free to ask questions about this mower if you like. Donn

ps. I used a good used pitman for $40, but a good new one would be $85. The cost of parts has been fairly stable for two or three years but I did notice a slight increase this spring. I try NOT to ship parts to folks, only because they can get them cheaper by buying from Master equipment as I have done, but I will gladly help folks fine the parts they need.