Ariens Edge 42 Mowing Review | Mow With Me! 

6/3/21, Identical to Gravely ztx42 which I just got a month ago. Beats my walking mower (by c/mile!); I start out w/string trimmer for tight spots & the rest w/machine. Priced right (tx/prep/del. $4089.13. from lcl dlr), right size for my property. 3things: no floor mat (G-brand-$40.) so I cut up an old rubber doormat 2size--voila! Gravely-brand tarp, $100., found 1 on amzn, $40.; no hitch (G-brand-$52....) :/( .... so I found 1 on ebay, $13., fits anything, just bolt onto existing holes. If only I could've found a pc of scrap angle iron I could make that pc, but then I'd probably have 2buy that2. You have a wonderful day!

Thank you for the review ....I'm a big man ....I see you look comfortable on it ....would you recommend this over the bad boy brand ...people keep bringing up bad boy ....they say it's deck is the strongest....what's your thoughts ...I like the ariens also ...I keep seeing reviews all over the place ...I'm confused what too choose ...I will be mowing 1 acre...my total yard size

You won't like this Ariens Edge. It's too small for me or other large people but you would like the Ariens IKON XD. It's larger and it fits me well. Same goes for the Bad Boy mowers. The Bad Boy MZ and MZ Magnum are smaller mowers. Go with the ZT-Elite. Which one is better - the IKON XD or the ZT-Elite? I really like the cut of the IKON XD but the ride of the ZT-Elite is better. If you want the very best cut go with the Ariens. If you lawn is really rough the ZT-Elite is a better choice.

@@PaulSikkema thank you so much for replying back too me

How do you like it? Were you looking at upgrading to Gravely at any point?

I like this mower a lot. I't very agile and mows perfectly. For many homeowners with a 1/2 to 2 acre lawn the Edge is a great choice. The entry level Gravely is a heavier duty mower and it very well suited for rougher lawns. I will review the Ariens IKON XD in the next week and that compares to the Gravely.

Very few brands will transfer the original warranty. That said, Ariens dealers are required to perform warranty work on your Ariens mower and snow blower no matter where you purchased it. Yes, Toro/Exmark has about 50% of the market share so there are more Exmark dealers in many areas of the country than Ariens dealers. (When I help people find the best mower for them one of the first questions I ask is what brands are offered in your area) If you are comparing an Exmark Quest to an Ariens make sure you are comparing "apples to apples." The Ariens APEX is the model you should be comparing the Quest to.

Thank you for the review. Yes, this mower cuts great and is a very agile mower. Because it's a residential mower and very lightweight compared to the commercial ZTRs it is not designed for slopes.

I hear ya. I'm in the same boat.

This video is a little dated. If you want to buy now I suggest taking a look at the 2023 Ariens IKON. It's $200 more but a lot stronger zero-turn.

@@PaulSikkema thanks. Retired and moved from Arizona where I had rocks for a yard, to Oklahoma and grass everywhere.

The vertical shaft engines used on the Ariens are made in the U.S.A. Yes, The snowblower engines are made in China by a U.S. company (LCT) in a plant they own.

Paul Sikkema Are the engines assembled in the USA using global supplied components?

Of course. 90% of the nuts, bolts and other fasteners are made in Taiwan. The majority of electrical is made in Mexico, Europe and a little in China. Most carbs are made in Indonesia.

I agree somewhat. You are right that most of the time a good 21-inch mower with a bagging blade will cut better than a residential 42-48 inch deck. (that's why Consumer Reports almost always rates a 42 inch deck better than the "large" decks.) But with the deep fabricated decks they should all cut well. I actually think a commercial 60 inch 5 inch deep deck will cut better than your 21 inch. My fabricated Exmark 42 inch is one of the best cutting mowers I've owned but this Ariens is just a little better. The Ariens does a wonderful job at lifting even the weak grass and cutting it evenly. Deck design is a lot more complicated than it looks. And too many companies are still using designs they came up with 20 years ago. I think that's why this Ariens cuts so well. Ariens spent the last 5 years tweaking their deck until they got it this good.

@@PaulSikkema Thanks! Makes sense.

Installing the mulch kit is something I could do. I don't use mounted baggers so I wouldn't spend the money just to review it. Instead, I mulch and then pick up any leftovers with a pull-behind lawn sweeper.

No problems with scalping. The front casters on the EDGE are set a lot closer to the deck than most other ztrs. They ride over the bump and replace anti-scalp wheels.

The XD does have more features and is built stronger than the EDGE for only a few hundred more. If you really want the EDGE I strongly suggest sitting on one before you buy it. It's a small, lightweight ZTR and it's too small for my big rear end. (It's just perfect for my 5 ft 8 in, 170 lb son-in-lawn though)

The IKON XD has a heavier-duty frame and is just bigger. I have a hard time fitting my fat butt on the Edge but I have plenty of room on the IKON XD. The Ikon XD also has better available engines and larger front tires/casters. The IKON XD also has a 3-blade 42 inch deck and really, really mulches well.

@@PaulSikkema Thanks Paul I just purchased the Ikon Xd 42 model 915268 from a dealer up here in Rochester N.Y. It was delivered yesterday, it looks a lot bigger siting in my garage lol:) Its towards the end of season here so i'm gonna wait till spring to cut with it. and to be honest i like both engines the kawi that came with this mover as you know already, and the Kohler is fine as well. but myself personal i wish it came with a brigs and Stratton. my old 42 sears craftsman came with it lasted me over 8 years, just a solid engine, but again that's just my opinion. keep up the great reviews Paul, Again we purchased this machine all because of you! and your awesome videos! all us via Utube appreciate you more than you know! ps i cant wait to cut the yard next spring, have a great day my good Friend, peace and love the Pryors.

Oh and one last thing:) I purchased this out the door with tax and the rubber mat with delivery for 3,438.93 from Victor power Equipment :) I called ten dealerships b/f purchase. some wanted 300 to 550 more for the exact mower good lord lol

I expect you will get a lot more than 8 years out of the Kawasaki - plus you won't have to worry about adjusting the valves at some time in the future.

I'm glad you got it for a good price. Everything - including this iKON XD will be a lot more expensive next year. The Pandemic, parts shortages, fuel prices, etc. are all contributing to a big price jump. Unfortunately the more metal or resin the product has in it the higher the cost will be.

Toro Timecuttter 50 inch, Cub Cadet XT2 50 inch and Ariens IKON XD 52 inch are great choices. They have a wider stance than the 42 inch mowers so they will easily handle your slope.

@@PaulSikkema Thank you!

If you want a ZTR that will last as long or longer than you Simplicity I recommend spending right around $3000. $3000 will give you a heavy-duty fabricated deck, a good engine and a solid frame that will last. The Ariens Edge in this video doesn't fit that criteria. Although it's a nice mower, it's a small, lightweight unit and for just a few hundred more you can get a heavier duty model. So, my choices in 42 inch are. Ariens IKON XD Model 915265 (Kohler) Ariens IKON XD Model 915268 (Kawasaki) Toro TimeCutter Model 75746 (Kohler) Toro TimeCutter Model 75744 (Toro Commercial) The Ariens IKON XD has a fabricated deck with 4-point mounting. This works especially well if your lawn is rough and has a lot of bumps and dips. I also like the larger 20 inch rear tire for better traction on slopes and soft ground. The Toro TimeCutter has a fabricated deck. It has the SmartSpeed drive control which allows you to slow the unit down for trimming and has a position for pulling loads in you yard cart, etc. The Tow position puts less strain on the transmissions so they last longer pulling stuff. I also like the larger front casters. It makes the mower ride better if you lawn is really rough. Toro does make this mower with the MyRide operator platform if you want the most comfortable ride (Model 75747) It's $3799. Personally, I have no preference. All of these mowers cut really, really well, have strong frames, and are easy to use. I also have no preference for one engine or the other. The Kohler, Kawasaki and Toro engines are al the best you can get. So, which is the best for you? I strongly suggest going to your local Ariens and local Toro dealer. Listen to them, get to know them and buy from the dealer you like the best.

@@PaulSikkema Thank you so much Paul. I did visit my Toro dealer last week and he showed me the 42" Timecutter with molded deck, Toro engine. He felt that would be good for my 1/2 acre lot. I like to research and found your thoughts on that Ariens 42". Trying to visit Ariens this afternoon to better compare the two.

I didn't mention the stamped deck because I think the fabricated decks on the ones I mentioned cut better and they definitely will last longer. If you want to get 20 years out of one - buy the fab deck.

Yes, there is a mulch kit and bagger available.

I expect the mulching kit to . very, very well. It is a full baffle kit and each blade is fully enclosed so there is now wind-rowing

The third section of lawn I mowed in the video is pretty rough past the tree and I noticed it rode a lot better than my Exmark Quest. It's about 8 inches shorter than the Exmark and I think that's why it rides better. Wider front tires are needed if you have very light, soft ground but for a "normal" lawn these are just right - especially for a 42 inch mower.

In this video no. I installed the Ariens Edge mulch kit last year and comes with a set of low lift blades. The kit is a set of bolt in baffles that keep the grass clippings in contact with the blades until they are chopped fine enough to fall into your turf.

Yes, the IKON 52 has a much wider stance so it will handle slopes a lot better than the EDGE

Are any of those reviews from this year? And if they are - were they on the Ariens Edge? I could only find one review where the mower had a problem right out of the box. Ariens does not make a 46 inch deck. Are you sure you weren't looking at older Cub Cadet reviews? The previous generation of Cub Cadet lawn tractors and a few older ZTRs had belt issues.

No, the yellow handle is the parking brake. The height is set with the lever between the foot pedal and the yellow handle. Watch this video and your questions will be answered: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-98jNZ9NSCjw.html

The first thing I would do is sit on an Edge and make sure it's big enough for you. If you are over 6 feet tall or overweight you may feel the operator area is restrictive. You definitely get $200 more strength and durability in the Ikon. Watch my review of the IKON 52 an you'll see the difference.

@@PaulSikkema Paul, a specific concern I have about the IKON XD with the 42 deck (which is the one I'd buy) is that the deck does not stick out to the left any appreciable distance past the rear wheel and the front caster. It must terrible to trim around trees, poles, flowerbeds, and even along fence lines. Thoughts?

Yes, all 42 inch zero-turns and 42 inch lawn tractors don't trim as close as a wider deck. Personally, I designed my landscaping with large sweeping curves so that was not a problem. I also put mulch around smaller trees, etc., so I didn't have to make multiple trips around the object to mow with a 42 inch. I also chemically edged along chain link fences and foundations so I didn't have to get close or go back and use a string trimmer. Since I've gotten the Ariens XD 50 with the offset deck I'll never go back to a 42 inch mower - even if I have a small yard :) It trims so easily compared to a 42 inch.

The XD is built stronger and has more room for larger people than the EDGE. If you are on the fence I will suggest the XD every time.

The XD is a step up from this model. Heavier frame, bigger engine, better seat, etc. On this one, the EDGE the deck is offset so you can easily trim along pavers but I haven't looked at the XD 42 close enough to see if it's the same way. From the pictures it looks like the deck sticks out about 2 inches on the left side.

XD 42 doesn’t offer you much hangover on the left side

Yes, the XD is a wider frame. The 52 inch really hangs out on the left!

The gas powered wheeled trimmers work well for heavy grasses. If you have ditches, culverts, around farm machinery, etc. they are a good choice. But a good one is expensive - around $700. I don't recommend anything from Husqvarna and the MTD models are not that much better.

It has had no issues and it still looks like new! I just changed the oil/filters in it last weekend. I installed the mulch kit one year ago and it really does a good job of mulching grass and leaves. It's being used on a 1/2 acre property near Chicago and my daughter loves it! If you install the mulch kit I suggest you get an extra set of mulching blades right away. That way you can always have a sharp set ready to use. I had a hard time finding an extra set.

@@PaulSikkemathanks for the reply. I went by a dealer to look in person and the guy told me if you use it as intended, residential of small/medium (I’m on an acre) they’re great and the only issues he hears if folks attempt to use this model as commercial and wasn’t built for that. Guess I’ll grab it Friday!

6 MPH. There is no suspension on ZTR's. (Except Simplicity/Ferris) What you hear is the deck hangers. My microphone picked up the noise from the deck hangers but I didn't hear that myself. (The sound must be the same frequency as human speech) The deck hangers/chains on All ZTR's actually rattle.

With the discharge chute lifted up the mower will be about 46 inches wide. The edges of the poly chute will rub on the gate but it's flexible so you won't damage the gate or the mower.

@@PaulSikkema thank you very much

No, It doesn't vibrate. There is something wrong with the Cub Cadet. Bent blade, loose spindle, too much stuff wrapped around a spindle, didn't balance the blades when they were sharpened.

I just bought the 34" edge for similar size yard and it's perfect

Just to be clear because I'll get the question. Yes, the hydros are different. They both have the same specs except Toro uses 3/4 inch axles - the Ariens uses 1 inch axle.

I don't have the exact prices. Please check with your local Ariens dealer.

1. I assume you are cutting no more than one-two inches at a time. 2. Check the blades and make sure you have them installed correctly. (the sail points up into the deck. (sorry, I've actually installed blades wrong myself) 3. Check the blade length against the original blades. Are they shorter? Personally, I would install the old blades and see if that fixed the problem. Let me know if any of these ideas fix the problem. If not, let me know also and I'll see if I can get a faster answer. Did you buy the mower from a dealer?

@@PaulSikkema 1) Correct. 2) Blades are on correctly. 3) I checked the blades and they seem to be the same length. I will try the original blades. I had to buy it online because everybody was out of stock. I wanted the Icon XD but I couldn't find one anywhere. I saw 2 reviews from Lowes website on the mulch kit, both bad and same problem. I will get back to you after I try original blades. I'm really disappointed because I only mulch. Is there any way I can keep in contact with you about this other than on this public site?

Go over to todaysmower.com and this article: todaysmower.com/april-savings-at-cub-cadet/ LEAVE A REPLY at the end of the article and I'll be able to capture your email there so we can talk more.

@@PaulSikkema Just to let you know I installed the original blades. The cut is better but there is still uncut blades of grass right down the middle of the cutting swath. Totally unacceptable. I have contacted Ariens and they suggested I change the blades back to the original ones also so basically no remediation of the problem. They told me to contact a Authorized Ariens servicing dealer if I needed further assistance. I also called the online seller Mower Source and they told me they can't help me after I put gas in it it's non returnable. They suggested I call Ariens which I did. Any thoughts Paul?

I have been waiting for you to contact me over at todaysmower.com. I'll tell you what I find out over there.

I would recommend the IKON XD or APEX in a 48-52 inch width. They will both last you along, long time and they cut great!

Ok, thank you sir! You really helped me pick out a snowblower from your videos as well. Ariens deluxe 30 is an amazing machine

Look at the ExMark Quest S Series. The difference is obvious.

I own a Quest and yes, the difference is obvious. But, the Quest is over $2000 more! For a homeowner with a small, well kept yard the EDGE is an excellent choice.

Generally, the wheel base is wider on a wider deck mower. Or - the larger deck mower will have wider tires giving it more stability.

@@PaulSikkema Thanks so how much better would most 48-52" decks be over a 42" deck? Noticeable?

Just to be very clear. Mowing slopes greater than 15 degrees with a zero-turn is not recommended by ANY manufacturer beside Kut Kwick. That said, I would be worried about a 42 inch tipping over on a steep slope whereas a 52 or 60 with a wider tire track would most likely slide down the slope.

@@PaulSikkema Advise noted! Was wanting a smaller deck for maneuverability but may need to reconsider for safety reasons?

So, let me see if I understand this. You bought the mower, brought it home, put gas in it. The engine would not crank over? Was the battery fully charged? (the big-box stores doesn't do this for you and sometimes when you buy one that's been sitting outside the battery will need a charge the first time) You missed one thing to do. Throw out that old gas can and go buy a good sealed one. I'm going to guess that your od can has water, dirt and/or other debris in it and it's clogging up you fuel system. You'll have to figure out how to get the fuel out of your mower and put fresh clean fuel in it.

I say it the same way

gyro, yearo, gearo, jihro...people with the Ariens last name pronounce it with the i silent.

Me too, and for years. Learn something new every day.