I've owned this same mower for a little over a year. I've got 5 hilly acres that I mow with 40ish hours on the machine. The factory tires were not good and I replaced with a SUNF off road tired on amazon for $100. They can tear up grass if you aren't careful but are night and day on traction. I put a chute blocker on it for mulching leaves and not spraying clippings in mulch bed and driveway. It works great and covers the cut out section on the deck. One headlight went out, but i never use them. I have run multiple types blades on the unit. I am currently running an x blade setup with the factory set and some I got on amazon (gravely oem advertised). The x blade setup throws the clippings much farther and leaves a better cut in my opinion; however, you need to start the blades at half throttle and increase once they are running. No other issues so far. Engine seems very powerful. I think it ran around $3700 on sale. I've heard of a lot issues with machines and appliances built during the supply shortage over the last few years. Not surprised to hear of some lemons out there. Seems like a crap shoot as to whether you got a good or bad one.
I’m on the third season and 100 hours on my ‘21 ikon 52. It’s been trouble free so far. I blow it off after each use and wash it every couple of weeks. It still looks and runs like new.
@@jimpark4600 I've hit mine several times, it gives, and seems to be pretty rugged. I like it because it doesn't leave a line of grass right at the edge, it allows the grass to fly out farther than any other I've used.
My grass chute cracked early on. Then it popped off. I plastic welded it back together but haven't put it back on yet. My 42" JD had a more durable chute by far. Not as tough as it should be.
I've seen where ones purchased at Lowe's will often be missing a pulley spacer on one of the drive belt pulleys which is what chews a lot of them up as the pulleys won't be even. Folks can add their own spacer or washers to even out the pulleys and that will solve the belt problem. I think it's mainly from Lowe's employees just assembling them sloppily. Most dealerships will pay more attention when assembling them so it isn't typically an issue then. I'm going to make my old mower last the rest of this year come hell or high water, lol. It's 14 years old and has 419 hours on it. Not bad for a standard Poulan Pro 46" cut w/ a 20hp single cylinder B&S though. I'll retire it next year and just use it as a small tractor for trailer towing, dethatching, etc. and I'll get one of those Ikons to replace it with. I have an Ariens Sno-Thro that has lasted many, many years and still cranks by the 2nd pull so I know they make quality equipment.
Mine is a 2 year old from Lowes. We live on fairly rough terrain. I have same as factory sized quad tires on the rear, and polyurethane no flat fronts. Replaced PTO once, and Hydro twice. Added spacer to pulley where needed 1st time. Bought Kevlar belts on Amazon for all. 2nd Hydro belt did not shred as bad on 2nd failure. 29.3 hours.
I mow about 2 of 5.63 acres, and run it on trails in the woods to knock down saplings. It leads a hard life. Mine does not have the step, or the top acces panel. I can change a Hydro belt only, in an hour. This time I took deck off and sharpened blades. PTO was good enough to keep. PTO is about 30-40 minutes.
I am looking into the Ikon Onyx. For just a few hundred more you get aggressive tread, seat isolation, rubber foot mat, and a couple other useful upgrades. I have definitely been apprehensive due to all the belt complaints. Would be nice if Ariens would come out and address this with a statement of some kind.
I got the Onyx last weekend. I needed the tires and wanted the floor mat. Ariens was giving $250 off on all the Ikon series except for the Onyx, but I added up the cost of all the options that are standard on the Onyx, (tires, floor mat, seat isolators, tool tray, deck lift assist spring, transport lock), and it was still cheaper than the standard Ikon with the options added. I mowed my lawn for the first time this year with it, (the weekend before Memorial Day!). The grass was literally 30" high. I even sliced a couple of chunks off of a cement foundation that is in my yard, not even a nick in the blade! This thing is a monster, super happy with it.
We purchased the ikon onyx 8/23, very pleased and satisfied so far! These mowers seem to be well built,I’m 54 and hoping this is the last mower we have to buy!🤞
@@jaymeyers950 Awesome machine. I almost bought another cub as well. I just liked the size of this mower and wanted the Kawasaki engine. Home Depot sells the cub with a Kawasaki but it was a 50”. I had a 48” Toro and promised myself I would go to a 54” but ended up going with the Ariens 52”.
@@jimpark4600 I got my cub cadet from tractor supply its 42 think my next one going to be bad boy revolt stand on mower won't take up so much room in the shed might be 54 inches
@@jaymeyers950 standons are nice. I just don’t want to stand for two hours mowing. I had a walk behind toro turbo force 48” and I put a sulky on it so I didn’t have to walk. However on sharp turns or bumps that would make me squeeze the steering I fell off a few times. Embarrassing but not hurt. I just decide I would start sitting again. I also have more energy after mowing to go out for dinner with my wife. Before I would come in shower and want to stay at home because I was tired.
I've had my 52" IKON 2 years. It's shredded or broken 3 drive belts, 1 after learning of and modifying idler pulley position. The center pinion broke, was welded back to deck after beefing up deck metal(too thin for proper weld ) chute guard broken and fixed twice. Now the right rear drive casing broke into when 3rd drive belt jumped and got stuck. I do all maintenance, only do my residence of approximately 2.5 acres grass. IKON that I bought is a piece of crap. Cheap bad metal in structure positions. Count your blessings. Maybe Ariens has bad Friday manufacturing days like FORD did but I would not give 2 cents for another. The Kawasaki 23 is a good engine. Would love to get my money back to by a better product.
Kawasaki recommends every 100 hours. I change mine every season. So I will be over 50 hours by the end of the season and will change it. It is cheap insurance. I think it around 1 or 2 quarts and a filter. To me it is batter to be safe than sorry.
@@jimpark4600 why did I ask you for an oil change, previously the first oil change in the description was recommended to be changed after 8 hours, and then after 100 hours, but now I see only after 100 hours the first oil change, I plan to change it at 25 hours
The Kawasaki manual doesn’t say anything about a break-in. They just recommend every 100 hours. The only thing they suggest is to check the oil before you start which I did and it was 100% full and clean.
I bought mine. Piece of junk. Returned it at only 3 hours, had electrical problems. That should’ve been my warning to just get my money back. I got a new one and it felt… off… long story short I hate this mower. I can’t get it out the shop. Had it for two years and I think I’ve only used it a total of 14 days total in those two weeks. I have another mower I trust, this one turned into the ugly untrustworthy person you only call when you have no other option and try to finish using it as fast as I can and go back to my other mower.
