That's the first time I've ever seen you in a video Chris. Didn't really know what to expect. Just as much class here as you are on building models. --Dave
Thanks for the great review. I ordered one yesterday. Here in Sweden they sell it under the Mcculloch brand. Thanks to your video I have a clearer picture of what I am getting.
Thank you! Really enjoying mine. Great for when the grass grows a bit too tall to push mow and especially when it gets really hot and I just want to sit and ride and not shove a mower. Under the seat is a label that has the serial number and it says the machine is made by Husqvarna, I'm guessing they make them and just put other company labels on them depending on the market.
Great video. Nice job with all the explanation of the controls and were all the important parts are. I will buy this Poulan over the tro-built, seems to be a lot better to handle and maintain. Thanks again for the video.
Thanks hpiguy! I just ordered one today and should get it delivered to the house in about a week to 10 days. Can't wait! I bought it online, sight-unseen with only the feedback from buyer comments to go on. Your video review made me feel MUCH better about my purchase! I live in Florida, moved here from Ohio, and my original plan of push mowing our 1/2 acre lot didn't pan out because of how hard it is to "push" a mower through the Florida grass (VERY different than Ohio grass ) :) Thanks again! I REALLY appreciate your review! If you were here in Florida, I'd buy you a nice steak dinner for your efforts! :)
+hpiguy's Workshop Received my Poulan Pro and LOVE it. I'm missing the screen and bolt for the battery to attach the negative cable - must have fallen out in shipping :( Where would I get a replacement for that? Any thoughts?
+Robert Edwards Tigergreg is correct. Go back to the place that sold it and get one for free or call Poulan and have them mail you the parts, no charge.
Nice video. I only wish you had done one more thing and that would be to show each step you took to start the mower while you were starting the mower. I get lost on the clutch. Very nice of you to do this for us! Thanks, Chris
Excellent review video hpiguy. You went over the mower thoroughly and I found it very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to do it up right. I have one question: Can you shift on the fly with this thing? By that I mean can you start out in 1st gear and shift up and down without stopping? I can't seem to find the information elsewhere.
Thank's for the review, one of the comments may have helped me get this lemon working again !I hate this mower! I would have taken it back , except that the first time I used it the deck height lever got caught in my chain link fence and became badly bent. This mower is supposed to be for use in smaller yards, why does the lever stick out past the plane of the wheels? Very bad design! Several weeks later it quit while I was using it, and now won't start. When I went to roll it into my workshop to fix it, I found it would not go into neutral and would not roll forward or backward even when the transmission dis-engagement lever is pulled out. I see several other people have had these problems also. If I can get the transmission working again I will leave a comment saying how. if anyone else knows how, please share that information with the three of us who are having this problem
Nice review. Just one thing. You maybe should mention to check the oil before starting. Even if the manufacturer says it is factory filled. Bought a gas push mower once and that said it was factory filled, but good thing I check first, because it was not.I enjoy all your reviews, especially the hobby kits.
I'm interested in comparing this to the Cub Cadet rear engine 30". Looks about the same but nobody around me sells it. Your lawn looks a little sad, dude! But then, it's March. :) I love that the seat has holes in it. Smart! I'm always having to wipe the collected dew/water off the seat of my tractor. Why doesn't everyone do this for mower seats?
I truly wish the operators manual actually told people like me how to do the maintenance. I guess they just assume everyone is a riding mower expert. Useless website and they don't have a phone # to call.
Page 18 in the manual shows how to change oil. The transmission is maintenance free. Battery, belt and blade changes are also covered in the manual. Those would be the only things you would have to do on this for the most part. www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/ef/ef63d37b-5968-49da-84ed-2b2728c6cc16.pdf
I used to own this but before they replaced it with the gear transmission. I had the slip disk model. and it would not move on ANY incline. sold it for 70$
No issues so far. Nice and strong, even with my significant girth on it. Up and down the yard, up and down the driveway approaches. I even have a small dump trailer for it now and a slit aerator to drag behind.
Can you leave in on the mowing in reverse all the time. or should you on put it in that mode when you are mowing in reverse. thanks for the great review!
I leave the key turned to the Reverse Mow position each time I use it in case I want to mow in reverse by the garage or flower beds, etc. It doesn't hurt anything, it just disables the engine shut down safety feature when the mower deck is engaged.
I have this same mower that I recently purchased used. I’m very happy with the mower and its performance until today. My hope is that you can help me trouble shoot the issue. As you know this mower has a safety switch that shuts the mower down if you try to put in reverse with the blade engaged. Today, when I engaged the mower while in the forward gear the engine died. I located the safety switch and in plugged it. Then the mower worked fine for a couple of passes. However, it soon died when the blade was engaged. Now, the mower will not engage in any gear without it dying. Can you help me diagnose the issue?
did you say 13 and 16 inch tires? my cobra mustang has 16 inch wheels? splain please. a mis speak? i just bought this at badcock furniture for $1200. if i get 3 seasons out of it im happy. i have a big but east yard (no hills, rocks gravel, brush or gardens) , good review. ps. you look like youre having too much fun on it
Yes, 13 inch and 16 inch tires, not rims. Agriculture tires are measured at outer diameter of the tire along with rim size. I didn't measure the rim, but the tires are sold as 13 and 16 inch tires. Funny, I know. Yes, I really like it. Did great hauling rock in my trailer this summer for my pond too. Gives a great cut and surprised me with it's power.
I've got a shot at picking a used one up for 200.00 if it runs good. Anything to look for as far as trouble!?.. looks good, deck looks good, new front tires.
Doesn't blow oil when it runs, all four gears in the transmission roll smooth when you ride, clutch doesn't slip when you let it out and the front steering isn't too loose, that's about it.
@@hpiguy thanks for the reply!! I went and drove it. It's very quiet. No smoke, tight steering. It is VERY jerky when you let off the brake/ clutch. But it runs great in every gear. Seems to b a steal, new tires and battery, 200.00 Thanks for the review. I guess the jerky gears, "when changing", is common. Again, thank you.
I'm having issues with steering, we have replaced the parts twice, any ideas, wont turn right, just clicks (feels like its in the lower part of steering column), gears were replaced again, first time it lasted a few mows, this time we didn't even make it through one mow and its already not turning right again? Any tips?
You should be able to google the parts manual for it and find it quickly. www.partstree.com/models/pb-301-960220027-00-poulan-pro-lawn-tractor-2014-10/
Great, every Thursday night I get to take it for a cruise. Pops right off with a turn of the key. I even trailered it to the GFs house when she let her acre lot get really thick (8-9 inches) and this plowed through. But I left it in 1st gear the entire time to not bog it down.
Question. I have a pretty small lot. Maybe .25 acres, probably smaller. Anyway, I got injured recently and can't really walk the greatest anymore so a standard mower is out of the question. Do you think this riding mower would work for that small if a lot? Thank you!
Yup, it would work well for that. But it won't get into tight corners and stuff of course, being a rider the blade is in the middle, not out front. I can mow behind my yard swing and it's barely three feet wide back there. I can get right up against flower beds and trim in 1st gear, it crawls in first, very nice.
By chance, can you provide the belt model number. My belt broke on my PB301 and trying to find it at any of the Big Box stores is futile at best. Even going to Poulan's web site is of no help without the part number. I've checked my belt and there is no number printed on the belt. Thank you in advance.
When you got the mower, it should have had a user manual and a separate parts manual as well. It's a small booklet, 27 pages. I checked my manual and on the mower here it says the part number is 584293701 . It's a Husqvarna part since they are who makes this mower for Poulan. I googled it and it comes up around $26. www.husqvarnapartstore.com/?gclid=CJKYpdir_s0CFUeUfgod4z4CEw#/s/HUS//584293701/1
really? i would think those would be something like 2 0r 3 inch tires...ok thanks...ill get mine later today or tomorrow......say, by any chance would you know the measurement of the box? i have a kia soul and wondering if it would fit, my last mower did it was a poulan self propelled.....only need width and height. cant find it on the website
hpiguys Workshop just went to get it, they assembled it already. so we couldn't get it in the suv. I'll have my friend with a trailer get it on fri. it's a nice lookin little rider. just the type I wanted. the comparible ones in troy bilt, craftsman and others if the same kind seem to be 9hp. this it 10.5 so that's a bonus....can hardly wait to get out there and mow. vvrroooom
The parts book that came with the mower will tell you what battery it uses and you can find a generic equivalent for about $25 online. I replaced mine about a year ago with a $20 one from Ebay and it works perfectly. You can look the parts manual up online if for some reason you threw out all the manuals that came with it.
No issues yet. Haven't fired it up this spring yet, we keep getting snow. But it stored fine and was running perfect so I'd assume it's fine for yet another year.
That's the first time I've ever seen you in a video Chris. Didn't really know what to expect. Just as much class here as you are on building models.
--Dave
Thanks for the great review. I ordered one yesterday. Here in Sweden they sell it under the Mcculloch brand. Thanks to your video I have a clearer picture of what I am getting.
Thank you! Really enjoying mine. Great for when the grass grows a bit too tall to push mow and especially when it gets really hot and I just want to sit and ride and not shove a mower.
Under the seat is a label that has the serial number and it says the machine is made by Husqvarna, I'm guessing they make them and just put other company labels on them depending on the market.
Great Review! Explanation of the key features and maintenance items where explained perfectly! Subscribed.
Thanks!
Very Nice review. I bought one today at Home Depot based on your video. My knees are not good any more and it seems easy to get on an off.
Great video. Nice job with all the explanation of the controls and were all the important parts are. I will buy this Poulan over the tro-built, seems to be a lot better to handle and maintain. Thanks again for the video.
Thank you!
Thanks hpiguy! I just ordered one today and should get it delivered to the house in about a week to 10 days. Can't wait! I bought it online, sight-unseen with only the feedback from buyer comments to go on. Your video review made me feel MUCH better about my purchase! I live in Florida, moved here from Ohio, and my original plan of push mowing our 1/2 acre lot didn't pan out because of how hard it is to "push" a mower through the Florida grass (VERY different than Ohio grass ) :) Thanks again! I REALLY appreciate your review! If you were here in Florida, I'd buy you a nice steak dinner for your efforts! :)
+Robert Edwards Thanks for the nice words. It's a nice size machine for yards our size.
+hpiguy's Workshop Received my Poulan Pro and LOVE it. I'm missing the screen and bolt for the battery to attach the negative cable - must have fallen out in shipping :( Where would I get a replacement for that? Any thoughts?
+Robert Edwards Call the company or where you bought it, I'm willing to bet they replace it no questions.
+Robert Edwards Tigergreg is correct. Go back to the place that sold it and get one for free or call Poulan and have them mail you the parts, no charge.
Nice video. I only wish you had done one more thing and that would be to show each step you took to start the mower while you were starting the mower. I get lost on the clutch. Very nice of you to do this for us! Thanks, Chris
Press on the brake/clutch pedal (so that it doesn't lurch forward) and turn the key to start, as simple as that. Very easy to get running.
I picked up one of these in March
mowing grass is a breeze again!!
It's a nice machine!
Thank you for the very thorough review.
Thanks Chance!
Excellent review! :)
Thanks!
Excellent review video hpiguy. You went over the mower thoroughly and I found it very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to do it up right.
I have one question: Can you shift on the fly with this thing? By that I mean can you start out in 1st gear and shift up and down without stopping? I can't seem to find the information elsewhere.
Yes, you can go from 1st thru 4th without stopping.
Excellent review
Thanks!
That would be helpful. Thank you.
Thank's for the review, one of the comments may have helped me get this lemon working again !I hate this mower! I would have taken it back , except that the first time I used it the deck height lever got caught in my chain link fence and became badly bent. This mower is supposed to be for use in smaller yards, why does the lever stick out past the plane of the wheels? Very bad design! Several weeks later it quit while I was using it, and now won't start. When I went to roll it into my workshop to fix it, I found it would not go into neutral and would not roll forward or backward even when the transmission dis-engagement lever is pulled out. I see several other people have had these problems also. If I can get the transmission working again I will leave a comment saying how. if anyone else knows how, please share that information with the three of us who are having this problem
Kind of you to update people.
If you get things to work I'll be happy to pin your comment to the top so others find it easily.
Nice review. Just one thing. You maybe should mention to check the oil before starting. Even if the manufacturer says it is factory filled. Bought a gas push mower once and that said it was factory filled, but good thing I check first, because it was not.I enjoy all your reviews, especially the hobby kits.
+Garfield Smith Yup, the manual recommends checking the oil as well.
On your Poulan Pro PB301 when you increase your engine does your blade spin the same speed or faster
How do I hook the battery back up to that thing I got the same model
Damn it, Jerry!
Sir, I have a tractor that is the same, but it has a problem. The belt breaks. I don't know if it hasn't happened to you.
I'm interested in comparing this to the Cub Cadet rear engine 30". Looks about the same but nobody around me sells it. Your lawn looks a little sad, dude! But then, it's March.
:) I love that the seat has holes in it. Smart! I'm always having to wipe the collected dew/water off the seat of my tractor. Why doesn't everyone do this for mower seats?
Lawn is nice and thick now and this little mower is still going strong it's second season. Not one hiccup yet.
I truly wish the operators manual actually told people like me how to do the maintenance. I guess they just assume everyone is a riding mower expert. Useless website and they don't have a phone # to call.
Page 18 in the manual shows how to change oil. The transmission is maintenance free. Battery, belt and blade changes are also covered in the manual. Those would be the only things you would have to do on this for the most part.
www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/ef/ef63d37b-5968-49da-84ed-2b2728c6cc16.pdf
I used to own this but before they replaced it with the gear transmission. I had the slip disk model. and it would not move on ANY incline. sold it for 70$
No issues so far. Nice and strong, even with my significant girth on it. Up and down the yard, up and down the driveway approaches. I even have a small dump trailer for it now and a slit aerator to drag behind.
Can you leave in on the mowing in reverse all the time. or should you on put it in that mode when you are mowing in reverse. thanks for the great review!
I leave the key turned to the Reverse Mow position each time I use it in case I want to mow in reverse by the garage or flower beds, etc.
It doesn't hurt anything, it just disables the engine shut down safety feature when the mower deck is engaged.
How does it up hills
steering broken how do you fix it?
where can I buy this? Cant find anyone that sells this anymore.
Трактор не ломается?
I have this same mower that I recently purchased used. I’m very happy with the mower and its performance until today. My hope is that you can help me trouble shoot the issue. As you know this mower has a safety switch that shuts the mower down if you try to put in reverse with the blade engaged. Today, when I engaged the mower while in the forward gear the engine died. I located the safety switch and in plugged it. Then the mower worked fine for a couple of passes. However, it soon died when the blade was engaged. Now, the mower will not engage in any gear without it dying. Can you help me diagnose the issue?
Could be anything. I'd call their customer service and google the issues as well.
How well does it mow around flower beds and trees?
You can get right up to it with the deck. Just look over the side and guide the mower deck right along the edge.
did you say 13 and 16 inch tires? my cobra mustang has 16 inch wheels? splain please. a mis speak? i just bought this at badcock furniture for $1200. if i get 3 seasons out of it im happy. i have a big but east yard (no hills, rocks gravel, brush or gardens) , good review. ps. you look like youre having too much fun on it
Yes, 13 inch and 16 inch tires, not rims. Agriculture tires are measured at outer diameter of the tire along with rim size. I didn't measure the rim, but the tires are sold as 13 and 16 inch tires. Funny, I know.
Yes, I really like it. Did great hauling rock in my trailer this summer for my pond too. Gives a great cut and surprised me with it's power.
I've got a shot at picking a used one up for 200.00 if it runs good. Anything to look for as far as trouble!?.. looks good, deck looks good, new front tires.
Doesn't blow oil when it runs, all four gears in the transmission roll smooth when you ride, clutch doesn't slip when you let it out and the front steering isn't too loose, that's about it.
@@hpiguy thanks for the reply!!
I went and drove it. It's very quiet. No smoke, tight steering. It is VERY jerky when you let off the brake/ clutch.
But it runs great in every gear. Seems to b a steal, new tires and battery, 200.00
Thanks for the review. I guess the jerky gears, "when changing", is common. Again, thank you.
@@bradharvy13 did you buy it> How is it now?
I'm having issues with steering, we have replaced the parts twice, any ideas, wont turn right, just clicks (feels like its in the lower part of steering column), gears were replaced again, first time it lasted a few mows, this time we didn't even make it through one mow and its already not turning right again? Any tips?
I haven't broken anything on mine yet, so I'm sorry that I can't help.
When I do I'll take a look at it.
How much does it cost
I know it's been forever but do you know the part number for the side discharge chute?
You should be able to google the parts manual for it and find it quickly.
www.partstree.com/models/pb-301-960220027-00-poulan-pro-lawn-tractor-2014-10/
My won't change gears to reverse or forward, what's wrong with it?
You'd have to contact Poulan for warranty info or troubleshooting.
Hows the mower holding up after couple months with it?
Great, every Thursday night I get to take it for a cruise. Pops right off with a turn of the key.
I even trailered it to the GFs house when she let her acre lot get really thick (8-9 inches) and this plowed through. But I left it in 1st gear the entire time to not bog it down.
awesome, I just ordered mine. I have couple slopes and inclines. how well do you think this tractor can handle the inclines?
My yard has a slope to it but it's gradual, same with the GFs place. No issues, but as far as a real steep hill, I haven't used mine on one.
Any issues with the deck belt? Mine keeps breaking.
How do you put it back on I’m struggling can’t find any manuals or anything on it
Question. I have a pretty small lot. Maybe
.25 acres, probably smaller. Anyway, I got injured recently and can't really walk the greatest anymore so a standard mower is out of the question. Do you think this riding mower would work for that small if a lot? Thank you!
Yup, it would work well for that. But it won't get into tight corners and stuff of course, being a rider the blade is in the middle, not out front.
I can mow behind my yard swing and it's barely three feet wide back there. I can get right up against flower beds and trim in 1st gear, it crawls in first, very nice.
hpiguys Workshop Thank you so much for the reply! Will be picking one up as soon as I save up! Thank you!
By chance, can you provide the belt model number. My belt broke on my
PB301 and trying to find it at any of the Big Box stores is futile at
best. Even going to Poulan's web site is of no help without the part
number. I've checked my belt and there is no number printed on the belt.
Thank you in advance.
I'll see if I can find it. If so I'll let you know.
When you got the mower, it should have had a user manual and a separate parts manual as well. It's a small booklet, 27 pages.
I checked my manual and on the mower here it says the part number is 584293701 . It's a Husqvarna part since they are who makes this mower for Poulan. I googled it and it comes up around $26.
www.husqvarnapartstore.com/?gclid=CJKYpdir_s0CFUeUfgod4z4CEw#/s/HUS//584293701/1
Got it, thank you very much and you have one great video review.
really? i would think those would be something like 2 0r 3 inch tires...ok thanks...ill get mine later today or tomorrow......say, by any chance would you know the measurement of the box? i have a kia soul and wondering if it would fit, my last mower did it was a poulan self propelled.....only need width and height. cant find it on the website
I don't think it will fit in most SUVs. It was a very large crate, but they just delivered it to my garage.
hpiguys Workshop just went to get it, they assembled it already. so we couldn't get it in the suv. I'll have my friend with a trailer get it on fri. it's a nice lookin little rider. just the type I wanted. the comparible ones in troy bilt, craftsman and others if the same kind seem to be 9hp. this it 10.5 so that's a bonus....can hardly wait to get out there and mow. vvrroooom
Can you tel me what battery it uses I have one but can’t find the battery
The parts book that came with the mower will tell you what battery it uses and you can find a generic equivalent for about $25 online. I replaced mine about a year ago with a $20 one from Ebay and it works perfectly.
You can look the parts manual up online if for some reason you threw out all the manuals that came with it.
Still have this rider. If so how has it been
Had to replace the battery last year but other than that it's going just fine so far. :)
I can't seem to find the correct battery.. anyway you could specify? I see 12 volts but there too big
I need to get a battery for MY Poulan Pro PB30. I am finding it IMPOSSIBLE. Help please!!!
Have you checked with Home Depot? Or Batteries Plus? It's a 12V 6AH I think, with screw terminals.
Did you ever find the battery model or size?
it's the same like the mowcart 77
How has this mower held up over the years? I just picked one up on clearance at HD. Any maintenance issues?
No issues yet. Haven't fired it up this spring yet, we keep getting snow. But it stored fine and was running perfect so I'd assume it's fine for yet another year.
Piece of Crap. I cuts great, but the steering has gone out twice in the 4-5 years I've had it.
@@ministrychicago1how do you fix it?
Is it still running
Yes
Too bad they don't make them anymore especially when you aren't a part or a reverse backup clutch
Bummer, I think they upgraded it to 11hp now, nicer seat. Same 4 speed so maybe the parts would fit too.
My mower I have the exact same one but mine doesn't want to go forward or back ward do you know how to fix??
Contact Poulan for warranty, they can help.
I figured it out it was the drive disc thank you anyways
Drive belt
You could proably learn to drive pretty good on one of these.
I'd rather get the Troy built
How much are these ?
$999
I bought one of these for 50$ td
@@hpiguy how much are they worth now
That seat sucks