Yes, they do last a long time, with proper care! Ask the man who owns one! (Me)
I own 2, and they both, in my opinion, are far better than any lawn tractor for performance, and longevity!
Having said that, here are some draw-backs, not insurmountable, that are inherent in them:
1. They tend to be rear end heavy with a grass bag full of cuttings. Starting out, up hill, with a full bag, or even half full, will make it rear up like a race-horse at the starting gate! This happens if you "pop" the clutch, that is sliding yer foot off it, or letting it out quickly! It almost never happens under normal driving. Of course, folks who are not scaredy-cats don't let this bother them too much.
2. Some say they are too wide, won't go thru a gate, the turning radius is too wide, and a host of other things that they come up with, trying to scare you into not buying a Snapper Hi-vac.
3. As for long lasting, ease of maintenance, etc. I'd say the Snapper is better than any lawn tractor! I use mine to pull a large lawn cart, and other things. The traction is excellent. The bagger attachment works great, although i must admit, several times i have caught the right side of it on something! Sort of messes things up, necessitating some repairs!
4. My Snapper 33" Hi-vac RER was bought new in 1983, and is still in good shape. The other one is a 28" cut, and it runs once a week, to mow with.

"As for long lasting, ease of maintenance, etc. I'd say the Snapper is better than any lawn tractor!"

I have to agree there. I once dealt almost exclusively in used Snapper RERs until it got to where the used market for them collapsed, not modern looking enough, and I couldn't make any money on them so quit. Keep that in mind when buying or selling. Otherwise, don't run a ZTR or you'll throw rocks at the Snapper for performance and just plain ole fun.

Walt Conner

I'll also "throw in" as to the Snapper RERs being "long distance runners". I also have 2 of them....the oldest being about a (circa) 1968 "Snapper Comet 30", the "newest" being a 1986 "Series 6" model. The '68 model still has the original B&S 7.5 HP engine. I repowered the "86 model from OEM B&S 8 HP to a B&S 12.5 HP engine back in the mid '90s (because when it belonged to my late father, he loaned it to a nephew who ran the engine out of oil and locked it up. We got that engine freed up and running but it burned almost as much oil as gas after that.)

Don't buy a new one when clean used ones can be had for much less.

I bought the Snapper RER 28125BVE Hi-Vac with the mulch kit and Ninja blade about 2 months ago. Took me about 5 or 6 mowings to get used to the controls (the clutch/brake pedal, blade petal, and shifting. It's a fun little machine. I have an average level lot. It mulches real good, but I notice that it leaves a slight narrow row of grass that maybe the tires mash down, and I sometimes have to go over from the opposite direction. I ordered a Gator blade and will try that out. The turns are a little wider than some other RER's, but not bad at all. I ran into the neighbor's fence last week and bent the right tie rod. I lifted the mower on to it's back bracket and took two cotter pins out of the tie rod, put it into a vise and straightend it out and went back to mowing. I actually look forward to mowing the grass with that little sucker. I did not like having to mess with the little reverse lock-out lever all the time, so I took the spring off the back of the lever so I can shift it into reverse without holding the reverse lock-out lever down everytime I was going to cut in reverse. It even has a neat little beer can holder...

My 28" is from August 2003, also with a Ninja kit. Not one problem. Easy to maintain with little to go wrong with it. If there are no children, stray adults or animals to be afraid of when operating in reverse, you can use a small clamp to hold the reverse lock-out lever rather than removing a spring.

Do you guys recommend the Gator Blade or would you stick w/ the Ninja?

We had one last about 20 years. Great mower!!

I have mowed 2x's with this thing. I can say now with no reservations that it mows VERY well. By the time mine showed up, my new lawn was already up to the middle of my shins in places. This little thing, on first gear, chopped right through it with no problems. The cut is even and very nice, and I can vouch for the sturdiness of it - I've hit quite a few small brush stumps and tossed many rocks. The blade shows a couple of nicks but that deck is fine.

I really enjoy riding this little thing around. There is something about the novelty of riding around on something that doesn't 'look' like a normal tractor too !!! My dealer says he sells many of these to farms who will use them to straddle rows of corn after harvest to chop down corn stalks. After seeing this thing whacking brush stumps, I can believe him !!!

*My Ninja blade is still in the box - I'll break my lawn in with the standard blade (and probably mess the blade up pretty good in the process) before I switch it to mulching mode.*

It would take an awfully long time to mow a cornfield with a 28" mower.

I'm pretty sure he's talking about your typical NE type of 'farm', not your Ohio far as your eye can see farm. I pass many properties on the way to work that have maybe a acre or two of corn growing.

Realize this is an old thread but maybe soemone will see this: has anyone ever tried the 36 inch snow blade with a Snapper Rear Engine Rider? I was surprised it is an option and was wondering how well it would work? Thanks for any info.

If you mean one of the "classic" RERs that has the rubber drive disc "transmission".......I'd have to say, "Fuggettaboudit". My experience in using one of these old RER disc drive mowers pretty much tells me that you ain't gonna push much of anything. These RERs are basically just a "riding mower". I don't believe you could even imagine them being up to tractor duty. Don't get me wrong here, I think they are fabulous little mowing machines. As long as you use them for mowing-not towing, they give impressive service. As far as pushing snow with a 36 inch blade, no way. I have not tried pushing snow with one (and I own 2 of them), but I have towed a Snapper branded 2 wheel yard cart with one of them. Empty cart, or just filled with shredded leaves, it does ok. Put some dirt or concrete blocks in the cart, the rubber tired disc will slip on a hill. Also, if you get out when the grass is wet, the drive disc gets wet and slips even if you are not towing anything. I don't know each and every configuration of Snapper RER in recent years, but it will take a "beefier" drive system than the classic disc drive to push snow. Of course these are my opinions, your results may vary.

".I'd have to say, "Fuggettaboudit". My experience in using one of these old RER disc drive mowers pretty much tells me that you ain't gonna push much of anything. These RERs are basically just a "riding mower"."

Agree, they might manage something you could blow off with a leaf blower.

Walt Conner

I've towed a large leaf cart, and a Sears yard cart with mine with no problems. And i use it to pull a tractor into the garage, or out. but no snow plowing. They did sell a snow plow attachment, and a thatcher, but i never used either one. They came to me as gifts.

Still thinking about buying a Snapper RER, proabably the 28 inch. Parts of my backyard are pretty rough terrain -- is this thing tough enough to handle that? I hear horror stories about the cheaper JD, Cub Cadet, Ariens, Poulan, garden tractors and want to be sure the entry level Snapper isn't similarly built. Thanks for any help.

I bought a used Murray (Snapper twin) with a 10hp Tecumseh from a man in Monterey Cal. 30".

Its had some use..... and the model numbers are missing, and it probably is at least 15 years old. But I am pragmatic enough to try and keep things running.

Last week I bogged it down and sheared off the spindle pulley. I was ready to retire it.

With the help of this forum---albeit with links to suppliers, I now have a new spindle (old one was toast), we are waiting upon the arrival of the new pulley, and yesterday I replaced the starter motor.

That Tecumseh motor while is loud, it pulls like a ox. And the 30" blade always did a great job.

Now with the new parts being installed along with a new blade (I could still use a new seat), I am anxious to get it back to service. SINCE as others have said, it wiggles in thru gates and areas not accessible to my riding lawn tractors that I also own.

When I switched from a trimmer mower to a riding mower last year on my yard I never dreamed of the various problems that I encountered with the larger 42" lawn tractors. Like shearing off sprinkler heads, running it off the curb into the street while trying to negotiate the trees, and sneaking into the backyard via the gates.

I'd buy another one in a minute. As long as this unit keeps on Snappin I will use it. (Even if my sons think it's gay looking compared to the John Deere riding mower....).

I like it. I use mine. I think they are great. I am looking forward to having a new spindle on mine---and a new blade. While I might miss out on the great message the unit gave me it still will serve us well for a long time to come.

{{gwi:330974}}

The snapper RER's are awesome machines. Here is mine. Its 10 years old and is like new still.