what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

[one more cast]

I need a new tractor 18-21 hp range and I only have about $1200 or so to spend. So far I am leaning to the craftsman brand. Tractor supply sells huskee (MTD) but the reviews are bad. I would like to here what brands you guys (and gals) use and how you rate them.

 

[gsbodine]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

Craftsman makes some decent mowers. my recommendation would be to get one of the models with a Kohler engine on it. I've had a Kohler Command 12.5 HP on my JD for over ten years and it stills runs like new.

 

[dhammann]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

Craftsman are made by MTD ( Murray) but the service support is good. Walmart is cheaper but you sacrifice service. Kohler is a great engine and the commercial B&Gs are pretty good. If your yard is free from sandy dust these mowers should last 10 or 12 years

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

Hueskav......Heusja........Huskbarn......uh, Sears?

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

My dad had a lower priced Craftsman for 7 years. After 5 years the deck rusted out. Granted he didnt clean it up after every use, but still it should have lasted longer than that. It was a bad design that wouldnt discharge properly.<br /><br />After he had the deck replaced, bearings have gone out, belts shredded, and the cut is very uneven.<br /><br />Now the tranny is going out.<br /><br />He will buy a different brand this year.<br /><br />Ken

 

[one more cast]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

I am not having much luck. most of the sears stores are sold out. anyone on here have a huskee supreme from tractor supply co.? The only husqvarnas i can find in stock are over $1500, the john deere L110 is $1700, the toro's are nice but $3000

 

[wajajaja]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

I love my jd/ 750 18hp desiel. 20years old this sring and is worth about 6grand more than i bought it new for. <br /> I would buy a deere that fits the budget. used or if you qualify for farm they finance quite cheaply, and can be a deduction.

 

[jimr]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

just remember if you buy a craftsman getting parts down the road will be next to impossible. they seem to add sears only parts and you cant get them after a few years

 

[norman158]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

Craftsman front engine riders are not made by mtd some old ones and the rear engine riders were made by murray. most are made by american yard products the same company that makes husquvarna and poulan. pass on the 42inch deck (blade bender)and get the 46

 

[dhammann]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

Husquvarna is made by MTD (murray) or at least mine is.

 

[dhammann]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

American yard products are a distributor of MTD products

 

[fixin]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

I have a cub cadet(father in-law swears by)It's been a great tractor,and it has a great sticker on the back of the seat--MADE IN THE U.S.A.!Be American,buy American---my 2cents

 

[one more cast]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

heres the scoop, the mower i am replacing is a craftsman 10 hp that i bought used 10 years ago with a set up motor for $75. I tore it down and found the bottom crank brg seized from running low on oil. now get this, all i did was sand off the alum, where it was fused to the crank,put in a new seal, drill a hole in the brg. pedistol(sp)so it would get more oil, and ran the heck out of it (baby bush hog) for 10 years. what i can find that i can afford right now are..craftsman 18 hp 42", murry 18/42, huskee (tractor supply) and troy built pony (don't like the way it feels)<br /> If i could afford it i would buy a better one but i can't.

 

[fixin]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

I bought my cub from lowes hardware they were discontinuing(I can't spell)for 1100and some change.It sounds like your pretty handy at repairs.I ran an old snapper for years that I got for free,replaced the motor twice with free motors I got to run.The transmision went out so I welded A trailor tung and drug it around the yard with the 4-wheeler for about 1year before the wife talked me into buying something she could use...women... good luck

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

OMC, I have a 1989 Murray that was given to me because it wouldn't run (dead battery). I ran the poo out of it with no probs till last season when my boy ran it out of oil. New engine for $350. and it is going strong again. I hate the 36" deck, it leaves a mohawk strip of uncut grass between the blades when they need replacement, but hey, what are ya gonna do? I can't complain about my Murray, but I think this little blessing is an exception though, from what I've seen and heard about this brand. <br /><br />Now down here we got these two publications, one is called a Thrifty Nichol where you pay to put an add in it and it's free to pick up, the other is called The Shopper, where you pay .75 for it at the stand, but the adds are free. I love to pick thses things up, almost as much as I love to look through Sailboat Traders. I see good, fairly new mowers of every discription all the time, for BIG discounts over new. I think this is where a guy can get the most bang for the buck. I especially like the Shopper cause folks call in thier adds for free, this is where thier desperation to come up with bail, rent, food, electricity money can be your opportunity to get a great deal, and help out the needy at the same time, what could be better??? With the money you save, get your wife a new dress and some fishin tackle for yourself!

 

[dhammann]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

One More Cast, if you are pretty handy go to wally-world and get a Murray (80%) of the major brands are made by Murray anyway with only cosmetic differences and maybe a Kohler engine or a few grease fitting. You DO NOT want to grease a mower anyway...grease is a dust magnet and will grind the bushings away. All the bushings are made of UHMW which is self lubricating. Another marketing ploy is the solid cast iron front axle...it is better but uneccesary. I have owned 2 Murrays (3 counting my Husquvarna) 12 years out of one and traded the other after 9 years for the Husky. The bottom line is I spend about $100 a year on lawn eqipment....can you say that for a Deere? One more tip, dust will eat up the mower deck on any brand in no time. All mowers come with hi-lift blades to create airflow for baggers. This is a real problem in the south, I always replace these blades with a universal flat blade (walmart)these blades have just enough lift to raise the grass without kicking up a lot of dust. I have a friend who got tired of replacing the deck on his Deere, so he made one in the shop out of 1/4" plate!!

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

Just go to wal-mart and check with them for any returns they might have.<br />You would be surprised at what you can find, cheap.<br /><br />You have seen them little go cart things they have?<br />I have bought 4 of them for 300 bucks or less.<br /><br />Most thing wrong with them are fuel filters.<br /><br />Got one, and you don't have to belive me, the spark plug wire was off.<br /><br />These are stuff that the customers bring back that are "defective"<br /><br />Check it out, you never know.

 

[ehenry]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

OMC, I'm just curious....How much grass you got to mow? I need to know this before I chime in on what I'd buy.

 

[one more cast]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

efhenry, I mow a little over an acre. the search is over, the grass is getting out of control so I just got home with a sears 2000 series, 22 hp B/S intek vee twin with a 6 speed for $1199. Thanks all for the coments and I will keep you posted. <br /> p.s. I think this thing will sound great if I put duel exhaust on it. LOL

 

[ehenry]

Re: what lawn tractor to buy?( 1 year update)

I was just wondering...a 22 horse B&S should give you good service. What inch cut did you get? My philosophy on cutting grass is....If you spend more than an hour to an hour and a half cutting your grass, your mowing machine ain't big enough or you got too much yard. I mow with a Kubota BX22 with a 72" deck on it. I use this tractor for lots of other things but it takes me bout an hour and fifteen minutes to beat my grass back and another 30 mintes to eat the weeds.