42” seven speed manual transmission, red, 17.5 hp Brigs and Stratton engine, Craftsman brand, $1549 at Lowe’s. Tractor Supply has basically the same but with a 17 hp Kohler engine for $1599. MTD makes the Troy Bilt at TS while a different company makes the Craftsman model at Lowe’s. Anyone have any experience with either one? Thanks in advance.
Cheap lawn tractors
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I have owned a craftsman 42 for about seven years. Has the Briggs and Stratton engine. No real problems with it at all. At the time there were Sears stores around that would come out and perform service. Now no Sears stores so you need to know if Lowe’s will cover warranty. My tractor was made by Husqvarna but not sure who make them now. May be made in China
Just in case you are unaware, Lowes offers a 10% discount to veterans.
Prices are ridiculous on mowers now. My Murray was $699 minus GI discount at Tractor Supply years back. I'll keep nursing it along until it dies and then hire a mowing service. Seven speeds on a lawn mower? Who makes it, BMW?
There are two different tractors sold. The ones sold by the big box stores are manufactured with lesser quality. For example, the John Deere tractors sold by the dealer will have wheels with ball bearing but the ones sold by he big box stores will only have brass sleeve wheel bearings.
That’s what I was thinking, but being most lawn tractors are used in the south, it must be a NASCAR thing.
bearman49709
Member
cadmike
Member
I’ve owned 2 different 42” craftsman lawn tractors for the last 20 years. One was a Kohler engine the other B&S. Excellent machines, easy to maintain and run great. The one I bought 20 years ago I no longer own but I know it still runs. Craftsman mower blades kind of suck and don’t last but they’re cheap to replace.
Now that sears is gone I have no idea where to get service, but frankly, in 20 years Ive never needed service anyway.
Now that sears is gone I have no idea where to get service, but frankly, in 20 years Ive never needed service anyway.
I think MTD has access to green and yellow paint.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
If that's a supposition that the box store Deere machines are made by MTD, no, they aren't. Deere runs two different assembly plants for their lawn and garden machines. The "consumer grade" stuff you see competing with Craftsman, Troybilt, Husqvarna, etc. in big box stores are built in Greenville Tennessee. All other L&G products are made in Horicon, Wisconsin. Deere now sells their lower-end products in their own dealerships along with the higher-end and commercial mowers, as well as in the discount and big box stores. I've been a long-time customer of their products, still own a 318 garden tractor built in 1984, and a 2-series compact tractor.
Puller
Member
For about 400 bucks more you can get a John Deere S120 with 42" cut and hydrostatic transmission and 22HP V-twin gas engine.
I've gone the cheaper MTD route a couple of times and they just didn't hold up and weren't all that user friendly. I have a big place so I have a big box John Deere 42" for close in mowing and I love the hydrostatic transmission. I use a Kubota zero turn for the two acre yard.
I've gone the cheaper MTD route a couple of times and they just didn't hold up and weren't all that user friendly. I have a big place so I have a big box John Deere 42" for close in mowing and I love the hydrostatic transmission. I use a Kubota zero turn for the two acre yard.
I bought a Craftsman lawn tractor with a 42" mower deck in 2001. It has the Kohler 17 HP engine. All I've had to do to it is replace the battery once, then belts and blades a number of times. I sure can't complain about reliability. Performance-wise, it's fine except that mulching only works if the grass is dry as a bone.
I will say, though, that the 42" deck wasn't a wise choice. It takes me 2 hours to cut the grass - about an acre. Depending on the size of your lawn, I'd suggest getting the biggest deck you can afford and navigate around the property. At the time I bought it, prices were much higher for bigger decks and I went cheap.
BTW, for those of you chuckling about a 7 speed transmission. You need the gear ratios so you can adjust tractor speed while running the engine at max RPM. Mowers work best at full speed. Depending on the terrain and the height of the grass you need to either slow down or speed up the tractor itself.
I will say, though, that the 42" deck wasn't a wise choice. It takes me 2 hours to cut the grass - about an acre. Depending on the size of your lawn, I'd suggest getting the biggest deck you can afford and navigate around the property. At the time I bought it, prices were much higher for bigger decks and I went cheap.
BTW, for those of you chuckling about a 7 speed transmission. You need the gear ratios so you can adjust tractor speed while running the engine at max RPM. Mowers work best at full speed. Depending on the terrain and the height of the grass you need to either slow down or speed up the tractor itself.
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After I got rid of my 30 year old Snapper (it was still running-my new yard was just too big), I bought a Craftsman with the Kohler engine. Can't complain...I got 10 years out of it before it blew a piston ring. Junked it. Now I'm using a 15 year old John Deere. Go big green!
OP
Hydrostatic transmissions are very popular these days. So popular that there is a very limited selection of lawn tractors with manual transmissions. My problem is that because of health issues I am unable to use my right foot on the drive pedals so I need a manual transmission model
Protocall_Design
Member
I have a 1998 Craftsman 46" with an 18HP Kohler V twin. The tractor part is economically made, but well engineered, and is still doing fine. The mower deck clogs up with grass a lot and has to be cleaned out fairly often.
Also, a Yard-Man series 605 42" made by MTD with a 20 HP Kohler V twin. It's a decent tractor and the mower deck doesn't clog much at all.
The big deal about these is the engines. They have all kinds of power and run forever with normal maintenance.
Also, a Yard-Man series 605 42" made by MTD with a 20 HP Kohler V twin. It's a decent tractor and the mower deck doesn't clog much at all.
The big deal about these is the engines. They have all kinds of power and run forever with normal maintenance.
Alton
Member
I went through three residential grade mowers before getting my current zero turn. The engines where never an issue whether briggs or koehler. The issue was with the decks either rusting out, spindles that broke because of being aluminum and then not being able to find parts because after 8 years they had moved on to newer models with different parts.
I am now using my first riding lawn tractor. I like mowing while sitting down a lot more that I do walking. I did a lot of looking and shopping and reading because I'm new to these things and I didn't want to make a mistake.
Buying a riding lawn mower is not like buying a toothbrush. It has a LOT of complicated moving parts and operational systems. Lots of opportunities to use quality parts and construction....and lots of opportunities to save a buck by going cheap. This doesn't show and a pretty red paint job may not reflect a quality, durable machine.
buying a machine like that is kind of like buying a bus ticket, the more you pay the farther you go.
I'm not mechanically inclined. I have some pretty rough terrain to take care of. I decided to pay the money. I got 50" Cub Cadet Enduro X1 24 HP. Right at $3K. I didn't care for the zero turn style mower and beside that, It will turn pretty close to zero. Zero turn mowers are not good for some of my area. and besides the Cub is a tractor not just a mower. I can hook up my trailer and haul things etc.
I am sure I got what I wanted and needed. If you take the time to do your home work you can too. Good luck!!
Buying a riding lawn mower is not like buying a toothbrush. It has a LOT of complicated moving parts and operational systems. Lots of opportunities to use quality parts and construction....and lots of opportunities to save a buck by going cheap. This doesn't show and a pretty red paint job may not reflect a quality, durable machine.
buying a machine like that is kind of like buying a bus ticket, the more you pay the farther you go.
I'm not mechanically inclined. I have some pretty rough terrain to take care of. I decided to pay the money. I got 50" Cub Cadet Enduro X1 24 HP. Right at $3K. I didn't care for the zero turn style mower and beside that, It will turn pretty close to zero. Zero turn mowers are not good for some of my area. and besides the Cub is a tractor not just a mower. I can hook up my trailer and haul things etc.
I am sure I got what I wanted and needed. If you take the time to do your home work you can too. Good luck!!
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Hair Trigger
US Veteran
Hydrostatic transmissions are very popular these days. So popular that there is a very limited selection of lawn tractors with manual transmissions. My problem is that because of health issues I am unable to use my right foot on the drive pedals so I need a manual transmission model
You might want to look into finding an older garden tractor that has been restored. John Deere made the 318 (18 hp opposed twin) back in the mid-'80s to mid-90's, and they are one of the best and most popular models they ever made. A restored one can be had for around $1500-$2000, and they will outperform any new machine for the same money. They have a hydrostatic drive, infinite forward/reverse, and it is a hand control hydrostat. It does have foot brakes on the right, but they aren't really needed except on the steepest hills or if gardening. A hydrostatic transmission provides its own braking. These tractors can be had with a 42 inch or 50 inch mower deck. They also made the 420 (20 hp opposed twin), a bit bigger machine, and it is also a hand control. I have a 318 as my backup mower and trailer puller.
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The one problem with the B&S motors is if they are OHV they have a tendency to bend a push rod very now and then I have a 20 horsemower that that happened to twice.. It is a 2001 model yearCub Cadet and the motor is good but the plastic fuel tank has just given up the ghost the attachment for the fuel line has broken. With the other problems and tires need replacing I am just going to replace the whole thing
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