I need to vent about Craftsman Lawn mowers for a minute. If you are thinking about buying a lawn mower, scratch Craftsman off your list!
I have a gray model about 8-9 years old or so. I have had nothing but trouble with it! There is to many small things to mention. The first year wasn’t bad because it was under warranty. But same things kept occurring afterwards too. Pretty much the only thing left un-touched is the trans-axle and the frame. My biggest complaint is the mower deck. Who ever was/is the engineer that came up with this design should be back handed for every one that has been produced and sold from now on! I can't even say it's cheap because it cost me quit a bit for the parts to rebuild it every year! It's just a bad design made with less than adequate materials. I'm on the second engine but i am rough on it so I can't blame it there much. Except I also have another 20+ year older Craftsman with a running engine. But the deck is bad and cant get parts easily for it. Plus it's just rough, uncomfortable, and to small for my yard.
So in short unless you like spending $272.50 once or twice a year for parts to rebuild the deck. Plus enjoy working on your lawn mower every time that you mow... Then don't get a stinking Craftsman! I have easily put more money into it to keep it running every 2 years for the last 6 or seven years than I paid for it new. If you do that math I’ve got about $10-11+K invested in this now value $500 hunk of junk.

I am now in the market for a cheap 20 + horse 4x4 category III tractor, with live PTO, a belly mower, I prefer a bush hog and a blade too. But I could get any or all those separate. Gas or diesel, brand, or age, isn’t that important either. So if anyone has something like this for sale "CHEAP" then let me know.

Thanks for letting me vent! Now you may highjack this thread wherever you want to take it!

 

We've had our craftsman since last may and havnet had a problem with it yet. The one we had before was a diff. story though. Dad wanted a JD but have you looked at the prices for a 28 HP 54 inch cut JD lately. It was gonna be like 5K . My dads like screw this I'm gettin a craftsman. I think it was 2K but thats a lot cheaper than 5K. I wanted a Case mower but they were almost as much as the JD. sorry ur mower bit the dust

 

We have a Craftsman 19.5HP Limited. Its also a beige beast. I have to admit we beat the hell out of it and we take it "offgrass" and sure its pretty messed up but it still works. Its been through a lot, the skid plate on the front is pushed back, the deck is so out of align its not even funny and the front wheels are really out of alignment! Only one front tire is bald, the other one is perfect? Go figure. She'll even do wheelies if you jam it from reverse into full speed!

 

Yea I wont own a Deer for thier prices either. They make good equipment, but they are to proud of thier green paint for me. My dad bought a TORO 48" 2 or 3 years ago and he hasnt so much as changed a spark plug. If I was going to get a new mower that would likely be it. He paid about $1K less than I did for my Crapsman.

 

I'll 2nd that. TOROs are one of the best residential lawn mowers. We had one a LONG time ago and it lasted forever.

 

the only thing I dont like about the mower we have is that it isnt posi traction. I would love to have a locked diff. in this thing. Over the winter I took off the deck and played in the snow with it and it got stuck really bad a lot. I loved popping wheelies on our old mower but the new one has a auto tranny and it wont wheelie . I could put it in 6th gear on a hard pack surface and get major air

 

Hmmm... There is two people with good experinces with them!

They arent that expensive, especially this late in the season they'll probably have a good deal... I may go look at them tomarrow. I think dad only gave $1200 for his. If I can snag a 42" or larger for less than a grand, I'll bring it home to finish out his season. Then I'll sell my Massey Fergusen tractor and buy a tractor with a belly mower after the first of the year! If I put the wife on the rider with me on the tractor. We'll have the whole 2 acres done in 45 mins! Then a sickle bar would cut my weed eating down by an hour! That would so rock!

Dang it I wasn't planning on buying another mower!

 

My Craftsman rider is around 15-17 years old. Still purrs like a kitten without any issues. My nieghbor bought a new rider... the LT1000 I think.. it's the exact same design as mine. same frame, steering, and other components. Now I know where to get parts if mine should ever fail...

A timeless design that will last forever!

 

I have a Toro push mower. Very nice. Course I only have about 1/8 to 1/4 acre to mow. If you have a lot to mow, get one of these type of mowers.

http://www.toro.com/home/tractors/ti...rzx/index.html

They mow the field next to me with one of these type. Over 1/4 acre and they are done in 5 mins.

 

Get a Dixie Chopper or Exmark!!!

 

I have a Craftsman push mower with a Tecumseh engine on it. It's about 8-10 years old I guess? Red and gray "Eager one" The main complaint I have is the key shears VERY easily! Hit a rock, $40. Hit a root, $40. It seems like I get it replaced at least once a year. The engine still runs like new though.,,,,98

 

Here we go again...

 

Those dixie choppers and cut like 7 acres an hour so PSS could mow his yard in about 10-15 minutes

I think they are pretty expensive though.

 

15 hp bolens from lowes for 800$

2 yrs now with no problems and i cut half the neighborhood



...zap!

 

Love America and all, but Honda makes the best lawnmower I've used/owned, by far.

Plastic deck, 6.5hp, self-prepelled. Mulches like a mad fool and it's SUPER easy to maintain. I would never buy another mower that wasn't a Honda.

Now their cars... you'll never catch me with one.