Lawn tractor
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Joined: May 2002
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From: FL
Originally Posted by 3valve
I just talked with a guy who has a Craftsman 24 hp 48" cut with hydro and electric deck switch for $1200. He said it was a $2400 mower new. Supposedly has warranty to '07. Only mowed the yard 3 times with it, and had a heart attack and is now hiring it mowed. Sound like a good deal, anybody? I'm going to look at it today.
I don't know about 2400 new, probably closer to 2k. Maybe 2400 is the SRP on it. Still $1200 for a close to new machine isn't bad. Mine was about 1200 new but it's a 17hp Kohler and manual everything. That 24hp should be able to do just about anything you'd want with a lawn tractor.
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From: FL
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From: Paragould Arkansas
Originally Posted by Dareford
Stay very far away from CRAPSMAN hydrostatic riding tractors. I have a three year old CRAPSMAN GT2000 - 25 HP - 48" deck paper weight sitting in my shed right now. The hydrostatic drive unit went out and it is non servicable. CRAPSMAN considers it a disposable part to the tune of $780.00. There is no external filter for the hydro fluid and there was no way to change the hydro drive oil, short of literally turning the entire tractor upside down to try to pour the fluid out of the "Fluid inspection Hole" (not even considered a "filler" hole by CRAPSMAN). Jump on a couple of lawn and garden or tractor repair forums and read the post about about these new disposable hydrostatic drive units they are putting in these tractors. They have no filters and only hold about a quart of fluid. They just can't get rid of the heat and end up burning up internally. See if you can find a regular old manual shift tractor, be it CRAPSMAN or MTD. If it's Hydrostatic drive and doesn't have a filter and doesn't hold three or four quarts of fluid don'y buy it.
I wish I would have known all of this before I purchased mine.
I have an old (30+ years) Snapper Hydro drive that is still going strong today. Three point hitch, hydro lifts for attachments, garden plow, front blade, rear blade, rake, etc. The mower deck just finally gave up the ghost and I bought the CRAPSMAN just to mow grass with. What a mistake
Just my two cents, along with some experience.
I wish I would have known all of this before I purchased mine.
I have an old (30+ years) Snapper Hydro drive that is still going strong today. Three point hitch, hydro lifts for attachments, garden plow, front blade, rear blade, rake, etc. The mower deck just finally gave up the ghost and I bought the CRAPSMAN just to mow grass with. What a mistake
Just my two cents, along with some experience.
Dang dude, that's the first time I've heard that. So all the new Craftsmans are like that?
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Morgantown, WV
Take a look at the combination hydro pump / transaxle unit on almost any medium grade garden tractor or lawn tractor. Craftsman, MTD, some Cub Cadets, Toro, etc. They don't have a replaceable external filter for the hydro fluid. Now look even closer, try to find a drain plug in the bottom of the hydro/ transaxle unit. No way to change the fluid. Now look for a hole on top to add fluid. At best it's going to have a small (maybe 1/4) plug to check and replace fluid. If there isn't a filter and a drain plug, watch out, It's a very cheap made unit that is not servicable. When it dies, the manufactuer will not work on it, nobody will work on it. They instruct you to replace it, because they are built it as a disposable part. After I found out the bad news about mine, I started checking out the tractors at Lowes, Walmart, Ace Hardware, etc. Almost all of them have the cheap hydro/transaxles. You usually have to get into the upper lines and JD, Cub Cadet, etc. before you find filters, drain plugs, etc. Of course, then your looking at some serious money. I don't have the web site handy, but when mine went bad I started checking the internet for information. There was a tractor repair forum filled with people looking for these units because after one or two years they burn up.
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From: Paragould Arkansas
Originally Posted by Dareford
Take a look at the combination hydro pump / transaxle unit on almost any medium grade garden tractor or lawn tractor. Craftsman, MTD, some Cub Cadets, Toro, etc. They don't have a replaceable external filter for the hydro fluid. Now look even closer, try to find a drain plug in the bottom of the hydro/ transaxle unit. No way to change the fluid. Now look for a hole on top to add fluid. At best it's going to have a small (maybe 1/4) plug to check and replace fluid. If there isn't a filter and a drain plug, watch out, It's a very cheap made unit that is not servicable. When it dies, the manufactuer will not work on it, nobody will work on it. They instruct you to replace it, because they are built it as a disposable part. After I found out the bad news about mine, I started checking out the tractors at Lowes, Walmart, Ace Hardware, etc. Almost all of them have the cheap hydro/transaxles. You usually have to get into the upper lines and JD, Cub Cadet, etc. before you find filters, drain plugs, etc. Of course, then your looking at some serious money. I don't have the web site handy, but when mine went bad I started checking the internet for information. There was a tractor repair forum filled with people looking for these units because after one or two years they burn up.
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From: Morgantown, WV
3valve,
I would say in 90% of the cheaper "Tractors" this is going to be the case. If you don't mind sticking with the old manual shift transaxle you should be okay. I just wanted to provide a little insight into what I found out, a little too late. If your thinking of buying a new "Tractor", ask the dealer about servicing the hydro transaxle. Ask about replacing the fluid and filter for the hydro unit. If you are told that it should last the lifetime of the tractor without changing the fluid or replacing the filter, RUN away, don't walk. Just for the heck of it, ask him if the transaxle begins to slip, what the service department will do. I'm sure he'll give you the standard " Adjust the belts" or the "check the adjustment of the unit". problem is, there is no adjustment for the unit. It's factory set. If it begins to slip, it's too late. If he says they will repair the transaxle, get it in writing. I'm willing to bet they recommend replacing the entire unit, and you better hope it's still under warranty.
I must say a agree 100% with your comment about calling them tractors. It's a far stretch to consider these glorified lawn mowers, "Tractors". The part that upsets me the most, is that I should have known better. I'm very particular about maintaining my vehicles and equipment. I just didn't think to look for the obvious when buying the tractor. I just assumed that the filter and drain plug was up underneath the unit and I would find it when I needed to change it. Oh Well, just passing along information that might help someone in the future.
I would say in 90% of the cheaper "Tractors" this is going to be the case. If you don't mind sticking with the old manual shift transaxle you should be okay. I just wanted to provide a little insight into what I found out, a little too late. If your thinking of buying a new "Tractor", ask the dealer about servicing the hydro transaxle. Ask about replacing the fluid and filter for the hydro unit. If you are told that it should last the lifetime of the tractor without changing the fluid or replacing the filter, RUN away, don't walk. Just for the heck of it, ask him if the transaxle begins to slip, what the service department will do. I'm sure he'll give you the standard " Adjust the belts" or the "check the adjustment of the unit". problem is, there is no adjustment for the unit. It's factory set. If it begins to slip, it's too late. If he says they will repair the transaxle, get it in writing. I'm willing to bet they recommend replacing the entire unit, and you better hope it's still under warranty.
I must say a agree 100% with your comment about calling them tractors. It's a far stretch to consider these glorified lawn mowers, "Tractors". The part that upsets me the most, is that I should have known better. I'm very particular about maintaining my vehicles and equipment. I just didn't think to look for the obvious when buying the tractor. I just assumed that the filter and drain plug was up underneath the unit and I would find it when I needed to change it. Oh Well, just passing along information that might help someone in the future.
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From: FL
I have to say the manual mower isn't that big of deal. You just have to stop and shift it is all. Most of the time that is sufficient. The only time the hydro might be handy is getting a loaded tow behind wagon moving. For general mowing that all happens at a set speed anyway. The clutch on my craftsman is really touchy FYI. My wife got the front wheels off the ground one day (she rarely uses it). One of the other brands might be a little smoother. The manual blade engage isn't a big deal either. Just drop the rpms and ease it in.
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From: south western NYS Latitude: 42.34 N, Longitude: 78.46 W
Originally Posted by fordworker
To be honest...when it comes to mower period...you get what you pay for! A rider for $1000 or less will be a pos real soon...better off to spend twice that and have a mower that'll last.
Not true, i have a MTD 14.5hp 42" rider and i have had it for 15+ years, This thing mows all my trails,lawns whatever tall grass (and i mean tall) and continues to run. It looks like hell but i got it for 900 bucks back then and with some maintenance it will last. My new cubcadet works fine and no JERKING in and out of gears and it stops on a dime with the hydrostatic drive. It takes some time to get used to it but overall it works fine.
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From: Bradenton, Fl. USA
I have a 1999 Craftsman Hydrostatic with a 42" deck and a Kohler 15.5hp engine. I have never had one single problem with it in almost seven years now. I have mowed my rentals with it multiple times and my one acre house a gazillion times. It goes through a battery every year and I change oil and blades every year. It has been one of the best items I've ever owned.