Lawn Tractors - suggestions?

I have a Troybilt with 42in cut and 21hp briggs . I've had it 7yrs and no problems at all

Datsun1500 wrote: What is the general recommendation on lawn tractors? Deere? Cub? Craftsman? Buy at a big box store or little guy? I'm tempted to go on Ebay and get a vintage one, but is that just temping fate?

Tried the vinage thing, nice 60s Deere. When things broke it meant fabrication as some of the parts were NLA

Gave in and bought a craftsman 46 inch 4 years ago, when its not cutting the lawn its towing dead cars around the yard. It gets abused and keeps going.

If you have a big yard get an upscale Cub, smaller yard, a craftsman is OK but get the Kohler engine - more torque and lasts longer. I use a Troybuilt now and am not impressed, however, I got it like new for $450 @ a yard sale, so I'm satisfied. I also use a Cub 52" zero turn mower w/22hp Vtwin Kaw. Very powerful and fast but it beats me to death because the ground is so rough. They need to design a mower seat with a coilover spring shock assy. adjustable for the wt. of the user.

I have a '98 Toro Wheelhorse. In the month I've had the thing running, I've mercilessly abused the thing, and it just wants more. I only have about $50 in it. It needed a fuel pump and some fuel hose from fuel system neglect. They seem to be pretty inexpensive, and they're built really solidly.

No matter what you do, don't get a Briggs motor. Kohlers are so much better in my mind, and they really don't cost much more at all.

I've got a 30 year old Jacobsen that I love, but parts are getting hard to come by. After two rusty mower decks, it's limited to trailer moving, plowing and thatching. It's on it's second 14 hp Kohler.

I love the hydrostatic drive, though.

The EV forum I frequent has a guy who built an EV competition sled puller out of one. His advice is to get one with a cast iron case diff/trans. I can add that the front axle needs to be really rugged, think cast or designed well enough not to wear where the steering pivots.

How much you wanna spend? What are you going to do with it?

The ones NOT to buy if you have more than a normal yard or plan on any ground engagement/pulling/plowing/your overwieght/wanna use a grass catchers and are over 200lbs ANYTHING AT A BIG BOX STORE!

Mine is like the one in the pic.

I bought another one 2 months ago after researching heavily. My dad was always a tractor man. From what I found out is this: Kohler Command series are great engines. My last tractor had one,I could mow like 1 foot grass without it boggin down. I've heard the newer Kohler Courage series are not good. I bought a 2004 John Deere GT245 with a 54" deck and 20HP Kawasaki engine. The engine is quiter but can't take the grass quite as well. I've heard mostly good things about them though. As far as the tractor itself, you get what you pay for just like anything else. If you want something like a Deere, find a nice used "real" one rather than a store bought model. They will last a long time. I was raised on a 318 and a 455 diesel, which is still in the family. I wouldn't go too old. Well, just go here: mytractorforum.com

It's like Grassroots...except tractors.

I love mine..wish it had the power of the Kohler from my last one. GO GREEN!

P.S. - I love tractors. I'm finding myself researching them more than cars. I'm turning into my dad.

Fletch1 wrote: I bought another one 2 months ago after researching heavily. My dad was always a tractor man. From what I found out is this: Kohler Command series are great engines. My last tractor had one,I could mow like 1 foot grass without it boggin down. I've heard the newer Kohler Courage series are not good. I bought a 2004 John Deere GT245 with a 54" deck and 20HP Kawasaki engine. The engine is quiter but can't take the grass quite as well. I've heard mostly good things about them though. As far as the tractor itself, you get what you pay for just like anything else. If you want something like a Deere, find a nice used "real" one rather than a store bought model. They will last a long time. I was raised on a 318 and a 455 diesel, which is still in the family. I wouldn't go too old. Well, just go here: mytractorforum.com It's like Grassroots...except tractors.

Good tractor there, how's the transmission doing? That is a John Deere dealer garden tractor, not a mower.

The Big Box Store John Deeres are different than the ones you buy at a JD dealer. Buyer beware.

Flightservice-

Why yes it is a dealer garden tractor. You know your tractors. I've only put on a few hours. The tranny seems o.k. Have you heard anything bad about them?

More info Datsun1500. Price range? Acres? Anything else you will be using it for? Snow removal,etc?

In reply to Datsun1500:

With your price range, you can get a serious mower. You have about the same acres as me. I also have hills and stuff to mow around. I got my Deere Gt245 with only 100 hours and 54" deck for $2900 locally off craigslist. It doesn't have hydraulics or power steering, but its still nice. It was also a true Deere. Yes, I'm pushing green. I also like a 54" deck. I wouldn't go over 60". Its hard to find a newer "real" Deere with a Kohler engine. Diesel sips the gas compared to an air cooled gasoline in my experience. My Kawasaki is quiter, but not as strong. I don't know much about zero turns. The GX series was good during the early to mid 2000's. Same as mine except they had power steering and a hyro lift. That's a start. It would help to have a dealer close if you ever needed one.

In reply to Datsun1500:

I'll hook you up. Those guys are like GRMer's with tractors. Well, gotta get to bed. Have fun on that website...hehe.

I spent about 2 weeks researching and just last weekend bought a new 46" Cub Cadet for our 2-3 acres of regular mow and twice a year 5-acres. There are 3 versions, one generic Cub, one for TSC, and one for Home Depot. HD model is a Kawasaki engine, TSC is a Kohler, both 22hp-ish v-twins. I like the Kawi on my brush mower but TSC is local so I went that way myself.

The 46" was the smallest to step up to the v-twin, and for the NVH and longevity I could justify the upgrade. The 50" was another $300, and I couldn't justify that.

John Deere 430 diesel.

/thread

This is what I have, picked up restored for $300, runs like a champ and has a plow which works well also.

Hydroscopic trans FTW

Oh and it can pick up the front tires on a launch easily...

Fletch1 wrote: Flightservice- Why yes it is a dealer garden tractor. You know your tractors. I've only put on a few hours. The tranny seems o.k. Have you heard anything bad about them?

If you look under the back you will see a half a ring gear with half a rising sun in the middle. My pay check has the same symbol on it.

I am the Quality Engineer for that product. So no, nothing bad about that one.

curtis73 wrote: John Deere 430 diesel. /thread

If memory serves (before my time) that unit wasn't built by Deere but by my parent company Kanzaki or their parent Yanmar.

Great tractors.

I recommend if you want to actually work with a tractor, use it on more than a 10 degree yard, mow large quantities, or are overweight, go to a tractor dealer and get them to spec one out. Then being the GRMer I am, find a good used model or previous version.

Just read what you posted. Look at a Deere 345, something with a Tuff Torq K66 or higher number, for what you want to do.

The reason I am specing the transmission and not the tractor is because that is the easiest way to convert the duty cycle. The engine power on the mack daddy unit in a Garden tractor only uses about 18 HP. The most power goes to the deck. The tranny is the third thing they spec on these, engines are last. Believe it or not but smaller wheels and tires on the back are better. The 430 is a monster and look at the small back tires it has.

Buy nothing from a box store with your acreage, you might get 3 years, if lucky. They just weren't built for it.

i have an early 90's Murray with a 46" deck and 14hp Briggs. it was never a premium mower, but it is dependable and takes a bit of abuse. but since Murray is no longer in business, it has to be a collectors item... right?.

i think it started running better when i put the Mr Gasket blower scoop and "Moroso" stickers on it. the "XLT" and "RICE" badges also added a bit of performance, as well.. last summer, i put the tacky Wal Mart shift knob that was in my Camaro on it, and now it shifts like a dream. i tried to put the Wal Mart gas pedal cover on the brake/clutch pedal, but it didin't want to work out..

I'll second the recommendation for the tractor forum. Spent some time there when I moved into my current house a few years back.

I'm on 3.5 acres of all mowable grass. I looked a used JDs and other type "tractors", but in the end I went with a Toro zero turn. If you're going to use your mower for almost nothing other than mowing, you really want to look at zero turns. It cuts my lawn much faster than the Crafstman tractor I used to have. I'm really happy with it. Toro has been very good about warranty repairs (had some electrical issues due to the retailer leaving it outside), and it is just a great all around grass cutter. It is capable of towing, but I haven't done much of that yet.

same discussion a few months ago

After a pile of research, I bought a John Deere D170 at Lowes. I am very happy with it. The ones from the tractor dealers are better, but for what they cost, there was no way I could justify it. I did a lot of research, and even though it is from Lowes, it is still a Deere.

I have also read that the Craftsman (Husqvarna) are very good as well. If my wife wasn't set on a JD, I might have bought one of those instead.

curtis73 wrote: John Deere 430 diesel. /thread

If memory serves (before my time) that unit wasn't built by Deere but by my parent company Kanzaki or their parent Yanmar. Great tractors. I recommend if you want to actually work with a tractor, use it on more than a 10 degree yard, mow large quantities, or are overweight, go to a tractor dealer and get them to spec one out. Then being the GRMer I am, find a good used model or previous version.

I know mine had a Yanmar diesel and it was just darn near bulletproof. My dad and I are somewhat of tractor aficionados. Between the two of us we own about 15 tractors ranging from 1926 to 1998; fords, JDs, Masseys, IHs, you name it. For years we mowed about 3 acres with a 317 and then traded it for a used 430 (mid 80s model) and it was just such a powerhouse. We bought it for $3000 and eventually sold it for $3200. He now has a small 320 for the smaller part of the yard and a 750 with a 3-point groomer for the rest of the rougher stuff.

I love my Husqvarna. Cast front axle FTMFW!

About to go out and mow now.

Fletch1 wrote: Mine is like the one in the pic.

The people across the street from me have one of those for a yard that is MAYBE 9 feet by twelve feet.

Then on my side of the street I have a 3/4 of an acre lot that I mow with a push mower.