GT2544 Owners, Do you like It??

[gjjbmoore]

I'm very close to ordering my new GT2544. Besides the excitement of owning such a fine machine, I'm also excited about not having to push mow my yard anymore.
Any hints or suggestions to better enjoy my new tractor?
Thanks for all your feedback. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JTKub]

Love my 2544 @ season #2 & ~40hrs. IMO- it's not as comfortable & roomy behind the wheel as a comparable Kubota, Simplicity or JD garden tractor, but it's a lot less money!

Joel

 

[EuropaChris]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Love my 2544 @ season #2 & ~40hrs. IMO- it's not as comfortable & roomy behind the wheel as a comparable Kubota, Simplicity or JD garden tractor, but it's a lot less money!

Joel )</font>

Ditto on Joel's comments. I'm only at 20 hrs., but just mowed the yard last night for the second time this year and thought to myself "****, that's a fine mowin' machine"!

I'm 6'0" and find the seating position just fine, but I would prefer the seat to be lower and farther back. Minor complaint, though.

What I *don't* like about the '06 models of the 2500 series is the hood design. I think it's f-ugly and cheap. Gone is all the screening that prevents the ingestion of chaff, grass and leaves into the blower screen of the engine. The '05 models have a real nice setup where the cooling air is fully 'filtered' before it gets to the engine.

IMHO, unless the rotating screen throws out all the stuff, that stuff is going to collect in the cooling fins and cause overheating problems. I about melted down an old Briggs push mower when I was a kid due to the fins all clogging up with junk.

Other than that, the 2500 series are fine machines.

Chris

 

[reid]

Bought our GT 2544 last fall and have 30 hours on it. Outside the deck wash system, which is a joke, it is a very good mower for the price and we have had no problems.

 

[Yetii]

I really like mine as well, compared to an equivalent JD model it is about 30-40% cheaper. I have no problems with the seating position at all, and I also like the old hood design better, but that new seat sure looks nice to me. The new steering would be great too, although I find that if I turn as tight as possible the cut isn't the greatest.
I had one warranty issue...a faulty hydrostatic pump, which was replaced under warranty, replaced the hydro filter and oil as well. It wouldn't stop normally and would coast to a stop, ~100' in either forward or reverse.
The only problem I have is that the deck gets clogged too easily, even cutting dry grass. I know the deck is easy to remove, but scrapping the deck makes a huge mess and is not that much fun..BUT it really does a nice job cutting the grass. When you fire the deck up it almost sounds like a airplane throttling up for take-off.

 

[gjjbmoore]

Thanks for all your replys. I'm still confused whether to get a LT1046, or go for the gusto, and get the GT2544? I'm having a hard time convincing my wife that I need a garden tractor for cutting 3/4 acre of grass. I do plan on pulling a utility cart full of mulch, dirt, and a couple of kids, and plowing out my long drive-way every winter. (We live in western PA.) /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I'm looking at the long term. I want to keep this tractor for along time. It makes me wonder if the LT series tractors will hold up 15 years? Any words of encouragement would be appreciated. Thanks again. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[EuropaChris]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I'm looking at the long term. I want to keep this tractor for along time. It makes me wonder if the LT series tractors will hold up 15 years? Any words of encouragement would be appreciated. Thanks again. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

Get the 2500 series. The LT will probably hold up OK, but the 2500 series will hold up a lot better, especially for towing and plowing. I only have 0.85 acres or so, level and flat. But, I still bought the 2544. Overkill? Probably. Satisfaction? Priceless!

How's it go..."The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten"? Not saying the 1000 series is poor quality, compared to the average Murray cr*p, but it's not a 2544, either.

Chris

 

[gamble77]

Chris, thats exactly what I was thinking...I have that quote on my wall in my office...right where all my customers can see it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[JTKub]

Yep, if you plan to do any cart pulling or blade pushing, a minimum of a 2500 series is a must. The entry level HG hydro in the 1000 series wont cut it.

Joel

 

[Fordlords]

Unless price makes it totally prohibitive, get one of the GT 2500 or 3000 series. Don't worry that they will be, "Too big," as once you have it and use it you'll find that is not an issue at all, and will appreciate the finer features such as shaft drives and good horizontal V twin engines and heavy duty serviceable hydros, the things that make them what the LT's are not and capable of doing things LT's are not. If maintained right, I can easily see a 2500 or 3000 lasting 20+ years like the old CC GT's of the past easily did. With the LT series 1000's and 1500's, to be honest short of having cast iron front axles, they are not much different from your basic Murray or Craftsman design wise, and are your basic 10 year lawn tractors strictly for light work. IMHO the 2500 series are the value leaders as far as the CC tractor lineup goes, the 2544 being basically today's equal to the 1980 682 I use, and the size is a great fit for small acreage yards for those who want a machine that can do some heavier tasks and is built to last.
-Fordlords-

 

[MrWiggles2]

I have just under a 1/2 acre and needed to rid myself of my 1515. Those hydros whine and bark, get smokin' hot. If you ever consider pulling a cart loaded with soil, aerator, roller, believe me, you'll know where it is all the time with a 1000 or 1500 series. I pulled a 600+ roller a couple weeks ago, you seriously don't feel like you're pulling anything.

The 2000's and 3000's are heavier, have much much better hydrostatics, can take hills and a way better built. That being said, I don't like the new 2500 series hoods, I think that is a terrible thing they did, but the rest of the tractor is solid. Trust me, you will be wishing you bought the better tractor, especially when you have to take the deck off the first time... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[emt812]

Bought mine a couple of weeks ago. Am very satisfied with the cutting ability have flat and hilly lawn 2+ acres. Have put 14.5 hrs on CC in 4 days. New to forum, but have enjoyed reading the comments.

CC GT 2544 2005
Yard Machines 18 hp 42" cut
Lawn Chief 14.4 hp 42" cut

 

[gjjbmoore]

Thanks for the post... I am curious? You owned two former tractors with 42" cuts, why did you go with the 44" cut on the Cub? I can't decide which one to get, the GT2542, or GT2544? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Do you bag your grass, and how does the bagger work for you?
Does the mower deck sound like an airplane taking off when you turn it on? And is it loud?

 

[emt812]

Went with the 44" cut to have a smoother cut. Do not bag, but do mulch when I can. Yes the blades sound like a plane on take off. Is not very loud. Am much happier with 44" deck,seems to have smoother cut, not as much scalping, mow 2+ acres of my own plus 1 acre for Father and 1.5 acres for my Father in Law at least once a week.


CC GT 2544 2005
2001 Yard Machines 18 hp 42" cut
1994 Lawn Chief 14.4 hp 42" cut

 

[cager]

gjjbmoore...
I think you would regret purchasing a 1000 series model. Why do I think so? After you've plowed your "long drive way" a few times, and pulled a few cart loads of "mulch, dirt"...you will not forgive yourself when the tranny on that 1046 goes out in a couple years. Could it last longer? Possibly but I wouldn't bet on it. If all you're gonna do is mow, then maybe. But plowing...hauling...and mowing? I would definitely go for one of the 2500 series models.

 

[gjjbmoore]

Thanks Hager...We are right at "crunch" time. And every post really matters. My wife and I had a big discussion today. I told her that I would be willing to buy just the GT2542 and wait on any attachments until we can afford them. I have a self-propelled mower that I can gather any grass left over from mulching. SO, wish me luck, and again thanks for the input. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif