Help me decide...Before 6/14!

[Tor2ga]

I'm looking to buy a lawn tractor for the first time and am a little confused as to which would best suit my needs. I have 1/2 acre with a walkout basement (the land on the sides of the house has a decent slope from front to back) without much in the way of obstacles. Front and back yards are flat. Presently it takes me almost 2 hrs. to mow and bag it with a push mower, which is unacceptable.
Primarily, I am looking for a riding mower that bags well and gives an even cut. Since it is a new home I also want to do some light landscaping and put a nice patio outside the walkout basement, therefore I am also looking for a machine that can tow a cart with dirt, gravel and brick up and down the modest hill (15% grade?) alongside the house.
I was all set to purchase the JD LT160 until I read in these forums that its towing capability might not suit my needs. Does anybody know what kind of load it can handle? The brochure only rates it with a 7 cu. ft. cart. In addition to the LT160 I am looking at the Cub Cadet 1527 and the Craftsman DYT4000 with the 25HP Kohler pro engine. These are all in the same price range and the latter 2 seem to be able to pull a 15 cu. ft. cart (according to the sales literature). The Craftsman DLT3000 with the Honda 16.5 V-Twin also is enticing with its lower price and 15 cu. ft. cart rating. Both Craftsman models are on sale until 6/14 and I'd like to make a decision by then.
Are these higher end Craftsman models comparable to the lower end Deere and Cub Cadet models mentioned above? Are any of these more prone to repair than the others? Which one cuts and bags the best? There are dealers for all three brands close to the house and I am handy enough to assemble the Craftsman models if thats the way I go. All your impressions and experiences, good and bad, would be greatly appreciated by me and any others going through this decision. Please be civil in your responses as I really don't want to start any "brand wars" with this thread. Thanks for your help! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have an 11 hp honda mower with a rear bagger that I use for trimming. I don't know about the motors honda builds for the sears tractors, but I have been very impressed with the Honda Motor I have.

I also have a 12 HP Kohler in my 30 year old JD--also a good engine, but I'm sure it's much different than the Kohler in the Sears tractor. I think the Kohler's in the Sears tractors have a spin on oil filter. I only use this tractor for mowing some of the rougher spots in the back part of the property, but it's still working after all these years.

Look at the front axles on all tractors you are considering--are they stamped metal or cast iron? Cast iron is better.

Bagging--are you going to be bagging leaves in the fall? If so, plan on making many many trips unless you have a bagger that will also reduce clippings/leaves. These types of bagging systems typically need a motor of their own. If you want the bagger for leaves, I would take the $250-$400 the standard bagger would cost you and put that towards a bagger that will "mulch" or reduce the cuttings prior to depositing them in the bagger's collection system. You can get one of these systems starting at about $900. The past few falls, I used the Honda with a standard bagger and by the time I drive 50 feet, the bagger is full. This year, I'm purchasing a bagging system for my CUT that will reduce. If all you're going to bag is clippings, then any standard bagging system will work. If you do go with the standard bagging system, I would get the "bagging blades" if available on the deck you ultimately buy. These blades are cupped and designed to create higher air flow--they work great on my honda.

Towing capacity--I think it comes down to traction so I would look to see if wheel weights are an option on any of the tractors.

Good Luck

Bob

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Engine power and transmissions are one factor in pulling ability which seems to be important to you. The other main factor is Weight. Did you compare the weight of the tractors. All things being equal a heavier tractor will outpull and climb better than a lighter one. Heavier also usually indicates heavier steel and more durability.

 

[Tor2ga]

I realize that weight will be a factor and I believe they are as follows; LT160= 475 lbs., CC1527=504, DLT3000= 518 and the DYT4000= 581 lbs. Add in my 265 lbs. and I should have enough weight to pull a decent load in any of these machines without going to wheel weights right away.

 

[PBMAX]

I have a scott 18 hp now bought out by JD with three bags on the back for 9bushall capacity. It has the kohler and it like the sears should have an oil pump and twist on filter. wich is important on hills ( dad had an old 15hp craftsmas with brigs and straton and it burned up. No oil pump and he didn't relize his tendancey to cutt sid e to side with the valves up hill)(couldn't pull enough oil up) My scott is HST drive and can pull at least 600 lbs on flat and slight slope. ( usd it to pull some loggs that were 3 thick ansd 6 ft long (very slowly striagh in line not rolling)But if the hill is to steep like my new place as say 25 % slope and it can be a chore to climb the hill it will bog down and due to traction with the turf tires. So I would consider a gear drive unit for load pulling. good luck and have fun with what ever U buy

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I am not familiar with any of those particular models, but I can give some general observations I've noted using our soon to be retired Poulan.

The most important feature on a lawn tractor is the transmission and its controls. For mowing, hydrostatics are really nice, but you really want pedal control, not fender control, which is what we have.

Look out for reverse lock-outs. Repeated shifting between forward and reverse is a common occurance on a lawn tractor. The majority of shift and/or hydrostatic controls appear to be designed by lawyers instead of engineers.

I recently saw a machine at Lowes that had the shifter down low sticking foward from under the seat. Operating that beast would be back breaking at best. Look for a machine whose controls fall to hand (or feet) and let you switch between forward and reverse with ease and grace.

You don't say what size cut you are looking for. We have a 42" deck on our machine. The 14.5 HP Briggs and Stratton I/C engine is barely adequate under the best of conditions. Long or wet grass bogs the engine if we don't slow way down. This lengthens the mowing time of course. Mulching requires the deck be set at the higher levels under all conditions.

What I'm trying to say is make sure you get an adequately powered machine. Absent any other way to judge, I'd look at a variety of machines in a particular cutting width and figure the lower HP models to be inadequate, the top HP models to be the icing on the cake, and go from there.

Good luck with whatever you get.

SnowRidge

 

[Joe1]

I just saw the post last night, so this may be too late. I looked around a lot for garden tractors myself and then decided I needed a compact utility tractor afterall. I looked at the Craftsman and also the Husqvarna GTH2248XP (22 hp, 48" deck. They were listed at $3,299.00 in California. I also looked at the Craftsman #27602, 25 HP and 48 inch deck, listed at $2,549.00, or $2,249.00 with 6 speed.

I did look at the John Deere/Sabre models, and the JD were more money for less HP.

Here is what I observed. Kohler had a 22 HP Kawasaki V Twin, Craftsman had a 25 HP Kohler Pro V twin. They looked identical, including the way the decks hooked up. Beyond the name, color difference, etc. the only major difference was the Kawasaki vs Kohler. Both had spin on oil filters with full presure lubrication systems and cylinder liners. Is the Kawasaki a better engine? Maybe, but the Kohler is an excellent engine, and you would probably wear out either machine before the engine went south. By the time you add the sales tax, you're looking at an $800.00 difference, $1,100 if you go for the 6 speed. You can buy a lot of goodies for $800.00/ I probably would have bought the Craftsman. Of course, since they are both made by the same people, I ASSUMED the transmission is the same. Only other question? After Sales Service on the Husqvarna would be excellent because the dealer is excellent. I called on Sears service and they will come out to the house. Hope this helps. Please let us know which you buy and why.

 

[Tor2ga]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger and am purchasing the Cub Cadet 1527. It was rated #2 behind the JD L110 in the latest Consumer Reports on lawn tractors. After researching the deck sizes I decided to go with the 42 in. because I wanted to stay with a 2 blade system to make the bagging more efficient, and I have heard that a 3 blade system produces a slightly more uneven cut than the 2 blade. I probably would have gone with the JD LT160 (rated #4) but JD only rates that machine (and the L110) to pull a 7 cu. ft. cart as opposed to a 15 cu. ft. with the CC and Craftsman models. The Cub also seems to be a more robust machine than the JD at a slightly lesser price, ($2400.) Although Consumer Reports says Cubs are slightly more repair prone, the better warranty and close proximity of the (reputable) dealer make this gamble a good one. Wish me luck! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: Help me decide... Too Late...

Well... it's too late... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I was gonna say... wait until about 2 weeks, when Home Depot has their 40 % OFF sale lots of items throughout the entire stores...

Here's my last year's purchase, that has mowed ~ 4-5 acres of lawn about every week (sometimes every other) during the mowing season, still on the same belts, and blades (3 with 46" deck), and every now and then tows a 15 cu ft. trailer with misc. garden paraphernalia galore... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

With a twin B&S 20 hp, 46" deck... Automatic... Nice! (never owned a rider before, let alone an Automatic...)

My very own hydro... I feel just like RaT!... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Oh... with 40% OFF... I paid a grand total of $629. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif