songhunter
Bronze Member
Sorry! I meant to say I would not consider any mower with LESS than a 46" wide cut.
MURRAY vs. CRAFTSMAN
- Thread starter Travis_R
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Travis_R
Veteran Member
First of all, I want to thank all of you for your facts and opinions.
I am STILL trying to decide which one I want. Even a good "name brand" used one.
I HAVE looked for USED John Deeres in the paper, but am un able to find any. For example, I looked for the John Deere 160 with the Kawasaki motor like my paw-paw has. The only thing I found was a JD push mower, which I have no use for.
So, pretty much what I am reading is that Craftsman is BETTER than Murray? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Keep coming with the input. I am still reading.
Travis R /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I am STILL trying to decide which one I want. Even a good "name brand" used one.
I HAVE looked for USED John Deeres in the paper, but am un able to find any. For example, I looked for the John Deere 160 with the Kawasaki motor like my paw-paw has. The only thing I found was a JD push mower, which I have no use for.
So, pretty much what I am reading is that Craftsman is BETTER than Murray? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Keep coming with the input. I am still reading.
Travis R /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Travis, Troy Built has a nice lookin machine for $999.00.
They carry them at Lowes, I see more of themn being sold around here ( Garner NC ) than most of the other stuff in that price range and even though MTD now has Troy Built I have always liked thier stuff. Take a look, what can it hurt?
They carry them at Lowes, I see more of themn being sold around here ( Garner NC ) than most of the other stuff in that price range and even though MTD now has Troy Built I have always liked thier stuff. Take a look, what can it hurt?
slammer
Silver Member
The Troy built machines are a basic machine no better or worse than MTD's other offerings. Better than Murray but probably not quite as good as a Craftsman. (IMO)
Slam
Slam
Poncho
Gold Member
Travis..... I have about 3 acres and wound up buying the Craftsman GT2300. Kohler 23hp water cooled with 50" cut and hydro. This did set me back $2300 but I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I guess I'm in the minority as just about everything that has to do with tools I've gotten from Sears, which includes a couple of mowers. I've even got an Craftsman Eager 1 that still cranks on the first pull and it's about 18 years old. I've shied away from Wally-world, Lowe's & H-D because they didn't have service facilities as Sears used to have around here. Yep... there are good "name brands" out there and many have touted their dependability in the "lawn care" service... but it doens't sound like you are going into the lawn care service. I did have one "problem" with my garden tractor which I thought was the transmission... wound up being the belt wasn't on the pulley. Never the less.... Sears came to the house and fixed it... no problem. I wouldn't hessitate on buying another Craftsman.
Man oh man! A 23hp liquid cooled mower for $2300, now thats a good price for any mower with that good a motor.
But Trav wants to stay under one grand, so I say look closely at the Troy B and Craftsman, then choose.... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
But Trav wants to stay under one grand, so I say look closely at the Troy B and Craftsman, then choose.... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
LBrown59
Super Star Member
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</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I have decided that I am going to go with a MANUAL transmission. I just don't trust the hydrostatic ones. I feel that the manual will last longer.
I will be cutting 2 and a half to 3 acres. Probably no more than that because I want a compact tractor to do the rest with a brush cutter.
I personally can't see spending any more than a thousand, maybe $1200.00 on a mower whenever I can fix it if anything goes wrong. If I wasn't able or wasn't a little "mechanically inclined", then I would buy a more expensive mower that I could take to the dealer If I had a problem with it. Also, I couldn't buy a "name brand" because of my budget! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Travis R )</font>
==================
I have decided that I am going to go with a MANUAL transmission.
*I just don't trust the hydrostatic ones.
**I feel that the manual will last longer.
********************
I have a 9 year old wards power craft made by MTD
*The hydrostatic transmission is the only thing that hasn't been a problem on this unit.
**My hydrostatic has lasted 9 years without incident and is still going strong-how long do you want a transmission to last?
There is no way you could get me to go with a MANUAL transmission. !
I have decided that I am going to go with a MANUAL transmission. I just don't trust the hydrostatic ones. I feel that the manual will last longer.
I will be cutting 2 and a half to 3 acres. Probably no more than that because I want a compact tractor to do the rest with a brush cutter.
I personally can't see spending any more than a thousand, maybe $1200.00 on a mower whenever I can fix it if anything goes wrong. If I wasn't able or wasn't a little "mechanically inclined", then I would buy a more expensive mower that I could take to the dealer If I had a problem with it. Also, I couldn't buy a "name brand" because of my budget! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Travis R )</font>
==================
I have decided that I am going to go with a MANUAL transmission.
*I just don't trust the hydrostatic ones.
**I feel that the manual will last longer.
********************
I have a 9 year old wards power craft made by MTD
*The hydrostatic transmission is the only thing that hasn't been a problem on this unit.
**My hydrostatic has lasted 9 years without incident and is still going strong-how long do you want a transmission to last?
There is no way you could get me to go with a MANUAL transmission. !
LBrown59
Super Star Member
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- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">(
I will be cutting 2 and a half to 3 acres. Probably no more than that because I want a compact tractor to do the rest with a brush cutter.)</font>
Travis if you are going to mow three acres your going to need a good sized machine. That is actually quite a bit to ask of a $1000 tractor of any brand.
I would suggest you get the largest possible engine and deck you can afford to minimize the hours on the mower. 18hp/46" cut minimum IMO. I know people will pipe in that they mow 3 acres weekly with their 12hp/38" cut but that is really tough on a small machine. Good luck bud, I think your gonna need it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Slam )</font>
The narrower the cut the more trips around the block.
The more trips around the block the more wear and tear on the tractor.
I will be cutting 2 and a half to 3 acres. Probably no more than that because I want a compact tractor to do the rest with a brush cutter.)</font>
Travis if you are going to mow three acres your going to need a good sized machine. That is actually quite a bit to ask of a $1000 tractor of any brand.
I would suggest you get the largest possible engine and deck you can afford to minimize the hours on the mower. 18hp/46" cut minimum IMO. I know people will pipe in that they mow 3 acres weekly with their 12hp/38" cut but that is really tough on a small machine. Good luck bud, I think your gonna need it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Slam )</font>
The narrower the cut the more trips around the block.
The more trips around the block the more wear and tear on the tractor.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
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- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> ( I have seen more broken down Craftsmans than Murrays. ) </font>
Why even consider a mower that you know will be breaking down? Either mower is not worth the aggravation. I've never heard so much discussion on deciding on two inferior brands and basing it on which one will have less breakdowns.
I would buy a used commercial walk-behind (48"-60") if money is the REAL issue. You are a young buck, so you wouldn't even need a sulky. The Crapsman and Murray will nickle and dime you to death, and will do a poor job.
Back when I was in the lawn business, every year some new guys would pop up with their new Crapsman mowers and undercut the "going rate" to steal away accounts. 6 weeks into the growing season, their equipment was DOWN and their customers were scrambling to get back their original service providers. Those fly-by-nighters quickly went OUT of business. Granted, you are not in the lawn business -- but cutting 3 acres weekly will wear that machine out quicker than Joe-Subdivision who has a 1/5 acre yard and can get a season or two out of their machine until having to start repairing it.
Just because you can FIX something, does not make your decision to go cheap a good one. Take the advice from your Paw-Paw -- STAY AWAY. )</font>
Just because you can FIX something, does not make your decision to go cheap a good one.
===================
Even if he can fix it there is still the matter of the cost of the parts .
Why buy a unit that you are always buying parts for and working on it when you could be saving money on parts and using a reliable unit instead?
I already have a cheepe to work on and buy parts for, but I would prefer to have one to use instead.
Why even consider a mower that you know will be breaking down? Either mower is not worth the aggravation. I've never heard so much discussion on deciding on two inferior brands and basing it on which one will have less breakdowns.
I would buy a used commercial walk-behind (48"-60") if money is the REAL issue. You are a young buck, so you wouldn't even need a sulky. The Crapsman and Murray will nickle and dime you to death, and will do a poor job.
Back when I was in the lawn business, every year some new guys would pop up with their new Crapsman mowers and undercut the "going rate" to steal away accounts. 6 weeks into the growing season, their equipment was DOWN and their customers were scrambling to get back their original service providers. Those fly-by-nighters quickly went OUT of business. Granted, you are not in the lawn business -- but cutting 3 acres weekly will wear that machine out quicker than Joe-Subdivision who has a 1/5 acre yard and can get a season or two out of their machine until having to start repairing it.
Just because you can FIX something, does not make your decision to go cheap a good one. Take the advice from your Paw-Paw -- STAY AWAY. )</font>
Just because you can FIX something, does not make your decision to go cheap a good one.
===================
Even if he can fix it there is still the matter of the cost of the parts .
Why buy a unit that you are always buying parts for and working on it when you could be saving money on parts and using a reliable unit instead?
I already have a cheepe to work on and buy parts for, but I would prefer to have one to use instead.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 16,831
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hey Travis, that's 3 or 4 of us now that have said the same thing.
*****According to the "Universal code of the lawn" and the "international society of been there, mowed that" you are no longer allowed to even look at Murray or Craftsman!
Slam )</font>
*****You could add most MTD made units to this.
*****According to the "Universal code of the lawn" and the "international society of been there, mowed that" you are no longer allowed to even look at Murray or Craftsman!
Slam )</font>
*****You could add most MTD made units to this.