Need help finding a good lawn tractor??

[ejtaylor822]

I am on my second Craftsman mower. When I sold the first one it was running as good the day it was sold as it was when bought three years prior.

My current Craftsman, LT1000 42” B&S Intek 18HP with cast iron front end, was bought summer of ’03. Over the last three years I have used it SOLELY to convert 2 acres of an old abandoned neglected hayfield/garden into my front yard.

I have hit stumps, tree limbs, roots, brush, vines, rocks, ground, etc., and she just keeps right on going. Starts every time, easy to work-on/maintain, find parts and as long as the blades are sharp, give a silky smooth cut.

Are there better mowers out there? Absolutely! But, I would definitely recommend Craftsman for homeowner lawn maintenance - IMHO, hard to beat when looking at costs.

I am considering getting something else with a wider cut in the next year or so. The new Craftsman FS is at the top of the list along with the ZTR.

Eddie

 

[ejtaylor822]

I am on my second Craftsman mower. When I sold the first one it was running as good the day it was sold as it was when bought three years prior.

My current Craftsman, LT1000 42” B&S Intek 18HP with cast iron front end, was bought summer of ’03. Over the last three years I have used it SOLELY to convert 2 acres of an old abandoned neglected hayfield/garden into my front yard.

I have hit stumps, tree limbs, roots, brush, vines, rocks, ground, etc., and she just keeps right on going. Starts every time, easy to work-on/maintain, find parts and as long as the blades are sharp, give a silky smooth cut.

Are there better mowers out there? Absolutely! But, I would definitely recommend Craftsman for homeowner lawn maintenance - IMHO, hard to beat when looking at costs.

I am considering getting something else with a wider cut in the next year or so. The new Craftsman FS is at the top of the list along with the ZTR.

Eddie

 

[ovrszd]

I'll show my JD roots here.

I bought a 1973 JD 140 when it was twelve years old for $750. I mowed three acres with it, 18 times per year, for 7 years, then gave it to my youngest Son in 1992. He stopped using it this year although it still runs and cuts.

I bought a JD 322 to replace the 140 in 1992 for $2500. The 322 was 3 years old with 250 hours on it. I mowed the same 3 acres with it, 18 times per year, for 14 years. I gave it to my youngest son this year with 1650 hours on it and it's his primary machine now.

I bought a JD 455 to replace the 322 this year for $4700. The 455 was three years old and had 300 hours on it. I figure it will easily mow for fifteen years without spending any significant money on it.

Let's just talk about the past though and not speculate on the future of the 455. I bought my first JD in 1985. I've mowed 3 acres, approximately 18 times per year, since that time with only two tractors. That figures up to 378 mowings with a total of 1134 acres. The total cost of the two mowers that did that is $3200. The 322 would still bring $1700 if sold today. That brings my costs back down to $1500.

So I've mowed 1134 acres for $1500. That comes to $1.32 per acre. Or, $3.96 per mowing. Or, $71.28 per year.

So, for those that say John Deere mowers are expensive, I say you are soooooooooooo wrong. A quality mower, regardless of brand, is so much cheaper in the long run than a discount mower that it's immeasurable. How many MTD mowers would it take to mow 1134 acres???

Just like buying a compact tractor. Buy cheap and you get cheap. Buy quality and you get quality. I won't even get into the fact that my 322 and 455 have hydraulics and run a front snow blade plus 3 point hitch to carry a tote box, box scraper, blade and tandem disc. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jd2210]

now thats a well thought out response! Bravo

 

[KenCombs]

The advice given to purchase a quality used machine is sound in my opinion.

But, let me add to the list of such machines: A Case or Ingersoll (same machines basicly) is equal to a Deere and can usually be had for less money. My favorites are the 'big wheel' models because of the excellent ride and traction the 16" tires provide. A 444/446/448 Case or a 4016 Ingersoll would be my choice. Check out the Yahoo groups for more info and some personal ads.

 

[Fordlords]

"The advice given to purchase a quality used machine is sound in my opinion."

Mine too. IMHO a good used JD even one 25 years old like a 200 or 300 series or a used IH Cub Cadet will still beat the pants off most of this new stuff. But.. many people want brand new, because they can't do the light repairs that might be necessary on an older machine and they don't want to. They are not generally interested in tractors and just want to cut their lawn as fast as possible with a reliable machine so they can get back in front of the $5k plasma TV and suck down beers watching their local team lose the big game /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif (Like the Bills and Sabres always do to me /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif)

Yes, JD machines have the highest resale, and it makes perfectly logical sense to buy a new one based on that and their ratings and performance. But, and it's a big BUT for Mr. Plasma TV who is making $200/mo TV payments, convincing them to fork out the initial money for that type of common sense rarely works for something they are not really interested in. That is where the tractors in the inexpensive category come in, such as your Craftsmans and the JD/CC lineups at HD, Lowes, and TSC.

We have a little Craftsman, and it is used for the light duty mowing and such, and it is perfectly fine for that, has lasted 10 years with more to come doing that, and does not owe us a dime. The much heavier duty CC 682 is used around the yard for the heavy duty tasks that would be too abusive to the Craftsman.

-Fordlords-

 

[ovrszd]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( "The advice given to purchase a quality used machine is sound in my opinion."

Mine too. IMHO a good used JD even one 25 years old like a 200 or 300 series or a used IH Cub Cadet will still beat the pants off most of this new stuff. But.. many people want brand new, because they can't do the light repairs that might be necessary on an older machine and they don't want to. They are not generally interested in tractors and just want to cut their lawn as fast as possible with a reliable machine so they can get back in front of the $5k plasma TV and suck down beers watching their local team lose the big game /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif (Like the Bills and Sabres always do to me /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif)

Yes, JD machines have the highest resale, and it makes perfectly logical sense to buy a new one based on that and their ratings and performance. But, and it's a big BUT for Mr. Plasma TV who is making $200/mo TV payments, convincing them to fork out the initial money for that type of common sense rarely works for something they are not really interested in. That is where the tractors in the inexpensive category come in, such as your Craftsmans and the JD/CC lineups at HD, Lowes, and TSC.

We have a little Craftsman, and it is used for the light duty mowing and such, and it is perfectly fine for that, has lasted 10 years with more to come doing that, and does not owe us a dime. The much heavier duty CC 682 is used around the yard for the heavy duty tasks that would be too abusive to the Craftsman.


-Fordlords-
)</font>

Very well stated. And my "ramble" certainly wasn't meant to imply that JD was the BEST brand to buy. I hope I made it clear that there are other good quality machines. But you are going to have to fork over some cash, if you have any left from the TV purchase. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Fordlord's twenty year old IH is an example of another quality product!!! Left to simple mowing tasks, you could never wear it out!!!

 

[cokeman]

"The advice given to purchase a quality used machine is sound in my opinion."

Mine too. IMHO a good used JD even one 25 years old like a 200 or 300 series or a used IH Cub Cadet will still beat the pants off most of this new stuff. But.. many people want brand new, because they can't do the light repairs that might be necessary on an older machine and they don't want to. They are not generally interested in tractors and just want to cut their lawn as fast as possible with a reliable machine so they can get back in front of the $5k plasma TV and suck down beers watching their local team lose the big game /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif (Like the Bills and Sabres always do to me /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif)

Yes, JD machines have the highest resale, and it makes perfectly logical sense to buy a new one based on that and their ratings and performance. But, and it's a big BUT for Mr. Plasma TV who is making $200/mo TV payments, convincing them to fork out the initial money for that type of common sense rarely works for something they are not really interested in. That is where the tractors in the inexpensive category come in, such as your Craftsmans and the JD/CC lineups at HD, Lowes, and TSC.

We have a little Craftsman, and it is used for the light duty mowing and such, and it is perfectly fine for that, has lasted 10 years with more to come doing that, and does not owe us a dime. The much heavier duty CC 682 is used around the yard for the heavy duty tasks that would be too abusive to the Craftsman.

-Fordlords-

I have a 5000.00 TV that I made interest free payments on for a year. I also have a new GT. I would have gotten a better quality slightly used unit but I couldn't find anything suitable. I would rather spend time during the warmer months fiddling with the tractor than watching TV. I'm really going to mess uo your stereotype now beacuse I don't even like beer.

Dean

 

[Fordlords]

You got me laughing on that note Cokeman! Not on the tractor/TV comparison, but a Canadian who doesn't like beer? Now if you tell us you don't watch hockey on that plasma TV it would be like me saying I found a Buffalonian who doesn't like the Bills and chicken wings =)
Have fun on the new ride!

-Fordlords-

 

[cokeman]

I guess I might have to forfiet my Canadian citizenship. I didn't watch a single playoff game on the thing. Guess I'm a Leaf fan not a real hockey fan.
I was modding the tractor during one of the games. Can't watch hockey while I'm trying to grow grass. I got my priorities.

Dean

 

[Ortis]

I have seen a lot of good advice here. In just looking at some of the messages, I have not seen much on the snow plowing aspect. IMHO, a lawn tractor suitable to cut just an acre, may be ok for dry, powdery snow but not for anything heavier. I'd talk to the neighbors and find out what works for them. If the ATV works for snow, I'd keep it. My very limited experience with snow says you may want a walk-behind or tractor mount snow blower.

 

[Fordlords]

I have the snow blower, weights and chains for my 682, and the setup works well despite it being 25+ year old equipment, the 682 is a heavy GT with shaft hydro. But honestly, the snow blower will probably no longer be used. To have to take the deck off, mount the blower and put the weights and chains on is not worth the trouble in my case where I have a 200' driveway. We have 4 WD vehicles that can run right over the snow, and if it gets too deep a buddy of mine will plow the driveway. I would not invest in a blower for a smaller lightweight LT as the snow equipment would cost as much as the tractor itself and probably not perform too good with a small belt drive hydro, a good walk behind would be a better investment.

-Fordlords-

 

[cokeman]

As usual I agree with you. I would not even consider putting the blower on mine.

Dean