Tuff-Torq K46HD

[BillNole]

Greetings!

First post!

I've given up on my tired old Troy-Bilt Rider that I bought at Sam's 8 years ago and decided to purchase myself a replacement for an early Christmas present from my wife. (Thanks sweetie!) For $800 on sale, it's done remarkably well for what it is. Everything still works, but it's just old and sort of clunky after 8 years of not as much attention as it should properly get. The hydro whines a little more and is slightly slower than it once was, but it works. The B&S engine is literally just like the day I bought it in appearance and performance with only a carb kit needed a few years ago after I forgot to run it dry for the winter. Not sure what I'll do with the old one...

The place I take my equipment to sells Snapper and Dixon mowers. I bought a new Snapper walk behind trim mower from him a couple of years ago when my nearly 20 year old Airens gave out and like it well enough. (Also bought a Dolmar chainsaw from him this past Spring that works like a freakin' champ!)

I've learned that the LT200 line from Snapper is being discontinued after this year and I don't like what they appear to be replacing it with, (NXT line?) so I'm going to go ahead and get a new one now, even though I've only got another one or two mowings until storing it in place of the snow blower in the shed.

As the Snappers are essentially the same as Simplicity mowers and I have a history with this dealer, I've narrowed down my choices to the Snapper LT2042 or LT2044. Snapper LT200 Specifications I like the 3-blade deck and larger tires on the 2044 for a couple of reasons, but neither is worth the $400 difference between the models. The only other real difference I see, except the 2" wider deck, is the Tuff-Torq K46HD transmission on the 2044, as opposed to the K46 on the 2042.

What's the difference between the K46 and the K46HD? Heavy duty sounds straight forward enough, but what's different to justify that designation? I've spent hours online searching and can't come up with anything definitive. It seems that Tuff-Torq offers the K46 in about a gazillion iterations to satisfy manufacturer's needs to differentiate and claim their model is superior.

Is there really a difference? My dealer just says it's heavy duty and will last much longer. I like the guy and trust him as much as is appropriate, but without specs or details, that just sort of makes me nervous regarding the whole thing to be honest!

Thanks in advance for any help with this! Happy mowing!

 

[James Loehr]

I have a snapper LT200/2044 that is doing a very nice job for me. I got the 44inch over the 42 inch becouse I liked the deck and larger tires. I use it to mow 500 feet along the road front and some other rough areas so I've added knobby tires and so far they are great. I think that maybe the HD is just regeared for the larger tires since the ground speed is the same as the 2042 with smaller tires. I also have a Simplicity Regent 22/44. Same tractor almost and same deck except one is suspended and the Simplicity is free floating. I really like my Snapper and after about 100hrs of use could not recommend it more. Get one before there gone, that new one is not something I would want.

 

[BillNole]

Thanks for the feedback James. I'd noticed the speed to tire issue and thought the gearing must have been changed, but rather hoped the difference was something related more to beefier components or larger oil reserve / serviceable filter or... you get the drift.

I went ahead and purchased the 2042 and was awaiting setup, but called back later and asked him to find me a 2044 instead. He found one at the factory that will arrive later in the week, so I'll get a chance to play with it next weekend. Would you believe that I'm actually running sprinklers this weekend to be sure I have something to mow? After several frosts the past two weeks and our more than month long dry spell we hit a record shattering 90 degree temp yesterday here in Northern IL and the grass is somewhat stressed! lol

I REALLY liked the quick-hitch design on the Simplicity deck, but not the roller as I'm not much into decorating the lawn with stripes. It looks cool, but just not for me. Still, that quick-hitch looked sooooo enticing!

I'd still like to hear if anyone knows of any other difference between the K46 and K46HD. I'll think about it forever if I don't get an answer that satisfies my curiosity!

 

[BillNole]

...I think the only way to find out is send them an email on the subject. From what I hear, they are good on customer service. It would be nice to post the results and maybe put some myths to rest.

That's not a bad idea K7. At this point, I've already ordered the 2044 with the K46HD, so it's just to satisfy my curiosity, but an e-mail shouldn't be too complicated. I'll see what I can do and report back what I hear for future reference.

Thanks again for the feedback guys!

 

[James Loehr]

Thanks for the feedback James. I'd noticed the speed to tire issue and thought the gearing must have been changed, but rather hoped the difference was something related more to beefier components or larger oil reserve / serviceable filter or... you get the drift.

I went ahead and purchased the 2042 and was awaiting setup, but called back later and asked him to find me a 2044 instead. He found one at the factory that will arrive later in the week, so I'll get a chance to play with it next weekend. Would you believe that I'm actually running sprinklers this weekend to be sure I have something to mow? After several frosts the past two weeks and our more than month long dry spell we hit a record shattering 90 degree temp yesterday here in Northern IL and the grass is somewhat stressed! lol

I REALLY liked the quick-hitch design on the Simplicity deck, but not the roller as I'm not much into decorating the lawn with stripes. It looks cool, but just not for me. Still, that quick-hitch looked sooooo enticing!

I'd still like to hear if anyone knows of any other difference between the K46 and K46HD. I'll think about it forever if I don't get an answer that satisfies my curiosity!

Congrats on the new Snapper, I think you will really like it.I sure like mine. The quick-hitch is nice but pulling out the cross pin is not as bad as some I've seen. I put a short 2X4 block under the front of the deck then drop the deck down and the pin pulls right out. My Simplicity is great on the yard around the house but the free floating deck is just not good where it's rough or doing my ditchs or mound septic system where it has traction problems. The Snapper suspended deck works better for that stuff. I've used mine pretty hard at times and it has done great. I hope the tranny holds a few years anyway. Enjoy your new ride.

 

[BillNole]

Congrats on the new Snapper, I think you will really like it.I sure like mine. The quick-hitch is nice but pulling out the cross pin is not as bad as some I've seen. I put a short 2X4 block under the front of the deck then drop the deck down and the pin pulls right out. My Simplicity is great on the yard around the house but the free floating deck is just not good where it's rough or doing my ditchs or mound septic system where it has traction problems. The Snapper suspended deck works better for that stuff. I've used mine pretty hard at times and it has done great. I hope the tranny holds a few years anyway. Enjoy your new ride.

While my yard isn't really what I'd consider "rough", it's also not flat and smooth either. My yard in North Carolina was like mowing carpet in the house! I've got a bit of a slope away from the house at one end and also a drainage swale along the road, so the suspended deck sounded like a better idea.

I'm looking forward to receiving it sometime this week and will report back my impressions, along with whatever I hear back to the e-mail I sent Tuff Torq regarding the tranny.

My older LT lasted 8 years and it was a cheap imitation really. I expect this one to last much longer than that.

Another point of curiosity... Why do you have both the Snapper and the Simplicity of basically the same model? Just because???

 

[James Loehr]

While my yard isn't really what I'd consider "rough", it's also not flat and smooth either. My yard in North Carolina was like mowing carpet in the house! I've got a bit of a slope away from the house at one end and also a drainage swale along the road, so the suspended deck sounded like a better idea.

I'm looking forward to receiving it sometime this week and will report back my impressions, along with whatever I hear back to the e-mail I sent Tuff Torq regarding the tranny.

My older LT lasted 8 years and it was a cheap imitation really. I expect this one to last much longer than that.

Another point of curiosity... Why do you have both the Snapper and the Simplicity of basically the same model? Just because???

I ran into a great deal on the Simplicity used with 80hrs on it. Had an old Craftsman that was kind of like your old LT. I use the Simplicity for my main lawn around the house with a mulching kit on it but for everything else it would just take a lot more time and I'm just not that fussy about it. The Snapper also works out better for everything else I do like trailers,sweeper ect. My Craftsman needed some repair to mow again and when the deal came along I went for it. It is most handy having one setup for mulching and one for side discharge without having to change the one deck each time. The decks are the same so I removed the mulching kit from the Snapper and put it on the Simplicity without having to buy another one. I also have a Kubota BX with a 60inch mower for about another three and a Half acres. Once again enjoy that new Snapper.

 

[BillNole]

That's not a bad idea K7. At this point, I've already ordered the 2044 with the K46HD, so it's just to satisfy my curiosity, but an e-mail shouldn't be too complicated. I'll see what I can do and report back what I hear for future reference.

Thanks again for the feedback guys!

After two attempts, all I've heard back from Tuff Torq is a short reply from Derrick Dalton that he'd forwarded my requests for information to sales and they'd follow-up. Not yet... Maybe they will, but I went ahead and picked the new LT up anyway and am pleased with it.

With our lack of rain over the past month, everything is pretty dry, so I was mowing in a perpetual cloud of dust that followed me yesterday. I had to stop occasionally to wait for it to pass me by. Must be partly due to the deck design because my old mower didn't pick up nearly as much dust even when it was dry. I can't wait for next spring now to see how well it works with the thick, lush, heavy grass we get in the Spring that has to be cut twice a week to keep it from clumping and shredding!

Thanks for your help guys! I'm an excited and proud Snapper LT200-2044 owner. Now, I have to go clean and lube it, just in time to store it for the winter. What's wrong with this picture? lol

BTW, I just got off the phone. I picked up a deal on a brand new/still in the box Simplicity 42" snowthrower. A local guy got it in a package on his new Regent and didn't want the snowthrower so he offered it on Craigslist for $500. I just got it for $425 and will pick it up next weekend. I don't need it, as I have a pretty short two lane driveway and not much else to clear, but I can't wait anyway!

Depending on how easy it is and how well it works, I'll probably sell my Ariens 824E I bought year before last. Even though the Ariens is easier than shoveling when we get a big snow or wind, it's a beast to control and it just wears me out. My wife and kids refuse to use it as it's just too much for them. I could probably have gotten away with a single stage in all but the worst storms. I'm looking forward to sitting instead of walking and fighting!

My wife asks, "Why do guys do this?" She can't understand why I'm going from having "way too much snowblower" for our needs to "WAY-WAY too much" now.

I'm future-proofing! Right? Anyone? Help me out here, will someone? :laughing:

I think I'll start a new thread and ask for tips and feedback on the snowthrower, since nobody will likely see it in here.

Thanks again Fellas!

 

[BillNole]

I finally heard back from Tuff-Torq today. Twice! Once from their sales office and also from their technical support team. The replies were both very close in the information relayed. Both individuals were very supportive and professional and apologized for the dealyed response.

Basically, the two K46 version offered in the Snapper model are identical in almost everyway, except for two things. First, they're geared different, because of the different size wheels offered with the models with the 44" and larger decks. More importantly, the K46HD also has a drain plug to assist in fluid changes, whereas the K46 offered with the 42" and smaller decks and wheels is permanently sealed and not intended to be user servicable. Suh-weet for me!!!

I'd much rather have the opportunity to change fluids regularly whether it needs it or not. The cost for a couple quarts of synthetic 5W-50 every year seems a small price to pay for what it will do in return. A filter would be nice, but with regular fluid changes isn't as important as the ability to change it in the first place.

Thanks all for the feedback and support! :drink: