Craftsman tractors?

[ishiboo]

I'm looking for an inexpensive lawn tractor to carry me through the summer until I buy a CUT. I've looked at Deere, and it seems for the $2800 you pay for their 54", you're getting a tractor with just as many quality issues (like the undersized Tuff Torq) as you would in a $1200 tractor.

The Craftsman YT4500 is $800 less and seems to offer a similar feature set and build quality.

I used to be a Cub fan, but after being less than impressed at my new $1300 blower (plus, being able to find it re-badged as a TroyBilt for $300 less did not make me happy) I thought Deere may be the answer. I have two 10 year old push mowers which I couldn't be happier with.

To me, it looks almost like all of the sub-$4000 lawn tractors come out of the same factory, and while I can discern a noticeable difference between the 7Iron decks and the X-series tractors, in the sub-$4000 seems like there's a toss-up.

Experience please, brand loyalty is of no use in my buying decision

 

[kbs2244]

I believe Deere still makes their own stuff up is Wisconsin.
(Except for the engines and trans.)
And it is pretty good stuff.

The problem with them is they keep everything just a bit off “standard.”
This goes from belts to tires and wheels.
You have to go to Deere for any parts.
And are they ever proud of their parts.
Belts can be twice the going rate.

If you are only looking to need it for a year I think any of the cheapies will last that long.

I would go to one of the big box stores and get one of the big brand names they sell.
The brand name will impress any future buyer even though the big box ones are not the same as the dealer ones.

 

[BEAVO]

craftsman as far as i know is made by MTD which makes about all lawn mowers now i have a CUB i bought like 3 yrs ago and have not had a single problem with it are you looking for a zero turn or what

 

[charger891]

not loyal to any brand,i`ve been fixing lawn and garden equipment for 20+ years, you get what you pay for!!, if you don`t have mutch lawn and your not rough on your equipment a craftsman would work, their decks are made of thin metal, deck spindles are made weak, linkages wear out quickly, this also goes for the cheap john deere`s sold at home depot, if you want something that will last buy the more expensive john deere`s, simplicity, toro

 

[Marauder470]

I believe Deere still makes their own stuff up is Wisconsin.
(Except for the engines and trans.)
And it is pretty good stuff.

The problem with them is they keep everything just a bit off “standard.”
This goes from belts to tires and wheels.
You have to go to Deere for any parts.
And are they ever proud of their parts.
Belts can be twice the going rate.

If you are only looking to need it for a year I think any of the cheapies will last that long.

I would go to one of the big box stores and get one of the big brand names they sell.
The brand name will impress any future buyer even though the big box ones are not the same as the dealer ones.

Not true.

 

[John in OH]

Like BEAVO says, MTD now builds many of the lawn mowers and lawn tractors under numerous different brand names (including Cub, IIRC). As far as I'm concerned anything built by MTD is junk. They build low quality at a low price.

If you want something to get you through one mowing season, then maybe some MTD junk will do the job. But if you want something that will last, find out who the actual manufacturer is and avoid MTD-sourced machines.

 

[nate379]

I'm fairly happy with my Craftsman tractor. Was bought in 1999 and it's still going strong. Used in the summer for cutting grass and winter for snowblowing.

Sure a John Deere would be better, but I didn't have the 15k to shell out for one... I've never paid that much for a car even... and I've owned TONS over the years.

 

[ishiboo]

I'm fairly happy with my Craftsman tractor. Was bought in 1999 and it's still going strong. Used in the summer for cutting grass and winter for snowblowing.

Sure a John Deere would be better, but I didn't have the 15k to shell out for one... I've never paid that much for a car even... and I've owned TONS over the years.

The comparable Deere is only $800 more, it just seems the main difference is paint color.

 

[Goobzilla]

Like BEAVO says, MTD now builds many of the lawn mowers and lawn tractors under numerous different brand names (including Cub, IIRC). As far as I'm concerned anything built by MTD is junk. They build low quality at a low price.

If you want something to get you through one mowing season, then maybe some MTD junk will do the job. But if you want something that will last, find out who the actual manufacturer is and avoid MTD-sourced machines.

Hmmmm, guess I better have them come take my Craftsman lawn tractor to the crusher then.

 

[BEAVO]

if your only looking to get by a year you might consider finding something on craigslist for cheap maybe even get one that can be a projects such as old wheel horse alison chambers or simplicity! as far as the guy saying his lasted this long that was probaly before MTD took over and hey seems like mines made by mtd as well but its held up3yrs of mowing and still runs good its got a kohler engine in it and runs strong

 

[nmk_61802]

If you are looking for an inexpensive quality mower why not check craigslist for some old iron. A JD318, Cub 1650 or Case equivalent should be able to be found in your price range. Any one of these three even at 25-30 old still should out perform the box store equipment.

Beavo beat me to it...

 

[nate379]

I was talking about a real Deere, not a light green MTD.

4x4, 25-30hp diesel, bucket in front, etc.

The comparable Deere is only $800 more, it just seems the main difference is paint color.

 

[stingry]

I'm looking for an inexpensive lawn tractor to carry me through the summer until I buy a CUT. I've looked at Deere, and it seems for the $2800 you pay for their 54", you're getting a tractor with just as many quality issues (like the undersized Tuff Torq) as you would in a $1200 tractor.

The Craftsman YT4500 is $800 less and seems to offer a similar feature set and build quality.

I used to be a Cub fan, but after being less than impressed at my new $1300 blower (plus, being able to find it re-badged as a TroyBilt for $300 less did not make me happy) I thought Deere may be the answer. I have two 10 year old push mowers which I couldn't be happier with.

To me, it looks almost like all of the sub-$4000 lawn tractors come out of the same factory, and while I can discern a noticeable difference between the 7Iron decks and the X-series tractors, in the sub-$4000 seems like there's a toss-up.

Experience please, brand loyalty is of no use in my buying decision

CUT???? What's that?

If you are looking for a mower for just one season, I would look at older used Deeres or any other quality mower. I would much rather have a good older Deere than any of the cheaper machines being discussed here. As said above, the mowers sold at the Deere dealerships are of superior quality to those sold in the big boxes. I'm actually surprised that Deere put their name on the lesser quality lawn equipment. I've got a F525 front mount mower that is 21 years old and has not been any trouble whatsoever. You may notice my bias toward John Deere, I farmed for 25+ years with their equipment and found it to be of top quality and had excellent resale value.

Cheers
Steve

 

[nmk_61802]

Also, I'm not sure of all your needs for a CUT, but have you considered Kubota's SCUT BX line? They can perform alot of the duties a CUT can and utilize most of the attachments.

I just replaced a Cub 1650 with a BX1800 with 500 hours. The BX w/ deck was about $4000 used. If this works and you can swing it, it avoids spending the money twice.

 

[BEAVO]

just wanted to put this out there seems like we may have offended goobzilla im not trying to bust anyones balls for owning a MTD product if what john said is correct i prob is i own a MTD product. we were only trying to help ishiboo make a decision and hope everythings cool thanks

 

[nmk_61802]

CUT???? What's that?

CUT = Compact Utility Tractor

SCUT = Sub Compact Utility Tractor

 

[nate379]

Those little Kubota BX tractors are SUPER overpriced IMO.

My Dad bought a Kioti last year, 4x4, 20hp diesel, bucket. Guy 2 houses up from them bought a little "BX" Kubota. That little BX was a few grand more than the much bigger Kioti.

The freaking back tires on that tiny thing are about the same size as the front tires of the Kioti.

Personally I would get an actual mower and not f around with some **** "lawn" tractor that is going to grenade in a couple years.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=Nw6WTai_LsfUiAKf9KTgCA&ved=0CFYQ8wIwBA#

 

[BEAVO]

Beavo beat me to it...

CUT = Compact Utility Tractor

SCUT = Sub Compact Utility Tractor

hey nmk thanks for clearing that up im wanting one as well my uncle has a nice deere cant remember the modle but he has a bucket 62in deck and tiller for his its a deisle 4x4 personaly i would like to find a old wheel horse or simplicity to restore cause im wanting some of the old attachments maybe some day after i get the nova finished

 

[YellowLakeWelding]

The older first series John Deere were nice, ALL American made. Cast Iron everywhere, cast iron Kohler engine, gear trans, cast iron front axel, extremely heavy duty mower deck, etc... Well worth the money if you can find one and have the patients to restore it. This one here has been going strong since 1965 in the same family and same owner, it didn't need a restore but it deserved it.

Like beavo said Craig's List is the way to go unless you want new...then really do your research a lot of the stuff out there now is tin can junk made very very cheap which reflects in they're longevity.

 

[AKMopar]

I was in this same situation several years ago. I looked at the Home Depot versions etc... and at the Deere dealer. The guy at the Deere dealer told me that there was no difference between their cheap Deere versions and the Deere versions sold at Home Depot; according to him, the only difference would be in which they would service the soonest, meaing if you bought it from them they would get to it sooner, if you bought it from Home Depot they would get to it later (they did the warranty work for all the Deeres in my area). He also said that if I wanted a 2 to 3 year tractor then buy the cheap versions; if I wanted a 5 to 7 year tractor then buy the next level up Deere (I think these were the 200 series). This 200 series (I think that is what they were) ran about $4.5 K, but that is all l would get is a well built gas engine garden tractor with few cababilities. I felt that if I was going to pay over $4K then I wanted more than just a lawn mower with a green paint job. I decided to take a plunge and got something that Deere didn't sell then and I don't think they do now, which is a sub-compact Kubota tractor. My Kubota (I bought the smallest made at the time-a 15 hp, which was a mistake as the 23 hp would have given me more options) has served me well. The diesel sips the fuel, I bought it with a quick detach loader (Kubota brand), I bought a rear blade (not Kubota) and a rear 50" snow blower (also not a Kubota). The rear blade and blower are very basic, well built pieces out of Canada and are tough as nails. The tractor has a 48" mowing deck (Kubota brand) and a 3-point hitch in the rear. This is probably the best investment I have ever made. I clear snow in the winter, move dirt and gravel in the summer and mow the lawn. I have about 250 hours on it and I could quadruple that amount of time if I had done that work by hand with a push mower, shovel and wheelbarrow. For all that equipment I paid about $10K, it was and still is a lot of money (0% interest) but I had it paid off in 2.5 years and as far as I am concerned it has and will continue to serve me well.

 

[nmk_61802]

Those little Kubota tractors are SUPER overpriced IMO.

My Dad bought a Kioti last year, 4x4, 25hp, bucket. Guy 2 houses up from them bought a little "BX" Kubota. That little BX was a few grand more than the much bigger Kioti.

When purchased new I would agree. A new BX2360 would cost as much as any other manufacture's CUT model and Kubota will not deal (I tried). However they seem to have large portion of the market share, therefore the used market is saturated. Again, I just bought a used BX and spent $4000 and that seemed the going rate. I am sure that Kioti cost around $15,000, I priced them out as well.

Also with my properity size the BX made since as a full CUT would have been overkill. No other manufacture currently makes a 3 cyl. desiel mower with full hydraulics, cat 1 3 point, mid and rear pto, power steering, 4x4, and diff. lock with the ability to install a FEL and backhoe in a package slightly bigger than a standard rider.

 

[texasguy]

My last 2 (and only) lawn tractors have been Craftsman GT5000's with a 26hp(?) kohler/hydrostat. I've been reasonably satisfied - the first one lasted about 5 years and that was with extreme use and my failure to keep the oil level up is the only thing that put it to it's grave. Deck held up except for a couple of spindle replacements. Second one has had about 4 years of on-/off use and still working fine.

They are good for max. 2 acre areas IMO........anything beyond that gets the New Holland or Ford 8n tractor.

as a long shot - have you ever considered an 8n? You can pick up nice running examples for under $3k usually......and there's the cool factor of mowing with something 60 years old. I used to run mine over about a 10acre area with a 6' finish mower and it did fine. parts are readily available - either used or repops. As long as you buy it right, you can prob mow all season and sell for what you paid.

Yellowlakewelding - your JD is very neat - nice restore.

 

[seagravedriver]

You get what you pay for. For your use, for a short time, go with a craigslist cheapie. I did a bunch of looking and research before I bought a used JD, (that originally came from a dealer, though it was a private sale).

Friends rolled their eyes when they bought a new Craftsman with fancy drink holders for less than I paid for the used JD. I still have mine 8 years later, theirs has a deck with holes in it. The argument can go on and on, a lot like tools.

 

[nate379]

Yes somewhere in that area, but the small Kubotas are about that as well and they aren't much bigger than my $2000 Craftsman tractor.
Buying used doesn't sound like too bad of a deal for you. Around here people are usually way too proud of their junk and want like new prices for something beat to hell.

I am sure that Kioti cost around $15,000, I priced them out as well.

 

[csp]

Understanding that it's a temporary situation, I can't see being happy with any lawn tractor if a CUT is really the tool for the job, so I wouldn't lose too much sleep over an interim solution.

 

[BEAVO]

http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/2290770692.html

http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/2218122482.html

http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/2296908951.html

just a few expamples of what im wanting i like the old ones better and im only 25lol

 

[70chevellegsp]

Look for a 70's-80's Deere or cub cadet. I picked up a pristine, 1977, JD212 with a tiller, deck and dirt blade for $1400 off CL. Used it for a year before I came across a 1981 Cub 982 super garden tractor for a grand. I sold the Deere for the same price I bought it for. Bulletproof machines and easy to work on if necessary, plus you'll be able to get your money back when you step up to your CUT. Whatever you pick up from sears, HD or lowes will basically be disposable.

 

[deranged]

Just to clear this up, Craftsman mowers are NOT made by MTD. They are made by AYP, along with Husqvarna, Poulan and Dixon mowers.

 

[willysrule]

I found a smoking deal on a Craftsman GT 5000, 54'' deck, 26 hp Kohler last summer...It's the garden tractor so it's built a little bit heavier...the nice thing about the garden tractors is everything is filtered and serviceable, the motor and rear transaxle both have spin on filters...

I wouldn't expect it to last for years if you were to do everything they advertize it can with all the attachments you can purchase for it. But for simply cutting grass the machine is awesome…my yard is mostly flat but does have a lot of uneven spots and areas that are always muddy…my old MTD 42” mower use to get stuck or cause bald spots, the craftsman goes right thru these areas without issue…and the deck on the garden tractors is A LOT thicker than the riding mowers…

It still doesn’t compare to a “real” Deere or Cadet but it is a quite good machine for the money…

 

[toyotadriver]

Used to work on mowers some years ago. Avoid Craftsman. They aren't the greatest. Not the worst but not great. John Deere is overpriced but good. My choice would be Cub Cadet. Best on the market for the price IMO. I know you didn't want Cub but that's what I'd recommend if you don't want to spend JD prices.

 

[SgtRauksauff]

We've had a Craftsman mower since '90. I think we maybe changed the belts once. Still works jus fine, I think it's got either an 8 or 10hp Briggs, I can't remember. Maybe even a 12. Not the best quality, but it works. Given proper care, anything can last a long time. If you treat tools carelessly, you break the tools.

--sarge

 

[Rockerbox1]

craftsman as far as i know is made by MTD which makes about all lawn mowers now i have a CUB i bought like 3 yrs ago and have not had a single problem with it are you looking for a zero turn or what

yes, MTD does make the majority of lawn mowers any more, but not craftsman. I think they did in the past, but Husqvarna makes them now. I just bought a Husqvarna 24hp 54" cut for $1900. seems to be well built, the deck is much thicker steel than any of the other mowers in comparable price range that I looked at, frame seems thicker as well

 

[Rockerbox1]

Just to clear this up, Craftsman mowers are NOT made by MTD. They are made by AYP, along with Husqvarna, Poulan and Dixon mowers.

you sure about that????? go to Big R or Tractor supply, look at the cub cadet (MTD made) 46 inch cut, (can't remember exactly, but I think it is) 19hp,
then go to Menards and look at the Poulan of the same specs. only, and I mean ONLY difference between the two is the color and the stickers. same frame, same plastic hood, same controls, just one is yellow frame, one is black, one has a white hood with a cub sticker, the other has a gray hood with a poulan sticker

 

[5lima30]

+1 on getting a used well built GARDEN tractor vs a flimsy box store LAWN tractor. I have a 5 year old Crapsman DYT 4000. It is on it's last leg and I will probably give it to someone I don't like! YMMV.

 

[rburke65]

No help from here for the original poster, but..in 1982, I bought a 1979, Kubota 25 hp 4x4 3 cyl. diesel, FEL, %' brush hog rear mower, and a 5' rear blade. Low hours, looked like it came right out of the show room. I paid $6,500. Today, 2011, I still have it. In 29 years, I have installed a tachometer cable, a starter, and I changed out the front 2 tires last year. The front drive hub started to leak fluid after my neighbor borrowed it and he fely guilty. We split the cost of rebuilding the front 2 hubs. But this thing does the work of 5 men, and has torque out the yazoo. Love it. I bet I could get almost what I paid for it today.

 

[Joe B.]

I'll just toss out some facts here.

1) Craftsman tractors are made both by MTD and Husqvarna. (Husqvarna absorbed AYP a lifetime and a half ago.)

2) At the price point you are looking at, you are likely looking at a Husqvarna.

JD tractors are way over priced for what you get when you are in the sub $3K price range. Almost any other brand will give you more for the money. Sears even has a thing on thier website that allows you to compare all of their models to Cub/Derre, etc: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/dap_10153_12605_DAP_Blue+Crew+Yard I suspect the OP is comparing to a D170. At about $800 less, the Craftsman has roughly the same features at the Deere. With the Deere you get green paint and misplaced self esteem. (I veered a little away from facts there.)

 

[Displaced Hokie]

With the Deere you get green paint and misplaced self esteem. (I veered a little away from facts there.)

LOL'd at that one, as I work for JD and particularly with the smaller product.

If you mechanically inclinded, I'd also say go used. For only one season, it won't matter what you get. Just pick what's available and go. If you were keeping it a while, you might want to be a bit more peculiar.

I'll limit my spam to nice photo of a couple D100-series and a 1026R SCUT. If you want the sales pitch, hit me via a PM.

 

[nate379]

Those yard carts Lowe's is giving away are 100% pure ****. I have drank beer in cans that had thicker metal.

 

[PassnThru]

He also said that if I wanted a 2 to 3 year tractor then buy the cheap versions; if I wanted a 5 to 7 year tractor then buy the next level up Deere (I think these were the 200 series).

Just for the record - I own a Home Depot Deere - an L110. I've had it for 8 years. It has I believe about 230 hours on it at this point. Had a no start problem during the first year that was taken care of the day I brought it in at the local Deere dealer. Beyond regular maintenance items, the only thing that has been replaced is the deck belt. Spindles are original. Currently only mowing about three quarters of an acre but geez - a 2 to 3 year mower????

Also, I previously had a Lowes mower that was built by MTD. I had it for 9 years before the B&S engine started drinking oil. That's when I bought the Deere. Was a little busy at the time to tear into it. But I did over the next few months. Put about $100 in it to rebuild the engine and the deck spindles and gave it to my Dad who was still push mowing his lawn. That was, of course, about 8 years ago.
I really don't get why people think a cheap mower is going to explode after just a few years. To the OP - you can go as cheap as you want if you just need a mower for a couple of years.

 

[johnzcarz]

I went through this about 10 years ago when we needed to buy a small tractor to mow about 2 acres of ‘un-manicured’ field. I looked at JD, CUB, Toro, New Holland (same as Toro back then), Kubota, Craftsman and anything else I could find. Around that time there was a good article on one of the garden tractor forums that answered my question as to why some tractors, like the ones offered at Sears, had much bigger engines than comparable name brand tractors. IIRC Sears had models with up to 26 Hp, most of the others were in the 18-20 hp range...maybe 22, it was a while ago. Anyway the article said it was all a marketing ploy, the extra power didn’t really allow you to do any more with these types of tractors – they just took a bigger engine and stuffed in into a chassis which was barely adequate and played on the ‘bigger is better’ theme. And when I talked to the JD dealership I was told that basically anything under $3500 was still going to be belt drive, I think that was true for the others too although Cub may have been shaft across the board. After comparing all these brands I really liked the Toro/New Holland tractor – that puppy was stout, but it was more than twice what the Sears unit cost. And probably well worth it. For what I was going to use it for, I could not justify the cost, so I ended up buying a 25hp GT3000 with a 48” deck, Kohler twin air cooled. It’s been in service even since with the only thing needing replacement being a gas tank which sits between the frame rails (remember the part about the chassis being barely adequate?). In my utopian world a ‘real’ tractor uses shaft drive – everything else is just a lawnmower with a seat. But maybe that’s all you need, it’s worked out for me.

Like a lot of others said – for 1 season you can buy anything and it will last. But if you know you are getting something else next year, I would choose the cheapest option out there to get by this season.