Posted: 9/10/2007 8:37:41 PM EDT
| Lawn mowers - Looking to buy a lawn tractor (as it seems they are called nowadays) for around 1200.00, any suggests. Looked at Sears and they are having a good sale, but just don’t know what to look for. I have a small yard, but just tired of fighting the push mower. |
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[SIGH} Here we go again. There are ONLY 2 companies out there that make riders in that price range. MTD and AYP. They make ALL of the Poulan, Yardman, Craftsman, Huskvarna, low end Cub etc. etc. etc. tractors. Buy any one of them and you will be fine. Just find the mower with the most features for the lowest price you can find and call it a day. Don't think those companies are it? Look them up. If you want a good mower, you have to start looking at JD (dealer version) or higher end Cubs. |
Yes, don't touch the big box store models. They are the same crap as the other cheap brands with a surcharge for green paint and JD stickers. |
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I would suggest you pay a bit more and get the Hydrostatic Transmission instead of the manual shift type. I have had a Craftsman (I think LT 1000) for about 6 years now and it still works great. I did upgrade to a big Cub Cadet Zero Turn because I have a 3 acre yard. |
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I went through this a few months ago. I found that the John Deere riding mowers (Lawn Tractors) are just rebadged mowers from other manufacturers. John Deere doesn't make them. You're paying lots of extra money for the Green paint. I ended up buying a slightly used (one season old) Craftsman GT3000, 46" cut, with 25 HP Kohler V-trin engine, and Hydrostatic trans. It's made by American Yard Products. I'm told that the newer model Craftsman tractors are made by Husquvrna (sp?). They are solid tractors. I'd stay with something over 20 HP, and preferably, with a Kohler engine. Of course, if you want to spend a bit more, you can get a small diesel engine, or a Kawasaki Water cooled. But you need to make sure you get a tractor that is catagorized as a "Garden Tractor", and not just a "Lawn Tractor", as the garden tractors are built for a bit heavier duty work. They usually have larger tires, and larger engines and rated to use with impliments. I mow 2 acres with my GT 3000. I keep the oil changed, and only use full synthetic lube. The engine will probably outlast the tractor. And since it's from sears, it's easy to get parts for it, and there is a lot of accessories available for it too. I paid $750.00 for mine, and it was like new. Deals can be had if you look around. Good Luck!! |
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I went through this about three months ago. I finally decided to spend the cash and got a high end Cub Cadet...the zero turn i1046. My yard is only about an acre and somewhat hilly...but weird shaped. The zero turn really helps. I REALLY like the tractor but it was pricey though...  And yes...they are all made by MTD. |
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I bought a Husqvarna 54" lawn tractor (made by AYP) with 26hp Kohler engine and hydrostatic transmission. Nice little tractor. Bought it from a local dealer for $2,600 OTD. Sears Craftsman has the same tractor because their models are made by AYP too. I like the nice, wide 54" cut. Eats up the 1.5 acre lawn quickly. |
Actually, Simplicity (who is now owned by Briggs & Stratton) make their own products right here in the USA, just as the high end JD are made by JD. |
 Where did you "find this out"? That's a shame, I guess this is just a John Deere green Lawn Boy with an upscale engine. Or is the engine a B&S rebadged as something else too?  The only thing this has in common with an MTD mower (including Cub Cadet) is that it mows lawn. Alot better than any MTD, but that wasn't my point. |