Posted on 06/08/2005 5:59:41 AM PDT by TSgt
Forgive my vanity post, I never post them but I could use some advice and have assisted other Freepers with their vanity questions.
I'm buying my poor father a tractor for father's day so he doesn't die of heatstroke while push mowing his 1 acre lawn. I own a Craftsman twin cylinder 21HP tractor that I bought in 2001 and haven't had any problems with it other than replacing the deck but I’m hard on tractors.
I'm going to get one of 2 tractors and would like your opinion. If you were my father which one would you like to get for father's day?
Craftsman 19.0 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor Sears item #07127518000 Mfr. model #27518
OR
Cub Cadet 19HP* Kohler® Courage™ Single Cylinder Engine Model #: LT 1042
I can get either tractor for about $1,300.00
I prefer a twin engine tractor with more horsepower but don't believe he'll need it. He has a very flat 1 acre and isn't rough on tractors like I am so I believe either of these will do.
Any guidance or advice or personal opinions would greatly be appreciated.
Mike USAF
I've owned the same Craftsman for about 16 years...15 horse, 42 inch deck...I'm pretty rough on it...Nary a problem...Still using the same belts...
As far as I know, they still have the 'satisfaction guarantee' on their products...My mother bought and had them install an external full house air conditioner...She was unhappy with it...Although reluctantly, they removed it and took it back with no charge to my mother...
I'll buy another Craftsman...
Cub Cadet has a good reputation as far as I know...Never owned one...
Now, that's a lawnmower!!
We have a Sears Craftsman mower, and are very happy with it. It's about 5 years old now, and has survived a teenage boy driving it at top speed while he mowed for those five seasons.
The only problems have been a flat tire (kid's fault) and bent blades (twice, kid's fault.) It always starts, and the warranty is good. The oil is easy to change, too.
I always buy home-realted stuff at Sears.
I have a Kubota L3010 GST, with which I run a (3-point hitched) 5' Bush Hog (definitely not a finish mower). Been looking at the 5' "belly mower" that hangs underneath and is powered by the center PTO. Is that something like you have, and, if so, how well (smoothly and cleanly) does it cut?
(I now finish-mow ~3 acres -- with an old 48" MTD whose twin 18.5hp B&S twin has just starteed belching mucho blue smoke...)
The VAST majority of common market lawn tractors are MTD made. Most of the lowest end machines (Murray, Huskee, Yard-Man, White, Craftsman, Yard-Machines, and many others) are all or have been made by MTD.
The difference is often in the minor details and features. And I too have heard of plastic gears in the transmissions - although I haven't seen them myself.
The Cub Cadet name has been bought and sold so many times, it's hard to keep up with who really owns and makes them. My understanding is that they are currently on an upswing in quality - trying to get name credability back.
As I said - between the Cub and the Craftsman - there's not $10 worth of difference - so the Cub would win my money if I were choosing between those two models.
Go Cub, it's a respectful mower and shows you want him to ride in style. I would have got one but went JD instead. I still may buy a cub cadet. I have a 1956 cub-lo-boy tractor that runs to this day, every day.
I've got a 2 year old lightly used John Deere 189. works great but recently the deck belt broke. Looks like it was cut every 2 inches by a knife. One dealer said it was fatigue, the other said heat cracks. Think both are blowing smoke up my ass. Any ideas?
I have had belts do that. I would go to a JD dealer and buy OEM belts to replace them. THey have mush more cloth like fiber than rubber due to the very high speeds.
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