Need a New Lawn Tractor

Chuck (CA) · Apr 4, 2012

My 6 yr old Craftsman has taken my last dollar. Going through shafts on the mower deck like there's no tomorrow.
TSC has a 19 hp, 42" Cub Cadet for 1449. and 12 months no interest.
I've been reading your guys input the other day, and am wondering if there's another mower in that price range you could recommend. We mow about 1 1/2 acres every 2 or 3 weeks.

Thanks in advance
Chuck

thurlow · Apr 4, 2012

Looks like you're probably looking for a lawn mower, rather than a lawn tractor. If you ever use a zero turn, you'll NEVER go back to a conventional riding mower. They're a few more dollars, but...........

I always check Amazon for a price comparison.
Mow here

hintocw · Apr 4, 2012

If what you're looking for will be used for mowing only, get a xero turn. Lowes has a Huskverna (sp) zero turn with a 2 cyl Kohler engine for about little more than what the Cub Cadet cost. Also, the Husky is made by Husky, the Cub is probably made by MTD, with (I think) a Briggs engine.

John M · Apr 4, 2012

For a half acre, Id just buy a pushmower!!

hd6gtom · Apr 4, 2012

Chuck does your lawn have hills in it or is it mostly flat. If it is more level, look at a zero turn. My boss has 4 zero turns and they require a lot of arm effort to keep on any type of sidehill. I could not use one on my lawn. At Lowes I saw some box store JD's about the same price. I like the premium seat on the Cub better than the JD'S that I own. They do have 2 different seats for them. Good Luck

MSS3020 · Apr 4, 2012

I own 86 husky lawn tractor 48" deck, 2006 husky lawn tractor 50" deck, and just bought a cab cadet last year 50" deck for 1800.00. All bought at TSC All still in use. Ive replaced the axle on the 06' thats pretty much it. The cub I got for my yard only. the other two I had been using for my yard and I was maintaining the churches yard I go to.. I mow couple acres a week with mine. For the price I dont think you can beat them. Ive always liked the 50' deck..

Erik Ks farmer · Apr 4, 2012

Zero turn was the best money I ever spent, cuts the time by at least 1/3 and I actually get the job done. I hate to be mowing when I could be making money.

rustyfarmall · Apr 4, 2012

(quoted from post at 12:05:14 04/04/12) My 6 yr old Craftsman has taken my last dollar. Going through shafts on the mower deck like there's no tomorrow.
TSC has a 19 hp, 42" Cub Cadet for 1449. and 12 months no interest.
I've been reading your guys input the other day, and am wondering if there's another mower in that price range you could recommend. We mow about 1 1/2 acres every 2 or 3 weeks.

Thanks in advance
Chuck

If you don't have a lot of ditches, low hanging trees, or a bunch of close-up trimming, find a good Farmall A or B and put a Woods belly mower under it. Guarantee you'll never wear it out.

Chuck (CA) · Apr 4, 2012

I should point out that "yard" is a stretch. It's a bumpy area that has gopher holes and the like. It's one and one half acre. I have the brush hog for the pastures, but this one is around my house.

641Dave · Apr 4, 2012

My craftsman is on it's last leg as well but I did buy it in 1994 though. 18 years ain't bad.

Tim Barnes · Apr 4, 2012

Chuck, be sure to read the fine print on the back of the receipt on anything from TSC with their 'no interest' deal. I found out the hard way when I bought an EZ-GO golf cart with the no interest deal. You only have so many days to apply for their 'deals'. I can't recall how many days it was but I waited too late and after several phone calls to their customer 'service' people I gave up. I paid the remaining bill in full and TSC lost a customer. The store manager was no help so I went in and cut my TSC credit card in half in front of him and several customers. Their credit card interest rate was in high 20's at that time.

old popper · Apr 4, 2012

I had a Snapper zero turn for about 3 years, sold it and bought a X304 John Deere 4 wheel steer. I wouldn't go back to zero turn. Love my Deere.

guido · Apr 4, 2012

Hello Chuck (CA),
42 in" mower for that much grass is not enough.
I like the brand,(Cub Cadett) but you look at the recommened size for your area, and you'll see that the 42" is not enough machine for you.
Guido.

tomNE · Apr 4, 2012

john deere sells a full selection of cheaper mowers. 12months same as cash. at least when u decide to update; the mowers sell. Not like the other brands! I started doing this about 6yrs ago and am on my third new mower. i put them up for sale and people buy them right away. I haven't even sharpened any blades!

DeltaRed · Apr 4, 2012

IH all the way!!(I know IH doesn't own CC any more,but I just HAD to say that!)They are good machines.

barnE · Apr 4, 2012

How about Farmall Cub with belly mower(60 inch) or single blade 42 inch. They are neat. Had mine for over 20 years. Good education and lots of support on this site. Thousand or so if you shop well. Dave

jrh009 · Apr 4, 2012

Six years? I have a 16 HP Ariens hydro, I bought in 1978. What I don't like is that I want a new zero turn but this machine will not die!

I cut .5 acres mostly on a gradule side slope twice a week using a 48" deck for 6 months and also blow 300 feet of drive in Parry Sound Ontario. That amounts to 30 snow events per season!

I have only repaired one blown piston in the Kohler about 15 yrs ago, one bearing in the PTO shaft, and one base gasket. Nothing else, other than fuel filters, dirty gas and the normal maintenance. It is however always in a heated garage.

Not sure what I would go to next, no Arien's dealer left near me any longer. Perhaps Deere. I do know you need to spend for quality if you want a good piece of equip.

WGM · Apr 4, 2012

My Dixie Chopper will mow rings around your 4 wheel steer and do a better job cutting too.

Jeff B. · Apr 4, 2012

I have a Cub Cadet i1042 42" zero turn mower. Looks and runs like a regular lawn tractor ... hydrostatic...hills or side hills no problem. I bought it 3 years ago & like it quite well, and was reasonably priced. For what you"re mowing I"d go a bit bigger than 42" though.

Detmurds · Apr 4, 2012

(quoted from post at 12:05:14 04/04/12) My 6 yr old Craftsman has taken my last dollar. Going through shafts on the mower deck like there's no tomorrow.
TSC has a 19 hp, 42" Cub Cadet for 1449. and 12 months no interest.
I've been reading your guys input the other day, and am wondering if there's another mower in that price range you could recommend. We mow about 1 1/2 acres every 2 or 3 weeks.

Thanks in advance
Chuck

Honestly,...most Craftsmans are very good,..what did you do with it aside from cutting grass? I have one that I purchased in 2005 and it still runs great and looks like brand new.

What most people do for failure is they spray wash with cold garden hoses on these tractor's engines, with the end result of blowing head gaskets. Just read the owner's manual.

John M · Apr 5, 2012

I would have swore that said 1/2 acre. But still, youre being told ZTR mower, you just dont need that type of mower, unless you can get it just as cheap as a regular mower, or thats waht you want. With the holes and such in your yard, you wont be able to run wide open, but you can control that, and that can be difficult until you get use to one. I still say for a yard that small, you can get by with what you had before.

oldtanker · Apr 5, 2012

I part way agree with Rusty on this but I'd add to his listing Ford N's and early MF TO's. I mow with a 60" 3 point deck behind a Ford 8N.

My last garden tractor I sold in good running/mowing condition last year was a 1976 Wheel Horse.

Rick

greygoat · Apr 5, 2012

There's been a lot said here, the last few days,
about "BIG BOX" store lawn tractors,and mowers,
and speculation that they sell a cheaper version
at low prices, for a quick profit.
My experiance is.. I would not trust TSC to have
quality products, being that they sorta cater to
the "Weekend Farmer" and "Drugstore cowboy" crowd

Need a New Lawn Tractor

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