TMR
Gold Member
Good Morning...I must admit to a bad case of Craftsman lawn tractor abuse
Once a year I use my 25HP Craftsman w/wheel heights and chains to "mow" my 2-3 acre field...which I "reclaimed" from the wild about 5-6 years ago (again with the Craftsman).
Well, yesterday was the worse ever...I think I am a week early AND this has been a very productive summer growing season. The tall grass/"hay" was not too bad...could generally take about 1/2 "new" in each pass...BUT the terrible weeds are something else! The weed have required me to just take maybe 10" of new cut each time around. The mower was indeed under stress...I would slow when it began to lug and did manage to not blow the engine.
Well, I got about 2/3 done and today will be my attempt to finish! At least I have not broken any spindles on the filed this year...broke two last year. I have become quite good at spindle replacement...did not even know what they were until I began to "mow" my field.
Maybe hay and weeds sb bundled into bales?...sure is quite a bit Just kidding.
Since I began "wanting a tractor with a three point hitch and PTO I have created a list of first "uses"...
1) Basic brush hog use for my field and trails on my property...nearly a mile of trails that I also mow with my Craftsman. BTW...do you drive over saplings to get them to the brush hog? Is there anything under the tractor that can be damaged by the small trees?
2) Box Blade? to "smooth" rough portions of one of my trails...kind of gravely soil I think a Box Blade should help?
3) Degraded stump removal...either front end loader or heavy duty back blade?
4) Brush removal?...not sure if you can push brush out with a sturdy front end loader or ?
5) Field "plowing"...I would like to "work" the dirt to the point that I have a "nice" field that produces a "hay like" product...eliminate the noxious weeds and smooth out the terrain. Probably a disc/plow and ????
This is just what I have "missed" by not having a tractor...I am sure there will be many more applications?
BTW...you may notice I use the word "sturdy" often?...I think I need to consider my current use (abuse) of my Craftsman as I look at choices in the tractor world? I don't think I would want "light weight" attachments but should look to the sturdier choices?
Well, my field is current drying the morning dew...best go fill up the Craftsman with gasoline and go back to work...hope I don't break it I DO have a spare deck if I need it...Thank You All...TMR
P.S. I should add that my 25HP Craftsman is one tough little machine. The motor just keep running and now that I know how to replace spindles I can keep the decks working also. I have 7-8 years on this tractor and will probably move to our cabin at 10 years. For about $1,500 it is one tough, durable (albeit over matched) machine. The weights and chains increase its' capability...but also contribute to the damage I can "inflict" on it as the tires do not slip w/o significant impediments. Also, my use is "calculated" by the age and cost of the tractor...I DO take good care of my equipment...just that the Craftsman has served me for these purposes quite well even though it is just a "little guy". TMR
Once a year I use my 25HP Craftsman w/wheel heights and chains to "mow" my 2-3 acre field...which I "reclaimed" from the wild about 5-6 years ago (again with the Craftsman).
Well, yesterday was the worse ever...I think I am a week early AND this has been a very productive summer growing season. The tall grass/"hay" was not too bad...could generally take about 1/2 "new" in each pass...BUT the terrible weeds are something else! The weed have required me to just take maybe 10" of new cut each time around. The mower was indeed under stress...I would slow when it began to lug and did manage to not blow the engine.
Well, I got about 2/3 done and today will be my attempt to finish! At least I have not broken any spindles on the filed this year...broke two last year. I have become quite good at spindle replacement...did not even know what they were until I began to "mow" my field.
Maybe hay and weeds sb bundled into bales?...sure is quite a bit Just kidding.
Since I began "wanting a tractor with a three point hitch and PTO I have created a list of first "uses"...
1) Basic brush hog use for my field and trails on my property...nearly a mile of trails that I also mow with my Craftsman. BTW...do you drive over saplings to get them to the brush hog? Is there anything under the tractor that can be damaged by the small trees?
2) Box Blade? to "smooth" rough portions of one of my trails...kind of gravely soil I think a Box Blade should help?
3) Degraded stump removal...either front end loader or heavy duty back blade?
4) Brush removal?...not sure if you can push brush out with a sturdy front end loader or ?
5) Field "plowing"...I would like to "work" the dirt to the point that I have a "nice" field that produces a "hay like" product...eliminate the noxious weeds and smooth out the terrain. Probably a disc/plow and ????
This is just what I have "missed" by not having a tractor...I am sure there will be many more applications?
BTW...you may notice I use the word "sturdy" often?...I think I need to consider my current use (abuse) of my Craftsman as I look at choices in the tractor world? I don't think I would want "light weight" attachments but should look to the sturdier choices?
Well, my field is current drying the morning dew...best go fill up the Craftsman with gasoline and go back to work...hope I don't break it I DO have a spare deck if I need it...Thank You All...TMR
P.S. I should add that my 25HP Craftsman is one tough little machine. The motor just keep running and now that I know how to replace spindles I can keep the decks working also. I have 7-8 years on this tractor and will probably move to our cabin at 10 years. For about $1,500 it is one tough, durable (albeit over matched) machine. The weights and chains increase its' capability...but also contribute to the damage I can "inflict" on it as the tires do not slip w/o significant impediments. Also, my use is "calculated" by the age and cost of the tractor...I DO take good care of my equipment...just that the Craftsman has served me for these purposes quite well even though it is just a "little guy". TMR
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