Great Mower For The Price
Model Year: 2005
I bought this 2005 model in 2006 and this thing is extremely durable. Mine came with an 18.5 horsepower Briggs & Stratton. I have used this thing every spring and summer since I bought it and miscellaneous things like hauling a little trailer for yard work and trash. I have accidentally hit a tree stump stopping the whole tractor (including the engine) immediately. I thought I completely screwed up the engine because when I mean it stopped it really stopped; no wind-down, nothing. I backed it off the stump, cranked her right up and it was like nothing happened. This thing has been put to work, and yes I do maintain my tractor but the only things I ever replaced on this were the battery, blades, oil and filter, fuel filter, drive belts, mandrel belts, air filters and a mandrel that got messed up somehow. Literally everything else is still the same: tires, light bulbs (that still work), transmission, springs, mower deck etc.. All in all this thing has been a cheap maintenance tractor for what this thing is. The cons I listed are probably the only 2 things that are 'non-functional' items I can think of which is the reason I have 4 stars on features. The seat doesn't leave quite enough room for bigger guys to fit behind the steering wheel comfortably. Other than that. I'm buying another Craftsman (if they don't sell the brand name and disappear).
Pros: Durability is number one, ease of access to engine parts, mower deck, blades and battery
Cons: Seat is a little close to steering wheel and mower deck doesn't raise quite high enough to clear the angle of pulling up on trailer ramp to flat bed of trailer, it drags