Lawn Tractor - JD vs Craftsman
- Thread starter GaryS
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I bought my first Craftsman (top of the line) 18hp Kohler Magnum engine in 1993 and sold it this year, still running great. I bought a new Craftsman 2 years ago, (top of the line) Kohler 27hp engine. It runs great, no problems and is a solidly built machine. I cut 1+ acres of lawn and field. No complaints on my craftsman mower, except it eats gas, about 4 gallons to cut my field. I just bought a Kubota L-3130 and with over 6 hours of brush hogging it's used only about 1 1/2 gallons of diesel. I think I'll get a mowing deck for my kubota and sell the Sears.
There is a lot of talk here saying isn't Craftsman like comparing BMW to Kia, yadda-yadda. That is simply name talk whacked out of price range, where a lot of folks don't realize those so called hoytie-toytie names have inexpensive counterpart products in their native lands- here is a picture of the Mercedes Benz, "Smart," that is available now in Canada:
A USA Kia looks pretty darned good now don't it LOL
-Fordlords-
A USA Kia looks pretty darned good now don't it LOL
-Fordlords-
cokeman
Silver Member
My neighbour has one. He commutes an hour each way with the thing even in winter. He swears it's safe but I wouldn't drive across town in it. My question to him was this---- If it's called a smart car why do you look so stupid driving it? I wonder if you can put a mower deck on it.
Dean
Dean
Gatorboy
Elite Member
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- 3,138
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- Bel Air, MD
- Tractor
- Kubota M8950, Bobcat 873 SSL & Kubota ZD-331
Fordlords said:A USA Kia looks pretty darned good now don't it LOL
I think the MB quality is still used in this smaller car. I've seen small cars like this in Europe as well.
When the original VW Bug was selling in the US there was a bunch of laughter over that "small car" too.
But regardless, Craftsman tractors are a very poor product. How many lawn care companies (that stay in business longer than 2 years) use Craftsman tractors? My guess would be very few.
OP
GaryS
Gold Member
Gatorboy said:
Lawn care comapnies run the equipment 6-7 days a week. I don't think that's a fair comparison. I want something to cut one lawn, once a week for three months a year.
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dieselsmoke1
Platinum Member
Gatorboy said:
I expect you're right, Gatorboy. However I'm not in the lawn care business and have no intention of getting into it. Very Poor Product is a pretty wide sweeping statement. I usually reserve that for stuff that does not work and never had a chance to work by design.
My neighbor has a green one, very nice, HST, hydraulic lift, PS, remotes on the front, think he said he paid $5600 many years ago. He has 390 hrs on it.
He cuts his grass, I cut my grass.
There is no dispute that there is better equipment available that a Craftsman. I think ejtaylor822 summed it up best "will proably outlast and outperform the other in the long run, but, not everyone needs a 525i to go to the grocery store once a week."
I love living in a free country.
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dbdartman
Platinum Member
kubotafan said:
Mine has 7.7 hours on it & so far has used just under a full tank of gas. Now, if I knew how much the tank held (5 gal?), I could givve a real answer...
Gatorboy
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2001
- Messages
- 3,138
- Location
- Bel Air, MD
- Tractor
- Kubota M8950, Bobcat 873 SSL & Kubota ZD-331
GaryS said:
I didn't realize the weather was so different in PA as in MD. I have to cut from April through the middle of December. If you only have to cut grass 3 months a year, a Craftsman may last you 10 years.
But for most of us who cut grass more often, and only want to buy one lawn tractor in your lifetime, buy a quality commercial model and you will save yourself time, money and frustration over those buying junk.
