lawn tractor recommendations
- Thread starter shawn25
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I like MTD.
There are quite a few BADGES out there that are made by MTD. With what you posted you have a lot of choices.
White, Cub Cadet, Bolens, Yard-Man, Troy-Bilt, Yard Machines, the list goes on.
Huskee at TSC is a nice machine also.
I would NOT buy a Craftsman though. Nothing but problems from a couple of friends that bought them. Hope this helps. Gerard
There are quite a few BADGES out there that are made by MTD. With what you posted you have a lot of choices.
White, Cub Cadet, Bolens, Yard-Man, Troy-Bilt, Yard Machines, the list goes on.
Huskee at TSC is a nice machine also.
I would NOT buy a Craftsman though. Nothing but problems from a couple of friends that bought them. Hope this helps. Gerard
NIXON
Veteran Member
I've got a Husqvarna 2148 . I'm fairly well pleased with it . Mind You it's not in the same class as some of the top of the line machines . But at 1700 plus change it is a capable machine .
I got it at a local dealer in the event it needs some sort of service .
HD or Lowes also carries . In fact I believe sears is doing the same on some models . I know the last sentences aren't much of a reccomendation to some folks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif But like I said My 2148 is very capable . John
I got it at a local dealer in the event it needs some sort of service .
HD or Lowes also carries . In fact I believe sears is doing the same on some models . I know the last sentences aren't much of a reccomendation to some folks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif But like I said My 2148 is very capable . John
johndeere2210
Gold Member
John Deere L111 is in that HP and price range /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
frank_f15
Super Member, Rest in Peace
Don't sell out the idea of getting a sears LT OR GT. i find them to be very good and realiable. Some folks will scoff, but for the price they are hard to beat, but also check out the cub cadets, a few $$ (not much) u may be impressed.. no matter wihch brand you zero in on, the diff between the LT and the GT, is significant and not that much more $$
viking65
Banned
I used a Craftsman 22hp Kohler Pro garden tractor with a 48" deck that I bought new for 4 or 5 years to cut 3 acres and never had any problems at all. It still has the original battery and starts right up. I just did the required maintenance and replaced the belts once and blades twice. The tractor did a good job. I would buy one again. I recently bought a sub-cut and now my Craftsman doesn't get as much play as it used to.
Charlie_in_TX
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2002
- Messages
- 480
Get a JD 318, 322 or best yet 332. They are IMO better than anything (even the $8k JDs) made today. I have a 318 which is a 18hp Onan powered unit. The 322 has a Yanmar 3cyl gas moter. The 332 has a 3cyl diesel. I wan't a 332.
anthonyk
Gold Member
A couple of important tips, as I've been researching this for about a month now.
There are at least half a dozen major brands easily obtained.
Most will have one of 4 engine types: Briggs and Stratton, Briggs and Stratton ELS, Kohler Courage or Kholer Command.
They will be either 1 or 2 cylinder engines.
(There are of course others with Kawasaki or other type engines, but they're not in your price range.)
As a general rule, the basic engines are the Briggs and Strattons, found on most of the Sears types. Then there are the Briggs and Stratton ELS series (Extended Life Series). These are a better version of the the basic, with upgrades such as better valves, pump driven lubricatin instead of splash, spin on oil filters, etc. These are found on most of the Husqvarna types. After that are the Kohler engines. Most of the repair types I spoke with at my tractor dealer said the Kohler was superior to either B&S. The Kohler courage is the first level, and the Command series the upper level. These are found on the Cub Cadet series you see at Tractor Supply Company (that's where I bought mine)
As a rule, the 2 cylinder or "twin" engines will be quieter, stronger and less vibration prone.
I ended up with a Cub Cadet 1046 which I paid about 1500 for at TSC. That has the twin cylinder 23 hp Kohler Command, a hydro transmission like the Kubota, rock the foot forward or backward, no clutch, and drives like a car.
It also has a handy hose attachment on the cutting deck that allows you to wash the underside of the deck without lifting the tractor up.
Hope this helps at least describe your choices.
anthony
There are at least half a dozen major brands easily obtained.
Most will have one of 4 engine types: Briggs and Stratton, Briggs and Stratton ELS, Kohler Courage or Kholer Command.
They will be either 1 or 2 cylinder engines.
(There are of course others with Kawasaki or other type engines, but they're not in your price range.)
As a general rule, the basic engines are the Briggs and Strattons, found on most of the Sears types. Then there are the Briggs and Stratton ELS series (Extended Life Series). These are a better version of the the basic, with upgrades such as better valves, pump driven lubricatin instead of splash, spin on oil filters, etc. These are found on most of the Husqvarna types. After that are the Kohler engines. Most of the repair types I spoke with at my tractor dealer said the Kohler was superior to either B&S. The Kohler courage is the first level, and the Command series the upper level. These are found on the Cub Cadet series you see at Tractor Supply Company (that's where I bought mine)
As a rule, the 2 cylinder or "twin" engines will be quieter, stronger and less vibration prone.
I ended up with a Cub Cadet 1046 which I paid about 1500 for at TSC. That has the twin cylinder 23 hp Kohler Command, a hydro transmission like the Kubota, rock the foot forward or backward, no clutch, and drives like a car.
It also has a handy hose attachment on the cutting deck that allows you to wash the underside of the deck without lifting the tractor up.
Hope this helps at least describe your choices.
anthony
johndeere2210
Gold Member
You might want to check out the new JD L108. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
SnowRidge
Elite Member
<font color="green">
I ended up with a Cub Cadet 1046 which I paid about 1500 for at TSC. That has the twin cylinder 23 hp Kohler Command, a hydro transmission like the Kubota, rock the foot forward or backward, no clutch, and drives like a car. </font>
I've seen those; they're quite nice.
I would look at the "forward/reverse" controls very carefully. A number of models seem purposefully designed to make it difficult to back up. A lot of them have a "safety" notch, which only a lawyer could love. Some even stick reverse under the seat so that the operator has to reach down between his/her legs to operate the control.
Makes my back hurt just thinking about it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
I ended up with a Cub Cadet 1046 which I paid about 1500 for at TSC. That has the twin cylinder 23 hp Kohler Command, a hydro transmission like the Kubota, rock the foot forward or backward, no clutch, and drives like a car. </font>
I've seen those; they're quite nice.
I would look at the "forward/reverse" controls very carefully. A number of models seem purposefully designed to make it difficult to back up. A lot of them have a "safety" notch, which only a lawyer could love. Some even stick reverse under the seat so that the operator has to reach down between his/her legs to operate the control.
Makes my back hurt just thinking about it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
