Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower

   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower #1  

timrob

New member
Joined
Jan 30, 2006
Messages
21
I'm looking to buy a Sears riding lawn mower. The base model with a manual transmission is $980, Craftsman LTS 1500 17.5 HP/42" Lawn Tractor - Model 28903 at Sears.com. Two models up with a hydrostatic automatic transmission is $1300, Craftsman LT 2000 20 HP 42" Lawn Tractor - 28910 at Sears.com.

I have a 1/4 acre, half of which is house and cement. I don't have any hills and not a ton of landscaping. I do have 2 sections which have long runs.

Should I by the manual or automatic? Is the manual that much of a pain? I've only driven automatics. I'm not hurting for $320, but I don't want to spend the money on something that's not going to make that big of a difference for my small lot. With $320, I could by the bagging system. I'm not looking to buy a lawn tractor that will last a life time. I could just use a push mower, but I'm lazy and my time is worth more than this bit of money
 
   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower #2  

BigE_

Platinum Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2007
Messages
611
Location
Near Portland, Oregon
Tractor
New Holland TC33D, LT4000
I have the LT4000, which has been decent, but watch the brakes -- they burn out very easily. Mine is the manual one -- I had the option for the automatic for about $300 extra as well. Sometimes I wish I had gotten it, sometimes I'm glad I didn't.

Do you have a lot of areas where you need to make multiple turns? What about areas where the grass grows really well vs. where it isn't growing quite as well? With the automatic, you can speed up on the areas where the grass isn't growing as well, and you can slow down for the turning. The main improvement here is that it takes you less time to mow with an automatic.

The main reason I got the manual was that Sears was having problems with the automatic at the time (5 years ago). I don't know if those have been resolved, but at the time they had a lot of them come in for repair.

No, the manual isn't hard to use. I usually just dump it in 3rd gear and leave it there, except when backing up, of course.

I didn't get the bagging system either, and if you keep the lawn at a decent level, you'll never miss it.

-Steve
 
   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower #3  

amigauser

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2005
Messages
1,198
Location
Unionville, Connecticut USA
Tractor
Kubota B2601
For a 1/4 acre you could use a push mower :rolleyes:

We gota have our toys. I would get the hydrostatic model. I have mowed with both and it is much easier/faster with a hydro if you have any obstacles that you need to mow around or near as your foot controls speed and direction. With a manual you need to change gears.

If you have a wide open lot with no obstacles then a gear driven tractor would work fine. It is probably also a little stronger in the transmission if you are pulling anything with it like a trailer, aerator, etc. as the low end hydro tractors have a low end hydro unit in them that is not designed for any real pulling.
 
   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower
  • Thread Starter
#4  
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timrob

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Jan 30, 2006
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   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower #5  

Bird

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Mar 20, 2000
Messages
43,752
Location
Corinth, Texas
I,too, am one who has had both, and there's no way I'd ever want one again without the hydrostatic transmission.
 
   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower #6  

carpenter383

Platinum Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2008
Messages
825
Location
Indiana
Tractor
Kioti DK40SE
I used to have an older sears rider with a manual 6-spd trans, it was ok, but kind of hard to shift sometimes. I now have a VERY old sears with hydrostat and bar tires on the rear, it's been put through h*** and still goes strong, I've used it to drag telephone poles and all kinds of other stuff. I also have a white riding mower that is hydrostat. I use it to mow with, it's much nicer IMHO than shifting gears, but I have quite a few obstacles to mow around. So like others have said if your yard is open and you don't have to back up or change gears much then save the money. If you have alot of obstacles to mow around hydrostat really is nice! One thing I don't like about the new lawn tractors is they shut the mower deck off when you put it in reverse, but that is easy to fix. lol
 
   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower #7  

diesel_nut

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
408
Location
Tennessee
Tractor
~'88 1872(sold); '08 GT2554
Manual-shift models are a BIG PIA!
 
   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower #8  

barneyrb

Silver Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2008
Messages
180
For no more than that to mow...push mower or if you just have to ride zero turn. Just my .02
 
   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower #9  

dieselfuelonly

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2007
Messages
332
Location
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Tractor
Yanmar YM1401D
If you are just going to mow, I'd say go with the hydro.

Have you considered buying a used mower?

I have a little John Deere 175 hydro that I bought used. Its a pleasure to mow with. Sure feels a lot more solid than any of the "box store" brands do, and it cost less.

However, if I was going to be pulling a little trailer or aerator with it I would prefer the manual transmission. But for just mowing, the hydro is great.
 
   / Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower #10  

whistlepig

Elite Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
4,324
Location
Preble County, Ohio
Tractor
Kubota B7800 with FEL
Once you go hydrostatic for mowing you'll never go back. It's a huge difference. I have shifted my fair share of gears and pushed many a clutch. I wouldn't even consider a tractor (for mowing) with out a hydro now.
 
 
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