Manual or Automatic Riding Lawn Mower

[timrob]

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

 

[BigE_]

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

 

[amigauser]

For a 1/4 acre you could use a push mower

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.

 

[timrob]

The main improvement here is that it takes you less time to mow with an automatic.

I have mowed with both and it is much easier/faster with a hydro...

That's what I wanted to hear. The time saved is worth the $300. Thanks.

 

[Bird]

I,too, am one who has had both, and there's no way I'd ever want one again without the hydrostatic transmission.

 

[carpenter383]

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

 

[diesel_nut]

Manual-shift models are a BIG PIA!

 

[barneyrb]

For no more than that to mow...push mower or if you just have to ride zero turn. Just my .02

 

[dieselfuelonly]

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.

 

[whistlepig]

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.

 

[LBrown59]

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.

No gears for tractors for me mowing or not.

 

[woodsy]

I've had 2 manuals and 2 hydro's. No question that the hydro's win every time. Backing up and stop & go work with a manual is one big PITA.

A positive note on a manual is the power of pulling in straight, non-obstructed areas of your property. A hydro definately works better though for grass cutting and general yard work.

 

[LBrown59]

I've had 2 manuals and 2 hydro's. No question that the hydro's win every time. Backing up and stop & go work with a manual is one big PITA.

A positive note on a manual is the power of pulling in straight, non-obstructed areas of your property. A hydro definately works better though for grass cutting and general yard work.

Gears : The Ma Bell hand crank phones of tractor trannys..

 

[Iplayfarmer]

My lot is broken into a few sections. The smaller the section of yard, the more I appreciate my hydro. More turns, more obstacles, more stoping and reversing. It's just easier with the hydro.

Then I get in my truck and can't find the reverse pedal.

 

[vsteel]

I think the best thing of a hydro is if you have an overgrown section that needs cut. I had some tall grass one time that I needed to get rid of, with the hydro it wasn't a problem because I could go slow enough to get the job done nicely without overworking the tractor or slipping a clutch.

In my yard I have different thickness of grass, the hydro lets me easily speed up on the thinner sections and slow down for the thick stuff. I will never own a geared mower again.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I have owned both in the past but I much prefer mowing with the automatic...

 

[rebel727]

I purchased a new lawn tractor from sears with the Auto Transmission. I had trouble from day one and then found out it was being recalled due to a Transmission issue. I then ordered the 28903, the least expensive Lawn Tractor with manual transmission and I have never looked back. It is perfect for my needs. I have about 1\4 acre lot and it cuts my mowing time in half. I think many people buy more tractor then they need. Other then not having a oil filter it is perfect. I can hook up a plow for winter snow plowing and I bought the 42 in. Sweeper too because we end up with 80 or more bags of leaves in the fall. My friend has an older 14.5 hp craftsman tractor and it does a good job plowing around 6" of snow at a time. Mine has a little more power at 17.5 so I am good to go. I also pay less for my protection agreement due to the reduced cost of the tractor. Get the standard guys and never look back.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Ive never used a gear. When I looked for a lawn tractor I looked for a hydrostatic JohnDeere model. I ended up buying an L118 and love it. I have lots of trees, stumps, and flower beds to mow around. To bad the trees are to young so you have to do forward reverse a lot. Yesterday I mowed the neighbors yard and loved it. Please read my Help! thread I started! Good luck!