Bought it through ebates from depot.That's what happens when you marry a bookkeeper, you never pay full price for anything!I didn't have a lot of money to spend and would love a shaft drive but like I said before its main job is to cut the grass and my lawn has no trees or obstacles .
New Garden Tractor
- Thread starter bassmanpb
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JTKub
Veteran Member
You did good brother. To be honest, if I was in the market for a comfortable, large capacity mower with some GT capability, I'd get exactly what you got. You got a real good transaxle on there, nice large tires/wheels and a decent frame.
The only somewhat weak point I can see is the deck 'suspension' (if that's what you want to call it). The reason why I stress making sure you don't let that deck beat itself against the ground. The hangers aren't as robust as what you'd see on a 2K series or Z-Force.
I never really used my 2544 to it's full capacity anyway. It was only a grass cutter. I pulled a lawn roller with it once and yanked a good sized slab of concrete out of my yard with it.
The concrete thing was hysterical. I couldn't believe I was able to sling it (big nylon tow strap) and drag it several hundred feet w/out any issue at all.
Joel
The only somewhat weak point I can see is the deck 'suspension' (if that's what you want to call it). The reason why I stress making sure you don't let that deck beat itself against the ground. The hangers aren't as robust as what you'd see on a 2K series or Z-Force.
I never really used my 2544 to it's full capacity anyway. It was only a grass cutter. I pulled a lawn roller with it once and yanked a good sized slab of concrete out of my yard with it.
The concrete thing was hysterical. I couldn't believe I was able to sling it (big nylon tow strap) and drag it several hundred feet w/out any issue at all.
Joel
I don't know how it's being shipped or if I'll even be home but I almost want to tell them to just leave the crate unopened.Set it up myself at my own pace.Small tractor but for me BIG investment.I like the concrete dragging story.I have a couple of things in my woods I'd like to drag out.
Okay here's one.I read in the online owner's manual that your supposed to crank the throttle to "rabbit" before engaging the cutting deck PTO.I was told along time ago by the only guy I could ever call a small engine guy to not go full throttle- ease the blades in a little.Has this changed?I think it would feel kind of weird pulling that button the first time with the engine cranked up all the way.
JTKub
Veteran Member
The electric PTOs on the majority of today's machines are just like the clutch on an automotive a/c compressor. Throw power to it and it's instantly engaged. Full on/ full off. There's no easing it in like you would with the mechanical clutches on lawn/garden tractors of yesteryear.
Once the tractor is broken in some, you may be able to engage the PTO at part throttle, but I can almost guarantee that with it being new, you will stall the engine if you try to get that deck spinning from an idling engine.
I could start the 44" on my 2544 from idle if the deck was clean/unloaded and the engine fully warmed.
On my Z-Force no way. The belt would chatter and the deck would giggle from side/side if I tried anything less than half throttle PTO start.
Joel
Once the tractor is broken in some, you may be able to engage the PTO at part throttle, but I can almost guarantee that with it being new, you will stall the engine if you try to get that deck spinning from an idling engine.
I could start the 44" on my 2544 from idle if the deck was clean/unloaded and the engine fully warmed.
On my Z-Force no way. The belt would chatter and the deck would giggle from side/side if I tried anything less than half throttle PTO start.
Joel
WOW!WOW!WOW! That's all I can say.Now I know why 90% of dissatisfied owners are mad because of the buying /delivery process.First let me say that I probably went through more to get this tractor then anyone in the history of tractorkind.And yes it may only be a garden tractor but it's here it's mine and after what I went through(not to mention wifey) it most certainly is a TRACTOR.Okay, "free shipping " from home depot.Not!!!Tractor arrived at facility last Monday and no one contacted me till I called the trucking company Tuesday.Told the girl no one was home until 2:15 pm , she said it would be delivered Wednesday after 2:30, great.The other girl calls back and says they don't deliver after 2 to residences .Says I'll have to take a day off or leave work early.I laughed so hard I almost cried.Told her to drop it off with no signature.Told her a tractor trailer wouldn't work (dead end)and gave her my phone numbers.Got home from work saying they only had lift gates on tractor trailers so now what.I called and arranged to have it dropped on an adjacent road at someones house and they said I'd still have to wait till next week!
Trust me this is the short version of this story.Called Depot and explained my plight and they thought I was joking at first.Went to work Friday and my wife (she was determined not to get involved but now she's taken over thank God) called me and said they were bringing it to my house after 2:30 hooray!
The driver called her at 4 oclock and said I'd need 6 guys to help take it off!My wife called the appointment girl and was told I could just slide it iff with 2 x 4's.This is all for real folks.I told them those were not options and...The biggest trucking company I know of said they had no way to deliver this Gigantic never seen before behemoth.Really.
Sooo yesterday I drove my uninsured suburban 20 miles ,rented a trailer ,picked up the tractor ,had my heart almost stop when an officer of the law followed me for 10 miles ,and got it home!
Went over everything ,air pressure etc. and mowed 2 strips of lawn before the sky opened up.
Trust me this is the short version of this story.Called Depot and explained my plight and they thought I was joking at first.Went to work Friday and my wife (she was determined not to get involved but now she's taken over thank God) called me and said they were bringing it to my house after 2:30 hooray!
The driver called her at 4 oclock and said I'd need 6 guys to help take it off!My wife called the appointment girl and was told I could just slide it iff with 2 x 4's.This is all for real folks.I told them those were not options and...The biggest trucking company I know of said they had no way to deliver this Gigantic never seen before behemoth.Really.
Sooo yesterday I drove my uninsured suburban 20 miles ,rented a trailer ,picked up the tractor ,had my heart almost stop when an officer of the law followed me for 10 miles ,and got it home!
Went over everything ,air pressure etc. and mowed 2 strips of lawn before the sky opened up.
mullins87
Bronze Member
So glad you finally got it! I hate dealing with LTL shippers, they seem to think they are the only people who have jobs or anything else to do other than sit on their porch waiting for it to arrive. Now, if it stops raining long enough, enjoy that tractor!
Everything seems to be A-Okay but I do have one concern.The deck seems to be slightly cocked to one side.I don't mean levelness ,I did level it level it side to side but if I measure from the center of the long rear roller to the center of the rear axle there's a 1 1/4 inch difference.Everything seems tight and nothing seems bent but this doesn't seem right.
Oh and the tire pressures were way off 15 lbs in the rear and 27 lbs in the front.
Where is the sun???!!!
Oh and the tire pressures were way off 15 lbs in the rear and 27 lbs in the front.
Where is the sun???!!!