Pro Series GT 7400 vs Husqvarna GT48XLSi

[Digitalboomer]

I have a 2 acre yard (1.5 in the back) with 1/2 the back yard sloping downward at a 15% slope. Last year I has a Cub Cadet GTX1050KW with a k-46 transmission that started losing power after about 2 months of usage. I need to upgrade this year because I need a heavier transmission. The Craftsman has a Hydrogear G-730 which should have the pulling power but with no locking differential. The Husqvarna has a k-66 with a locking differential, but it also has a smart switch and a few other options. The Husqvarna is $500.00 more than the Craftsman. When I had the Cub it never really slipped or lost traction on the hill, it just kept getting weaker and weaker and would get too hot and stop pulling. If I shut it off and let it cool down for 30 minutes, it would start pulling again but only for another 15 or 20 minutes before I would have to cool it down again. Do you think I am better off spending the extra $500 for the locking differential, or will the GT7400 do what I need it to do. Also no used links please, I want to buy new with a warranty. Top of the budget is $4000.00. Also the transmission needs to be serviceable.

 

[exmar]

How many times did you wish you had a locking differential due to getting stuck or "rutting?" That's the purpose of being able to lock the rear end, force the unit to pull away from a slick spot. You don't mow, etc. with the rear end locked.

I personally consider the Craftsman tractors a very good deal for the price, particuarlly if you are at all handy. That being said, every year we hear about Sears/Kmart going under, they haven't yet. Sears service tends to be slow, you wait for someone to come out, they order the part, you wait for the part(s) to be mailed, then you wait for them to return. Do you have a Husqvarna dealer nearby with a strong service deparment? Also, the Sears you're looking at was probably built by Husqvarna. I bought one of the "PRO" series GT's last year and looking closely, it was a husqvarna for less $$.

If you do buy the Sears, be warned the language in the "manual" that comes with it is generic to every LT, GT they sell. Download engine, trans, etc. manuals from the manufacturer so you know what's what. e.g. The one I bought last year, stated the transaxle was not servicable. Downloading the manual from hydrogear, it is servicable, has a filter, and recomends changing the fluid and filter after the first fourty hours, then at four hundred hours thereafter. Believing the manual, the trans would have failed much sooner, than if it was given proper maintenance. Also, even though the manual said the hydro wasn't servicable, Sears would sell you the filter-at almost four times what HydroGear charges.

So, if you're handy, like to work on these kritters, and don't mind doing a little legwork to discover the real truth, you can save some money with Sears. If you have access to a good "servicing" dealer locally and don't mind paying, Husqvarna is a good unit also.

Good luck,

Ev