pull aerators

[frmorehar]

can a 17.5 HP 42 in sears lawn tractor pull a core aerator?

 

[jlgurr]

can a 17.5 HP 42 in sears lawn tractor pull a core aerator?

We pull one with a 14 HP John Deere 46 inch. Only problem we've had is enough traction but loading the tires helped.

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wsconsin

 

[mguitas]

:welcome:

 

[Briana03]

Welcome to TractorByNet!

We moved your thread to the Attachments forum.

 

[RG1]

can a 17.5 HP 42 in sears lawn tractor pull a core aerator?

Welcome.

Yes, you can do it (and have plenty of HP), and maybe even for a little while over time, but it sure won't do your tranny any good. Those machines have light duty rear ends in them that are NOT meant for ground engaging type work. You'll end up with either a broken rear and an expensive repair bill end eventually, or a tractor that just sits somewhere due to it not being able to move.

 

[Cherokee140]

Welcome.

Yes, you can do it (and have plenty of HP), and maybe even for a little while over time, but it sure won't do your tranny any good. Those machines have light duty rear ends in them that are NOT meant for ground engaging type work. You'll end up with either a broken rear and an expensive repair bill end eventually, or a tractor that just sits somewhere due to it not being able to move.

We are not sure what model tractor he has....so this could or could not be accurate. Also I know an aerator is ground engaging but it really is not THAT heavy. I pulled one with a little rear engine Murray mower and never had a lick of problem out of it.

To be real sure we need to know the model of your tractor. But even with without that things like a de-thatcher, aerator, or even basic garden carts loaded with things like a little stool and flowers, tomato plants and the like are not going to be too much for MOST machines that would come with a 42" deck.

 

[RG1]

We are not sure what model tractor he has....so this could or could not be accurate. Also I know an aerator is ground engaging but it really is not THAT heavy. I pulled one with a little rear engine Murray mower and never had a lick of problem out of it.

To be real sure we need to know the model of your tractor. But even with without that things like a de-thatcher, aerator, or even basic garden carts loaded with things like a little stool and flowers, tomato plants and the like are not going to be too much for MOST machines that would come with a 42" deck.

The fact that he said it is a 17.5 HP lawn tractor in his first post tells us exactly what machine he has. Craftsman tractors are made by Husqvarna. They generally use Kanzaki Tuff Torq K-46 transmissions for their lawn tractors (though at one time other brands may have been used, but still were light duty like the K-46, and that includes the K-46 HD). They ARE NOT designed to be used with ground engaging implements. There is a ton of posts on various tractor and mowing forums by guys who have blown them up trying to make them do more than they are designed to do. I have had plenty of firsthand experience with them. They are a good transmission for mowing and pulling a light lawn cart, but not for much heavier use such as a heavily loaded cart or plug aerator, plow, cultivator etc.


How much wear will or damage will happen depends on how much weight is placed on the plugger to make it sink in better, and how deep it is actually plugging. I guarantee you that if you or the OP pulled my 48" weighted JD plugger (which they all need to be to work well) for very far, your rear end would not last long. It puts a decent load on the rear end of even a heavy duty garden tractor.


There are always people who use their light duty lawn tractors to pull stuff they shouldn't. The fact that they, or you did doesn't prove anything other than they, or you did it.

 

[oldnslo]

Two weeks ago I used a 42" plug type aerator with 360 lbs of weight on it behind my old JD 112 manual tranny. The 112 weighs around 800 lbs, has bar type rear tires filled with washer fluid and it grunted pulling this on level ground and spun doing the ditch banks. I was very surprised how hard this pulled so I also suspect that traction and wear on the tranny if heavily weighted will be issues.