05-15-2007, 11:31 PM
Just about anything at the big box stores are owned by or built by MTD these days
and will be great .... for about the first year or two and then they will self-destruct
All the old great names have been bought up by them - Bolens , White, Troy Built, and even Cub Cadet
are now part of the company that brings you Ranch King, Yardman, MTD and the rest - yuck
I also believe they do the low end Craftsman. The higher end Craftsman are built by Electrolux I believe
same as the Husqvarna's and a few others - some were Murrays which were pretty good
and also sold under the Huskee line (TSC's house brand although many are MTDs now)
They are generally poorly engineered and will cause you more headaches when you find that
you can no longer get parts for that three year old mower
Here's my advice if you are spending less than $1000
Go to the local lawn tractor dealers and see what they have in the way of trade ins or also
check out craigslist etc ... and look for a Deere, Cub, Wheel Horse etc ... from the 70's or 80's.
Something with a real steel frame - not a stamped steel deck. Something with a heavy steel mowing deck
that has full gauge wheels on it, a real steering box , and is gear or hydro drive.
Look for a Kohler engine - not a B&S The old Kohler single lung K series will be running strong for many years after
the big box bargain is a pile of scrap metal not worth fixing.
Recommendations - If you can snag a Deere 200 series for $500 to $600 you will be golden.
Look for a 210, 212, 214, 216 - denotes 10HP, 12HP, 14HP etc...
Take it in and have it tuned and a set of belts put on it and you will be mowing for 20 years
One caution - The K engines are splash lubricated - not pressure so they are not a good choice
if you are mowing hill sides go with a more modern design.
Another work horse is the Cub 17xx series - early 80's vintage with a "modern" Kohler twin
I see them in nice shape around here for $500 - I saw two 1720's w. 46" decks in the last week and both were nice $500 & $600
They are pressure lubricated Kohler twins and has hydro drive (no hydro ports though - just tranny)
and have electric PIO for the deck. earlier Cub 100 series had electric PTO but were gear drive and Kohler K's)
If you want to "invest" in a tractor $1200 to $1500 will get you into a Deere 300 series hydro
that has a hydro tranny and hydro ports so you can add a plow, snow blower, etc...
and you can sell it for what you paid for it if you want to trade up
and will be great .... for about the first year or two and then they will self-destruct
All the old great names have been bought up by them - Bolens , White, Troy Built, and even Cub Cadet
are now part of the company that brings you Ranch King, Yardman, MTD and the rest - yuck
I also believe they do the low end Craftsman. The higher end Craftsman are built by Electrolux I believe
same as the Husqvarna's and a few others - some were Murrays which were pretty good
and also sold under the Huskee line (TSC's house brand although many are MTDs now)
They are generally poorly engineered and will cause you more headaches when you find that
you can no longer get parts for that three year old mower
Here's my advice if you are spending less than $1000
Go to the local lawn tractor dealers and see what they have in the way of trade ins or also
check out craigslist etc ... and look for a Deere, Cub, Wheel Horse etc ... from the 70's or 80's.
Something with a real steel frame - not a stamped steel deck. Something with a heavy steel mowing deck
that has full gauge wheels on it, a real steering box , and is gear or hydro drive.
Look for a Kohler engine - not a B&S The old Kohler single lung K series will be running strong for many years after
the big box bargain is a pile of scrap metal not worth fixing.
Recommendations - If you can snag a Deere 200 series for $500 to $600 you will be golden.
Look for a 210, 212, 214, 216 - denotes 10HP, 12HP, 14HP etc...
Take it in and have it tuned and a set of belts put on it and you will be mowing for 20 years
One caution - The K engines are splash lubricated - not pressure so they are not a good choice
if you are mowing hill sides go with a more modern design.
Another work horse is the Cub 17xx series - early 80's vintage with a "modern" Kohler twin
I see them in nice shape around here for $500 - I saw two 1720's w. 46" decks in the last week and both were nice $500 & $600
They are pressure lubricated Kohler twins and has hydro drive (no hydro ports though - just tranny)
and have electric PIO for the deck. earlier Cub 100 series had electric PTO but were gear drive and Kohler K's)
If you want to "invest" in a tractor $1200 to $1500 will get you into a Deere 300 series hydro
that has a hydro tranny and hydro ports so you can add a plow, snow blower, etc...
and you can sell it for what you paid for it if you want to trade up