Lawn tractor

[Fox Mike]

Was looking at a Craftsman lawn tractor and wondered who built them. MTD is the company. They are also the builders of many other brands.
It originated as a tool and die maker (Modern Tool and Die Company). MTD's main competitors are Stihl, Ariens, Briggs & Stratton, John Deere and Husqvarna. MTD Products Inc. Type. Subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker.
Divisions: Cub Cadet, Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, Remington, Robomow, Rover, Wolf-Gart...
Products: Consumer and Commercial Lawn equipment; Groundskeeping equipment

 

[jimbo1096]

Had a Craftsman lawnmower bought in '69 that finally died in '97 and saw considerable use. I am not fond of MTD brands, owned several and they don't last more than a few years. I'd buy a Stihl if I could. Or a Kubota.
JMHO

 

[WAYNO]

The selection of respected stand-alone brands are diminishing.

But the upside? Prices are much lower on these now big-box store offerings than in the past. The downside? Many of these units are of disposable construction. Parts are quickly unavailable.

There's more downside. The remaining stand-alone quality manufacturers, are relying on their previous quality legacy, and longevity and quality have taken a hit.

Even Honda outdoor products... They are just not the same quality or performance they were previously known for. And I base that on my last three mowers and a recent generator. They have been a butt pain for me, with little or no help from Honda's warranty-service network.




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[Mobuck]

"I am not fond of MTD brands, owned several and they don't last more than a few years."
I picked up a couple of older MTD's way back when. Made one of two and ran it a short time. Wasn't worth fixing when I had to start buying new parts.
Those old mowers became extremely valuable when I turned them and a bunch of loose tools over to blind Son. Absolutely turned to GOLD. He disassembled and reassembled the parts again and again with a bit of help when needed gaining confidence and knowledge. He now has a full time job meeting and exceeding his quotas assembling mowers( thanks MTD).

 

[RSIno1]

Even Honda outdoor products... They are just not the same quality or performance they were previously known for. And I base that on my last three mowers and a recent generator. They have been a butt pain for me, with little or no help from Honda's warranty-service network.




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Honda has China making a lot of their small engines and generators. If you look at some of the China products in the aftermarket they are clearly Honda inspired. I suspect they make the Honda stuff during the day and when the nightshift comes on they swap the paint colors and start building the Chinese branded stuff. Probably with the parts that were out of spec to meet Honda QC.

 

[RRM]

Had a Toro self propelled that spit internals after a few years of light use with oil changed yearly. Zippo on parts availability. "Upgraded" to the Honda powered version. It runs...for now. They're basically all disposable now.

 

[noahmercy]

I'm actually an MTD authorized warranty provider. Their low-end stuff is not fantastic, but really no worse than any other mass manufacturers' entry-level products, and their "nicer" labels (specifically Cub Cadet) have a lot of features for the money. Honda still makes the best small engines (yeah, I'm a Honda warranty dude, too), followed by Yamaha and Kawasaki. I can't stand the new Kohler engines...had a couple in the last few years with out-of-spec valves right from the factory. After a few hours of use, the exhaust wouldn't fully seat any more and the engines wouldn't run due to lack of compression. And several with bad coils, cross-threaded bolts, etc. Bad QC.

 

[RRM]

Bad QC.

Seems to be the norm for most manufacturers now, sadly. The stuff I pay good money for that, years ago, you would have gotten a highly functional, long lasting unit--all headed to the junk pile soon after you buy it, it seems.

 

[RRM]

can't stand the new Kohler engines

Glad I avoided those. Just felt like it was no longer a good option.

 

[eveled]

Had a Craftsman lawnmower bought in '69 that finally died in '97 and saw considerable use. I am not fond of MTD brands, owned several and they don't last more than a few years. I'd buy a Stihl if I could. Or a Kubota.
JMHO

Most of those old Sears tractors were made by Roper. They were great tractors.

You want to look for a Garden tractor not a lawn tractors. Its heavier duty.

I have bought up old Gravely Garden tractors. Some 4 wheel some 2 wheel walkbehind machines. The quality is unbelievable but they can be a challenge to keep running. They aren’t as easy to start and operate and they don't mow like todays zero turns do.

My newest machine is from the 90s. The oldest go back to the 40’s.

What is made now is truly disposable.

 

[dstegjas]

I’m still running a 1988 Wheel Horse 310-8 with a 10 hp Kohler motor. My father bought it new back then and I’m still using today. All I need is the mower deck and a snow plow for my needs. The old Wheel Horse tractors are hard to beat. they do not have the new technology but they keep running. Sometimes the old school technology, is the best in the long run.

 

[RRM]

Sometimes the old school technology, is the best in the long run.

Nope--we're "saving the environment" one barely functional, overly complicated, quickly disposed of garden tool at a time!

It is genius, because the more complicated they get, the less likely you can do anything to fix it. Thus, it breaks and you are forced to buy the latest and greatest--which is that much more complicated, under-performing and likely to break and end up in a landfill!

 

[eveled]

The new gas is slowing killing all the old machines.

 

[AJGUNNER]

I mow about 2 acres of yard, field/pasture, uneven/rock filled ground. In 20 years we have had goats, horses, cows and chickens. Now down to just 10 chickens. I can't let the grass get waist high due to fire danger if/when summer ever shows up in the NW. I used 3 different MTD mowers for 15 years. 2 of them for parts to keep one running on a regular basis. Inherited a Craftsman 5 years ago that was built in 98. If conditions are right I can mow it all in 6 hours. This time of year this is every 5-7 days. If I am lucky I can get 2 full 6 hour mows in without having to change a belt, spindle, blade, idler, etc. Friends tell me I am hard on equipment. I say you should see what I mow!! I now have 2 (10-20 year old) identical Craftsman riders 17.5hp with 42" decks---including 3 complete extra decks. Learned long ago that I can swap a deck just as fast as I can change a spindle. Wife just shakes her head when deliveries show up. I spend around $100 per season on mower parts. Still cheaper than buying new, unless you include the aggravation of constantly working on them.



This has been the running joke in the NW this season. after a warm and dry winter, we are having a record setting cool and wet spring in the NW. I set a personal record by shooting outdoors 5 straight weekends in January & February. Rain started this morning---yet again, for our 6th straight cool (60's) and wet rainy weekend. I burned more firewood in March/April than I did during January/February. We actually turned on the heat this week----in mid June!! Crazy season, but everyone knows that summer doesn't start here until July 5th.

 

[Colonialgirl]

MY spouse Ashley always told me the only GOOD two weeks to visit Northern Minnesota (Aurora) was the Last week of July and the First week of August !

 

[RRM]

The new gas is slowing killing all the old machines.

You should only be using non ethanol gas ("boat gas") in anything that is not an auto. Using gas with ethanol will kill any tool pretty quick. A lot of mfrs no longer warranty damage caused by the use of ethanol containing products.

No use speeding the death of products with an already short lifespan.

 

[eveled]

That’s certainly sound advice.

I wish it was available to me. I just keep rebuilding them. I’m conscious of not letting them get overheated. I have a dozen spare engines to burn through. Hoarded from when nobody wanted them.

I’d really like to find a suitable diesel engine to use.

 

[RRM]

I wish it was available to me. I just keep rebuilding them. I’m conscious of not letting them get overheated. I have a dozen spare engines to burn through.

I’d really like to find a suitable diesel engine to use.

Well, that stinks. Double check on Gas Buddy. You'll be surprised sometimes at who carries it. Only a handful in our area do and I'm in Florida. Thankfully, I have two stations near me that do. There also is a pre mix you can buy at big boxes. It is spendy though.

If you get stuck with ethanol, drain tank and run carb dry every time if it'll sit for more than a day or two without use. Plan on replacing all fuel lines with Tygon lines.

 

[Dan in MI]

You should only be using non ethanol gas ("boat gas") in anything that is not an auto. Using gas with ethanol will kill any tool pretty quick. A lot of mfrs no longer warranty damage caused by the use of ethanol containing products.

No use speeding the death of products with an already short lifespan.

that right there makes me mad. The manufacturers KNOW ethanol is bad, and have for 50 years, yet they knowingly keep making non ethanol compatible equipment. Can you say “planned” obsolescence?

Car companies bit the bullet, they should too.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Well, that stinks. Double check on Gas Buddy. You'll be surprised sometimes at who carries it. Only a handful in our area do and I'm in Florida. Thankfully, I have two stations near me that do. There also is a pre mix you can buy at big boxes. It is spendy though.

If you get stuck with ethanol, drain tank and run carb dry every time if it'll sit for more than a day or two without use. Plan on replacing all fuel lines with Tygon lines.

WaWa and Murphy gas at Walmart both carry NON-ethanol gas, but at HIGHER prices of course.

 

[dstegjas]

Nope--we're "saving the environment" one barely functional, overly complicated, quickly disposed of garden tool at a time!

Sadly RRM, you might just be right About that.

You did make me laugh.

 

[Mike J]

I had a 1998 vintage Craftsman riding mower. I used it for about 20 years. I don't remember what horsepower the engine was now but it had a 42" cutting deck & a 6 speed manual transaxle. I let it go after the chassis parts started breaking. I honestly liked it better than the John Deere I have now.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

My uncle was a wheel horse Dealer in early 1960’s in little town in southern ILL called Dale ILL. I mean little town ( 300 people ). He sold a ton of them out of his little gas station and few little old items. Good memories of him taking me rides in a little wagon when I was 4 years old. One of my first child hood memories. Marty

 

[dstegjas]

Good memories NDAR15MAN. I have those same memories from back in the early 60’s. I miss those little towns and shops like that.

 

[graygun]

I bought a Troy Bilt Pony in 2004 and it worked until about a year ago when the drive unit died while in use(I'd changed both drive belts not long before). It was non-hydro and slowly got to the point where it just quit;I could get it going by starting-off in a higher "gear" and dropping it back to a lower one. The 17.5 hp B&S still works.

It used to cut like crazy,even in very high stuff.

 

[daveag.]

I have 2 John Deere’s, 1980 models. I bought 2 crate engines from Brand New Engines, Tipton, Iowa. $500 for 18 horse Briggs. Easy install. These are a 30” and 38” cut. All steel and built solid. Each weigh 500 lbs. Or so.

 

[kentucky yeti]

My 1997 Craftsman ( I need to rebuild a spindle assembly) pictured. My 355D diesel John Deere (No pics on my computer, but it just lost an idler pulley bearing so it is down too) and my ExMark ztr that never lets me down (mainly because it is my wife's mower) also no pics on my computer of it!

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

 

[ratman 7]

I bought a Craftsman lawn tractor about 6 years ago and have had no problems with it at all. However it was built by Husqvarna. My cost was $1400. About the same mower now will set you back $2000

 

[RPHarder]

If you find recreational fuel is hard to find, use SEA FOAM, 1oz per gal. Have used it for years. Great stuff

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I have had a Craftsman 24 HP 50" GARDEN TRACTOR since 1998 that has mowed a bunch. As far as what gas to run them on the Kohler doesn't seem to care. It has run on 100 OCT AV Gas, 10% Ethanol 87 OCT., and Ethanol Free gas and it still will go a season without adding oil. All I have replaced are Belts, filters, oil, air cleaner, blades, and the deck Idler pulley. Even though it stays inside my hangar I had to put Green Slime in the tires to stop the air leaks around the rims. I have not had to replace the deck spindles like I had to on previous Sears LT-10.