I'm going to need a new lawn tractor this year or next.I'm having trouble finding what i want. I want 24hp , 48inch or greater cut, and the hard part; manual transmission. I just don't like hydro. Any suggestions?
Lawn tractor
- Thread starter spasm3
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Do you plan on using any implements or just using it to mow?
I think you're going to have to compromise with the manual transmission if you want the 24 HP and 48" deck. Unfortunately, manual transmissions only come on really low end mowers these days.
Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
Do you plan on using any implements or just using it to mow?
Mowing mostly, some rough terrain, Pulling an aerator, fertilizer spreader.
Do you plan on using any implements or just using it to mow?
Mowing mostly, some rough terrain, Pulling an aerator, fertilizer spreader.
I found this, is the kohler courage engine a good engine?
http://lawn-tractors.findthebest.com/l/120/54-26hp-V-Twin-Kohler-Garden-Tractor-49-State
http://lawn-tractors.findthebest.com/l/120/54-26hp-V-Twin-Kohler-Garden-Tractor-49-State
You can get a 24hp engine and manual trans, but not with a 48 inch deck, 42 inch is about it.
As for brand, I've always had good luck with Craftsman, although stay away from their low end models these days; MTD built junk.
Also, with the Sears Outlet stores you can pick up lawn tractors at steep discounts:
http://www.searsoutlet.com/d/products.jsp?md=ct_md&cid=970&pn=1
As for brand, I've always had good luck with Craftsman, although stay away from their low end models these days; MTD built junk.
Also, with the Sears Outlet stores you can pick up lawn tractors at steep discounts:
http://www.searsoutlet.com/d/products.jsp?md=ct_md&cid=970&pn=1
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I found this, is the kohler courage engine a good engine?
http://lawn-tractors.findthebest.com/l/120/54-26hp-V-Twin-Kohler-Garden-Tractor-49-State
The v-twin Courage is good.
That's very surprising to see them offering a manual trans with a 54" deck lawn tractor. That one is made by Husqvarna and I don't think they even offer a Husqvarna badged rider with a manual.
A lot of Poulans (also made by Husqvarna) also have manual transmission, but I don't think you want that. They are strictly light duty.
I found this, is the kohler courage engine a good engine?
http://lawn-tractors.findthebest.com/l/120/54-26hp-V-Twin-Kohler-Garden-Tractor-49-State
The v-twin Courage is good.
That's very surprising to see them offering a manual trans with a 54" deck lawn tractor. That one is made by Husqvarna and I don't think they even offer a Husqvarna badged rider with a manual.
A lot of Poulans (also made by Husqvarna) also have manual transmission, but I don't think you want that. They are strictly light duty.
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The craftsman you found seems to be the only one meeting what you wanted http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-54inch-26-hp-turn-tight-trade-garden-tractor-49/p-07125024000P?vName=Lawn+%26+Garden&cName=Lawn+Mowers+%26+Tractors&sName=Lawn+Tractors&prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=L5
One may ask what your budget is? There is such a range of mower quality, even in the same brand. The big box stores will sell a brand,but only their lower end models. When I was looking 7 or so years ago I wanted to try one besides the green models. I went with a Cub Cadet, not the kind you see at Lowes though.
My model is a 2518 with a Kohler engine. I've never much of a problem with it. My neighbors bought a lower end CC a few years after me. It's been O.K., but they have had a few issues. What I'm saying is most of the brands have a range of quality within their line.
Whatever you get, treat it good & it will last longer.
My model is a 2518 with a Kohler engine. I've never much of a problem with it. My neighbors bought a lower end CC a few years after me. It's been O.K., but they have had a few issues. What I'm saying is most of the brands have a range of quality within their line.
Whatever you get, treat it good & it will last longer.
We shopped the 54 inch segment to death, almost all had the same parts or extremely similar.
Choose by warranty and pricing. Ended up with a beaut of a Craftsman, 54 inch with a 26 Briggs platinum series.
ALL we saw in this size were Hydrostatic. I absolutely love it. Very fast, and since I mow acreage, fast is good!
Choose by warranty and pricing. Ended up with a beaut of a Craftsman, 54 inch with a 26 Briggs platinum series.
ALL we saw in this size were Hydrostatic. I absolutely love it. Very fast, and since I mow acreage, fast is good!
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I found this, is the kohler courage engine a good engine?
http://lawn-tractors.findthebest.com/l/120/54-26hp-V-Twin-Kohler-Garden-Tractor-49-State
Engines are not really an area of concern when shopping tractors, Briggs or Kholer, both are fine.
The above tractor dosen't have the best user reviews.
I found this, is the kohler courage engine a good engine?
http://lawn-tractors.findthebest.com/l/120/54-26hp-V-Twin-Kohler-Garden-Tractor-49-State
Engines are not really an area of concern when shopping tractors, Briggs or Kholer, both are fine.
The above tractor dosen't have the best user reviews.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
ALL we saw in this size were Hydrostatic. I absolutely love it. Very fast, and since I mow acreage, fast is good!
Yep, once you go foot pedal controlled hydrostatic for mowing service, it's painful to go to a gear drive or hand-lever hydro control.
After having owned a ZTR, I still think I prefer a conventional 'tractor' style machine with go pedals.
Joel
ALL we saw in this size were Hydrostatic. I absolutely love it. Very fast, and since I mow acreage, fast is good!
Yep, once you go foot pedal controlled hydrostatic for mowing service, it's painful to go to a gear drive or hand-lever hydro control.
After having owned a ZTR, I still think I prefer a conventional 'tractor' style machine with go pedals.
Joel
Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
ALL we saw in this size were Hydrostatic. I absolutely love it. Very fast, and since I mow acreage, fast is good!
Yep, once you go foot pedal controlled hydrostatic for mowing service, it's painful to go to a gear drive or hand-lever hydro control.
After having owned a ZTR, I still think I prefer a conventional 'tractor' style machine with go pedals.
Joel
I can see why. Tractor style mowers have come a LONG way in ten years.
With an 8 inch turning circle mine is as close to ZTR as you can get, and the instantly variable speed virtually eliminates the need to brake, even from high speeds.
Cuts my lawn mowing time down to about 2 hours, which is a huge savings over my old 42 incher.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
ALL we saw in this size were Hydrostatic. I absolutely love it. Very fast, and since I mow acreage, fast is good!
Yep, once you go foot pedal controlled hydrostatic for mowing service, it's painful to go to a gear drive or hand-lever hydro control.
After having owned a ZTR, I still think I prefer a conventional 'tractor' style machine with go pedals.
Joel
I can see why. Tractor style mowers have come a LONG way in ten years.
With an 8 inch turning circle mine is as close to ZTR as you can get, and the instantly variable speed virtually eliminates the need to brake, even from high speeds.
Cuts my lawn mowing time down to about 2 hours, which is a huge savings over my old 42 incher.
Originally Posted By: Rock_Hudstone
The above tractor dosen't have the best user reviews.
Thanks for mentioning those reviews. After shopping the 54 inch segment to death I began checking to see why my pick had mediocre reviews.
Almost all of it was because people were taking delivery and firing it up straightaway to start mowing. Their mowers were haphazardly assembled. That's all.
I spent an hour or so going over mine tightening stuff and re-routing things to my liking and THEN went out for a test mow.
12 flawless hours so far.
The above tractor dosen't have the best user reviews.
Thanks for mentioning those reviews. After shopping the 54 inch segment to death I began checking to see why my pick had mediocre reviews.
Almost all of it was because people were taking delivery and firing it up straightaway to start mowing. Their mowers were haphazardly assembled. That's all.
I spent an hour or so going over mine tightening stuff and re-routing things to my liking and THEN went out for a test mow.
12 flawless hours so far.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: Rock_Hudstone
The above tractor dosen't have the best user reviews.
Thanks for mentioning those reviews. After shopping the 54 inch segment to death I began checking to see why my pick had mediocre reviews.
Almost all of it was because people were taking delivery and firing it up straightaway to start mowing. Their mowers were haphazardly assembled. That's all.
I spent an hour or so going over mine tightening stuff and re-routing things to my liking and THEN went out for a test mow. 12 flawless hours so far.
I believe yours is a hydro trans, the one with the shaky reviews is 54 inch manual six speed.
I did the same set up procedure on my new Craftsman 42 inch when I brought it home. Mostly swapping over parts from my 15 year old 42 inch LT4000.
Unfortunately, Craftsman went over their tractors in the last few years with a fine toothed comb. Almost nothing was spared in the quest to lower manufacturing cost from flimsy sheet metal and battery trays, smaller tires, plus other bits missing or cheapened. Deck wheels, ammeter guage and infinty cutting height adjustment all gone. Horsepower is up but so is fuel usage.
Overall it does the job and has been trouble free for 3 seasons but its nowhere near the machine it replaced, and the latest ones are even worse. Thats why I'd only recommend the higher end models.
Originally Posted By: Rock_Hudstone
The above tractor dosen't have the best user reviews.
Thanks for mentioning those reviews. After shopping the 54 inch segment to death I began checking to see why my pick had mediocre reviews.
Almost all of it was because people were taking delivery and firing it up straightaway to start mowing. Their mowers were haphazardly assembled. That's all.
I spent an hour or so going over mine tightening stuff and re-routing things to my liking and THEN went out for a test mow. 12 flawless hours so far.
I believe yours is a hydro trans, the one with the shaky reviews is 54 inch manual six speed.
I did the same set up procedure on my new Craftsman 42 inch when I brought it home. Mostly swapping over parts from my 15 year old 42 inch LT4000.
Unfortunately, Craftsman went over their tractors in the last few years with a fine toothed comb. Almost nothing was spared in the quest to lower manufacturing cost from flimsy sheet metal and battery trays, smaller tires, plus other bits missing or cheapened. Deck wheels, ammeter guage and infinty cutting height adjustment all gone. Horsepower is up but so is fuel usage.
Overall it does the job and has been trouble free for 3 seasons but its nowhere near the machine it replaced, and the latest ones are even worse. Thats why I'd only recommend the higher end models.
I have hand lever hydro , and i don't like it. I also don't like the idea of foot pedal hyro. I rather pick a gear and go! I have not had good luck with tuf torque hyros holding up to pulling an aerator.
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On a gear driven mower unless you're mowing a field, it's rare to "pick a gear and go ". Most lawns have obstacles like trees, shrubs,the kids swing set,the trampoline they never use anymore and so on. When I went from a gear drive to a hydro it cut my mowing time by 25%. I traded a Honda gear drive for a JD LX in 1998. As far as the Tuff Torque transmission goes, I pull a Cyclone Rake a lot in the fall to vacuum all the leaves up,a Brinly 48' plugger with cinder blocks in the weight box,an Agrifab sprayer, a lawn roller filled with water and the JD with the Tuff Torque has been trouble free for 14 years! I have serviced the hydro once during that time with Mobil 1 15w50. Thats my experience with a JD with a Tuff Torque K61.Thanks,G-man
After 13 hours in the saddle so far this year I cannot imagine going back to gears!
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Plus you have to figure, the last really good gear drives were only available on two machines; The Toro/Wheelhorse classic 300's and on Sears/Craftsman garden tractors with the 6spd hi/low range trans. Those are gone now. I believe your only choices now are light duty fender shift, grease filled gear drives.
My SIL has a ~10yr/old Sears GT machine with a 20hp Kohler Command, 48" deck and 6spd hi/lo trans. I hate mowing with it. 5th gear is too slow and 6 too fast, plus that 48" cuts like poop.
Regardless, I'd still rather mow with that than the Case 220 I fixed up and sold. You want to talk about awkward? Try mowing obstacles with a hydraulic drive machine (Case HyDrive) with dash lever speed/motion control. Horrible.
Joel
My SIL has a ~10yr/old Sears GT machine with a 20hp Kohler Command, 48" deck and 6spd hi/lo trans. I hate mowing with it. 5th gear is too slow and 6 too fast, plus that 48" cuts like poop.
Regardless, I'd still rather mow with that than the Case 220 I fixed up and sold. You want to talk about awkward? Try mowing obstacles with a hydraulic drive machine (Case HyDrive) with dash lever speed/motion control. Horrible.
Joel
Originally Posted By: gman2304
On a gear driven mower unless you're mowing a field, it's rare to "pick a gear and go ". I pull a Cyclone Rake a lot in the fall to vacuum all the leaves up,a Brinly 48' plugger with cinder blocks in the weight box,an Agrifab sprayer, a lawn roller filled with water and the JD with the Tuff Torque has been trouble free for 14 years! I have serviced the hydro once during that time with Mobil 1 15w50. Thats my experience with a JD with a Tuff Torque K61.Thanks,G-man
Mostly open yard, not many obstacles. already replaced the jd k61 in the scotts/deere 25hp tractor, and its making noise again, don't think its going to last long. I'n not impressed with the hydro life.
On a gear driven mower unless you're mowing a field, it's rare to "pick a gear and go ". I pull a Cyclone Rake a lot in the fall to vacuum all the leaves up,a Brinly 48' plugger with cinder blocks in the weight box,an Agrifab sprayer, a lawn roller filled with water and the JD with the Tuff Torque has been trouble free for 14 years! I have serviced the hydro once during that time with Mobil 1 15w50. Thats my experience with a JD with a Tuff Torque K61.Thanks,G-man
Mostly open yard, not many obstacles. already replaced the jd k61 in the scotts/deere 25hp tractor, and its making noise again, don't think its going to last long. I'n not impressed with the hydro life.
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