Time To Replace The 20 Year Old Craftsman Riding Mower

[IndyIan]

Last time I looked at mowers, the husky's had 4 wheels, but the other versions of the same mower had the same deck with 2 wheels included, but mounting holes already for the 4, so I figured I could just add the other wheels to the deck.

 

[jeepman3071]

Totally untrue. The exact same machine that the dealer has. Like yeah JD is going to spend millions more on an assembly line to make junkier JD Mowers for just the box stores. Come on.

I like the S100 it works for my needs. Some here act like 42 inch is huge, not at all, and these tractors maneuver almost as good as the zero turns do, and you can have one hand free.

You 100% misunderstood my post. The Deere 100 series is their consumer entry level riding mowers, that are built to a lower price point. This is the ONLY series of riding tractor they sell at Home Depot. Yes, they also sell them at the dealer, but the quality is identical. They are entry level. The X-Series machines are a step above, but only available at dealers.

 

[BigCahuna]

My 42" Craftsman is a 2007 with an 18 HP B&S Intek motor. It has always run great but this year it started fouling the spark plug (apparently running rich) making it hard to start. If I take the plug out and clean it up it starts and runs fine. Does anybody know if these carburetors have an adjustment?

At any rate, changing the oil and filter at the end of every season has the motor going strong.....I use 10w30 synthetic and a 3614 filter and it doesn't burn a drop of oil. I'd estimate she only runs about 10 hours or less between oil changes mowing my 3/4 of an acre.

I've taken to adding a dose of carb cleaner to each tank of gas, of my ope. Not alot once you do the initial dose, mabe a once or two. I use whatever is the cheapest at the auto parts store. My stuff starts easy after sitting for periods of time, like when it hasn't rained for a while, and after sitting for the winter. If that doesn't do it, it probably needs to be taken apart and cleaned out.,,

 

[Exhaustgases]

You 100% misunderstood my post. The Deere 100 series is their consumer entry level riding mowers, that are built to a lower price point. This is the ONLY series of riding tractor they sell at Home Depot. Yes, they also sell them at the dealer, but the quality is identical. They are entry level. The X-Series machines are a step above, but only available at dealers.

Sure there is always a step above. But with that step is a huge step of $$$$. We had no reason to spend twice as much for a machine to do the same thing that the 100 series could do just fine. And especially for a yard less than an acre.

 

[ripcord]

If your current mower is in decent shape except you think the carb is bad, I had good success replacing the junky Nikki carb on my Intek single cylinder rider after the needle and seat started leaking. I used an after market carb with the part number 594593. It worked perfectly out of the box and the jetting seems close enough for me not to need to mess with it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0814N4FZM?psc=1

 

[SHOZ]

My 42" Craftsman is a 2007 with an 18 HP B&S Intek motor. It has always run great but this year it started fouling the spark plug (apparently running rich) making it hard to start. If I take the plug out and clean it up it starts and runs fine. Does anybody know if these carburetors have an adjustment?

At any rate, changing the oil and filter at the end of every season has the motor going strong.....I use 10w30 synthetic and a 3614 filter and it doesn't burn a drop of oil. I'd estimate she only runs about 10 hours or less between oil changes mowing my 3/4 of an acre.

Check for a rotting fuel line and debris holding the float needle open. Oil maybe too full and smell like gas too.

 

[97prizm]

Totally untrue. The exact same machine that the dealer has. Like yeah JD is going to spend millions more on an assembly line to make junkier JD Mowers for just the box stores. Come on.

I like the S100 it works for my needs. Some here act like 42 inch is huge, not at all, and these tractors maneuver almost as good as the zero turns do, and you can have one hand free.

Years ago someone was able to find out the box store "John Deere" mowers were repainted murry/ craftsman mowers.

 

[SHOZ]

Years ago someone was able to find out the box store "John Deere" mowers were repainted murry/ craftsman mowers.

Do you think that is true today?

This article says some Big Box stores get Deere to offer unique configurations.

John Deere Mowers | Should You Buy From Big Box Stores?

John Deere mowers have different spec's from the big retailers than from John Deere stores, read more about why to buy John Deere mowers from a John Deere dealer...

www.homeconstructionimprovement.com

When I got my Z320m last year the price was the same at the dealer or Lowes. Lowes offered free delivery. But it took 3 weeks....

 

[Lubener]

I would fix up your Craftsman. Its quality will be better than the new box store J.D's which are over priced.