ECON Question on a Purchase Lawn Tractor Edition

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
Okay,

I currently have a 15 year old lawn tractor, (Poulan Pro), that is held together with literally wire and epoxy. I expect I am able to keep it on line for some time especially since I have a few spare parts from a dead one.

Over time, some of the spare parts have been used and I am now at the point where I will need to go retail if I need to replace a spindle, deck or starter. Despite that, I still feel I can keep it on the road.

Note: we mow during the summer for 5 hours each week. Most of which is not level even ground, but with rocks, small trees and roots. It is SE Georgia after all and things grow quick!

There is another mower of a different brand, but is basically the Poulan Pro with a different badge. A common thing with lawn tractors. I have been looking at it and see no significant issues that I can't deal with. The price is decent.

So my question is as follows:

a) Should I buy it as a replacement / spare for when mine does go down. It will for short periods of time.

b) Should I just tough it out and wait until I can buy one of the fancier lawn tractors with zero turn etc.

I am leaning to the first, but I am not 100% sold on spending the money.

Thank you to everyone for the help!
 

Sub-Zero

Veteran Member
Keep away from Cub Cadet. They do not support their products (regarding parts) after a few years. And, there customer service sucks.

I have a 2006 zero turn 50" and I needed a new hydrogear pump 4 years ago. They didn't have any, nor did they sell a rebuild kit. They were selling NOS on Ebay for $1,500. The CSR was very rude.

Buy a John Deere, even used if you can find one. You'll always be able to get parts for it.
 

Southside

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I have a Cub Cadet XT1, 42" deck. 18 HP, twin cylinder, nice machine.

Works well, just not as hard as yours. You would probably want a 48 or 54" cut, though.


A friend has the 48", 5 yrs old. Only problem, pressed in king pin bushings, which will have to be replaced soon.


Southside
 

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
Keep away from Cub Cadet. They do not support their products (regarding parts) after a few years. And, there customer service sucks.

I have a 2006 zero turn 50" and I needed a new hydrogear pump 4 years ago. They didn't have any, nor did they sell a rebuild kit. They were selling NOS on Ebay for $1,500. The CSR was very rude.

Buy a John Deere, even used if you can find one. You'll always be able to get parts for it.

I have learned that the best way to repair was to get a parts mower. It keeps the price of parts down. For example a new deck on mine is over $300 stripped. So knowing which way to jump is something I am stuck on as I would "like" a new one, but can get by with a parts mower. Thus the thread! LOL
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
My 16+ year old Craftsman still works, but it's got issues. Gaskets - things just going because of age. I bought a new Cub Cadet last year, and so far so good. This twin 21HP is basically the same engine as in my old Craftsman, and so I know is reliable. The twin has an oil filter etc. like a "real" engine. I now use the old one on the really rough stuff. The new one gets the gravy jobs where it needs to look pretty.

I personally see no value for the huge money of a zero-turn over a traditional rider.
 

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
My 16+ year old Craftsman still works, but it's got issues. Gaskets - things just going because of age. I bought a new Cub Cadet last year, and so far so good. This twin 21HP is basically the same engine as in my old Craftsman, and so I know is reliable. The twin has an oil filter etc. like a "real" engine. I now use the old one on the really rough stuff. The new one gets the gravy jobs where it needs to look pretty.

I personally see no value for the huge money of a zero-turn over a traditional rider.

So you would suggest buying the spare and just keep at it?
 

Sub-Zero

Veteran Member
I have a Cub Cadet XT1, 42" deck. 18 HP, twin cylinder, nice machine.

Works well, just not as hard as yours. You would probably want a 48 or 54" cut, though.


A friend has the 48", 5 yrs old. Only problem, pressed in king pin bushings, which will have to be replaced soon.


Southside

You totally ignored the main point of my post. If you cannot get major, need to function parts after ten years, it is foolish to buy one. This is particularly so with the horrible customer service. Ask a small engine repair shop what it's like dealing with them, I dare you.

I'm sure it is a nice machine, until you need parts.
 

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
You totally ignored the main point of my post. If you cannot get major, need to function parts after ten years, it is foolish to buy one. This is particularly so with the horrible customer service. Ask a small engine repair shop what it's like dealing with them, I dare you.

I'm sure it is a nice machine, until you need parts.
I understood.
 

Southside

Has No Life - Lives on TB
You totally ignored the main point of my post. If you cannot get major, need to function parts after ten years, it is foolish to buy one. This is particularly so with the horrible customer service. Ask a small engine repair shop what it's like dealing with them, I dare you.

I'm sure it is a nice machine, until you need parts.

No, actually, I posted before I saw yours, at all.
Funny thing is, the small Deere's are made by the exact same manufacturer as the Cub Cadet. MTD Mowers

MTD Mowers:
It originated as a tool and die maker (Modern Tool and Die Company). MTD's main competitors are Stihl, Ariens, Snapper Inc., John Deere and Husqvarna. MTD makes all of the store brands (i.e., a mower that might have the Home Depot name on it), along with MTD, Dynamark, YardPro, Weed Eater, Noma, and Sears Craftsman. Murray makes MTD. MTD makes the low end (non-commercial) John Deere tractors.

Oh and Husqvarna is now also made by MTD




Southside
 

Papacub

Veteran Member
Cub Cadet LT1050 here, it is 14 years old, 23 horse B & S twin. Still going strong. Replacement parts are easy to come by, I buy all parts from Amazon, belts, blades and blade spindles. I’m on my second deck belt and have replaced 2 of 3 blade spindles. The hour meter is around 350 and I have changed oil and filter 4 times. I mow about 2 acres. I am very pleased with my Cub, if or when this one dies on me, I’d be looking to buy a new one, just like it!
 

Bones

Living On A Prayer
Obviously, I really like John Deere for tractors, but if you're mowing 5 hours a week, you should check out Skagg or Dixie Chopper.

Carefully consider that Dixie Chopper, although the best and fastest ztr commercially made, is now a defunct company. Kerput. Parts are supposed to be available though, but for how long?...
 

Countrybumpkin

Veteran Member
I have a 1986 John Deere 316. Thing mowes two hard acres each week, and has been doing it for...well, 1986. Any part I need-outside of a choke cable, which I had the next day- the local JD dealer has in stock. Belts, PTO, etc, and it is easy to fix. I still have the original Goodyear tires on it. I repowered it from the old onan engine-which threw a rod-to a briggs 5 years ago, and expect another 20 years out of it, or I go into a nursing home. Cost a chunk when I bought it-$1800 if I recall correctly, and maybe I'm not, but it was a good amount at the time, but it has been the only mower I have had. Buy quality once, and you'll have it for years. My friend down the road buys the cheap tractors, and something breaks a couple of years later, and he has to buy another. Has more in tractors than I do.
 

Jackalope

Irregular
I'd buy a second parts tractor, if the price is reasonable. My main mowing tractor has been a Case 446, it runs good...but.... this Spring the pto "ez adjust clutch" started slipping, and I haven't been able to re-adjust it. My yard quickly became a hay field. I thought about it a bit and purchased a JD zero turn mower, which should last me 30 years. I'll work on the Case this Winter, when I have some free time, and the Case will become the back-up mower. I must say that after using a zero turn it'll be difficult to return to a conventional riding lawnmower.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
If you can afford it, go with a BIG Boy mower for they will last for decades....

Texican....
 

Green Co.

Administrator
_______________
Home-owner class riding mowers brands change owners like a baby changes diapers. This fella at this link pretty well keeps up on all of them: https://todaysmower.com/riding-mower-brands/

I include the below C&P because it is interesting, and is what I found when researching a new rider earlier this year. I had had a Cub Cadet... a piece of junk... but I learned that the model I had was only produced for one year, 2009. I settled on a Sears Craftsman unit, not the Craftsman SBD. I thought I wanted a zero turn (JD) but a close neighbor has one, I borrowed once. If your place is like mine, yard, pasture and small hills... well, if the grass was the slightest bit wet, it didn't do uphill. Too much pushing for my likes. Altoz, commercial, makes a track driven zero turn, but at their lowest end price of $13k, ain't happening for me. Pk, back to the Today's mower page.

Latest update 4/24/2019:

In summary: Husqvarna, MTD, and Briggs & Stratton make most of the riding mower and lawn tractor brands sold by retailers here in the United States. John Deere still makes all of their lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers. There are around 40 additional manufacturers of zero-turns and specialty mowers. The Zero-Turn market is huge so there is always a new manufacture or three trying to make their mark.

Many of the old independent names that have been around for years have now been bought and merged into huge corporations. There are even a couple of “American” names that are used solely by Chinese manufacturers. Of the 89 brands I can find, many are owned by the same few companies, but some of those names have moved from one manufacturer to the next making it hard to sort it all out.

I’ve included the smaller companies because many of these market locally at trade shows and county fairs. Just about all of them are high-quality machines and they may be the right mower for you. I also included the commercial mowers (mainly zero-turns) because some of you may be tempted to purchase a used “commercial” machine and it would be nice to know if you can still get parts. Commercial mowers can greatly reduce your mowing time, (as much as 80%) but you need to be aware that they are considerably more expensive to repair

Briggs & Stratton: The other big mower manufacturer. Go to https://www.basco.com/our-products/residential-products-and-engines.html to see all of the companies they own. They also make spec mowers for other brands including Massey Ferguson.

Murray: Murray is Briggs & Stratton’s “affordable” economy line. You’ll find these at your local WalMart and other price competitive retailers.
Briggs & Stratton Mowers.B&S doesn’t make mowers under that name but they do make snow blowers and many other products.

Craftsman: Riding Mowers & Tractors

As you know by now Craftsman was sold to Stanley-Black & Decker. Although there is a lot of talk about the tool lines – not much is being said about the Lawn & Garden side. So let’s break the Craftsman Lawn & Garden down.

In the last 18 months, Craftsman has changed. There are now two Craftsman brands. Craftsman at Sears is the brand you knew and loved in the past. Craftsman SBD is new and owned by Stanley Black & Decker. So – I’m going to spend more time here explaining what Craftsman is than talking about the mowers. If you understand all the different “Craftsman’s” you will be better at deciding if a Craftsman is the best mower for you.

Last year Stanley Black & Decker purchased the Craftsman name from Sears. As part of that sale, Sears is still able to sell Craftsman branded merchandise but the products will be different than the Craftsman products from Stanley Black & Decker. Let me explain how that affects Mowers.

Craftsman at Sears: Mowers sold on sears.com and Sears Stores are still the products you are familiar with. The mowers have not changed for 2019. They are warrantied and serviced through Sear Repair Services. All parts for these models and all parts for the older Craftsmans are available through searspartsdirect.com. Sears Hometown Store, Sears Outlet, and Ace also carry these mowers as independent retailers. This includes Craftsman Professional mowers. You can find the Craftsman and Craftsman Professional mowers at Sears.com

Craftsman SBD: The mowers from Craftsman SBD (Stanley Black & Decker) are new. Currently, these Craftsman branded mowers are sold at Lowes and Amazon. It appears Craftsman SBD also took ownership of the website craftsman.com. There you can find warranty information and where to get repairs for your mower. It appears parts and service will be done through their ServiceNet Website. The model numbers are completely different. You will have to get parts, warranty work, and service through Stanley, Black & Decker. Lowes is not responsible for warranty repairs to Craftsman products. Stanley, Black and Decker (SBD) is.

Besides buying the Craftsman brand Stanley Black & Decker also purchased a stake in MTD last year. What that means for you is all of the mowers, lawn tractors and snow blowers that have the Craftsman SBD name will be made by MTD.

Craftsman Lawn & Garden at Sears does make up a SIGNIFICANT portion of sales so I extremely confident that Craftsman L&G will only get stronger over the next 10 years. That said, Craftsman Sears sells a riding lawn mower for every homeowner lawn in the U.S. Everything from a 30-inch rider to a 60 in heavy-duty zero-turn. They have the largest nationwide service network and you can easily get parts for their machines going back 10, 15, 20 years and more. But, they have never manufactured their own products and have always “spec’d” their mowers to the unique wants and needs of the Sears shopper.

Craftsman SBD at Lowes and Amazon has not adopted this “mower for everyone” approach at this time. They primarily sell inexpensive lawn and garden tractors and inexpensive entry zero-turns.

Here are the Craftsman at Sears mowers, and who manufactures them for the 2019 year:

Craftsman T1000 series: Manufactured by MTD. Red color
Craftsman T2000, T3000 series: Manufactured by MTD. Red and Black color
Craftsman 30 inch Rider: Manufactured by MTD. Red color
Craftsman Zero Turns: Manufactured by MTD Red color
Craftsman Pro: MTD Built. They are Black/Yellow in color.
Craftsman SBD at Lowes and Amazon are also made by MTD.

NOTE: Sears.ca: Sears Canada is a separate company. They spec their own products under the Craftsman brand. Sears Canada went out of business in 2017. I have no information on how to get parts or service for that equipment.

CRAFTSMAN™/MC. Sold by Sears.ca. Both MTD and Husqvarna make these mowers. Red or Black color
CRAFTSMAN PROFESSIONAL™/MC. Sold by Sears.ca Usually Husqvarna. Black/Yellow in color.

John Deere: As far as I can tell John Deere currently does not use any other brand names to market their mowers (used Sabre in the past) I do want to point out that all the lawn tractors and zero turns are made in the U.S. They are made in at least three different locations. ANYONE who tells you their 100 series is made by someone else or their zero-turns are made overseas does not know what they are talking about. The lawn tractors and zero-turns you see at Lowes and The Home Depot are the same riding mowers you see at the dealer. The dealer just has more dealer only models available. The 100 series sold at the Dealer Stores IS THE SAME TRACTOR AS SOLD AT THE BIG BOX STORES!

John Deere is a worldwide organization and many of their parts and products are made outside of the U.S. They currently use Briggs, Kohler, Kawasaki and have their owned line of branded engines in the residential mowers.
The 100 series Deere’s are made in Greenville, TN. The 300, 500 and 700 Series are made in Wisconsin
There are also Golf and Commercial Divisions that cater to those customers.
 

jward

passin' thru
What green co. Says.

In general i would make choice more based upon engines, and who was making em that year, and with what components, than i would on tractor name.

Per your actual question... What kinda prepper waits till he needs the replacement part to source and purchase it? : )
 

twobarkingdogs

Veteran Member
No, actually, I posted before I saw yours, at all.
Funny thing is, the small Deere's are made by the exact same manufacturer as the Cub Cadet. MTD Mowers

MTD Mowers:
It originated as a tool and die maker (Modern Tool and Die Company). MTD's main competitors are Stihl, Ariens, Snapper Inc., John Deere and Husqvarna. MTD makes all of the store brands (i.e., a mower that might have the Home Depot name on it), along with MTD, Dynamark, YardPro, Weed Eater, Noma, and Sears Craftsman. Murray makes MTD. MTD makes the low end (non-commercial) John Deere tractors.

Oh and Husqvarna is now also made by MTD


Southside

True post. Most consumer grade mowers are all made by MTD and other then slight design points are just rebranded for the different companies.

If you want a good quality mower and are handy with making repairs which it sounds like you are then look into buying a used commercial mower. Pay attention to the brands that the lawn service companies in your area use. Try to figure out where they go for service or just for parts. Then see if the service company will sell you a mower that the owners never came back in to pick up or maybe suggest somewhere to shop other then craigslist. Commercial mowers are built to be repaired and are much more heavy duty then a big box mower

tbd
 

Southside

Has No Life - Lives on TB
True post. Most consumer grade mowers are all made by MTD and other then slight design points are just rebranded for the different companies.

If you want a good quality mower and are handy with making repairs which it sounds like you are then look into buying a used commercial mower. Pay attention to the brands that the lawn service companies in your area use. Try to figure out where they go for service or just for parts. Then see if the service company will sell you a mower that the owners never came back in to pick up or maybe suggest somewhere to shop other then craigslist. Commercial mowers are built to be repaired and are much more heavy duty then a big box mower

tbd

Unlike many here, I do not have that large a lot. Maybe 1/3 acre to mow, less now with the trees. I can get away with one of these. My last MTD cost 1,000, lasted 21 years, 3 oil changes(Yea, WAY too few), 2 blade sharpenings and 1 set of king pins. Oh and 1 tire also.

I am better on the oil changes with the new one. The damn king pins are already clicking. They will last 5 or so more years, I suppose.

Southside
 

poppy

Veteran Member
I had a Poulan rider with hydrostat drive for about 10 years. No issues at all except lots of use. Gave it to our youngest son (he is still using it) and bought the same size in the Craftsman version. A real piece of crap. The Poulan would mow our steep ditch bank just fine but the Craftsman just spins the back wheels. I guess some weight distribution difference. For some reason neither I or a mower shop can see, the damn drive belt will occasionally flip up off the transaxle and break the cooling fan sitting on top. They used to be metal but are now black plastic. Fifty bucks a pop. l bought a Bad Boy zero turn last year and I'll never go back to a rider. I can mow in half the time and not be near max speed for the mower. It mows our ditch bank fine as long as the grass is dry. wet grass will cause it to slide sideways down the hill.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Here’s how it should go:

Run your current one until it’s no longer economically viable to repair. Then replace it.


See how easy that decision was?
 

Sub-Zero

Veteran Member
Cub Cadet LT1050 here, it is 14 years old, 23 horse B & S twin. Still going strong. Replacement parts are easy to come by, I buy all parts from Amazon, belts, blades and blade spindles. I’m on my second deck belt and have replaced 2 of 3 blade spindles. The hour meter is around 350 and I have changed oil and filter 4 times. I mow about 2 acres. I am very pleased with my Cub, if or when this one dies on me, I’d be looking to buy a new one, just like it!

Tell ya what... go ahead and call Cub Cadet service line and see if you can order a left (or right) hydrogear pump. Let me know how customer service treats you. It should be a $300-$400 part.
 

Sub-Zero

Veteran Member
What green co. Says.

In general i would make choice more based upon engines, and who was making em that year, and with what components, than i would on tractor name.

Per your actual question... What kinda prepper waits till he needs the replacement part to source and purchase it? : )

If there's nuclear war, or other catastrophe, I WILL NOT, be mowing my lawn. I may go with a Mad Max lawnmower theme and put the blades on the front, vertically, however!
 

Green Co.

Administrator
_______________
I had a Poulan rider with hydrostat drive for about 10 years. No issues at all except lots of use. Gave it to our youngest son (he is still using it) and bought the same size in the Craftsman version. A real piece of crap. The Poulan would mow our steep ditch bank just fine but the Craftsman just spins the back wheels. I guess some weight distribution difference. For some reason neither I or a mower shop can see, the damn drive belt will occasionally flip up off the transaxle and break the cooling fan sitting on top. They used to be metal but are now black plastic. Fifty bucks a pop. l bought a Bad Boy zero turn last year and I'll never go back to a rider. I can mow in half the time and not be near max speed for the mower. It mows our ditch bank fine as long as the grass is dry. wet grass will cause it to slide sideways down the hill.

I had the same problem with my new Craftsman rider. My fix was to add a set of tire chains to the rear wheels. It pulls like a dozer in wet grass now, especially the roadside ditch.
 

Squid

Veteran Member
20 year old John Deere

Briggs and Spratten (sp?) engine easy to change oil, oil filter and fuel filter. Since I am lazy replace every other year. Serviced twice replace serpentine and PTO switch on 3rd battery.

Would consider used 5-10 year old but would stick with JD.
 

byronandkathy2003

Veteran Member
well i have you all beat i have a 45 year old case with a kohler k241 engine..

it still has a standard size piston and does not use oil or burn it.
it does leak a very small amount from a few gaskets tho but less than a quart during the summer.

i paid $500.00 for it 3 years ago and as for parts they are all over e bay and other places parts are easy to find for it if needed but you have to do the servicing your self.
i just ordered a center spindle and a pulley for the mower deck.
also i can get parts here - https://salempwr.com/

mine is just like this one it is a tractor not a wana be like they sell now days it is meant to pull a plow disks and such things if you try that with what they sell new now days you will tear the rear ends out of them
 

Attachments

  • images.duckduckgo.com.jpg
    images.duckduckgo.com.jpg
    105 KB · Views: 73

et2

Has No Life - Lives on TB
well i have you all beat i have a 45 year old case with a kohler k241 engine..

it still has a standard size piston and does not use oil or burn it.
it does leak a very small amount from a few gaskets tho but less than a quart during the summer.

i paid $500.00 for it 3 years ago and as for parts they are all over e bay and other places parts are easy to find for it if needed but you have to do the servicing your self.
i just ordered a center spindle and a pulley for the mower deck.
also i can get parts here - https://salempwr.com/

mine is just like this one it is a tractor not a wana be like they sell now days it is meant to pull a plow disks and such things if you try that with what they sell new now days you will tear the rear ends out of them

Nice mower. Diesel engine too. Not your normal home garden riding mower though. Probably has a pto attachment too. Bullet proof as they say
 

byronandkathy2003

Veteran Member
Nice mower. Diesel engine too. Not your normal home garden riding mower though. Probably has a pto attachment too. Bullet proof as they say

nope 10 horse gas no PTO unless i put on some hydraulic lines to the back of it for hydraulic pto..
it is all hydraulic drive and real gears in the 2 speed open diff rear end that is powered by a hydraulic motor..

the engine spins a hydraulic pump to run every thing and a clutch on the front of the engine to run belt driven attachments.
there are enough parts to be had i bet i can keep it running another 45 years..

i also have a parts tractor i bought for $100.00
 

biere

Veteran Member
Your talk of uneven ground makes me figure a zero turn may not be the best choice. Zero turns rule on smooth big yards. You can go fast and they are made just to mow.

My uncle has a zero turn and I borrowed it a couple times a few years ago. Yeah they are interesting but they don't do hills well and they don't drive like my car. To some extent they are harder to drink and drive with, water folks, but you can go straight using one hand on both levers sorta kinda.

I have an old mower I need to work on, has a problem with keeping belt tension correct for mowing and the belt tensioner seems to work fine. So something else has slop in it.

Anyway, few years ago I was looking at riding mowers at home depot. Their bottom level had one that has belt drive instead of today's hydrostatic crap. Engine makes decent power and while deck is thin as all get out I don't care enough for that to matter.

I am talking riding mowers. Lawn tractors are a thing but they are an expensive thing. Bought used and bought well, you can do great.

I can't seem to come close to finding a deal, so I looked elsewhere.

And while I don't do it much, being able to tie the mower to a big tree limb and drag it to the burn pile is nice. Zero turn, not much towing ability there.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Tell ya what... go ahead and call Cub Cadet service line and see if you can order a left (or right) hydrogear pump. Let me know how customer service treats you. It should be a $300-$400 part.

You really should drag yourself into the 21st century. I get that kind of stuff off the interwebz, and pay about half price.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Why are you asking us? It’s what YOU want that matters.

If you like the current one, and can get a parts one at a reasonable price, and don’t mind extra “junk” lying around, go for it.
 

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
Why are you asking us? It’s what YOU want that matters.

If you like the current one, and can get a parts one at a reasonable price, and don’t mind extra “junk” lying around, go for it.

I'm on the bubble. That's why. The wife doesn't care. So I figured I would take a stab at it.
 
Top