Riding Lawnmower Recommendations

[Railroad]

The Murray tractors and Craftsman tractors are both made by AYP (American Yard Products). Same for the Bolens and Yard Machine and I believe the John Deere (at Lowes, NOT at a JD dealer).

No argument there, but the parts like belts and blades are different.

 

[DoWhat]

The Murray tractors and Craftsman tractors are both made by AYP (American Yard Products). Same for the Bolens and Yard Machine and I believe the John Deere (at Lowes, NOT at a JD dealer).

Murray went out of business.

Been trying to get brake pads for the Murray go-cart.

Craftsman

 

[jazz lady]

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. I definitely appreciate it.

 

[HunterJJD]

Johm Deere from Carroll's Equipment.. the Lowes Aren't "real" John Deere.. A little bit more money, but weill worth it, Carrolls has an awesome service dept.. will come and pick up and deliver for services.. They'll point you to the right size tractor that you need, and JD's last FOREVER!! We get ours serviced two times a year from them, and never have had a complaint. The bill is usually considerably less then we expected.

Lowes knock off JD tractors have to be putting a hurt on our local business, and it's a shame, people are thinking they are getting the same quality and the same service, and they aren't. Support your local businesses.


OH, and you can get the WAY cool, 4 wheel steering on their new tractors..

Carroll's Equipment has the service contracts from the JD sold at Lowe's

Note I am not standing up for them and I am not a John Deere fan.

How can the JD's at Lowe's have the same model as the JD's at Carroll's Equipment if they are not the same?

 

[Penn]

I purchased a John Deere 16hp riding mower in 2002(used) and it has started up every time - after sitting all winter under a tarp.

Carrolls services it for me(tune up/oil change/blade sharpening). They'll even come over and pick it up for you, and return it when it's ready.

I have nothing but good comments about them.

 

[BabyGurl1978]

John Deere from Gardiner Outdoor Products in Waldorf!

We just bought one from there last week and it's nice.

If you do happen to buy a John Deere, make sure it's from a JD dealer (not somewhere like Lowe's). If you need service on it, Lowe's cannot help you, the JD dealer can.

My Dad bought a Craftsman several years ago. He's had to work on it several times. :junk:

Yes we just got a John Deere last week ourselves and it is very nice compared to other brands.

 

[huntr1]

No argument there, but the parts like belts and blades are different.

The discharge chutes are different too. I am dealing with that right now. Mine got torn off by letting it rub against the house as I backed down the hill while cutting right next to the foundation. Now I am trying to find a replacement (other than buying it from Sears) and have not been able to find one.
So yes, small parts are different, but they are still mostly the same. Kinda like Chevy vs. Pontiac vs. Buick.

 

[Pete]

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/dpete2q/cat.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

 

[itsbob]

I bought a Murray at Wal-Mart (yuck) about 12 years ago and it's still going strong. I like it because it's easier to get parts for than a Craftsman (Sears) or a John Deere. I hate to recommend Wal Mart but I do recommend a Murray.

Murray just went out of business didn't it?? John Deere parts are easy to get if you go to the right place... or online.

 

[WHICHWAYISUP?]

John Deere or Sears are the way to go. Do not buy anything from Lowes or Home Depot. Even though they may have the "John Deere, Cub Cadet, or Troy Built" names on them they are built by anther manufactue (MTD or as staded above AYP) and are not covered under the "SAID NAMES" warrenty or for any matter aknowkedeged by "SAID NAME".

Carrols Equipment all the way

 

[itsbob]

Carroll's Equipment has the service contracts from the JD sold at Lowe's

Note I am not standing up for them and I am not a John Deere fan.

How can the JD's at Lowe's have the same model as the JD's at Carroll's Equipment if they are not the same?

Check out the model numbers.. they aren't the same.. The ones at Lowes are like 110, 116, they all begin with one. Even the largest tractor in Lowes is like 119..

We noticed at Home Depot in Bowie.. they were EXACTLY like the Husquavarna (I think), all the way down to the same drink holder, but in any case, they are a licensed product built by another tractor company. Nothing on them is the same as a John Deere bought at a dealer. Transmission, Blade clutch, engine layout, fuel tank, deck raiser.. it's all different.

 

[itsbob]

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/dpete2q/cat.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

This would cut my mowing time by a little bit..

 

[Speedy70]

This would cut my mowing time by a little bit..

Heck, it would flatten the grass so it wouldn't need cutting anyway.

 

[huntr1]

Murray just went out of business didn't it?? John Deere parts are easy to get if you go to the right place... or online.

AYP must have canceled the manufacturer name, like Daimler-Chrysler killing off the Plymouth brand.

 

[huntr1]

Murray went out of business.

Been trying to get brake pads for the Murray go-cart.

Craftsman

Can you give me any more info on the brake parts you are looking for? I may be able to find them via some other forums I am on.

 

[OldHillcrestGuy]

Cub Cadet

Bought one 2 years ago this month from Hugh Gardiner in Faulkner, LT1018 42inch cut, has been a workhorse, been using it to cut grass commerically now for 2 years with no problems, use it at least 3 times a week to do jobs. My son bought a Troy Built basically same features at about $300 more at the same time, has had several problems, he wishes he had gotten the Cadet.

 

[huntr1]

The old one has bit the dust and I need to buy a new one because I sure am not push-mowing it. Any specific brands to look for? Any specific store/dealer you can recommend?

TIA!

I just bought another rider yesterday. Going to pick it up tonight I guess. 1972 Sears Suburban 12 w/ 42" cutting deck.

This is more than just a riding mower though. This thing is heavy duty in every sense of the phrase. 1/4" thick steel frame, 2 speed rearend, 3 forward & 1 reverse in the tranny (combined with the 2 in the rear, that makes 6 forward and 2 reverse gears). I currently have its little brother, a 1968 Sears Custom 10XL. I used the Custom to pull my boat around the yard (try pulling a 20' boat with a new 10 hp riding mower, not gonna happen), it had no problems doing it. I already have a 3 point hitch with a plow for the garden for these tractors, and a dozer blade for the Custom that I will try to adapt to fit the Suburban. Gonna pull the ag style tires off the Custom and put them on the Suburban. Now if I could only find a front end loader for the Suburban for under $800.00, I'd be in hog heaven.

 

[huntr1]

I just realized something. Once I bring this "new" tractor home, I will have 6 mowers/tractors. 3 push mowers (1 Murray highwheel [needs carb cleaning], 1 1993 Lawnboy 2 cycle [won't fire for some reason, gonna fix it eventually], and 1 2005 self propelled highwheel [current mower of choice]. 3 riders, 1968 Sears Custom 10XL Garden Tractor [no mower deck], 1 1972 Sears Suburban 12 Garden Tractor and 1 2002 Craftsman LT1000 riding mower. Thank goodness I have the barn to park all this crap under.

Jazz, want to borrow one until you can get a new one?

 

[crabcake]

Don't forget about the snapper.

 

[jazz lady]

I just realized something. Once I bring this "new" tractor home, I will have 6 mowers/tractors. 3 push mowers (1 Murray highwheel [needs carb cleaning], 1 1993 Lawnboy 2 cycle [won't fire for some reason, gonna fix it eventually], and 1 2005 self propelled highwheel [current mower of choice]. 3 riders, 1968 Sears Custom 10XL Garden Tractor [no mower deck], 1 1972 Sears Suburban 12 Garden Tractor and 1 2002 Craftsman LT1000 riding mower. Thank goodness I have the barn to park all this crap under.

Jazz, want to borrow one until you can get a new one?

Thanks, but I'll be getting one this weekend come hell or high water.

Thanks everybody for all the suggestions! I really appreciate it.