Craftman Lawn Tractor

Want to mow your lawn faster? The tractor you choose makes a difference

Want to finish mowing and trimming your big lawn in record time? We're not talking about racing lawn tractors and riding mowers here (though it does exist as a popular sport), just getting a big job done. While analyzing reviews for this year's report on lawn tractors , we found some models that not only zip across a lawn--and around trees, shrubs and other obstacles-- but also mow so close that they minimize trimming.

One tip from landscape professional Paul Sikemma is to compare the mowing deck with your tractor's wheelbase (the distance between the center of the front and rear wheels). If the wheelbase is longer than than the mowing deck is wide, consider a slightly larger diameter deck to compensate. Otherwise, the wheels can get in the way of mowing really close, so even a speedy mowing job can leave lots of trimming to do afterward.

If your lawn is flat and you only need to tow a dump cart--no snow thrower, lawn attachments or ground-engaging blades--your fastest option is probably a zero-turn mower. With this type, each wheel pivots so you can steer around obstacles easily, and at the end of a row there's no circle of uncut grass to require another pass. The John Deere Z225 zips along at 7 mph, plenty fast enough to get a big lawn done, and with minimal trimming required.

Zero-turn mowers, though, are dangerous for mowing on hills because they tend to slide, making them hard to control. Nor can they handle the attachments that make tractors so versatile. For fast mowing with a lawn tractor, look for a model with a small turning radius.

Most residential lawn tractors have a turning radius of 18 inches. This year, some Craftsman models offer an unusually tight eight-inch turning radius. Two of our editors, Chris Frietchen and Alex Nunez, had a chance to try out this "Turn-Tight" technology this past December (indoors, on Astroturf), testing to see how easy it was to mow around a mailbox on a post. It was indeed easy; the front wheels can turn in at a very sharp angle.

The moderate prices on these mid-range Craftsman tractors make them a good value, and comparison tests give them high marks for performance, especially in bagging mode. (Bagging requires paying extra for a kit.)  The 42-inch deck on the Craftsman 28856 is narrower than the wheelbase, though -- so Sikemma recommends paying a bit more for the 46-inch Craftsman 28857. Both use just two blades, which experts say provides a more even cut than the three blades used on extra-wide decks.

Craftsman And John Deere Lawn Tractor Part 1 | backhoe loader

Old tractors are so much better than new ones. you can take a 90s craftsman with an opposed twin and it can top any John Deere lawn tractor made today. had 97 craftsmAn with an opposed for 10 years, never once gave us a problem. had a John Deere for two years and it’s been non stop problems. even just looking at it soo much of the tractor is plastic, where they used to use metal. tractors today are cheaply made. older ones were made for quality.

@motrukmowingandmore Haha dang I think opposite of ya. I like the Craftsman a tad bit better. I own a 1990 Craftsman LT4000 with 12 hp briggs&stratton single cylinder flat head. It is AWESOME. If ya wanna see it, drop on by my channel. I have quite a bit of videos on it. We also re painted it This winter it is getting a ring job haha it is getting spoiled.

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