Hi all.

I really don't like it when anyone jumps in a thread and runs off at the
mouth without giving background for their opinion. So here I go, over-doing
it again. If you don't want to know the history, just jump on down to my
opinion at the end. Less time, but not as much fun.

I have owned Craftsman mowers for 30 years now. No, really, 25 years. The
first 5 years were non-powered push mowers because that was all we could
afford for our little bit of grass. They all worked well, I could never
take a week off because they were broken. I just couldn't make those little
suckers break.

Then I met Craftsman. My husband is a Craftsman toolman. And has been for
40 years. So, of course, my first powered mower must also be a Craftsman.

As everyone here who takes pride in their lawn knows, it may be a woman or a
man, but usually one in the family does most of the mowing, and, therefore,
usually decides on the mower. So, this one checking in, is a female, if
that matters.

Anyway, when this thread started, and similar in another group, I thought I
was a staunch supporter of Craftsman.
And I have prepared a number of cutesy replies. Then I started to think
about it. The first Craftsman that I owned was a used one. Push mower. No
self propulsion, none needed, I was young. And it ran forever, and ever,
and ever. Then our lives changed a bit and we moved, up and out, so now we
had almost an acre, with a whole lot of ups and downs. In a neighborhood
that demanded weed control. And, being a bit older, I needed propulsion,
no, I needed a rider. So, back to Craftsman. (Somewhere in here I have to
comment on my absolute, undying fear of heights. One rung on a ladder is my
limit and only if I have someplace to hold on. I can only climb on a chair
that has a back to hold on to. OK, that said, I could not get on a riding
mower that made me feel like I was too high up in the air.) Craftsman brand
riders are pretty low, not sports car low, but lower than those 'other
brands'. So I got me a rider, Craftsman, 12 hp, 1985. I loved it, I used
it when the grass needed cut and I used it when I needed a breather. (I
ALWAYS buy a maintenance contract on any large purchase, Craftsman or
otherwise.) When I called to have my first end of the season maintenance,
the gentleman who did the work, well, he was surprised, said my mower had a
smaller engine that it was supposed to have. Hmmm. Oh well, it still was
running very well. And it continued to run, and I renewed the maintenance
each and every year. I did everything that I was supposed to. Then we
moved to the country. My hills were steeper and my drop offs were more
sudden and my acreage increased to 60. I realized the difference between
the fun ups and downs in a lawn and the drop off edges of gulleys and
streams. And the difference between KNOWING that my mower was not gonna
stop as I was mowing one of those hillsides that the mower manual said I
should never do. OK, the mower was 6 years old and the maintenance was more
than a new one. So I used a local handyman. The first time I took it in, I
paid over $600 because I told him to tear it down and rebuild it with new
parts. I needed to get 3 more years out of it. Sure no problem. Til I
tried to turn it on. Click. Took it back. Paid $150 more. Tried to turn
it on. Click. Then I was angry. They came and picked it up and repaired
it again, for nothing. (At least for those that cannot add.) Well, ****,
give in and get a new one. Bite the bullet. Husband said he would be more
comfortable if I had a larger engine on these hills. OK, back to Craftsman.
I got the 18 hp. that had shift on the go. Now, I explained to the salesman
about my hills and my need to increase my mowed area each year by a couple
acres. And he sold me his recommendation.

I burned up the transmission on that 18hp tank. It took me less than a
month. Call for service. Sure. No problem. As long as you can stop your
grass from growing for 3 more weeks. Maintenance guy said you should never
have bought this kind, lady. Well, duh, I was just following the
recommendation of their salesman. He said he was gonna recommend that Sears
give me a new rider, but without the automatic shift. No problem. Got my
new one 3 weeks later. Ran wonderful. For about a month. Shit. First the
brakes. Then the transmission. Then something kept starting on fire under
the front hood (where the motor is). Then the transmission again. Then it
just goes click. Then you have to jump around on the seat to get it to
start. Then the steering and front tires don't want to turn. Which of
course had to happen on the edge of a gulley. And the brake was on the
downhill side of the mower which was I was riding on the uphill fender, so I
couldn't use the brake. So I jumped off. They told me they had replaced
the whole drive, brakes, axles, tranny, the LAST time. Well, supposedly
they replaced it again. If I had not bought the maintenance contract, I
would have been even angrier.

So, I absolutely followed the recommended maintenance. And added in at
least 6 more visits per year. And that sucker isn't gonna make it to next
year. And I will never purchase another Craftsman mower as long as I live.
No matter what. Even if I have to get some goats. Never. And I feel
really guilty saying it. Like I need to go to confession. But, I need to
feel safe. I need an engine that I maintain better than recommended, to
start. For more than 2 weeks at a time.

I am thankful for these threads. Having to sit here and put it in writing.
Wow, talk about perspective.

My advice would be to NOT purchase a Craftsman. The quality that we grew to
expect in the 60s and 70s and 80s is no longer there. The mentality of the
craftsmen who maintained our machines has also gone the way of the auto
mechanic that could fix your car by the sound.

I saw that Sam's Club has a Honda 5 hp self propelled (can't remember the
cut width) for $289.00. I would bet that that Honda will probably last
longer than the "new, improved, Craftsman" mower, regardless of its standing
on the price scale.

But this is just my opinion. HTH.

Judy