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Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking
at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- bagging. I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... |
G wrote:
I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- bagging. I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... FWIW, My beef with Sears (Craftsman) is they only guarantee repair parts availability for *one years* now. Back when, the said parts would be available for "life". Sears is nothing but a marketing outfit that sells what they get from their vendors, and that can change monthly. |
On 9/29/2005 9:34 AM US(ET), Stubby took fingers to keyboard, and typed
the following: G wrote: I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- bagging. I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... FWIW, My beef with Sears (Craftsman) is they only guarantee repair parts availability for *one years* now. Back when, the said parts would be available for "life". Sears is nothing but a marketing outfit that sells what they get from their vendors, and that can change monthly. What Craftsman repair parts would you need for a push mower? After all, it is just a chassis to hold an engine with a mower blade attached. Replacement mower blades, wheels, and other non-Craftsman common parts are available almost everywhere, like engine parts for B&S engines. My Craftsman self-propelled, B&S powered mower is over 20 years old and I have only changed the blade once and the pull starter cord once (neither of which were Sears parts). It looks like s**t with the rust, dents, and cracked plastic parts, but it cuts grass as well as it did when new. -- Bill |
I think you pay to much for the name and the gray paint. If that is the
quality you want you might as well go MTD. From Mel & Donnie in Bluebird Valley |
willshak wrote:
On 9/29/2005 9:34 AM US(ET), Stubby took fingers to keyboard, and typed the following: G wrote: I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- bagging. I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... FWIW, My beef with Sears (Craftsman) is they only guarantee repair parts availability for *one years* now. Back when, the said parts would be available for "life". Sears is nothing but a marketing outfit that sells what they get from their vendors, and that can change monthly. What Craftsman repair parts would you need for a push mower? After all, it is just a chassis to hold an engine with a mower blade attached. Replacement mower blades, wheels, and other non-Craftsman common parts are available almost everywhere, like engine parts for B&S engines. My Craftsman self-propelled, B&S powered mower is over 20 years old and I have only changed the blade once and the pull starter cord once (neither of which were Sears parts). It looks like s**t with the rust, dents, and cracked plastic parts, but it cuts grass as well as it did when new. I looking for saddle clamps that hold the blades (4) on my mowing deck in place. Thanks. |
I've had a craftsman rear-bagger push mower (not sure of the model) with
normal size rear wheels for 3 years now and it hasn't missed a beat. It starts first pull every time. The only maintenance I do is to brush it off after each use (mostly to keep rotting grass smell out of the garage) and I sharpened the blade and replaced the oil at the start of it's third cutting season. I'll drain the gas and wash it down at the end of each cutting season. Jon "G" wrote in message k.net... I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- bagging. I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... |
"G" wrote in message k.net... I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That Push it if you want, but look at a rider and weedeater to get the job done in a shorter period of time. |
Sears buys from whoever will make, their close to spec mowers, to meet a
price point. I don't know who is making this year's or last year's models. It's probably an MTD which are basically throw aways after 5 years. |
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0.4 acres is pretty small. a push is OK, but I have always liked
self-prop mowers. I have a craftsman 5.5hp that is about 8-10 years old now. rear bagger, mulcher (chute optional). I think it was $300 back then. Replaced this year with a JD riding mower, but it still works just fine. What I would do in your case is buy a self prop or a big wheel mower. I would also suggest a honda engine, but that often puts the price higher than you want to pay. If going craftsman, buy a new blade, air filter, belts (if any), and blade to keep in hand when you need them. Kirb G wrote: I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- bagging. I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... |
Ralph Mowery wrote:
"G" wrote in message k.net... I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That Push it if you want, but look at a rider and weedeater to get the job done in a shorter period of time. I used to have a self-propelled rotary mower and I liked it. Then I bought the craftsman tractor and mowing deck. I've used it for 17 years but frankly, I believe a zero-radius ride-on mower would have been better or maybe a fancy self-propelled. I have about 2/3 acre with lots of gardens to go around. I have worked hard to make the gardens mowable -- no inside corners, mowing strips next to stone walls, etc. |
About 1/4 acre and flat. Takes about 40 minutes to cut the grass. I use the
bag for most of the cuts, but will let it mulch every once in a while if I'm in a hurry. The mulching blade cuts it pretty small but makes the deck and wheels harder to clean. If the grass is pretty high and the deck gets a lot of mulch build-up it can bog down the mower. Jon "G" wrote in message k.net... In article , says... I've had a craftsman rear-bagger push mower (not sure of the model) with normal size rear wheels for 3 years now and it hasn't missed a beat. It starts first pull every time. The only maintenance I do is to brush it off after each use (mostly to keep rotting grass smell out of the garage) and I sharpened the blade and replaced the oil at the start of it's third cutting season. I'll drain the gas and wash it down at the end of each cutting season. Jon Jon- How big is your property approximately? Also, do you mulch as well, if yes, does it work well for you? |
On 9/29/2005 7:02 PM US(ET), Tightwad took fingers to keyboard, and
typed the following: Sears buys from whoever will make, their close to spec mowers, to meet a price point. I don't know who is making this year's or last year's models. It's probably an MTD which are basically throw aways after 5 years. What if it's still working after 5, 10, or 15, years? -- Bill |
G wrote: I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- bagging. I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... If you get a push mower just about anything will be ok provided you take good care of it. There is little to go wrong outside the engine. I would look for a heavier gauge steel (or cast Aluminum or Aluminum/Magnesium alloy) for the deck. Don't leave a lot of wet grass clippings impacted on the bottom of the deck after you mow, as this will encourage rust - especially if you have recently fertilized. Change the oil at the end of the season and either run the gas out of the tank or put some gas stabilizer in the tank. Don't leave your mower outside in the weather uncovered (you'd be surprised how many people do this). Preferably keep it in a garage or a enclosed outbuilding. If you can't do that at the least throw a tarp over it and stick it under something (deck, lean-to, milk crate, whatever). Personally, for .4 acres I would go with a good quality self-propelled. If you let the grass get high (and who on occasion doesn't unless they have nothing to do but cut the lawn) a push mower can be a real chore to manhandle through higher grass - even on a perfectly flat lawn. A good brand self-propelled (Honda, Toro, Husqvarna, and maybe a few other select brands) should give years of reliable service if you take care of it (same kind of maintenance as mentioned earlier). I've got a Honda Harmony self propelled that I bought at Home Depot about 5 years ago and it has never given me a problem. The self-propelled unit is working fine and it starts with one pull every time just like when it was new. Your gonna pay around $400 ~ $450 for a good self propelled (yes, you can pay more). You might squeeze in a little under that $400 figure if you shop around now at the end of the season. I think I saw Lowes selling a Husqvarna self propelled (with a Honda motor, same as on my Harmony which I consider to be a definite plus)for just under $400. On the motor, I can't overstate how pleased I am with the Honda 5.5hp engine on my self-propelled. I've owned or known a lot of mowers growing up and through my adult life. Most were Brigg and Stratton with a few Tecumsehs thrown in here or there. Some were hard to start right out of the box. All got harder to start as they got older. The best of them would start in 3 or 4 pulls after a couple of years of service. Some were quite a bit harder than that. I generally check and change plugs often, but no matter what it seems that all my Briggs or Techumseh motors would at some point give me trouble starting. Sometimes I could fix it with new plugs, other times I had to rebuild the carb. A few would just never reliably start over any reasonable period of time. This Honda has performed flawlessly. You set the throttle to choke, you pull the cord (and an easy pull at that) and the thing just fires up. Five years on it starts as readily at the day I brought it home. One year I didn't bother to run the gas out and forgot to put stabil in the tank. Put the mower away in November. Come late February or early May I pull it out of the garage for my first mow of the year, choke the throttle, and pull the cord and the damn thing fired right up - first try after sitting for a little over three months (I live in the Southeast and we have a pretty long mowing season if you have a fescue lawn). Good luck with whatever you get. |
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On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 13:05:07 GMT, G wrote:
I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking I"m leaving the rest of the post. I thought you said 4 acres. This is why most people write 0.4 acres, because you don't know what my monitor or room light is like or how good my vision is, etc. There are lots of typos on the net, and if there seems to be an extra space between t and 4, no one will think that is strange. Most of what I wrote is fully applicable to the smaller lawn you have. at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That ROTFLOL. I thought the choice would be between self-propelled and riding. In JHS and HS, we had about 1/3 of an acrre, counting where the house was. With a self-propelled mower**, it took 90 minutes for the front lawn and 90 for the back. If we figure you'll go twice as fast as I did, that will be 18 hours to mow the lawn. **Admittledly I kept the engine running slowly and that made this model proceed quite slowly. They do make self-propelled with one throttle for the engine and a separate one for the speed the mower travels. I don't think they are common though, they probably all have big engines (see below) and the maximum mower speed at any given time is I'm sure limited by where you set the engine speed. AFAIK, It is better to have the front wheels driven than the rear. I had to shift to neutral all the time to pull the mower away from the trees etc. With front drive, push down on the handle and the rear wheels move freely while the front is off the ground, ass uming no one is in front of you to get hit by stones or sticks or pine cones. Seriously, it's immoral to injure someone this way, and these days you'll be liable, and you have to make looking the automatic first step all the time. Otherwise you'll forget to look on the infrequent occaions someone is there. the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, We had a Moto-mower. I think the transmission did break once in the 8 years we lived there. They don't use that style of transmission anymore, but I don't know if the new ones are better or worse. "Transmission" is an overblown word, maybe the wrong word. It was just a clutch, a little box 3 by 3 by 3, with a belt, a pulley , and a couple 45 degree gears and a lever. and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. LOL. I was 12 to 18 and fit. My land in Indiana was totally flat. Now that I see you mean point 4 acres, it will be a lot of exercise to push the mower, but I think you can do it. And riding mowers have major problems around obstructions, like others have described. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Thirty degrees!!!!! You don't think it will be hard to push on that! BTW, if it is really 30, you have to go sideways, not up, and they say not even down. I think, or the mower will fall over ON you. Even if you go sideways on the hill itself, somewhere you will be pushing your mower up that hill, over and over.. If I were you, I would absolutely borrow your neighbor's mower before I bought anything***. I think you have no idea of what this will be like. If he won't let you mow your lawn (unlikely) offer to mow part of his. ***It's a good way to get to know your neighbor. But don't mow near the rock garden or any place else you might hurt the blade. Just leave that stuff for next time. It's a bad way to get to know your neighbor if the first thing you do is nick his blade, or worse. When you are mowing one swath, you can keep your eyes on the next swath to see if there are any rocks that you're going to hit next time. Not necessary most of the time, but probably is the first time you mow the lawn. There are kids around here, and I keep finding white stones that are used in a bush or flower bed. It comes and goes but sometimes I keep finding them in my yard. If he has a riding mower (likely) keep going down the street until you find someone with a push mower. If he thinks he can win an ally in the push mower brigade, he'll readily lend you his mower, because he thinks he's smarter and stronger than those with riding mowers. He may well be, but you should make sure in advance that you want to be like him. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- The larger rear wheels mean nothing on really flat land (whether level or not). They are there to help you go over rough land, curbs, etc. The same reason a bicycle can handle ridges and bumps bagging. And you're going to bag too! Do you realize how many loads there are in 4 acres? 50? Just a guess. I predict with a wlaking mower you will never finish, even the first time. I never bag. it's good fertilizer I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Does it have a throttle? 6.5 make a lot of noise, for no good reason unless you're trying to mow a baby forest. Even 3 HP make too much noise to run at full speed. You can run most engines, especially big ones, at half throtte, even in the spring, and still mow the lawn fine, including mulching. 1/3 throttle would be enough when the weather has been dry. IF it has a throttle. BTW, when I didn't have a "mulching mower" I duct-taped a business size envelope over the grass opening and voila, a mulching mower. I only did this in the fall when I wanted to mulch the leaves. It worked fine. I would think every engine, especially on lawn mowers, would have a throttle, and they used to, but lately not all do. I have a mower with no throttle coontrol but seemingly a place to connect one. I also have a Craftsman with no trottle and NOWHERE to connect one. I may keep it for its other features and wear earplugs, but I'm very unhappy about this lack. Also 6HP engines weigh more, and that will matter a lot when you are pushing the mower. A couple years ago I had one push mower that didn't start, but I borrowed one from a friend, and 've been keeping my eyes open and I've found 4 mowers in the trash. 3 looked brand new, although one of those was made in 1978. Some are 6 or 6.5HP and some 3.5 I have to lift one side to get it up on the cement slab where I store it during the summer, and with some of them, I can just twist the handle and the right side goes up. Others are so heavy I can't do it and I'm afraid I'll bend the handle. I have to go up to the side of the engine, bend down and lift it up, and push it on the slab at the same time. No big deal, but it would be if I had to push the thing everywhwere. Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... I buy alsmost everything second-hand. Your house was second-hand, right? Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let me know if you have posted also. |
"G" wrote in message k.net... I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- bagging. I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... I have a 20" Craftsman Eagle mulching mower. It's about 15 years old. Parts are available from any small engine repair shop or home improvement center. Like the Eveready bunny, it keeps going and going. I've replaced the wheels, starter cord, filters, plug, and had some carburetor work done on it last year. Still runs fine. The only problem with Craftsman mowers are that they're built from several suppliers (MTD, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler) and the parts they use this year may change in the future. For 0.4 acres, if you're only going to mulch with it, a push mower would be suitable. However, if you're going to bag the clippings, consider a self-propelled, especially for the incline (30 degrees? - steep). Those bag changes get pretty tiring after awhile. |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 13:05:07 GMT, G wrote:
Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp For some reason, I have had absolutely terrible luck with Sears Craftsman lawn mowers... and yet I keep going back because they are the least expensive (when on sale) and I am not rich. This last time... after my 2 season old Sears Craftsman side discharge with a 4.5 HP B&S engine cracked its block (no, I didn't hit anything) and started leaking oil everywhere... I bought another Sears Craftsman like you have described but with the 5.5 HP Honda engine. I really thought the Honda engine would make a difference, but all I got was an insane level of vibration (hand blisters every time I use it) and terrible, terrible performance, especially when mulching. I have complained and brought it back to Sears twice with no satisfaction. They would not give me a refund. All they would do is rebalance or replace the blade, but its obvious that was never the problem. I am so disgusted with Sears I could scream. If I ever buy another Craftsman lawn mower, someone... anyone... please shoot me and put me out of my misery! :-( Jake |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
I'm not sure who is making mowers sold by Sears under the Craftsman name
now. Sears cares little about the quality of the Lawn Mowers and other items itsticks the name Craftsman on these days. They will milk the Craftsman name until everybody finally realizes it is no different than the cheap throwaways available at Walmart, Lowes. Home Depot, etc. You have to look at every aspect of the mower you anticipate buying. Even John Deere Mowers are mostly manufactured by whoever will meet John Deere's price point of the WalMart marketing philosophy clones. John Deere still manufactures all of its John deere labeled Commercial mowers, I believe. Briggs bought Simplicity, Snapper and a number of others. The who owns what has changed so much, in the last 3 years, I cannot remember just who is manufacturing what and for who. Thanks to Wal Mart there is not much American Made Quality left out there. |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 22:25:11 -0600, tightwad wrote:
I'm not sure who is making mowers sold by Sears under the Craftsman name now. Sears cares little about the quality of the Lawn Mowers and other items itsticks the name Craftsman on these days. They will milk the Craftsman name until everybody finally realizes it is no different than the cheap throwaways available at Walmart, Lowes. Home Depot, etc. You have to look at every aspect of the mower you anticipate buying. Even John Deere Mowers are mostly manufactured by whoever will meet John Deere's price point of the WalMart marketing philosophy clones. John Deere still manufactures all of its John deere labeled Commercial mowers, I believe. Briggs bought Simplicity, Snapper and a number of others. The who owns what has changed so much, in the last 3 years, I cannot remember just who is manufacturing what and for who. Thanks to Wal Mart there is not much American Made Quality left out there. I hear you loud and clear. But where does one turn today who is not filthy rich? Which line(s) of lawn mowers and lawn/garden tractors are truly designed and built to last without going $$$commercial$$$ ? Or did I just answer my own question? I thought that Honda engine was the answer to all my past Sears Craftsman woes. It was not. While it hasn't failed to start or started leaking oil or exploded yet... the performance is absolutely abysmal and the vibration is nothing short of astonishing. I just shake my head every time I use it. :-( Jake |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
Tightwad hit the nail right on the head. WalMart has run all the good
little companies out of our area. Sears has gone downhill so bad it is terable. But as for the Honda Motor, If Sears won't do anything I think I would contact Honda. The Honda Co really stands behind the products with that name on it. After you contact Honda Sears might change there mind. From Mel & Donnie in Bluebird Valley |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
Dixie Chopper is making a Residential Model now. It costs some bucks but
it is made to last. It even has a stainless steel deck to stop the rust out problem. I am lucky in the fact the factory is only 20 miles from me and there is dealers everywhere around here. From Mel & Donnie in Bluebird Valley |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
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Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
G wrote:
I have about .4 acres to mow. Originally I was looking at self-propelled, but have been convinced by a long- time mower friend (this is my 1st house and I've NEVER mowed before), that a push-model is good enough. That the more complex a mower (i.e. Propel vs. push), the more things can go wrong, and I'm 30 & fit so a push should not be an issue. Land is mostly flat, backyard slants up about 30 degrees. Obviously, electric not an option. After looking at Consumers Reports and reading a lot of stuff in general, I'm considering the Craftsman 38886. It's a push, large-rear wheels, with mulching & rear- bagging. I wish I could find out if it is ball-bearing or not (I'll go this weekend to look at it and hopefully the salepeerson would know....we'll see....is there any way to tell myself?) Any opinions on Craftsman push mulching/rear-bagging mowers, specifially the 38886? Oh yea, it's B&S 6.5hp Thanks a ton, trying not to make a bad decision considering I've never owned a mower before, and I figure a $220 Craftsman is better than spending $700 on a Honda HRX217HXA now that I have mortgage payments... Consider your mower a long term investment and purchase the best you can afford at the moment. Craftsman also make mowers that are Honda powered. Honda power is definitely better that B&S. |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:53:18 -0500, Joe Canuck
wrote: Consider your mower a long term investment and purchase the best you can afford at the moment. Craftsman also make mowers that are Honda powered. Honda power is definitely better that B&S. Joe - I am experiencing extremely high vibration levels... felt back through the handle and with audible/visual handle chatter... with my new Sears Craftsman lawn mower with the 5.5 HP Honda engine. Can you shed any light on this? After two lengthy visits back to their shop, Sears insists there is nothing currently wrong with it and will not let me try out a different one or give me a refund. So much for buyer satisfaction. Is it normal for Honda engines to cause handle vibrations so sever that you get blisters pushing it for 30 minutes? I have owned many lawn mowers in my life, most of them from Sears I am sorry to say, but nothing that came close to vibrating and causing blisters like this. Any ideas? Thanks in advance, Jake |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
Joe Canuck wrote: Consider your mower a long term investment and purchase the best you can afford at the moment. Craftsman also make mowers that are Honda powered. Honda power is definitely better that B&S. I would look at mowers for long term use in this order: all honda (fairly expensive, but worth it) John Deere Cheaper model with a honda engine. Going any cheaper might give you grief later, but most people have not used a good mower to know how much better they are new not to mention 5 years later. You get what you pay for. Kirb |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
Jake H. wrote:
On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:53:18 -0500, Joe Canuck wrote: Consider your mower a long term investment and purchase the best you can afford at the moment. Craftsman also make mowers that are Honda powered. Honda power is definitely better that B&S. Joe - I am experiencing extremely high vibration levels... felt back through the handle and with audible/visual handle chatter... with my new Sears Craftsman lawn mower with the 5.5 HP Honda engine. Can you shed any light on this? After two lengthy visits back to their shop, Sears insists there is nothing currently wrong with it and will not let me try out a different one or give me a refund. So much for buyer satisfaction. Is it normal for Honda engines to cause handle vibrations so sever that you get blisters pushing it for 30 minutes? I have owned many lawn mowers in my life, most of them from Sears I am sorry to say, but nothing that came close to vibrating and causing blisters like this. Any ideas? Thanks in advance, Jake Definitely not normal. Was it like this new? Take it back and be firm & polite while insisting they rectify the issue. If no satisfaction, return it for your money. |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
Jake H. wrote:
On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:53:18 -0500, Joe Canuck wrote: Consider your mower a long term investment and purchase the best you can afford at the moment. Craftsman also make mowers that are Honda powered. Honda power is definitely better that B&S. Joe - I am experiencing extremely high vibration levels... felt back through the handle and with audible/visual handle chatter... with my new Sears Craftsman lawn mower with the 5.5 HP Honda engine. Can you shed any light on this? After two lengthy visits back to their shop, Sears insists there is nothing currently wrong with it and will not let me try out a different one or give me a refund. So much for buyer satisfaction. Is it normal for Honda engines to cause handle vibrations so sever that you get blisters pushing it for 30 minutes? I have owned many lawn mowers in my life, most of them from Sears I am sorry to say, but nothing that came close to vibrating and causing blisters like this. Check the bolts that hold on the motor. Twice (over 17 years) I've found the motor on my tractor was being held by about 2 bolts! |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
On Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:04:19 -0500, Joe Canuck
wrote: Definitely not normal. Was it like this new? It was like this since day one... or, more specifically, on the first day I started it up and ran it. And no, I never hit any rocks! There was not a single ding visible on the blade. I could hardly believe how bad it was. I always thought Honda engines were supposed to be so smooth! Take it back and be firm & polite while insisting they rectify the issue. If no satisfaction, return it for your money. I have returned it twice so far. My apparent mistake was not demanding a refund immediately and allowing them to tinker with it... twice... for more than 5 weeks (elapsed time) each visit. I honestly thought they would fix the damn thing. They obviously didn't. After the second service, they took the position that the mower was running normally and that there was nothing more they could (or would) do for me. At that point I demanded a refund, but they said no way after so many months (5 months to be exact at that point) even though over two months were spent in their shop and it had been run by me a grand total of 4 times. Oddly enough, the only scratches on it at that time were scratches put there by the Sears repair folks. No joke. Jake |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
On Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:38:26 -0500, Stubby
wrote: Check the bolts that hold on the motor. Twice (over 17 years) I've found the motor on my tractor was being held by about 2 bolts! I will do that! Thanks for the tip! Jake |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
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Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
Jake H. wrote: I am now looking at a John Deere rider mower, but it is an awful lot of money for me. I hear what you are saying about Honda engines... everyone says they are so good... but so far my experience with this Sears Craftsman mower with a Honda 5.5 has been absolutely horrible. Say what you will, but I never had a Briggs vibrate or give me blisters on my hands like this Honda does! I've got a used JD LT155 (NOT the box store JD's) and am very happy with it. Hydro, 38" deck, 15hp, bagger, mulch kit. The repo auction had it for $1200 and was well worth it. It's about 3-4 years old. I'd think about looking for a semi-used JD that is well kept and you can save a few $$. Kirb |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
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Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
Does your state have a "Lemon Law". If you can prove that the mower was
defective and you tried to have it fixed, and it couldn't be, it might qualify. You might use that tact the next time you go in. You might also call the local TV station with a 'problem solver' segment. "Jake H." wrote in message ... On Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:04:19 -0500, Joe Canuck wrote: Definitely not normal. Was it like this new? It was like this since day one... or, more specifically, on the first day I started it up and ran it. And no, I never hit any rocks! There was not a single ding visible on the blade. I could hardly believe how bad it was. I always thought Honda engines were supposed to be so smooth! Take it back and be firm & polite while insisting they rectify the issue. If no satisfaction, return it for your money. I have returned it twice so far. My apparent mistake was not demanding a refund immediately and allowing them to tinker with it... twice... for more than 5 weeks (elapsed time) each visit. I honestly thought they would fix the damn thing. They obviously didn't. After the second service, they took the position that the mower was running normally and that there was nothing more they could (or would) do for me. At that point I demanded a refund, but they said no way after so many months (5 months to be exact at that point) even though over two months were spent in their shop and it had been run by me a grand total of 4 times. Oddly enough, the only scratches on it at that time were scratches put there by the Sears repair folks. No joke. Jake |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 11:35:34 -0500, "Frank Rosenbaum"
wrote: Does your state have a "Lemon Law". If you can prove that the mower was defective and you tried to have it fixed, and it couldn't be, it might qualify. You might use that tact the next time you go in. You might also call the local TV station with a 'problem solver' segment. I am still considering my options, including small claims court or some sort of arbitration, but I'm not sure the problems with my Sears mower rise to a level of severity that would interest the Attorney General or a TV station. At the end of the day, it is a major nuisance and a very bad deal... but that's about it so far. While I am certainly ****ed (can you tell?), for all I know the mower could last 5 or more years running this way before it explodes. Like folks at work say to me... wrap the damn handle with foam pipe insulation & tape or use some nice thick gloves!!! :-/ It shouldn't have to be that way, but I must admit it: They've got a point. Jake |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
I disagree. It is the 'little guy' vs the 'big guy'. All the TV stations
that I have seen with this feature just eat it up. Send it to the consumer's protection board. Sears doesn't want bad publicity. Maybe if you know a lawyer, ask him to send a "lawyer's letter" to Sears customer service and a cc to the bbb or the state attorney general stating the facts and that you would like a replacement mower. Don't deal with the sales clucks anymore. Go higher. Aim for the dept. mgr then the store mgr then the district or area etc. A vibration such as you describe sounds dangerous. As a retired firefighter/EMT, I would not trust the mower. The machine might not just fall apart, it could shatter and when it does, you will be behind it and the spinning blade. How much are your feet worth? "Jake H." wrote in message ... On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 11:35:34 -0500, "Frank Rosenbaum" wrote: Does your state have a "Lemon Law". If you can prove that the mower was defective and you tried to have it fixed, and it couldn't be, it might qualify. You might use that tact the next time you go in. You might also call the local TV station with a 'problem solver' segment. I am still considering my options, including small claims court or some sort of arbitration, but I'm not sure the problems with my Sears mower rise to a level of severity that would interest the Attorney General or a TV station. At the end of the day, it is a major nuisance and a very bad deal... but that's about it so far. While I am certainly ****ed (can you tell?), for all I know the mower could last 5 or more years running this way before it explodes. Like folks at work say to me... wrap the damn handle with foam pipe insulation & tape or use some nice thick gloves!!! :-/ It shouldn't have to be that way, but I must admit it: They've got a point. Jake |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 20:51:14 -0500, "Frank Rosenbaum"
wrote: I disagree. It is the 'little guy' vs the 'big guy'. All the TV stations that I have seen with this feature just eat it up. Send it to the consumer's protection board. Sears doesn't want bad publicity. Maybe if you know a lawyer, ask him to send a "lawyer's letter" to Sears customer service and a cc to the bbb or the state attorney general stating the facts and that you would like a replacement mower. Don't deal with the sales clucks anymore. Go higher. Aim for the dept. mgr then the store mgr then the district or area etc. A vibration such as you describe sounds dangerous. As a retired firefighter/EMT, I would not trust the mower. The machine might not just fall apart, it could shatter and when it does, you will be behind it and the spinning blade. How much are your feet worth? Thanks very much for your interest, but I am really not out to publicly embarrass or otherwise try to harm Sears. It is a strange irony (some might even say hypocritical of me) that the single biggest holding in my 401(k) is Sears stock. Almost all of my hand tools are Craftsman and they are great. Same with many of the power tools I own. I also own a 6HP 4-in-1 Craftsman lawn vac that works great (other than that the bag is way too small) and it doesn't vibrate at all. At the end of the day I just want this crazy vibrating lawn mower fixed, replaced or my money refunded. Yes, my last discussion (after the second service failed) was with the hardware manager. In fairness, he did offer me a trade-up deal, but it made absolutely no economic sense. He's also the one who claimed it was too late for me to get a straight cash refund. Based on what my lawyer charges, it would be far cheaper for me to dump this lawn mower today and buy two brand new ones before asking her for a single letter. Been there, done that before. It ain't gonna happen. Some co-workers have suggested that I bring the mower... one last time... to a different Sears store... one about 20 extra miles away, but with a better reputation for small engine service. That is probably going to be my next (and last) step. If that fails: Small Claims Court here I come!!! Jake |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
Jake H. wrote:
On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 20:51:14 -0500, "Frank Rosenbaum" wrote: I disagree. It is the 'little guy' vs the 'big guy'. All the TV stations that I have seen with this feature just eat it up. Send it to the consumer's protection board. Sears doesn't want bad publicity. Maybe if you know a lawyer, ask him to send a "lawyer's letter" to Sears customer service and a cc to the bbb or the state attorney general stating the facts and that you would like a replacement mower. Don't deal with the sales clucks anymore. Go higher. Aim for the dept. mgr then the store mgr then the district or area etc. A vibration such as you describe sounds dangerous. As a retired firefighter/EMT, I would not trust the mower. The machine might not just fall apart, it could shatter and when it does, you will be behind it and the spinning blade. How much are your feet worth? Thanks very much for your interest, but I am really not out to publicly embarrass or otherwise try to harm Sears. It is a strange irony (some might even say hypocritical of me) that the single biggest holding in my 401(k) is Sears stock. Almost all of my hand tools are Craftsman and they are great. Same with many of the power tools I own. I also own a 6HP 4-in-1 Craftsman lawn vac that works great (other than that the bag is way too small) and it doesn't vibrate at all. Well, I hope you and other Stockholders, in Sears, start getting the outfit back on course. I hate to see what is becoming of a former American Institution. They bought Western Auto, gutted it and sold it to Pep Boys. They bought KMart and are in the process of guttin it. They are *******izing the Craftsman name and milking the Sears good name til there won't be a "Sears" in a decade. you can no longer buysporting Goods or Firearms from Sears. Their Automotive Department is a joke. They bought NTW and gutted it and sold it Tire Kingdom which is cluster f**k. Service and Warranty from Sears is only as good as the cheapest outfit they can place it with. |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
tightwad wrote:
They bought KMart and are in the process of guttin it. Actually, just the oppisite. K-Mart bought out Sears (merged, if you will). |
Craftsman lawnmower opinions?
I agree 100% with tightwad. Sears tools have gone down hill real bad. In
5 to 10 years they will be another Wards. I supose it has to be that way as long as WalMart is a Chinese garadge sale. From Mel & Donnie in Bluebird Valley |
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