Craftsman 13.5 hp 30 in. Deck, RER Lawn Tractor Review
Sears item# 07127032000 Mfr. model# 536.270320 Sears Lawn & Garden Tractors
2010 UpDate:
Sears has discontinued this great little mower in favor of the 2010 Model 28034. There are still a few left around the country so if you want one don’t wait too long.
Intro:
Not everyone needs a 42 inch 850 hp lawn tractor to mow their average size lot. Many of us have less than an acre to mow, with a lot of intricate landscaping. We are tired of walking, but a regular lawn tractor is just too big for most of the lawn.
Consider the following.
Are you tired of walking, but don’t think your lawn is big enough for a lawn tractor?
Do you have a lot of landscaping?
Do you have a lot of small strips of lawn between plant borders and a walkway? Or small strips of lawn between the street curb and sidewalk?
Do you have 36 inch gates throughout your yard that you need to go through with your mower?
Would a smaller riding mower fit better in your garage?
Do you have one acre or less?
Do you like to collect your clippings and make compost with them?
Do you want a mower that is compact, yet mulches and bags really well?
Is your lawn really rough?
Do you have hills and berms where a 42 inch or larger deck scalps and tears up your grass?
Do you have a large lawn, a large mower, and are looking for another mower to reduce your trimming time?
The Craftsman 13.5 hp RER lawn Tractor may be just the mower you need.
Specs:
- Independent Steering, Floating Front Axle
- Beverage Holder
- Deluxe Comfort Grip Steering Wheel
- Tool-Free Deck Leveling
- Stamped Steel Cutting Deck
- 30 in. – 1 Blade System for an Even Strip Free Cut
- 3-Way Cutting Deck Side Discharge & Mulching Kit Standard – Easy Attach Bagging Kit Optional
- Compact Design For Easy Maneuverability with an average 12 in. Turning Radius
- 10 in. Front Wheels with Turf Saver Tires
- 15 in. Rear Wheels with Turf Saver Tires
- 13.5 hp Briggs & Stratton I/C Series Motor
- See below for the bagger attachment for this mower.
Pros:
Floating front axle. Goes through dips, ditches and over bumps well.
Built really well. For the money this is a good value. It is a simple, well designed mower. The design has been proven over time as an easy to use, dependable riding lawn mower.
The hydrostatic transmission (not a belt drive or cone drive like other brands) is smooth and easy to use.
The 13.5 hp Briggs full pressure IC motor is a proven, dependable, fuel efficient motor. No, it’s not the latest design, but it is one of Briggs & Stratton’s best designs. The motor has plenty of power for mowing, mulching, bagging, and pulling your yard cart around. Side Note: The 30 inch Dixon that I use at home only has a 10 hp Briggs & Stratton motor and that has plenty of power to mulch. The 13.5 hp on this mower is plenty powerful.
Comes with a side-discharge chute and mulching cover.
Will fit through a 36 inch gate.
Sears advertises this as a RER (Rear Engine Rider) but it is actually a mid engine rider. This is a better design than the rear engine type because it puts the engine in the middle of the yard tractor and is lower than the rear engine mower. This gives this mower a very low center of gravity. Some of the old rear engine riding mowers were notorious for pushing (not turning well) and the mid engine design solved that problem.
Very simple design. Reliable, easy to service and repair.
Cons:
Higher priced that the gray Craftsman lawn tractors. You may feel you are paying more than you should because of it’s physical size but this riding mower is built very well. (To put the price into perspective the 30 inch Dixon I own retailed for over $3200. Even today they bring $1000 to $1800. More than the cost of the RER new!)
The RER is a good mulcher and the 30 inch blade has alot of throwing power so it is a very efficient bagger. The original equipment blade works well but I suggest buying a Gator Blade if you are going to mulch or bag. The Gator blade shreds and chews up leaves and grass clipping into a fine mulch. It also takes less power to mulch and does a much better job than the original blade. I have one on my old Dixon and it makes leaves disappear. You can buy one here: 30 in. Gator Blade
It is a small lightweight riding lawn mower so it can only pull a light yard trailer. If you need to plow snow or haul heavy loads this is not the yard tractor for you.
Optional Grass Bagger:
The bagger becomes an integrated part of the mower but you can quickly take it off and convert your mower back to a side-discharge or mulcher when you want to. To dump the grass catcher just pull the lever on the bagger and the clippings on the ground. This system works very well for composting. Just back the rider up to your compost pile and pull the handle.
The optional bagger takes about 45 minutes assemble initially and then goes on and off the mower in 5 minutes or less. It is easy ro remove the bag and discharge chute and install the mulching plate or side discharge chute.
You can quickly take the bag off and use the hitch to pull you garden cart.
Sears item# 07124981000 Mfr. model# 24981 Sears Lawn & Garden Tractors
I’ve been trying to find the bagger for this mower, but have had no luck. It seems Sears has discontinued it. Do you know if there is another bagger that would fit on this from a different manufacturer (like Murray) or straight from the Sears supplier?
@Scott, I believe that was made by Simplicity and Craftsman was the last to use that mower. No, I don’t know where to find one but I suggest going to one of these forums and asking around.
http://www.mytractorforum.com,http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/index.phpandforums2.gardenweb.com/forums/tractorI have a Craftsman Lawn Tractor, model #917.28033. How can I remove the rear bagger and still run the mower. I know this can be done, but I am not sure how to do it.
Thank You,
Rex
@Rex, There was a mulch plug and cover available for a while for this machine, but I couldn’t find it on sears or searspartdirect just now. This model is the same as the 2010 Husqvarna 917.28002 so look around the internet and you may be able to find one there.
My “attachment clutch” or as identified other places as “shift lever” broke and I am trying to locate a new one.
Thanks
@Don, Get the model number from under your seat (it looks like 917.123456)
See the searspartsdirect banner in the right hand column? Copy that code down then click on the banner. That will take you to searspartsdirect.com.
Once there enter your model number and then diagrams and parts listings will pop up. You can find your part and order it there.
Use the coupon code to get a 10% dicount on the parts.
Absolutely love this mower. Now that I am out of warrentee and maintenace agreements I am having a hard time getting people to talk to me about a simple matter. I just changed the battery and off and on the mower will act like it has no batter power. When I turn the key there is a clicking sound. I repeat the on off motion a mumber of times and slowly the engine turns over and eventually fires. Is this the selinoid or the starter that is going? Please advise.
@Bill.
I would disconnect the battery terminals again and take a wire brush or file and clean the wire ends (lugs) until they are bright and shiny. If you have a battery charger I would also give the new battery a 24 hour slow charge (2 amps)
Was the mower acting the same way before you changed the battery?
Paul:
Thank you for your quick reply.In a small way you have restored some of my confidence that I have lost with your company.
The blade that came with my mower may well have been designed to mulch but I can say with a great deal of authority that it does not..When I cut the grass it leaves piles of grass along in strips. I have to take my Honda push mower which mulches and go over the rows,I have read all the instructions and am unhappy with the product as it was presented to me,
I will not bother you further with my complaint. I will own a reputable machine next year.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Phil. Harris.
All I want to do is purchase a mulching blade for my 30 inch mower( Model 536.270321. Which was conviently not bought to my attention by your sales person at the time of purchase.I was lead to believe that my new mulching mower was all set to go when I received it.Needless to say, I was rudely surprised when I finally experienced the fact that it was not mulching with the blade that came with the mower.
I have not used the mower enough to realize this fact for over a year due to the fact that I have been batteling Cancer up until 3 weeks ago and was able to cut my own grass Thank You Philip Harris//
@ Phil,
This mower has always had the blade that came with your machine. The mulching works when you use the mulching cover. The mulching is accomplished by the deck design where the clippings are thrown up by the blade and then recut by it before they fall through to the ground. The close tolerances of the blade edge to the deck and the rounded top of the deck create the mulching action.
There has never been a "wavy blade" for this mower, either as a Craftsman RER or a Murray. Wavy blades will not work well with a 30 inch single blade deck because they don't generate enough lift to cut your grass evenly.
But if you are not satisfied with the mulching there is another blade available from Oregon Gator. Do a search on Amazon.com for "Oregon Gator Mulcher 3-N-1 Blade For 30-Inch Murray Lawn Mowers 97-607"
That blade is a great mulching blade but keep in mind it is not a good side discharge blade. It will leave "cottonballs" on your lawn if you try to side discharge with it.