I just finished the reviews for the new 2011 YT 4000 with Turn Tight. You will want to read all about these new tractors that replace the ones on this page. Click on the links below to read my reviews:
2011-craftsman-yt-4500-54-inch-26-hp-Briggs & Stratton-riding-lawn-tractor-model-28858-review/
2011-craftsman-yt-4500-54-inch-26-hp-Kohler-riding-lawn-tractor-model-28008-review/
Craftsman YT 4500 Model 28990 26 HP 54 Inch Yard Tractor Review
Sears item# 07128990000 Mfr. model# 28990
The Model 28990 is the same tractor as the 28928 with a 54 inch deck and 26 hp Kohler motor.
The YT4000 model 28990 comes with the Kohler 26 hp Courage V twin engine. It features a 54 inch deck. The 54 inch deck is vented on the top to allow more air into the deck allowing the airflow of the cutting blades to stand the grass up better. This is the best cutting deck I know of in a consumer mower.
The deck is larger than a 54 inch deck and you can get your mowing done a lot faster than a 42 inch deck. The 26 hp Kohler motor is my favorite motor and has plenty of power to handle the extra width. If you want a yard tractor mower that will mow 2 or more acres lawns well, handle a snow thrower and any other non-ground engaging equipment, this is the best mower in the Craftsman lineup.
This mower is quite often on sale for $1999.99. The price, features, Kohler motor, and large deck make this one of the most cost effective mowers available today for large lawns. This is a good mower at a great price.
Specs:
Hydrostatic Transmission with Foot Control
26 hp V-twin Kohler Courage Series Full Pressure Engine with oil filter.
54 inch precision cut vented deck with 4 gauge wheels and nose roller. Spring loaded deck lift system. Washout port on deck.
Cast iron front axle.
High-back seat with automotive style adjustable seat system
2 year warranty (manufacture defects only), 5 year frame/front axle, optional 3 yr Protection Agreement (covers all of the lawn tractor including wear and tear, labor, and attachments bought with the mower)
Pros:
I like the mid-size YT 4500 series. I think they represent a good value and a machine that if taken care of properly will last you a long time.
These yard tractors are capable of handling all the non-ground engaging attachments Sears offers including a snow blade and snow thrower. Click here to see the full line of Sears attachments.
Hauling Equipment: Yes
Lawn Care Attachments: Yes
Craftsman 9 bushel 3 – Bin Soft Bagger for 54 in. Deck: 24894
Craftsman Mulch Kit for 54 in. Deck: 24154
Craftsman Tractor Deck Wash Kit: Included
Snow Blade: 24441 This blade will mount to your tractor WITHOUT removing the deck.
Craftsman 42 in. Lawn Tractor Snow Thrower 24838 I also recommend you purchase wheel weights and tire chains.
Optional High Traction Snow Blade: 07124428000. This blade does not get too much publicity because it is designed to fit on many different brands including Craftsman, John Deere, and Cub Cadet. It will take you longer to attach the blade, but the way it mounts puts the pushing force on the BACK of the tractor. This type of mounting gives you much more pushing power than all the front mount blades. You will have to remove your deck to use this blade.
Cons:
The YT 4500 is powerful enough if you want to attach a snow thrower, but it is not a garden tractor and is not designed to handle ground engaging attachments. Most homeowners don’t use attachments like pull-behind tillers, plows and the YT4500 will be just the right size. The GT 5000 garden tractors will handle a snow thrower better than this one, but they are almost $1500 more.
Be aware that Craftsman has the largest selection of 42 inch decks because they will easily fit in the back of a pickup. The 54 inch deck on the model 28990 is too wide to fit between the wheel wells of your pickup so you will need a trailer to haul it around. Craftsman has a nice folding trailer capable of hauling this mower (Craftsman Fold-Up Utility Trailer)
There are very few negatives with this mower as long as you understand that it is a good quality mid-sized riding lawn mower designed to mow lawns well. I like the Kohler motor. It has a lot of torque and coupled with the 54 inch deck this is a formidable mowing machine. I will gladly compare this machine equally to other brands costing 1 to 2 thousand dollars more. It is not the most rugged mower in the Craftsman line-up, nor is it the fastest, but for the money this is a great lawn mower. It is capable of pulling a wide range of attachments but is not designed for ground engaging attachments.
After you use your new mower for a while, come back and tell us how well you like your Craftsman YT 4500!
Craftsman YT 4500 Model 28990 26 HP 54 Inch Yard Tractor Review
Sears item# 07128990000 Mfr. model# 28990 Sears Lawn & Garden Tractors
I have been using this lawn mower for about 8 months now and fully agree with this review. It's basically right on. I use this large lawn tractor mostly for mowing/mulching, moving firewood or branches in a tow cart and plowing snow with the *high traction rear-mount* snow blade.
It does all of these items with plenty of power to spare. I use it to take care of an acre of land we live on and 1.5 acres that a family member lives on nearby (less than a mile away). I drive it less than a mile from one house to the other. I compared this model to the Craftsman GT5000 which touted its top speed of 7.5 mph. With a GPS speedometer on board, I can vouch that the YT4500 does 6.8 mph with nothing in tow. So while it may not be the fastest lawn tractor, it gets the job done just fine. It doesn't even take 10 minutes to travel a mile in this tractor towing a medium size cart loaded with firewood.
As for plowing snow, once the wheel weights are on and the chains are on tight, this thing pushes like a champ. Last weekend it pushed 12" of powder snow with no problems at all. In fact, I plowed our 175 foot x 3 car wide driveway, my mother's 125 foot x 2 car driveway and two neighbors' 200 foot driveways. This took less than 2 hours and more than 30 minutes of that was commuting and break time. I was about to start plowing the road in front of the house but figured I'd let the town do their thing
.
As a user friendly hint, I found that improperly inflated tire pressure can account for most claims of this tractor "spinning tires" when new. Consumers need to read the instruction manual. The first thing they need to do is release 15 psi from the tires that were over-inflated for shipping purposes only. It was never intended to cut grass or do anything at that tire pressure.
Thanks and I hope you find a tractor that fulfills your needs. I believe we have!
ok paul very curioues to know i am going to but a new lawn mower the 2 have in mine or craftsman professional model # 28973 28hp and 54 in deck cost 2,500.00 or the model number 28990 as u wrote about above now is it wroth paying the extra money for the professional model when all i am going to do is mow a flat lawn about 1.5 acres and pull a tralier and a aerator behind it so can u tell what is the real differance or will they last the same amount of time and mow the same just the look and motor is different?
@Chad, From what I read from your question the 28990 is the best choice for you. Keep in mind: The 28990 and 28973 are lawn mowers only. You can pull 2-300 hundred pounds in the trailer and your aerator behind it, but if you are planning to do more than that buy the 28947 (goes 8 mph) or the 28974 Garden Tractors
The 28973 has the Briggs ELS motor, fancy foot pedals and a free bumper. If want a lot of mower for a good price the 28990 is the best deal. I personally like the Kohler motor in the 28990 better than Briggs.
This Sunday (Oct 15) come here, click through to Sears and get an additional 10% off your tractor purchase. Buy it on-line and pick it up at your nearest Sears or they will deliver it for a normal charge.
Paul,
On the YT series, are the frames FULLY WELDED or are they BOLTED
together? This makes a difference for longer life of the unit.
Thanks.
@Myron, The frames are not fully welded like one other manufacture is claiming. Be sure you are comparing apples to apples though when comparing other tractors to the Craftsman line.
With many tractors OVER $4000 you get a fully welded frame. With tractors in general under $4000 you get a stamped steel frame that is bolted or welded in the right places.
Sears has a five year frame warranty on the YT series. That warranty is longer than the manufacture who says their units are fully welded.
I am considreing buying either the craftsman YT4500 #28990 or the PTY9000 #28972 with one would be better. I have 5 acres of uneven grass with small inclines to cut. The one I purchase will replace PTY9000 #28872 that I purchased last year. The front steering linkages keep breaking EVERY time I cut the lawn due to a defective frame. So Sears authorized a replacement. #28872 had the kohler engine so I am leary of the Briggs and Stratton what do you think. OR should should I have Sears replace the frame on 28872
@ Betty,
The 28990 has a 54" deck. It will take you less time to mow with that mower than either the 28972 or your old 28872. The 54 inch deck is also a current model deck and parts will be available for it for years. The deck on your 28872 is obsolete and will not have parts available as long. The Kohler on the 28890 is a good motor with a large amount of torque.
The 48 inch deck on the 28972 is unique and Sears doesn't have that deck on any other mower. You may have to order blades for it instead of having them in stock at your local Sears in the future. But the 28972 has a commercial quality Briggs ELS motor. It is a great motor and is much better than the Briggs you are used to.
Replacing the frame on your 28872 requires that the tech remove EVERYTHING from your mower and install it on the new frame. (I think this is an $800 job. I'm sure the tech will get it all right.
Let me know what you decide.