What You Need To Know – Lawn Tractor Types

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What You Need To Know – Lawn Tractor Types

Each manufacture calls their riding mowers by different names.  A lawn tractor by one manufacture may be a garden tractor in another companies line-up.  In this article I will use the terms Sears uses to explain the different types of riding mowers.

Rear Engine Riders

When someone says, “riding mower” this is usually the mower I think of.  It is ideal for small properties or lawns with a lot of landscaping.  Rear engine riders usually have 30 inch decks and will fit through most yard gates.  With the engine in the rear or under the seat it is easy to see objects in front of the riding mower.  A bagger is usually available and sold separately.  This lawn tractor can pull small carts but larger attachments are not recommended.

Side-Rear Discharge

Side-rear discharge lawn tractors are very popular in Europe and are ideal for smaller yards.  Most of these riding mowers come with an integrated bagger.  The bagging discharge chute from the deck is routed under the fender to keep the profile as narrow as the deck.  With the bagger lifted off the riding mower this type of lawn tractor can pull many types of attachments.

If you compost your lawn clippings on site this is a very easy mower to use.  When the bagger is full it shuts off the deck automatically.  You just back up to your compost pile and pull the lever located by your seat to dump the clippings.

Lawn Tractors

Craftsman calls their basic tractor style mowers (gray models) lawn tractors.  These cheap riding mowers are popular with many first-time buyers because they mow lawns adequately without a large first-time investment.  These mowers are great if you are not sure you really need a riding mower.  For 2009 Craftsman offers lawn tractors with a 42 inch deck and engines from 17.5 hp to 20 hp.  Lawn tractors will pull most non-ground engaging attachments but are not that good for plowing snow.  You can get lawn tractors with manual, automatic, and hydrostatic transmission.

Yard Tractors

Yard tractors offer higher horsepower and a greater range of deck sizes than lawn tractors.  They have better seats, more legroom, larger fuel tanks, cast iron front axles, and for 2009 offer fender or foot pedal controls on the hydrostatic models.  They work best on 1 acre or larger lawns and work well for hauling, snow removal, and lawn maintenance tasks.  In my opinion the twin cylinder models are needed if you plan using a snow blower attachment.

Garden Tractors

Craftsman Garden Tractors have heavy duty hydrostatic transmissions and are designed to accept a sleeve hitch and ground engaging attachments such as box scrapers, cultivators, and self powered roto-tillers.  They have larger tires, heavy cast iron axles 26 hp motors and 54 inch decks.   The 48 inch manual transmission garden tractor is gone for 2009.

The new Excellerator garden tractor has a 28 hp motor and can mow at speeds up to 8 mph.

Craftsman Professional

All of the professional series yard and garden tractors have heavier gauge decks, an electric blade clutch, dual gauges, larger tires and large brush guards.

The professional series zero-turn mowers are made by Bobcat mowers and have commercial grade 7 gauge steel decks, 8 gallon fuel tanks, and cut well at 8 mph.  In my opinion the professional series zero-turn mowers are the hidden jewel of the Craftsman Lawn Tractor Line.  They are true commercial grade mowers that are better than most of the commercial zero-turns out there.

Zero-Turn Tractors

New for 2009 Craftsman has a new mower that drives and rides like a garden tractor with a steering wheel yet is as maneuverable as a zero turn.  The Craftsman Revolution features a 42 inch deck and can be used on inclines where most residential zero-turn mowers can not.  This mower should cut your lawn 30% faster than a conventional 42 inch riding mower.

Zero Turn Mowers

Craftsman still offers the 42  and 52 inch Craftsman zero turn, the 54 inch Snapper, and the Swisher 60 inch.

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