Comment posted 2010 Craftsman 28 inch 12.5 hp Model 28034 Review by Paul.
@Jay,
I didn’t even think to mention that there was no pull start. All the tractors and riders I have reviewed so far this year except the Weedeater One are electric start only.
If you are going to have the mower tipped up for more than 2 hours the battery needs to be removed.
The Craftsman Gold is a B&S engine is the pressure lube with oil filter. It’s an XRD extended life series. All Motors in the Craftsmans are AVS or V-twins. Silver is pressurized only, Platinum is oil pump and filter, Professional is oil pump, filter, heavy bottom bearings, chrome valves and ELS.
Let us know how it mows!
Paul also commented
- @crouch,
Apples for apples (in this case Snapper for Craftsman) I will always go with Sears from the service standpoint. I know I can get my Craftsman repaired no matter where I live in the U.S. The Snapper is very reliant on the local dealer. A case in point, our local Snapper dealer went out of business this year. Now the closest dealer is over 50 miles away. Sears comes to you, you never have to haul your sears tractor or riding mower anywhere.
The engine: The Intek and the Gold in the Craftsman are the same OHV motor. It is just labeled differently. By the way the Briggs splash system in the OHV Line works and you will not have the problems on hills like the old side-valve Briggs had. (The old motors if you ran them on a sidehill for too long they would run out of oil.)
There are only four different Briggs engine types that I can see. Briggs labels them differently for certain companies like Sears.
1. Intek. I/C, Silver No oil filter. Basic OHV engine with splash lube oil system.
2. Intek Plus, Gold. OHV engine with pressurized splash lube. Usually has a Black oil filter. (Some do not have filters.)
3. Platinum, OHV engine with an oil pump. Actual oil ports in motor to distribute oil to critical components. Usually has a yellow filter.
4. Pro, ELS, Commercial. Electronic Fuel management, Chrome Valves, Heavy duty bottom bearing. - @Don, I have no idea why the manual doesn’t include the “normal” things a Craftsman manual normally would.
This is the section from the Snapper version of the 28034.
3.6 STORAGE (OUT OF SEASON)
If desired, the Rear Engine Rider can be stored on
the rear bumper. Perform the following procedures
to insure the Rear Engine Rider will operate
properly when taken out of storage.3.6.1. Thoroughly clean the Rear Engine Rider by
removing all grass clippings and debris.
3.6.2. Perform maintenance and lubrication as
required.
3.6.3. Drain fuel from fuel tank.
3.6.4. Start engine and allow it to run until engine
runs out of fuel. This allows the carburetor and
fuel system to remain clean during storage.
3.6.5. Remove battery. Refer to Section
“BATTERY STORAGE”.
3.6.6. Close vent on fuel filler cap.
3.6.7. Carefully stand Rear Engine Rider on rear
bumper in desired location for storage.Here is a link to the Snapper version owner’s manual. http://dl.owneriq.net/d/dc4cdf6d-eb67-4b64-b6c4-82c531d81e25.pdf
- @Ben,
My understanding is they made a limited number this year to test the market. And they did well enough to sell through. I expect they will be back next year.
The mower manufactures are already geared up and making snow throwers so I don’t expect any more to be produced this year.
Recent comments by Paul
- Guest Posts
@Dennis, Two different manufactures so they each have have their own “terminology” Both are three point “floating decks” Both are easy to take on and off. Both cut extremely well and Consumer Reports ranks the cuts high on both.Everyone likes the (28980) for the cut and it bags well. Everyone likes the 28922 for the cut, but some complain the bagger doesn’t work well with WET grass.
What’s very interesting is the 28980 is a “dome” design and the 28922 is a “deep deck” design. The 28922 should be the best bagger and the 28980 should be the best mulcher, but in practice they are the other way around.
- Dixon 46 In. Deck 22 HP Kohler Lawn Tractor Model D22KH46 Review
@Mark, I pretty sure the Ariens name is owned by Ariens. They also own Gravely®, EverRide®, Great Dane®, Gravely® Turf, National® Mower, Locke®, Stens® and Bynorm®But they do farm out a lot of their production and that one is easily a Husqvarna made product.
- Dixon 46 In. Deck 22 HP Kohler Lawn Tractor Model D22KH46 Review
@mark, It looks like most of the tractors from all the manufactures will be getting EPA changes for next year. So they are selling off current stock and not replenishing it like they usually do. Everyone is busy making and distributing snowblowers right now so if you can’t find one at your local store…………..Comparable models are the Husqvarna YTH21K46. That has a 21 hp Kohler single, the YTH22V46 with 22 hp Briggs and the YT4000 model 28927 Craftsman. That has a 24 hp Briggs. These are all basically the same mower as the Dixon you are looking for.
- Guest Posts
@ Dennis, Everyone I have talked to who has purchased the 28980 likes their mower. The district service manager has told me there has been NO problems or complaints on the service side.I have heard no complaints about cut quality. It does have basically the same deck Consumer’s Reports rated as one of the best on the Cub Cadet.
It will have a lot more power than the 28922 and the engine is a lot smoother. (It’s a v-twin) It is a commercial motor and is the top-of-the-line Briggs. The only disadvantage is it will use more fuel than the 28922.
It seems to be a very good mower and I recommend it highly.
- Craftsman Professional Garden Tractor Model 28984 Parts, Accessories & Attachments
@Ray, No there is no difference. But the older model may be easier to install because the new model is a “universal fit”
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Tags: 2010 Craftsman 28 inch 28 inch 12.5 hp Model 28034 Review, Craftsman 28'' Rear Engine Tractor
Hi,
Just received my 28″ rider today. The owners manual does not mention anything about standing the mower on end. Also, there is no belt diagram or oil filter size listed anywhere in the manual etc.
I called Sears and chatted with a Sears member on line. But, can not get any answer as to if why.
My question is — why wouldn’t the manual state how to store the mower etc. Am I missing another manual. The folks I talked to at Sears said no but, it seems kind of weird to not have instructions on how to store it for the winter on end etc.
Any thoughts?
@Don, I have no idea why the manual doesn’t include the “normal” things a Craftsman manual normally would.
This is the section from the Snapper version of the 28034.
3.6 STORAGE (OUT OF SEASON)
If desired, the Rear Engine Rider can be stored on
the rear bumper. Perform the following procedures
to insure the Rear Engine Rider will operate
properly when taken out of storage.
3.6.1. Thoroughly clean the Rear Engine Rider by
removing all grass clippings and debris.
3.6.2. Perform maintenance and lubrication as
required.
3.6.3. Drain fuel from fuel tank.
3.6.4. Start engine and allow it to run until engine
runs out of fuel. This allows the carburetor and
fuel system to remain clean during storage.
3.6.5. Remove battery. Refer to Section
“BATTERY STORAGE”.
3.6.6. Close vent on fuel filler cap.
3.6.7. Carefully stand Rear Engine Rider on rear
bumper in desired location for storage.
Here is a link to the Snapper version owner’s manual. http://dl.owneriq.net/d/dc4cdf.....d81e25.pdf
Does anyone know what happened to this mower? It is a new model, and can’t be found in stores or on the website? Did they get rid of it already?
@Ben,
My understanding is they made a limited number this year to test the market. And they did well enough to sell through. I expect they will be back next year.
The mower manufactures are already geared up and making snow throwers so I don’t expect any more to be produced this year.
I bought this Snapper clone by craftsman thinking it was a good price point at $1,486 with tax and delivery.
It came to my home in a crate fully assembled.
The delivery people were very nice.
When I got it out, the 1st thing I noticed was it is not a dual start machine as I had hoped. It is electric start but no pull start. So if the battery goes out or you’ve stored it without the battery and don’t feel like reinstalling it you are out of luck.
Removing the battery would seem necessary in order to use the “stand on end” storage feature so as not to spill battery acid all over the motor. Dealing with the removal of the battery looks like a pain because of these plastic clips holding the battery cover that appear to be none to durable if you remove them more than a few times. I have not tried it yet so we’ll see.
This machine appears to be a duplicate in almost every detail of the snapper model 28125BVE except for the following:
1. The engine is electric start ONLY….there is NO manual pull start.
2. The engine looks similar to the Snapper engine with a spin on oil filter, but the label says “Craftsman Gold Edition by Briggs & Stratton 12.5 HP”.
There is no mention of Briggs & Stratton Intek™ AVS® FEATURES as on the label on the snapper. Is this a lower feature engine? I don’t know yet. If it vibrates a lot then I’ll know where the second of two so far, of the corners were cut, hence the lower price point as compared to the Snapper 28125BVE.
3. The Craftsman is BLACK and the Snapper is RED.
@Jay,
I didn’t even think to mention that there was no pull start. All the tractors and riders I have reviewed so far this year except the Weedeater One are electric start only.
If you are going to have the mower tipped up for more than 2 hours the battery needs to be removed.
The Craftsman Gold is a B&S engine is the pressure lube with oil filter. It’s an XRD extended life series. All Motors in the Craftsmans are AVS or V-twins. Silver is pressurized only, Platinum is oil pump and filter, Professional is oil pump, filter, heavy bottom bearings, chrome valves and ELS.
Let us know how it mows!
Paul,
How would you compare the two engines quality-wise? Like Jay, I’m wondering if the lower price for the Craftsman version makes it a better buy than the Snapper but I’m curious as to which engine is considered better and why.
@crouch,
Apples for apples (in this case Snapper for Craftsman) I will always go with Sears from the service standpoint. I know I can get my Craftsman repaired no matter where I live in the U.S. The Snapper is very reliant on the local dealer. A case in point, our local Snapper dealer went out of business this year. Now the closest dealer is over 50 miles away. Sears comes to you, you never have to haul your sears tractor or riding mower anywhere.
The engine: The Intek and the Gold in the Craftsman are the same OHV motor. It is just labeled differently. By the way the Briggs splash system in the OHV Line works and you will not have the problems on hills like the old side-valve Briggs had. (The old motors if you ran them on a sidehill for too long they would run out of oil.)
There are only four different Briggs engine types that I can see. Briggs labels them differently for certain companies like Sears.
1. Intek. I/C, Silver No oil filter. Basic OHV engine with splash lube oil system.
2. Intek Plus, Gold. OHV engine with pressurized splash lube. Usually has a Black oil filter. (Some do not have filters.)
3. Platinum, OHV engine with an oil pump. Actual oil ports in motor to distribute oil to critical components. Usually has a yellow filter.
4. Pro, ELS, Commercial. Electronic Fuel management, Chrome Valves, Heavy duty bottom bearing.
[...] I was primarily looking for weaknesses in the design. As I looked at the mower I compared it to the 28 inch Craftsman 28034 and the 38 inch Yard Machines by [...]