Executive Summary: This is easily Craftsman’s most popular riding mower and from what I can tell the best selling tractor on the market. For the features it offers compared to all the other brands it continues to be the best value riding mower on the market today. If you don’t want to put a snow blower on your tractor this is Craftsman’s best value Yard Tractor. It has a better motor than other lawn tractors, a hydrostatic transmission, a great cutting deck, plenty of available attachments and the industry leading Craftsman Turn Tight 6 inch turning radius.
This tractor has not changed for 2012.
Brand/Manufacture: Craftsman / Husqvarna
Model/Series: Yard Tractor YT 3000
Item Number: 28851 (49 State) NA (CA Version)
Where To Buy: Sears.com
Store Pickup: Buy Online, Pickup At Your Local Sears Delivery: Buy Online, And Have It Delivered To Your Home Ship: NA
Street Price: $1449.99
Basic Quality: (Cheap, Good, Best, Premium, Don’t Buy) This is Craftsman’s Best Quality. The 28881 is less quality. The Premium Craftsman’s are better.
Type: (Riding Mower, Lawn Tractor, Yard Tractor, Garden Tractor, Estate Tractor, Sub-Compact, Zero Turn, Stand-On) Yard Tractor.
Compare it to: Ariens 46 in. 20 HP Riding Mower, John Deere 42 in, 21 hp , Note Home Depot does not have 42 in Cub Cadet with a hydro for 2012 (only a CVT)
Craftsman 42 in 21 hp Turn Tight
Pros:
Fender Control Trans
Hydrostatic Trans
Step-through Platform
6 inch Turning Radius
Cons:
Single Cylinder Engine
Deck is a wide as front wheels!
Retail Price: $1449.99 Check The Best Sale Price Here: Sears.com
My Review:
This tractor continues to be the best value tractor on the market for your average size suburban yard! This is a great lawn tractor with an excellent cutting deck. It has an oil pump B&S motor, with yellow oil filter. It has only four anti-scalp wheels so it will mow your lawn without gouging or scalping the turf. Sears says you can put a snow blower on it, but I don’t recommend it. Why? I prefer the 24 hp twin in the 28856: so you have plenty of power. This tractor continues to get the best reviews from the review organizations for value, cut, and dependability. Sears has the best service and they come right to your home if your ever have a problem with your tractor.
This lawn tractor will mow in reverse.
People who buy this yard tractor know what they are buying and this is just what they want. That is why you will find so many good reviews on Sears.com. This is a great tractor with a great cutting deck and may just be the best value for you and your suburban lawn.
This article was first published at TodaysMower.com
I’m not going to go into a lot of detail on this review. If you have specific questions leave a comment below and myself or the readers will be glad to answer them. This is a great tractor and if you want one to last this should be at the top of your list.
Comfort – Ease of Use: Deluxe high-back seat, easy to use operator controls, good field of view. This Yard Tractor is very comfortable to operate and drive. .
Power For Mowing: This tractor has plenty of power for side discharge mowing every week. It mulches and bags well.
Reliability – New to 3 yrs: This tractor is serviced by Sears. There have been very few issues with the build quality. Read The Reviews Here One thing to know – Sears takes the tractor out of the shipping crate but they do not “setup” the tractor. (John Deere dealers are the only retailer who does) You have to put gas in it, and run it for the first time. If there is an assembly problem you call 1-800-469-4663 and a service tech comes out to your home and fixes the issue. The store where you picked it up from or the delivery team does not repair the tractor. If you buy another brand make sure you understand the repair policy if you have a problem. Many of the other brands make you take the mower to an “authorized service center”
Handling – Traction/Steering: This tractor has average traction and handling and is similar to all the other lawn tractors from the other retailers. If you have slopes I suggest you look at the CTX9000 42 in Model 25004. It is a heavier lawn tractor and will handle slopes better than this mower. I recommend you never use a mower like this on wet or drought-dry slopes.
Mow – Mulch- Bag: This tractor gets high marks by owners for mowing, mulching and bagging. But, be aware this is not a “high-speed” deck like you will find on a commercial lawn mower. It mows perfectly at 3-4 MPH but don’t expect it to mow as fast as the tractor will go (5.5MPH) and give you the same results. With this tractor/deck you set the height of cut using a lever on the tractor fender.
Specifications, Features, Benefits
The rest of this article is taken from the retailers website. Specs subject to change.
Type: Yard Tractor
Maximum mowing area per hour (acres): 1.4 acres at 4 MPH
Recommended for moderate slopes? Yes, Moderate slopes
Excels in mowing around obstacles? Yes
Will Mow In Reverse? Yes
Manufacturer: Husqvarana
Brand: Craftsman
Engine Power: 21 hp*
Displacement: 540 cc.
Manufacturer: Briggs & Stratton
Cylinders: Single, cast-iron liners
Type: OHV, oil filter, Pressurized with automotive style oil pump
Charging System: 15 amp regulated
Battery: DieHard
Choke/Speed Control: Integrated One Lever
Fuel Tank Capacity: 2.5 U.S. gal.
Transmission: hydrostatic
Transmission Control: Direction/speed – fender lever
Cruise Control: NA Fender Lever stays in position.
Forward Speed: 0-5.5 mph
Reverse Speed: 0-2.5 mph
Chassis: 11 ga.
Front Tires: 15x6x6
Rear Tires: 20x8x8
Front Axle: Cast Iron, lifetime warranty on axle
Hood Material: Steel
Hourmeter: No
Tool Tray: NA
Cupholder: Yes
Headlights: Yes
Translucent fuel tank or Fuel gauge: Yes, Under hood
Deck washout port: Yes
12-volt outlet: No
Steering: Type 2-wheel steer
Turning Radius: 6 in.
Uncut Circle Radius: ? in.
Spindle Bushings: Metal, replaceable
Seat Back Height: Deluxe high back
Fore-aft Adjustment: 6 in. while seated
Seat Suspension: Two coil springs
Deck Lift System: Spring assist, Fender
Mower Cut Height: 1.5 in. to 4 in., 6 position
Cut Height Increments: ? in.
Preset Cut Height: No
PTO clutch: Manual
Mower Deck
Type: Side discharge
Mower Cutting Width: 42 in.
Blades: 42 in.
Mower Deck Material: 13 ga.
Mower Wheel Adjustment: Yes
Mower Level Adjustment: Exact
Mower Drive System: In-line belt, Manual PTO
Mower Attachment: 3 point Not EZ-Off
Mower Drive: Belt Tension Spring
Mower Wheels Rotate For Deck Removal: No
Dimensions
Wheelbase: ?-in.
Overall Length: ?-in.
Width without mower: ?-in.
Width with mower: ?-in.
Width with mower: (deflector raised for storage) ?-in.
Height: ?-in.
Weight: 505 lb with mower, no fuel
U.S. Warranty: 2 year limited, 3 and 5 year optional protection plan
paul how is the craftsman 24847 front tractor scoop i have a yt3000 yard tractor
@manzo, The front scoop will fit but you will have traction problems. You will need rear tire chains, a rear weight box and/or wheel weights to use it with any material other than light mulch or leaves.
paul thank you for the help
Paul, great site. Couple of questions – is it true that Sears has changed deck thickness from 11 to 13 Gauge for 2012? I’m also confused about the warranty vs. the extra Protection Plan. Doesn’t this tractor come with a 2-year in-home warranty? What does the Protection Plan provide other than an extra year of coverage? Thanks!
@John, There is some confusion on the deck thickness. Sears.com has listed it as various gauges, but it is the same thickness as it has been for the last 10 years on the Husqvarna built models. If you measure a new deck and then go measure your neighbor’s old Green LT 2000 the deck thickness is the same. I’ll say it is 13 ga. The new Craftsman Premiums have a thicker ga deck.
Warranties: Like everyone else, Craftsman’s standard 2 year warranty (and the extra on frame and axle) ONLY covers manufacture’s defects. It is up to the tech who comes out to service the tractor to decide if the part is covered.
Plain and simple, your standard warranty only covers about 20% of what typically goes wrong with a tractor. Sears is better than most because they cover the labor to replace the part. But trip charges to your home are not covered. Sears has 11,000 techs in vans that come to your home to repair the tractor. Expect Sears service to require an up-front deposit for the tech to look at your tractor if it only has the standard warranty.
I do want to say that I make a little commission when you buy the tractor through this site but I don’t make a commission when you buy the protection plan so I am not trying to sell you anything here. I have looked at all the plans from Sears, Home Depot, Lowes and John Deere to see the differences. Sears is the most complete.
Protection Plans
Sears offers 3 and 5 year plans for about 6 to 9 dollars a month (paid upfront) and Sears will give you unlimited service coverage at no charge for parts, labor, and trip charges due to normal use. This locks in your repair costs for the time period. They will not charge you extra because gas goes up, parts go up or their labor costs go up.
Belts, tires, battery and all wear and tear items except blades are covered. Fuel related issues are covered. Protection from ethanol fuel is covered. If the tractor doesn’t start next spring. it’s covered. Tune-ups (oil, filter, air filter, spark plugs) are not covered.
They don’t charge for “no problem found” In other words if you can’t get it started and it turns out to be operator error they won’t charge you for coming out.
Your garage burning down, storms, floods or you dropping out of your pickup is not covered (that’s what your homeowners insurance is for)
Full product replacement if the repair can’t be made. If a part is no longer available and they can’t fix your tractor they will replace the tractor. If the same problem happens more than 3 times they usually just replace the tractor.
Full telephone support for quickly getting your tractor fixed. Sears tries very hard to get your tractor fixed within “one mowing cycle” They will go through the owner’s manual with you over the phone to explain the operation.
25% discount on non-covered repairs and installed parts. You get a discount for tune-ups or for the parts if you want to do the tune-up yourself.
25% discount on non-covered parts through Searspartsdirect and 25% reimbursment for parts bought at your local Sears store. You get a discount for blades, oil, filter, air filter, etc.
For most people the Protection Plans are worth it. It saves you time. You don’t have to do the repair yourself. You don’t have to haul your tractor anywhere. You don’t have to have a set of tools to do the repair. There are no hidden fees or charges during the covered time period. Unlike your uncle down the street, Sears will fix it right or replace it if they can’t. It gives you complete peace of mind that your tractor will perform for you for up to 5 years.
Thanks for the detailed explanations, I really appreciate it. It looks like it’s back to the drawing board for me. Being on a super tight budget, I really can’t afford the extra $300+ for an extended warranty and it sounds like the regular one only covers about 20% like you said. Thanks!
@John, The Sears mall stores can offer you an installment loan. You can pay for your tractor over 4 years at a fixed interest (I think it’s around 14%) that way you can add the protection plan and still only pay around $40 a month.
Debating between the YT3000 model 28851 $1449 vs. LT2000 2884 $1199. Typical suburban lawn 3/4 acre. Will not be using a plow. Is it worth the extra $250 to step up to the YT3000 in your opinion? Thanks!
@EB, YES!!! The YT3000 is better because. 1. A lot better motor. 2. Cast iron front axle. 3. It will mow in reverse. 4. It steers better. 5. All Craftsman attachments work (the bagger on the 28884 can be hard to install) 6. Better seat. 7. Better Transmission. (The YT is a true hydro). 8. The YT is made by Husqvarna, the 28884 by MTD. 9. The YT has a 6 inch turning radius. 10. 4 gauge wheels on deck to keep it from scalping. 11. Heavier Frame.
In other words I think (know) the YT3000 will last you a lot longer.
thank you
will mdt sleeve hitch oem-190-608 fit my yt3000 28851 yard tractor
@manzo. You can get anything to fit with a drill and welder
The MTD hitch is not designed for a Husqvarna built tractor. But, the biggest reason NOT to try and install it is the YT3000′s transmission is not heavy enough to pull ground engaging equipment. The YT3000 is designed to mow lawn and pull a yard cart. It is not designed to plow the garden or level your drive. You need a garden tractor for that.
Now if you insist. The rear frame on the YT3000 is vertical and most garden tractor frames are angled. So even if you installed the hitch it would not lift as high as you expect it to.
I recently purchased a Craftsman 3000 with snow blade, when plowing snow do you have to press the clutch/brake pedal when shifting from forwar to reverse?
@Terry,if you have a YT3000 that is a gear drive (the shifter on the fender has numbers) then you need to use the clutch/brake.
If the shifter on the fender is just a Z where you push forward to go forward, you do not need to use the clutch at all. Make sure you have the deck handle above the steering wheel off so you can go into reverse without the engine shutting off.