Executive Summary: This is my choice for a 42 inch riding mower! It is one of Craftsman’s most popular riding mowers. For the features it offers compared to all the other brands it continues to be one of the best value riding mowers on the market today. If you want to put a snow blower on your tractor this is a great choice. 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 2013.
By Paul Sikkema. Find Paul on Google+
This lawn tractor review covers the Model 28856, 42 inch version of the Craftsman Yard Tractor. There are seven other models in the series:
42 in 21 hp Platinum Briggs Model 28851,
42 in 21 hp Gear Drive Platinum Briggs Model 25022,
46 in 21 hp Platinum Briggs Model 28852,
46 in 22 hp Kohler Plus Model 28853, This review covers all the features!
46 in 24 hp Platinum Briggs Model 28857,
54 in 26 hp Platinum Briggs Model 28858,
54 in 26 hp Kohler Model 28008.
The 42 in 24 hp Gear Drive Model 28925 is discontinued for 2013.
Brand/Manufacture: Craftsman / Husqvarna
Model/Series: Yard Tractor YT 4000
Item Number: 28856 (49 State) 28866 (CA Version)
Buy Online, Pickup At Your Local Sear: Buy Online, And Have It Delivered To Your Home Ship:Craftsman 42″ 24hp Turn Tight Hydrostatic Yard Tractor Non CA 20 x 8 x 8 in.
Street Price: Less than $1779.99
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. See the list of attachments at the end of this article.
Compare it to: John Deere D120 42 in. 21 HP Front-Engine Hydrostatic Riding Mower $1799.00 at Home Depot Note Home Depot does not have 42 in Cub Cadet with a hydro for 2012 (only a CVT)
Craftsman 42 in 24hp Hydro
Pros:
Foot Control Hydro Trans
Twin Cylinder Motor
Step-through Platform
6 inch Turning Radius
Cons:
Deck is a wide as front wheels!
Retail Price: $1699.99 Check The Best Sale Price Here: Craftsman 42″ 24hp Turn Tight Hydrostatic Yard Tractor Non CA 20 x 8 x 8 in.
My Review:
This tractor continues to be one of the best value tractors 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 twin cylinder motor, with yellow oil filter. It has only four anti-scalp wheels so it will mow your lawn without gouging or scalping the turf. You have plenty of power for mowing and blowing snow. This tractor continues to get the best reviews from the review organizations for value, cut, and dependability. Sears has the best service of all the big box stores 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, mulching and bagging. It will handles a snow blower well.
Reliability – New to 3 yrs: This tractor is serviced by Sears. There have been a few issues with the build quality. 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. This is actually a good way to do this because 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.
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: 24 hp*
Displacement: 724 cc.
Manufacturer: Briggs & Stratton
Cylinders: Twin, 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: 3.0 U.S. gal.
Transmission: hydrostatic
Transmission Control: Direction/speed – Foot Control
Cruise Control: Yes
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: Yes
Tool Tray: NA
Cupholder: Yes
Headlights: Yes
Translucent fuel tank or Fuel gauge: Yes, Under Seat
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: 518 lb with mower, no fuel
U.S. Warranty: 2 year limited, 3 and 5 year optional protection plan
Craftsman 42″ 24hp Turn Tight Hydrostatic Yard Tractor Non CA 20 x 8 x 8 in.
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need help.
I have a 1/4 acre sloped yard and 3/4 acre of sloping pasture grass. Average slope is about 10 degrees with one small section sloping about 20 degrees. Can this mower handle this? thanks.
Response: Yes.
@Jake, The 28851. It is the YT3000, 42 inch with fender control hydro. The best price will be Saturday night after 8 pm (central)
There is one cheaper. It is the 25002. YT3000, 42 inch with six speed transmission.
what is the lowest cost craftsman mower with tight turn that is still good?
@pat, Are you referring to the new YTA19K42? That one has an automatic trans (belt drive) If not, here is the difference………..
Yes they come out of the same factory, but they are spec’d for different customers. The Craftsman you wrote this comment on has a v-twin cylinder, 24 hp motor, turn-tight steering and Sears service right in your home. It has more features and power than the YTH19K42.
The YTH19K42 compares better to the Craftsman 28851. That Craftsman has a 21 hp single cylinder Briggs against the Kohler single cylinder 19 hp in the Kohler.
The Craftsman also has the Turn-Tight Steering. A 6 inch turning radius against the Husqvarna’s 16 inch.
And lastly, do you orange or red better?
I was wondering what your thoughts are on the Husqvarna yth19k42. Since craftsman is made by husqvarna why not just get thr husqvarna?
@Dustin, One of the hardest thing to do is to suggest the right mower for a yard without seeing the yard. It is also hard to get the right mower for many people because they have a predetermined price in mind instead and end up getting too little mower for their situation. I am glad you found the best Home Town Store.
Hi Paul,
I love your reviews, thank you for your time in making them. I wanted to offer my experience with this tractor and any feed back you may have.
First off, I have never owned a riding lawn mower or tractor. However, I have found myself in need of one this year. I went to my local Home Town store originally to buy a refrigerator my wife picked out earlier in the day. And there sitting next to the appliances ON SALE, was this tractor. FOR LESS than the refrigerator!!! It was like clouds peeled back and heavenly song reverberated in my head as I said to my self, WE NEED THIS NOW and we can wait to “Match” the appliances later.
So, went home, researched, compared to all other brands. Came back and bought it. BTW my Wife agreed on my thinking:)
Delivered a week later, followed the manual for getting started, lowered tire pressure, adjusted mower deck, then spent 30 Min’s mowing. I have 5 acres to mow, somewhat hilly, and for sure not a golf course. I told the store this. Sadly I found several issues.
1. There is a piece of metal attached to the frame on the drivers left that extends down. After 30 mins it not only took off 6 inches of paint off the deck it dug in 1/16” into the deck.
2. The slightest incline the wheels slip. About 7 degrees.
3. The brake peddle rattles so bad it sounds like the engine is knocking.
After showing the Store manager the damage and issues he said to call Sears and have a service call since I purchased the extra 3 yrs warranty ( GREAT THING ) all of it should be covered except for the slippage.
The repair tech came out in 3 days! Great right? Not. He was abrasive and rude. He told me that the deck issue was normal and not to just take off the metal piece. Even though my extended warranty covers cosmetic, the damage was considered “NORMAL” and he won’t replace the deck until it rusts. The brake peddle sound is also normal. And if I want to go up any slight incline I should have chains and wheel weights. But wait there’s more… Can’t use them with the mower deck installed.
I also found an inconsistency with the “quick start” guide and the Manual as it pertains to the deck wash port. The quick start said to NEVER use water to clean the deck as this will cause a void of the warranty as it will damage the mandrels. Yet the Manual says to use it after every use.??? The repair man said and I quote. ” DO BOTH” one or the other wont affect the warranty.
He also stated that if I use this machine out here it won’t last 1 yr.
I went to the Store Owner and much to my surprise he was EXTREMELY helpful and sympathetic.
End result… Matched price of comparable Lowes Husqvarana $2200 Plus 10% price match for the GT6000! Full refund and great customer service. Yes the GT6000 is more than I wanted to spend but for my needs its an incredible value for what I paid. Also the 3yr service plan is not valid with the 6000 so I had to bump up to the 5yr. But they split that with me.
Great HOME TOWN STORE, I purchased the wrong tool for the job that may, have a design flaw with the deck. But just 5 more days and I have the new GT6000 that I will use for ground engaging. I have read your reviews of the 2012 GT6000 and I am excited.
Thank you for your time and my long review.
Dustin
Parker, CO.
@Tony,
Make sure your profile has your ShopYourWayRewards info and your Craftsman Club Number. To check, log in, click the profile tab, click the about me tab, and then the club tab.
DO NOT use the chat feature they offer. That group steals my commision.
I just went there and got the same results. It looks like the “midnight madness” pricing is in effect instead of the craftsman club pricing.
Tony, wait until tomorrow morning and the Craftsman Club price will be back. Sears has too many sales………..
Here is the explanation from the sales page.
Reg Price: $1989.99
Savings: $290.00
Sales: $1699.99 Save an extra 10% during Midnight Madness on select tractors that match-up to John Deere!
Hide Details – $ 153.00 Discount seen in cart. Items are Sold by Sears. No instore price matching is allowed on this offer. Valid thru 4/30
$1546.99
Yes, the 33742 is the right mulch kit.
Paul, Got ready to order this model at $1529.99, but when in my Cart it jumped to $1547.99; what gives? Also, are you sure 33472 is the mulching plug # for this model? Plus, how do I get you a peso-or-ten for this handy-dandy site?
@rick, The ONLY difference is the engine. I prefer the twin because I like the sound of a V-Twin and I think it is smoother. The whole tractor doesn’t vibrate as much.
The set-up does not need to be difficult.
Read the manual and get comfortable with the controls.
Check the air pressure in the tires and set the front and rear for about 12 lbs.
Check the engine oil ..it should be ok. Make sure the transmission free wheel rod is pushed in.
Put gas in it.
If you are ready, start it up and drive it around. Get comfortable with it? Does the transmission make a lot of noise? Read the manual on purging the trans and do it.
When you are ready, mow with it. Set the lift control on the fender for 4. (That’s about 2 1/2 inches) Make two passes along side each other in the same direction. Does it look even? Yes, you are good to go. No, read the directions for leveling the deck and perform the task. Only 1 out of every 50 tractors or so will need the deck leveled.
Paul,
I have about an acre, or just under to cut. I was looking at both the YT3000 and 4000. It looks like the main difference is HP and 2 cylinders vs 1. Am I missing anything else? I’m just mowing, not planning at this point for hauling and definitely not doing snow removal. Also, is the initial set-up difficult? I read that leveling the deck can be difficult. Thanks for your input. -Rick
@Tony, When they built the website for 2012 some of the data was wrong. The frame ga is 12. I went back to 2009 and the frame ga on the Yard Tractors has been 12 ga for quite some time. The MTD Pro series had 11 ga. That was because it used a “z” frame instead of the Channel frame used on all the other models.
Guess I didn’t actually ask a question with my last post, but do you know why Sears has changed the frame gauge on these mowers from 11ga to 12ga; and still 13ga on the 6-speed models?
Well, here we go again…..now Sears has changed the stat sheet to show a 12ga frame on this series. You’ll notice your stats still show 11ga. Getting the turning radius wrong is bad enough, but frame gauge roulette shows poor attention to detail.
@Tony, I am going to answer your first question with an article. It is one that needs to be addressed for all the manufactures. Hopefully I’ll have it done this morning.
The TTT is patented and I don’t know exactly who owns the patent. (Husqvarana or Craftsman) But, the manufactures like to keep features to themselves and not let the other companies make them just so they have an edge on the competition. And the lawn tractor industry is extremely competitive….. For, example Ariens bought an British firm (Countax) last year for technology they have that no one else has.
In my opinion, Craftsman is going to “grow” the premium line. They test marketed the 30 hp last year and expanded it this year to the more common sizes. These new mowers already have better features than the competitors for the price and if they can pull the existing “estate” buyers away from them….. The competition will try to catch up and I can see them adding more features like turn tight later to again beat the competition.
The turn tight is good, but it is not for everyone. For example, if you fly around your yard and don’t slow down when turning, you won’t like it. I have had a few owners already who just don’t get that and are breaking the Turn Tight. It would have to be beefed up considerably for the heavier, premium tractors.
Is there a way to tell if you’re buying the 2012, as opposed to the 2011 model?
Why didn’t Sears apply the TTT to the Premium line; seems like a no-brainer, although I realize they’re made by different companies.
Paul’ one more thing i forgot to ask you on my last comment.does this have cruise control ? you are saying yes on the review and sears does not say but on the 46″ deck sears list it. thanks again nick
Paul is the yt 4000 42″24hp the same as 2011? and do you have a part # for gator blades and a mulch plug ? thank you. nick noel
@Tony, Thanks for the catch of my mistake. I’m using a “form” this year so all the reviews have the same info. It will make it easier to compare the different tractors from the different brands.
Still haven’t got the final word on the frame gauge on the gear drive YT’s. I do know there will be no change for the rest of the YT line-up. The frame will stay 11 ga.
Any sale over 20% off L&G is a good one. They are continuing the “Turf Wars” theme so they will be VERY competitive against Lowes and HD.
Sears is going to continue the “change the price every 5 days until you like it” campaign. But they are going to have fewer “Family & Friends” events and more “Shop Your Way Rewards” (SYWR) events. If you are not a SYWR member go to Sears and get signed up.
Paul, Couldn’t help but notice the pic didn’t match the review. Are you rating the 2012 model, or re-hashing the 2011 info? If the former, are you confirming an 11 ga. frame for 2012?
ps Any word on upcoming sales?