Executive Summary: This was Craftsman’s largest tractor. Unfortunately it has been discontinued and will not be sold in 2013. It has a 30 hp motor and 54 inch side discharge mower. The news media that attended the Detroit Auto Show clamoured all over this new tractor. It has a great cutting deck, great engine, and lots of features you didn’t even know you could get on a riding mower. This is a “luxury” riding lawn mower and one that will give you years of service.
by: Paul Sikkema
Is this the right mower for you?: This is arguably the best two-wheel drive lawn tractor/garden tractor on the market today. Particularly when you compare the price to similar tractors from John Deere and Simplicity. If you are looking for the best out there because everything else is built “too cheap” seriously look at this mower. This is Craftsman’s best mower. It has a heavy-duty frame, deck and drive-train. This tractor will easily mow 2 acres per hour.
This lawn tractor has many great features including power steering, automotive style starting, ground following deck, automatic traction control, differential lock and a transmission capable of pulling anything Sears sells. If you want to mow your lawn in style and comfort, pick this one. If you want to till the garden and pull firewood out of the timber pick this one. There is no other mower out there for the price if you want the best.
(Last year this tractor was market tested as the Craftsman Professional PTG9500, 28985) I’m glad to see Sears is continuing with this great tractor in a Premium package.
Brand/Manufacture: Craftsman / Briggs & Stratton
Model/Series: CTX9500 / Premium
Item Number: Craftsman 54 In. 26hp Kohler Turn Tight Hydrostatic Garden Tractor Non CA 23 x 10.5 x 8 in.
Buy Here: Craftsman 54 In. 26hp Kohler Turn Tight Hydrostatic Garden Tractor Non CA 23 x 10.5 x 8 in.
Store Pickup: Delivery: Ship: You can order online, pick it up at your local Sears or have it delivered right to your home.
Street Price: $6500
Basic Quality: (Cheap, Good, Best, Premium, Don’t Buy) This is Craftsman’s Premium quality. The GT & YT series are less quality. Craftsman does not have a better series.
Type: (Riding Mower, Lawn Tractor, Yard Tractor, Garden Tractor, Estate Tractor, Sub-Compact, Zero Turn, Stand-On) This is an Estate Tractor Handles at least 25 attachments including heavy-duty snowblower.
Compare it to: John Deere X530 24hp/54 in, Simplicity Prestige 27 hp/54 in., MTD Cub Cadet GTX 2154LE 23hp/54 in, Kubota T2380 23hp/48 in.
Craftsman CTX9500 54 in 30 hp Premium Yard Tractor
Pros:
Power Steering, Tilt Wheel
Hydraulic Lift, Electric Mowing Height
Differential Lock, Traction Control
Quick Change Deck
Cons:
About 20 inches longer than competition
Attachments while premium grade are expensive
Large 18 inch turning radius
Street Price: $6499.99 Check The Best Sale Price Here: Craftsman 54 In. 26hp Kohler Turn Tight Hydrostatic Garden Tractor Non CA 23 x 10.5 x 8 in.
My Review:
There’s an old saying, “You get what you pay for.” The Craftsman Premium series are a good example of that. You are going to pay more for this tractor than for a YT or GT Series Craftsman, but what you get is well worth the extra money.
Although not heavy enough for commercial use (40 to 50 hours a week) this tractor is heavier than many of the “commercial” units out on the market today. A heavy welded steel deck, differential lock, traction control, hydraulic lift. It has a better lift than the 2000 series Cub Cadet and a better turning radius than the X540 Deere. These new premium tractors are designed to mow well, drive well, and last much longer than the tractors you find at Home Depot or Lowes. This is the heaviest tractor in the “Estate” class and the best Craftsman offers.
I call this class of tractor an “estate tractor” This class of tractor is quieter, easy to use and will last longer than the “lawn tractor” and “garden tractor” class from Craftsman, John Deere, and Cub Cadet.
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: This is a “real” lawn tractor not a “price point” riding mower. It drives like your car. Great seat, easy to use operator controls, power steering, good field of view, quiet motor. If you spend 5 hours on this mower, you will never go back to the 100 Series Deere, the 1000 series Cub Cadet, or the YT series Craftsman. This is a lot more tractor than the previous Craftsman Professionals (except the 28985.)
Power For Mowing: The Craftsman CTX9500 (Craftsman 54 In. 26hp Kohler Turn Tight Hydrostatic Garden Tractor Non CA 23 x 10.5 x 8 in.) has more power for mowing than any other lawn, garden or estate tractor on the market. There is a mulch kit available and it is a true baffle kit. This motor will be able to handle it. Oh, It is proven winner for snow blowing. Go Here to see it in action PTG9500, 28985.
Reliability – New to 3 yrs: This tractor is serviced by Sears. Since this is the same tractor as the 28985 I am going to include owner reviews here. Of the reviews I read only one owner had problems getting his new tractor delivered. The delivery team broke the electric deck height getting it off a lift gate truck. Remember to always use fresh fuel and it will give you no problems.
Handling – Traction/Steering: This tractor has the best traction you can get. The Tuff Torq K71 hydrostatic transmission and it 1000 lb weight gives the CTX9500 the best traction you can get with a two-wheel tractor for your suburban yard. You can use a mower like this on wet or drought-dry slopes. It can handle all ground breaking equipment including the DR Power Grader and the Acrease Till-Ease Model 543. If you need more traction than this, plan on spending over $10,000 for a 4-wheel drive tractor.
And tilt-wheel, power steering. By the way, an 18 inch turning radius on this long of tractor is very, very good. (This tractor is 20 inches longer and 300 lbs heavier than the competitors)
Mow – Mulch- Bag: This tractor get high marks by owners for cutting, bagging, and mulching. But, be aware this is a large 54 inch deck so it will not mow quite as even as a 42 inch deck. This deck was made for big lawns. This deck will mow faster than your old lawn tractor. It mows perfectly at 5 MPH but don’t expect it to mow as fast as the tractor will go (7.2MPH) and give you the same results. With this tractor/deck you set the height using an electric switch on the tractor. You can raise the deck for transport and when you go to mow the next time, it goes right back to where you set it. This is great if you have teenagers or other operators who don’t pay attention to the height of cut. The bagging system is larger than yard tractors and uses a blower so everything you mow goes into the bagger. There is a mulcher available for this deck but it is a semi-permanent set-up.
Deck Height Screw
Specifications, Features, Benefits
The rest of this article is taken from the retailers website.
Type: Premium Garden Tractor
Maximum mowing area per hour (acres): 2.5 acres at 5 MPH
Recommended for moderate slopes? Yes
Excels in mowing around obstacles? Yes
Manufacturer: Briggs & Stratton
Brand: Craftsman Premium
Engine Power: 30 hp*
Displacement: 810 cc.
Manufacturer: Briggs & Stratton
Cylinders: V-twin, cast-iron liners, Dynamically Balanced Crankshaft
Type: OHV, oil filter, Automotive type oil system for cooler operation and longer life
Charging System: ? amp regulated
Battery: 500 cold-crank amps
Choke/Speed Control: Magnetron® Electronic Ignition, No choke, automotive style starting
Fuel Tank Capacity: 3.6 U.S. gal.
Transmission: Tuff Torq K71 hydrostatic transmission
Transmission Control: Twin Foot pedals
Cruise Control: Standard
Forward Speed: 0-7.5 mph
Reverse Speed: 0-4.0 mph
Chassis: Frame Welded heavy-duty/Primer/Paint E-coat/powder
Front Tires: 16×5-8
Rear Tires: 24×12-12
Front Axle: Cast iron
Hood Material: Steel
Hourmeter: Yes
Tool Tray: On fender
Cupholder: Yes
Headlights: Yes
Translucent fuel tank or Fuel gauge: Yes
Deck washout port: No
12-volt outlet: No
Steering: Power steering with tilt
Turning Radius: 18 in.
Uncut Circle Radius: 18 in.
Spindle Bushings: Metal, replaceable
Seat Back Height: 18 in. open back
Fore-aft Adjustment: 7 in. while seated
Seat Suspension: Two coil springs
Deck Lift System: Hydraulic
Mower Cut Height: 1 in. to 4 in.,
Cut Height Increments: infinite position with deck gauge
Preset Cut Height: Yes
PTO clutch: Electric
Mower Deck
Type: Side discharge
Mower Cutting Width: 54 in.
Mower Deck Material: 10 gauge reinforced
Mower Wheel Adjustment: 4-position, tool required
Mower Level Adjustment: Exact
Mower Drive System: In-line belt, electric PTO
Mower Attachment: Quick attach EZ-Off
Mower Drive: Belt Tension Spring
Mower Wheels Rotate For Deck Removal: No
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 53-in.
Overall Length: 90-in.
Width without mower: 42?-in.
Width with mower: 62-in.
Width with mower: (deflector raised for storage) 44-in.
Height: 52-in.
Weight: 1173 lb with mower, no fuel
U.S. Warranty: 3 year/unlimited hours
Optional Attachments
Hi S. Chrystone,
I can’t comment on Sears service as I’ve never had their home service plan. I have ordered parts for my 15yr old 22hp/48″ Garden Tractor on several occasions w/out issue. It wasn’t until the last couple of years I considered replacing my tractor/mower because I’m starting to see some items in the parts list noted “obsolete”.
Around the holidays the CTX “Beast” caught my eye on display at my local Mall Sears, but the price $5,499 blew me away. I started some serious research and came across this blog which eventually lead me to my purchase a few weeks ago of a new CTX 26hp/52″ Beast. I happened to stop into a local smaller Sears hardware/parts store and inquired if they had any CTS floor models on clearance which they did. After many weeks of persistent contact with the store manager (calls, text msgs, etc.) I purchased it 3 weeks ago for $2,892.64 ! Plus they sold me the 5-year service plan for $567.00! At that price I had to purchase it. I was at the Mall Sears on Friday and they still have their CTS floor model “Close Out $5,399″. The manager told me he got an email from Sears corporate that all remaining CTX models have been distributed to stores across the U.S. to move on clearance and new retail orders are no longer available.
I stole my tractor but if you keep your eye out most stores still have their floor models and will slashing the prices aggressively as spring approaches in order to make room for their new and continued model line up.
One last note to keep in mind. The 5-year warranty plan cost it 100% refundable within the first 2 years regardless of how many times you have your tractor service.
Good Luck, Bob Mac
@S. The two biggest issues with Sears service that I see are: 1. People are upset that they can’t go to their local guy working out of the garage down the street and get their tractor fixed for free or $20. Sears does their own service (just like the deere dealer does their own service) and has their own parts network (just like deere). ALL the parts are available through searspartsdirect.com. (use code 90055 for a 10% parts discount) Sears keeps parts for at least 10 years and I know they still have most parts for tractors 20 years old. The key though to ordering parts is you need the model number of your tractor. If you just walk into a sears store and say I need parts for my tractor and you don’t have the model number you will not be able to get the part (it under the seat of most tractors). I hear a lot of people getting upset because they expect every sears store to carry all the parts for their 10, 15 or 20 year old tractor IN THE STORE.
2. Sears comes to you and services your tractor. You call 1-800-4MY-HOME and the tech comes out, troubleshoots the tractor, orders the parts right while he is at your home. In a few days the parts show up at your door and he comes back out and fixes the tractor. This usually takes less than 5 to 7 days. What people don’t like is that they can’t go to their local dealer and scream until the dealer puts all the other work he has in his shop aside and he works on their equipment.
Read between the lines when you read the other blogs. If you know the simple procedure for getting you item repaired, it’s gets done just as quick as if you take it to a dealer or the mechanic down the street.
Keep in mind though, Sears did not sell many of these tractors compared to their other models. So they will not keep every repair part in stock forever. If you want the best of Sears buy the 28861 garden tractor. That is a very popular unit and it will have parts available for many, many, many years.
Hi. Read all the blogs but I’m concerned that I’d be purchasing a tractor that I won’t be able to service or get parts for. There are a number of these available but a lot of people are saying that Sears really doesn’t step up to the plate on servicing their existing line, even with the purchase of a 5 yr. in home service plan. Other than having a beast of a tractor at a really low price, this just doesn’t make sense to me. If someone has more info about support on these, please let me know.
Hi Paul, FYI the CTX 26HP, 52″ went on clearance this week at Sears locations 55% off retail, $3,044.88 for any remaining floor models. Their system finally shows they can no longer be ordered. Picking mine up in the morning for $3,460 including the 5 year in-home warranty plan. Thanks for you advise along the way!
@Bob, Sorry, These comments are on the 54/30 hp article. The 25006 is on the same frame as the Conquest
Hi Paul,
I’m thinking the 5-year protection plan is worth it and if I change my mind I have 2 years to cash it in.
I thought the Prestige was more like the top of the line CTX 54″/30hp? The floor models Sears has are all the CTX 52″/26hp.
@bob, in this case I feel the 5 year protection plan is a great idea. Why? I recently saw a replacement tractor come through my local store. The owner had a professional series and had purchased the 5 year protection plan. (now obsolete) The seat was ripped and Sears could not get him a new one in the same color (yellow) They gave him a new tractor!
You may have to wait 2-3 weeks before the tractor makes another price drop (they usually drop 10% each time)
I don’t think parts will be too hard to find. The model you want has the same frame as a Simplicity Prestige so those attachments will work. Plus companies like Agri-Fab and Berco usually can sell you a bagger, snow blower, blade or tiller that has the needed mounts for a Simplicity Prestige.
Sears is pretty good at keeping parts around for 10 years or longer. The only real issue you may run into 10 years from now is you may not be able to get a black hood, or other parts in Craftsman Black. You can get it in Simplicity orange and have to have it painted…..
Hi Randy, We’re practically neighboors, I’m in Kingston ! Are you selling it simply becuase its more than you need? I’m cutting 55K sq ft weekly which takes me 3 hours with my Craftsman 42″/22hp Kohlor 14 year old Garden Tractor and need to replace it but I don’t live on a farm ! Email me and we can chat more. Regards, Bob.macdonald@analog.com