TodaysMower.com » c 2009 Tractors

2009 Craftsman Professional 42 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT9000 Model 28876 Review

Paul — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:07:28 +0000

Craftsman Professional 42 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT9000 Model 28876 Review

PZT9000 42 inch

Craftsman Professional 52 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT9000 Model 28875 Review

PZT9000 52 inc

Sears item# 07128875000 Mfr. model# 28875

This is the top of the line, best zero-turn mower in the Sears Craftsman riding mower line-up. I classify this mower as a high end residential zero turn mower. It has most of the advantages of a commercial zero-turns with the ease of maintenance of a residential mower. This mower capable of out performing all the other mowers in the Craftsman line. For residential use this is one of the best zero turn mowers available today for the price. It is priced hundreds of dollars less than the nearest competitor’s comparable zero turn. If you like to mow lawn, and have lots of lawn to mow, this is the Craftsman mower for you.

The PZT9000 model 28975 comes with the Briggs & Stratton 26 hp ELS V twin engine. It features Hydro-Gear ZT-2800 Commercial Duty Hydrostatic Drive Transaxle w/Variable Displacement Pumps, heavy duty 52 inch fabricated (welded) steel deck, and a 125 lb. ft. Warner electric clutch.

If you want the best zero turn for the money, with a heavy duty mower deck that will mow 3.5 acres an hour or more……. this is one.

Specs:

26 HP ELS V-Twin OHV engine with electric start
Premium spin-on oil filter and platinum spark plugs
Advanced Debris Management System with Cartridge-style Top-Loading Air Cleaner
Hydro-Gear® Commercial Duty ZT2800 Transaxles with Robust 1″ Axle shafts,cut steel gears for durability-Charge pump and high pressure relief valves for smooth quiet operation
Commercial Duty Warner®MagStop Electric Clutch with serviceable mid-pole brake
Outstanding quality of cut at speeds up to 8 mph
Dual fuel tanks with 8.5 gallon fuel capacity
Hydrostatic dump valves-allow machine to be moved without engine operation
Self adjusting single belt transaxle drive and single deck drive belt
Large 5″ Backside Idlers
Adjustable high back bucket seat with adjustable armrests

2 year full warranty (manufacture defects only), 5 year frame/front axle, optional 3 yr Protection Agreement (covers all of the lawn tractor including wear and tear, labor, and attachments bought with the mower)

Pros:

Compare this mower to the Toro Titan, John Deere Z520A Estate Series Z-Trak, and the Simplicity ZT 4000. I think the PYT9000 28975 represents a very good value and a machine that if taken care of properly will last you a long time.

As you know I like Kohler engines, but Briggs & Stratton has really produced a great motor in the 26 hp Extended Life Series. The Briggs engineers I know are proud of this motor and feel it is the best motor Briggs has ever produced and maybe the best motor for lawn tractors in production today. The ELS motor features advanced debris management, anti-vibration system, chrome plated exhaust valve, Dura-Bore Cast Iron Sleeve (cylinder liner), full pressure lubrication with spin-on oil filter, heavy-duty upper bearing, and automotive style oil fill tube and dipstick.

This zero turn lawn mower is capable of handling many pull behind attachments Sears offers including a yard carts and spreaders. Click here to see the full line of Sears attachments.

Here are a few specialized Zero-turn attachments that may interest you:

Hauling Equipment: Yes
Lawn Care Attachments: Yes
Zero Turn Spreader
Zero Turn Bumper
Zero Turn Cart

At this time Craftsman does not have bagger listed for this mower that I can find on their website. If you want a bagger you can get one through bobcatturf. Bobcat makes the mower for Craftsman

Cons:

There is a “learning curve” with zero-turn mowers. Two lever control zero-turn mowers drive just like a shopping cart, but it takes some practice to keep the inside wheel from digging divots in your lawn when doing 180 degree turns. ( A 1/2 hour of practicing is usually enough to learn. When you are turning watch the rear wheel on the inside of the turn and move the levers so it keeps turning as you make your turn. If you pivot on the inside wheel you will dig holes in your yard.)

The dfference between this machine and a high end commercial zero-turn is the drive system. The heavy duty commercial zero-turns use a pump and motor for each rear wheel. The PZT9000 uses a dual hydrostatic transaxle. You will never break this drive system mowing your 5 to 20 acre lawn, but a commercial mower who uses his machine 40 to 50 hours a week probably would.

This mower is built better than the normal consumer zero turn mower and is well worth the extra money. It does not have the features or the life expectancy of a true commercial machine. (No one makes a commercial “garden tractor”) Commercial mowers have 7 gauge, 5 inch deep decks and 1/4 inch thick box tube frames. Commercial mowers cost thousands more than consumer models. (A typical 50 inch heavy duty commercial mower costs 7 to 15 thousand dollars )

There are very few negatives with this mower as long as you understand that it is a good quality riding lawn mower designed to mow lawns well. It is heavier built than a normal consumer mower. I like this lawn mower for what it is designed for. I give this mower a “great value for the money” rating.

Order Here:

You can read more about this Zero-turn lawn mower and order it online using this link PZT9000 Model 28875.

After you order it online you can pick it up at your nearest store and not get charged for shipping. You can get the mower delivered to your home from the store for a normal charge. Sears has a 30 day price guarantee so you can buy it, watch the sale ads and come into your local Sears and get the difference refunded to you.

NOTE: If you pick it up you will need a medium duty trailer to take this machine home. This machine is heavier than a lawn tractor or garden tractor. Don’t forget tie-down straps.

If you have the mower delivered it will have the deck attached. New for 2009, if you have gas available, the Sears stores that have their own delivery team will also start the mower and show you how to use it when they deliver it.

After you use your new mower for a while, come back and tell us how well you like your Craftsman PZT 9000! (scroll down for the comment section)

Craftsman Professional 52 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT9000 Model 28875 Review

Sears item# 07128875000 Mfr. model# 28875

2009 Craftsman PTY9000 Model 28972 Update.

Paul — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:56:45 +0000

John,

Paul your assessment of this 48″tractor is right on target.

The only next step for the public is another 3000.00 or more and go with a professional mower.

My son bought 2-1/2 acres back in June of 09 and of course he needed a tractor. I let him use my 3 year old LT1042 42″Cub with a Kohler, and of course he likes it and when I cut his yard for him two weeks later I told him he would need a 46″ deck or so.

After looking at the new Cubs LTX1046′s I felt the quality was falling off from my LT series, So I started looking at other mowers and talked to some Lawn Mower shops and one name kept coming up. Craftsman Professional Series.

Sears had them on sale, but I had to drive two states west to pick this thing up because they were selling out everywhere, but it was well worth it, The Deck, and steel hood scream quality and the ELS engine is super strong and the front bumper is extremely strong. It cut the yard about 30 to 45 minutes quicker than my 42″ (is that about what you would have guessed?) and as my son said, Dad this is a man’s tractor. Well I love my Cub and its been solid for 3 years, but I wasn’t confident with the new ones and the saleman wasn’t either. Yeah this mower I feel is better than mine, but isn’t that what we want for our children.

I highly recommend this mower and feel confident it will last for sometime to come.

Yes, when I picked it up, Sears cranked it and made sure the PTO worked and it ran well, But 24 hours later we broke it in on 2-1/2 acres and just loves cutting grass, Yeah the 26 HP BS sounds great and is stronger than my Kohler 19 HP, but it should be right? Thanks Paul, and keep up the good work.

See the original review here: Model 28972

2009 Craftsman Revolution Update:

Paul — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:19:16 +0000

I know there are a few Craftsman Revolutions available around the country on clearance right now. The clearance lawn tractors are demos or refurbished units. This is a different tractor than what you are used to and a lot more expensive than the YT 3000 or YT 4000 series Craftsmans that have been very popular this year.

The price is getting good enough on these clearance units that many of you are wondering if they might be a good tractor to buy.

Gene sent me this comment today and I want to share is with all of you that have been wondering about the new Revolution.

Hi Paul,

I have the new Craftsman Revolution riding lawn mower, and after some intitial problems with the first one I received, mostly having to do with quality control inspections on the assembly, Sears came and picked it up and replaced it with another new one. I have exactly 13.5 hours on it now, and I enjoy using the machine. This one is quieter than the first one, and I don’t notice any whine to it, or I’ve become accustomed to it; I’m not sure. It rides very well, leaves a nice cut, and really mulches the grass nicely, leaving no windrows. It turns around in it’s own space, which I need for my small 100 foot city lot. The paint job and finish is equal to a clearcoat job on todays cars; kudos to MTD on that! The seat is very comfortable, and I like the flipup arms. My mower does move forward an inch or two at startup when I release the brake, but I expect it. It is not a “lunge” forward, and it certainly doesn’t frighten me, however. (Note: from Paul. There is a video on Utube from April where someone is causing the tractor to jerk and claiming the mower is junk)
…………………………
I enjoyed reading your responses on the mower, and I agree with what you have written. Thanks for efforts on such a new machine.

You can read my original review here: Craftsman Revolution Review

2009 Craftsman Zero Turn Mower Test Drive – Revolution Model 28933 – Updated Review

Paul — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:50:45 +0000

Craftsman Zero Turn Mower Test Drive – Revolution Model 28933 Updated Review June 1, 2009

I had the opportunity to test drive the Craftsman Revolution Model 28933 on April 7th. The same day the Consumer Reports Mowers & Riders article hit the news stands. I was able to test drive the unit before my judgement was influenced by their report.

In general this riding lawn mower is exactly what I expect. A zero-turn mower that doubles as a simple, easy to use lawn tractor. The control layout is a little different than the new style Craftsman and you will find it is well laid out and intuitive. It has plenty of power for the size of the deck and will mow better than the old Craftsman you are replacing .

Craftsman Revolution

Specs:

You can read about the specs in my original review here (Revolution) or read the specs on Sears.com here. (Craftsman Zero Turn Tractor – Revolution)

Pros:

Very smooth drive system. It is quick but not jerky. Most zero-turn mowers today have shock absorbers (dampeners) built into the drive linkage so you don’t move the steering levers too fast and cause the mower to jerk around. Some of the early zero-turns like the Gravely 100 that did not have dampeners were like riding a bucking horse. They were so jerky it was almost impossible to mow in a straight line. The Revolution is not like this at all. Because the innovative way the transmissions are designed the Yard Tractor is smooth and responsive at all speeds. When you press the foot control the lawn tractor moves very smoothly. I found the drive system very easy to use.

Very responsive drive system. Because the way the Infinitrak transmissions are designed FULL power is available to the rear wheels when starting. It doesn’t “slip” like a hydrostatic transmission. If you have ever parked your hydrostatic tractor or zero-turn on a hill and then went to move it farther up the hill you will understand what I mean. To illustrate this point I backed the Revolution up a 40 degree blacktop incline. As I transitioned from the flat parking lot to the hill I did not have to push farther down on the foot control to move up hill like I would have to with a hydro. I stopped the on the hill. Then I went to move it further up the hill. The transmission started immediately and proceeded to backup the hill without any slippage like a normal hydro would have. With a normal hydrostatic transmission on a steep hill like this you would have to move the foot control a lot farther than you normally would to overcome the hydraulic “slip” in the trans. Because of the way the Infinitrak is designed there is no slip.

It’s Actually a Zero Turn Mower. Consumer Reports reviewed the Revolution as a lawn tractor but in reality it is also a zero-turn-radius mower. The Infinitrak transmission and the unique steering allow this Craftsman lawn mower to turn inside it’s own length just like the zero-turn mowers other manufactures are advertising. But, it looks and drives like a lawn tractor. It has a steering wheel just like a conventional tractor. You can pull attachments just like your old Craftsman Yard Tractor. In fact you don’t realize it is a zero-tun mower until you turn the steering wheel all the way.

When you turn the steering wheel it acts like a regular lawn tractor for most of the turn. If you are doing normal yard work it acts just like a conventional tight turning radius tractor. But when you turn the steering wheel farther the inside rear wheel stops and then goes in reverse! This coupled with the unique steering allows the Revolution to “zero-turn” meaning it will turn inside it’s own length.

It is safer than a Zero-Turn Mower. Another unique feature of this mower is that it automatically slows down in the turns. What? Yes, when you are mowing and get ready to turn around just turn the wheel all the way. The mower slows down and zero-turns. Straighten the steering wheel out again and the Revolution returns to the speed you had set before the turn.

It is also safer on slopes and hills than a residential zero-turn mower (ZTR). With a residential zero-turn only the rear wheels control the steering and provide traction on slopes. With the Revolution the front wheels also provide traction and control. It will stay put on the slope just like your conventional lawn tractor. In addition the Craftsman Revolution has very wide stance. The front and rear wheels are as wide as the 42 inch deck which gives it the best possible stability for the size of the tractor.

You can duck under tree branches. The way you sit on most of the zero-turns confines you. By having to keep both hands on the steering levers it is sometimes difficult to mow under trees because you really can’t duck and get out of the way. With the Revolution you can steer with one hand and use your other to hold the limbs out of your way. It is much easier to move in the seat to miss low hanging branches.

Feels a lot more stable on slopes. Like a conventional lawn tractor you can shift your weight on the seat and feel more comfortable mowing on slopes than you can with the current residential zero-turns from the other manufactures.

Can drive it with one hand. A steering wheel instead of steering levers it is much easier to drive for long periods. Even the Country Clipper with it’s single joystick restricts your movements more than the Revolution which uses a steering wheel instead of control levers. You can scratch your nose without stopping the mower. (I know …….. with some of the twin-lever zero-turns the handles are close enough together that you can drive it in a straight line for a short period of time with one hand)

I like the Revolution better than the AWS (all-wheel-steer) tractors like the John Deere X304 and the Snapper LT 130. In my opinion the AWS units take some practice getting used to and have a lot of extra parts in the steerable rear end to wear out over time.

Cons:

A rattle on the test unit. Update 6/01/09. Quite a few Revolution owners wrote me and stated that their units did not have the rattle I observed in the demo model I drove. The rattle apparently was unique to that mower and is not a common issue so I am dropping this paragraph about the rattle from my review

Strange High Pitched Noise. All mowers have their own unique sound and the Revolution is no exception. I am listing this here as a con so you are aware that this mower sounds different than the mower you are retiring. The sound of the Infinitrak Transmission is unique to the Revolution and is different and normal for this zero-turn mower. In my opinion most if not all of the negative reviews I have read about the noise are because the test operator was not aware of the sound the Revolution should make. This seems to be a training issue and not an issue with the mower itself.

To take this a little further: If you have only driven a mower with a manual transmission a hydrostatic transmission will sound strange to you. Many of the hydros whine and make weird noises especially under load. It doesn’t matter if you are driving a $1200 dollar Craftsman Hydro, a $6000 dollar Great Dane or a $35,000 KutKwik the hydrostatic transmissions all make unique sounds and it will take some time to get used to them. The sound even varies from one unit of the same model to the next. For example, I owned 3 Jacobson TurfCats. On two of those units the transmissions were very noisy and the whine could be heard over the engine and deck running. The other one was very quiet and hardly made any sound at all.

The normal noise of the transmission on my 3303 Dixon mower sounds like you are sharpening a chisel with a bench grinder. To someone who has never heard a cone-drive Dixon like the one I own it sounds like the unit is grinding itself apart. But the sound is normal and there are thousands of Dixons still running that are 25 years or older.

So you have to test drive the Revolution and make the determination if the mower and it’s unique sounds are right for you. Don’t take the word of anyone else (including me)

Neutral Creep. YOU SHOULD NEVER GET OFF A ZERO TURN MOWER OR ANY TRACTOR EQUIPED WITH A HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE!!! All commercial mower operators know this and it doesn’t matter if the engine is running or not. The Revolution is no exception. You must set the parking brake on the tractor before you get off the machine or it will creep.

The controversy here is: The Revolution operators manual specifically states: “NOTE:Your Revolution tractor is equipped with an innovative drive system. It is normal for some forward movement of the tractor to occur when the brake is released.” As with any infinitely variable transmission there will be some “neutral creep” when you release the parking brake with the engine running. Someone made a video and a couple of reviews are published on the Internet where the person moves the throttle on the mower to it’s highest position and then releases the parking brake. They claim resulting “jerk” is unsafe but in reality the jerk is normal for variable speed transmission. In reality it is just like “popping the clutch” on a manual trans; the unit will jerk. The video and the reviews should be listed under the category “stupid people tricks” and should be taken for what they are: People blatantly disregarding the safety rules and normal operating instructions for a mechanical device.

To take this a little further: In general infinitely variable transmissions are designed to seamlessly go from full forward to neutral and then to full reverse. The position of the foot control or hand control determines the neutral point and the transmission does not “disengage” like it does on a manual transmission. Because of this the neutral is more of an “adjustment” in the control linkage than a specific mode of the transmission operation. All of the infinitely variable transmissions that I know of do not use a “hard” neutral where the transmission completely disengages like it does with a manual transmission. Some manufactures put an indent in the control linkage to tell you where the neutral should be (My Ransomes 5000 has a mechanical indent in the control linkage) Most neutrals on infinitely variable transmissions have to be adjusted from time to time. (Hydros, zero-turns, etc.)

Parking Brake Lever. The parking brake button (lock) operates in reverse from all of the other Craftsman riding mowers. On the Revolution to set the parking brake you push the brake pedal with your foot and then push DOWN on the locking lever. I know this may sound like nit-picking but I watched more than 2 dozen test drivers try to pull it up. If you are used to a Craftsman riding mower, it will take a little while to get used to this change on this one machine.

Summary:

The Craftsman Revolution is like Twitter, you will either get it or you won’t. This is a good Lawn Tractor. You will be very pleased at the way it mows, handles, and pulls your yard cart, fertilizer spreader and other attachments. BUT it is also the best zero-turn mower under $3000. Unfortunately Consumer Reports did not rate it as a zero-turn. They only rated it as a lawn tractor. I feel they should have rated it in both categories. They rated it as number two for lawn tractors and in my opinion it can easily rate number two or three against the other zero-turns they rated. For residential use you will not find another mower that will turn as well yet perform all the yard duties of a conventional lawn tractor. If you have a lot of landscaping and trees to mow around you will like this machine.

You can order your mower through Sears here:

You can read more about this Lawn Tractor and order it online using this link Craftsman Zero Turn Tractor – Revolution.

After you order it online you can pick it up at your nearest Sears store and not get charged for shipping. You can get the mower delivered to your home from the store for a normal charge. Sears has a 30 day price guarantee so you can buy it, watch the sale ads and come back into your local Sears and get the difference refunded to you if it goes on sale for less than you paid.

NOTE: If you have the mower delivered it will have the deck attached. New for 2009, if you have gas available, the delivery guys will also start the mower and show you how to use it.

After you use your new mower for a while, come back and tell us how well you like your Craftsman Revolution!

You can read about the specs in my original review here (Revolution) or read the specs on Sears.com here. (Craftsman Zero Turn Tractor – Revolution)

2009 Craftsman Test Drive LT 2000 Model 28907 Model 28908 Model 28910 Review – Test Drive

Paul — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:32:40 +0000

Craftsman Test Drive – LT 2000 LT2000 Model 28907 Model 28908 Model 28910 Review – Test Drive

I had the opportunity to test drive the LT 2000 on April 7th. I specifically drove the Model 28908.

In general this riding lawn mower is exactly what I expect. A simple, easy to use, lawn tractor. The control layout is the new style Craftsman and you find it is very well laid out and intuitive. These three models mow better than the old Craftsman you are replacing .

The LT 2000 Model 28910 is a 20 hp 42 inch hydrostatic transmission with 2 front gauge wheels on the deck.
The LT 2000 Model 28908 is a 19.5 hp 42 inch automatic transmission with 2 front gauge wheels on the deck.
The LT 2000 Model 28907 is a 19.5 hp 42 inch six speed manual transmission with no gauge wheels on the deck.

I drove the Model 28908 Automatic version of the LT 2000. The automatic uses a CVT variable speed belt drive similar to the drive in a snowmobile. It is quick, responsive and great if you have a lot of trimming, flower beds, and other obstructions. I personally liked this drive, but the one I drove tended to change speed on it’s own when you took your hand off the controls.

I would suggest the Model 28910. I generally drive with my hand on the speed control but if you are the type that has both hands on the wheel you will probably like the Model 28910 Hydro Version much better. I drove the 2008 version of the 28910 last year and the hydro drive works great. The hydro transmission in the 28910 has a reputation for being strong and maintenance free.

Is this the LT2000 series the mower for you? A few things to keep in mind when considering these mowers and comparing them to more expensive models.

- The Model 28907 has no gauge wheels – no anti scalp wheels. The model 28908 and model 28910 have two front anti-scalp wheels on the front of the deck. All other Craftsman Yard Tractors and Garden Tractors have four or five anti-scalp wheels.
-These Craftsman Lawn Tractors are easy to get on and off. The LT 2000 models feature an easy to use step through operators platform.
- These three models are great mowers for lawns under 2 acres. You can pull light attachments and they all mow well. These Craftsman mowers will mow in reverse.
- This mower cuts better than your old one. All other 2009 42 inch and 46 inch decks except the Model 28903 were redesigned this year to match the quality cut of the 2008 Consumer Reports Craftsman Best Buy Deck.
- These Craftsman models feature a pressurized engine with oil filter. The Briggs & Stratton Gold line is a Craftsman Exclusive
- These Craftsman models feature an easily adjustable seat. If you have tall and short people using the mower look at the LT 2000 models.
- For about $100 you can upgrade from the old style LT 1500 to the newer style LT 2000. For about 200 to $300 more you get gauge wheels, a better engine and an automatic/hydro transmission.

There is not much more to say. You can read the rest of my reviews on the LT 2000 series here:

Craftsman LT 2000 Model 28907 Lawn Tractor
Craftsman LT 2000 Model 28908 Lawn Tractor
Craftsman LT 2000 Model 28910 Lawn Tractor

You can order this mower online, and have it delivered right to your home using these links:

Craftsman LT 2000 Model 28910 20 HP 42 inch Lawn Tractor
Craftsman LT 2000 19.5 HP/42″ Lawn Tractor Model 28908 Please Note: The 28908 is on a sell hold for a couple of weeks. Techs are rerouting a cable that may cause a belt to fray prematurely. It should be available again about May 1st.
Craftsman LT 2000 19.5 HP/42″ Lawn Tractor Model 28907

2009 Craftsman LT1500 Model 28903 Review – Test Drive

Paul — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:42:38 +0000

Craftsman LT1500 LT 1500 Model 28903 Review – Test Drive

I had the opportunity to test drive the LT 1500 on April 7th.

In general the riding lawn mower is exactly what I expect. A simple, easy to use, gear drive lawn tractor. The control layout is very similar to the 10, 15, or 20 year old Craftsman you are replacing. It also mows like the old Craftsman you are replacing. The only difference is the reverse operating mode. To mow backing up you physically have to move the key ignition switch to the reverse mow position. If you don’t move the key the mower will die when you put it in reverse. The mower will continue to operate in reverse until you turn the switch back to the normal mode or get off the yard tractor. This is a good safety feature and is easier to use than most other brands.

It is a great mower for under $1000 and one of the few for that price that will mow in reverse.

Is this the mower for you? A few things to keep in mind when considering this mower and comparing it to more expensive models.
- No gauge wheels – no anti scalp wheels.
- All other Craftsman models are easier to get on and off. If your knees still work and you don’t have difficulty getting on and off your current mower, this one is fine. If you are not as agile as you used to be, look at the LT 2000 models.
- This mower cuts like your old one. All other 2009 Craftsman models have better decks. All other Craftsman models cut better than this model. The LT 2000 YT 3000 and YT 4000 decks were redesigned this year and cut as well as the 2008 Consumer Reports Best Buy Deck.
- All other Craftsman models feature a pressurized engine with oil filter. This is the old splash lubricated Briggs & Stratton I/C overhead valve motor.
- All other Craftsman models feature an easily adjustable seat. If you have tall and short people using the mower look at the LT 2000 models.
- For about $100 you can upgrade to the newer style LT 2000. For about 200 to $300 more you can get gauge wheels, a better engine and an automatic/hydro transmission.

There is not much more to say. You can read the rest of my review here Craftsman LT 1500 Lawn Tractor

You can order this mower online using this link Craftsman LTS 1500 17.5 HP 42 inch Lawn Tractor .

Welcome To The 2009 Edition Of TodaysMower.com

Paul — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:28:33 +0000

Welcome to the 2009 edition of TodaysMower.com

Hi, I’m Paul and the purpose of this site is to help you buy the right riding lawn mower and attachments for your lawn. This year Todaysmower is going to focus on reviewing Sears Craftsman riding mowers, lawn tractors, yard tractors, garden tractors, professional tractors and attachments. While there are hundreds of residential riding mowers to chose from ranging from the “MTD Yard Machines 38 Cutting Deck Riding Lawn Mower” to the “Bad Boy ZT Series” only Sears claims to be the industry leader in quality residential riding mowers, yard tractors, and garden tractors. Most of you have a Sears close enough so that you can order your yard tractor online and have it inexpensively delivered to your door. My intention is to help you wade through the advertising hype and help you find the best mower for you. All of the tractor and attachment reviews are in the column to your right.

Sears has revised and simplified the line considerably from previous years. They have come up with new and exciting mowers but they have also created at least one dud. All of the Craftsman lawn tractors will mow in reverse and one new yard tractor will even mow in a circle. I intend to give you the information you need to buy the right Craftsman lawn tractor, yard tractor, garden tractor, and professional tractor for you.

I do like the fact that Sears has recommitted to creating customers for life. Easily half the shoppers who will buy a new mower this year from Sears are repeat buyers. They are replacing their 10, 15, and 20 year old Craftsman mower and will get the same great experience they received back then. I see a marked change in the employees at the Sears store where I shop. Not only will I help you buy the best possible lawn tractor for your lawn, but they will help you get the best possible performance and life out of it.

Sears is committed to helping you maintain the mower for it’s life. Sears has developed more ways to help you than any other manufacture or retailer of residential lawn & garden equipment. I will go through all the ways Sears has to maintain and repair your mower yourself ……. from helping you set up a maintenance program for your mower to ordering the parts yourself from your home computer.

Sears has improved the standard warranty so that a Sears Service Tech will make the trip out to your home for free during the warranty period and order the warranty parts needed to repair your machine. I’ll explain the other improvements to the standard warranty.

If you don’t want to do your own maintenance of course Sears has an in-home service program. For an additional upfront charge, the 12,000 service techs nationwide will repair and maintain your lawn, yard, garden, or professional mower for three full years with no additional cost to you. This program called a Repair Protection Agreement includes normal wear and tear on many parts and allows you to own the equipment worry-free. I’ll explain the pros and cons of this program and show you how if you don’t have the time or experience to maintain your own lawn mower this is a cost-effective way to keep your mowing machine in tip-top shape.

Craftsman Lawn Tractors – What’s New For 2009

Sears Craftsman has simplified and focused the Lawn Tractor, Yard Tractor, and Garden Tractor line-up for 2009. Sears likes to make a mower for everyone, but in the previous two years they have had too many choices for you to choose from and consequentially some of the mowers did not sell that well. This year they took the best decks, the best tractors, and the best new ideas and developed 26 models that for the most part will do a good job for you. They have enhanced the Sears.com website with a section call the Ultimate Tractor Experience to help you decide the right size tractor and a new section on ManageMyHome to help you maintain your tractor for years to come.

Color Codes For Tractors Is Simplified For 2009:

Sears has simplified the color coding for the tractor lines. Gone are the gold, silver and green mowers. It is easier to choose the features and price you want and then select the right mower for you.

Gray tractors are lawn tractors. These tractors are designed for smaller yards. The great value LT 1500 has a larger deck and engine than before. The LT 2000 mowers are completely redesigned and improved.

Red tractors are yard tractors. Most of you will find the red yard tractors are the best buy for you. The YT 3000 and YT 4000 models are great values this year. The YT 4500 is the best large deck value on the market this year. All are capable of plowing snow and pulling most normal attachments.

Black tractors are garden tractors. The garden tractors have heavy duty transmissions, large tires, big motors and will handle all the tractor attachments Sears sells.

Black and yellow tractors are professional series. These PTY 9000 yard and PTG 9000 garden tractors feature heavy duty decks, upgraded features and a cool yellow and black paint job. The PZT 9000 series are built will mow faster and last longer than any other mower in their price range.

New Mowing Concepts For Sears

Craftsman has always been a leader in innovation and this year is no exception. For 2009 they have four completely new mowers that use the latest technology and features.

Zero-Turn Riding Tractor. (Revolution) In my opinion this is one of the biggest innovations in lawn mowers. This new mower will allow you to have the quickness and agilility of a zero-turn mower and also the flexibility of garden tractor. The secret is a new transmission. This new transmission will “revolutionize” the way you mow lawns.

High speed mowing tractor (Excellerator) The new GT 5000 Excellerator Garden Tractor will mow at up to 8 mph.

Small professional zero-turn mower (36 inch commercial quality) The PTZ 9000 is a heavy duty zero turn mower designed to give you years and years of use. This new machine is strong enough to put up with all the abuse you can give it and still mow your small to medium size yard faster than all of your neighbor’s “Green Paint Machines”

Side Rear Discharge mower. (SRD) This is one of the most popular mowers in Europe and will be a great time-saver if you have a small yard and compost your own yard waste. Please read my review because I feel Sears shot themselves in the foot with this mower this year.

Now if Sears would develop a standon residential mower ………..

2009 Craftsman Best Buys – Lawn, Yard, Garden Tractors

Paul — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:03:52 +0000

Craftsman Best Buys – TodaysMower Picks

With all the riding mowers, yard tractors, lawn tractors, garden tractors and zero turn mowers on the market it can be really difficult to select the best mower/tractor for you. Consumer Reports will give you their pick of the best mowers across all the brands they review, but they tend to only pick one or two mowers from a manufacture and one or two sizes. They can tell you their best choice for a mower, but their review doesn’t always help you to decide the best mower FOR YOU. I choose to focus on the Sears Craftsman 2009 Tractor Line this year because their mowers represent a good value throughout the whole line. With only one mower that is a real dud (Model 28033) it is hard to go wrong if you select the correct size mower for your lawn.

There are five mowers in Sears lineup that represent a good value for the money. They all have great cutting decks, good motors and features that put them ahead of the other manufactures. I picked the best value for the size that will fit your needs.

It looks like the best mower prices this year are on the sears website. So far the Sears website has extra incentives like cash back and free attachements to entice you to buy online instead of at a Sears store. Of course you can order online and pick the mower up at your local Sears. The local Sears store will also deliver the mower you purchase online.

TodaysMower Best Craftsman Value

The best value in the Craftsman Tractor Lineup for 2009 is the Craftsman YT 4500 26 HP 54 Inch Yard Tractor. For about $1999.99 on sale this Yard Tractor features a 26 hp Kohler motor and a 54 inch deck. With an electric clutch, 5 gauge wheels, large tires, precision cut vented deck, and hour meter it is easily capable of handling most yard work including a snow blower. This tractor is a very good value for the money. You can read my review of this tractor here. Craftsman Model 28990.

TodaysMower Best Craftsman Tractor 1-2 acres

If you have less than 2 acres of lawn and don’t want a large deck the Craftsman YT 4000 24 HP 42 Inch Yard Tractor Fender Control is the riding mower for you. For about $1699.99 on sale this Yard Tractor features a 24 hp Briggs & Stratton Platinum motor and 42 inch deck. With an electric clutch, precision cut vented deck, and hour meter it is easily capable of handling most yard work including a snow blower. You can read my review of this tractor here. Craftsman Model 28926.

If you don’t plan on ever installing a snow thower on your Yard Tractor the 28922 is a best buy at around $1499.99. The 42″ deck has been redesigned this year to offer you the same cutting quality as the 2008 Consumer Reports Best Buy 28924. The single cylinder 21 hp Briggs Platinum engine gives you plenty of power to mow and use most of attachments Sears sells. You can read my complete review of the 28922 here. Model 28922

TodaysMower Best Craftsman Tractor 2-3 acres

If you have less than 2-3 acres of lawn and don’t want a large deck the Craftsman YT 4000 24 HP 46 Inch Yard Tractor is the riding mower for you. For about $1699.99 on sale this Yard Tractor features a 24 hp Briggs & Stratton Platinum motor and 46 inch deck. With an electric clutch, precision cut vented deck,, and hour meter it is easily capable of handling most yard work including a snow blower. You can read my review of this tractor here. Craftsman Model 28928.

TodaysMower Best Craftsman Garden Tractor

If you want to do everything with your mower including using ground engaging attachments the Craftsman Professional PGT 9000 28 HP 54 Inch Garden Tractor is the Garden Tractor for you. For about $2899.99 on sale this Yard Tractor features a 28 hp Briggs & Stratton ELS motor and a 54 inch deck. With an electric clutch, heavy duty transmission, heavy duty deck, large tires, and hour meter it is easily capable of handling ALL yard work including a snow blower, this tractor is for you. You can read my review of this tractor here. Craftsman Model 28974.

TodaysMower Best Craftsman Zero Turn

I’m not jumping on the hype of a new mower in recommending this mower. If you have less than 2 acres of lawn, lots of landscape beds, and want a zero-turn that also does most of your other yard chores the Craftsman Zero Turn Tractor – Revolution is the zero turn riding mower for you. For about $2999.99 on sale this Yard Tractor features a 22 hp Briggs & Stratton Platinum motor and a 42 inch deck. This tractor will do all of your yard work and cut your mowing time by 30 to 50%. You can read my review of this tractor here. Craftsman Model 28933.

Let us know how good of a deal you got in the comments section below.

2009 Craftsman Professional 52 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT 9000 Model 28875 Review

Paul — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:38:29 +0000

Craftsman Professional 52 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT9000 Model 28875 Review

PZT9000 52 inc

Sears item# 07128875000 Mfr. model# 28875

The PZT9000 model 28975 comes with the Briggs & Stratton 26 hp ELS V twin engine. It features Hydro-Gear ZT-2800 Commercial Duty Hydrostatic Drive Trans-axle w/Variable Displacement Pumps, heavy duty 52 inch fabricated (welded) steel deck, and a 125 lb. ft. Warner electric clutch.

If you want the best zero turn for the money, with a heavy duty mower deck that will mow 3.5 acres an hour or more……. this is one.

Specs:

26 HP ELS V-Twin OHV engine with electric start
Premium spin-on oil filter and platinum spark plugs
Advanced Debris Management System with Cartridge-style Top-Loading Air Cleaner
Hydro-Gear® Commercial Duty ZT2800 Transaxles with Robust 1″ Axle shafts,cut steel gears for durability-Charge pump and high pressure relief valves for smooth quiet operation
Commercial Duty Warner®MagStop Electric Clutch with serviceable mid-pole brake
Outstanding quality of cut at speeds up to 8 mph
Dual fuel tanks with 8.5 gallon fuel capacity
Self adjusting single belt trans-axle drive and single deck drive belt
Deck lift foot assist.
Adjustable high back bucket seat with adjustable armrests

Pros:

Compare this mower to the Toro Titan, John Deere Estate Series Z-Trak, Bad Boy ZT series and the Simplicity ZT 4000. I think the PYT9000 28975 represents a very good value and a machine that if taken care of properly will last you a long time.

This zero turn lawn mower is capable of handling many pull behind attachments Sears offers including a yard carts and spreaders. Click here to see the full line of Sears attachments.

Here are a few specialized Zero-turn attachments that may interest you:

Hauling Equipment: Yes
Lawn Care Attachments: Yes
Zero Turn Spreader
Zero Turn Bumper
Zero Turn Cart

At this time Craftsman does not have bagger listed for this mower that I can find on their website. If you want a bagger you can get one through bobcatturf. Bobcat makes the mower for Craftsman

Cons:

Do not confuse the PZT 9000 with a high end commercial zero-turn mower. Although it is built better, stronger and designed to mow faster than many commercial machines, in my opinion this is a high end residential mower. It will give you years and years of service on your 15 acre lawn, but it is not designed to mow 8 to 10 hours a days, 7 days a week like the high end ExMark, Wright, Ferris and Toro commercial machines. The difference between this machine and a high end commercial zero-turn is the drive system. The heavy duty commercial zero-turns use a pump and motor for each rear wheel. The PZT9000 uses a dual hydrostatic trans-axle. You will never break this drive system mowing your 5 to 20 acre lawn, but a commercial mower who uses his machine 40 to 50 hours a week probably would.

This mower is built better than the normal consumer zero turn mower and is well worth the extra money. It does not have the features or the life expectancy of a high end commercial machine. High end commercial mowers of course cost thousands much more than this one. (A typical heavy duty commercial mower costs 7 to 15 thousand dollars. I have a 72 inch zero turn KutKwik that retailed for $36,000 )

Order Here:

You can read more about this Zero-turn lawn mower and order it online using this link PZT9000 Model 28875.

NOTE: If you pick it up you will need a medium duty trailer to take this machine home. This machine is heavier than a lawn tractor or garden tractor. Don’t forget tie-down straps.

After you use your new mower for a while, come back and tell us how well you like your Craftsman PZT 9000! (scroll down for the comment section)

Craftsman Professional 52 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT9000 Model 28875 Review

Sears item# 07128875000 Mfr. model# 28875

2009 Craftsman Professional 36 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT 9000 Model 28977 Review

Paul — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:21:20 +0000

Craftsman Professional 36 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT9000 Model 28877 Review
Sears item# 07128877000 Mfr. model# 28877

PZT9000 36 inch

Do your neighbors keep telling you that you should enter your landscaping in the “showcase of homes” tour? Do people keep stopping and asking if they can tour your arboretum? This mower is a specialized mower, designed for lawns with many obstacles, landscaping beds, and trees to mow around. Next to a 36 inch stand-on mower this is the most agile mower you can buy. I classify this mower as a high end residential zero turn mower. It has most of the advantages of a commercial zero-turns with the ease of maintenance of a residential mower. This mower is capable of out performing all the other mowers in the Craftsman line for mowing complex lawns. This is one of the best ”trimming” zero turn mowers available today for the price. If you like to mow lawn, and have lots of flower beds, trees and obstructions to mow around, this is the Craftsman mower for you.

This machine may seem too small, but coupled with the agility and speed of this zero turn riding mower you can easily mow 2 acres an hour. You will be able to mow faster with this mower than you can with your current residential mower.

Specs:

26 HP ELS V-Twin OHV engine with electric start
Hydro-Gear® Commercial Duty ZT2800 Transaxles with Robust 1″ Axle shafts,cut steel gears for durability-Charge pump and high pressure relief valves for smooth quiet operation
Commercial Duty Warner®MagStop Electric Clutch with serviceable mid-pole brake
Outstanding quality of cut at speeds up to 8 mph
Dual fuel tanks with 8.5 gallon fuel capacity
Hydrostatic dump valves-allow machine to be moved without engine operation
Self adjusting single belt trans-axle drive and single deck drive belt
Large 5″ Backside Idlers
Adjustable high back bucket seat with adjustable armrests

Pros:

Compare this mower to the Toro Titan, John Deere Z520A Estate Series Z-Trak, and the Bad Boy ZT Series. The 28877 is built just as heavy, with just as good of components as any of these mowers. I think the PYT9000 28975 represents a very good value and a machine that if taken care of properly will last you a long time.

This is a much better mower than the residential zero turn mowers. This will mow faster and better than the Dixon 30 inch zero turn riding lawn mowers.

This zero turn lawn mower is capable of handling many pull behind attachments Sears offers including a yard carts and spreaders. Click here to see the full line of Sears attachments.

Here are a few specialized Zero-turn attachments that may interest you:

Hauling Equipment: Yes
Lawn Care Attachments: Yes
Zero Turn Spreader
Zero Turn Bumper
Zero Turn Cart

At this time Sears Craftsman does not have bagger listed for this mower that I can find on their website. If you want a bagger you can get one through bobcatturf. Bobcat Turf makes the mower for Craftsman

Cons:

This machine is too narrow for steep hills. While it does have a low center of gravity, it does not have the hill-side stability of a 50 or 60 inch zero turn. In my opinion your should mow any side-hills at an angle or not at all instead of across them. It is heavy enough and balanced well to track on the side-hills but I feel it may be too “tipsy” and you will not feel comfortable using the machine on side-hills.

If this is your first zero-turn mower be aware there is a “learning curve” with zero-turn mowers. Two lever control zero-turn mowers drive just like a shopping cart, but it takes some practice to keep the inside wheel from digging divots in your lawn when doing 180 degree turns. ( A 1/2 hour of practicing is usually enough to learn. When you are turning watch the rear wheel on the inside of the turn and move the levers so it keeps turning as you make your turn. If you pivot on the inside wheel you will dig holes in your yard.)

It does not have a floating front axle. The machine is very rigid (good) but if your lawn is really rough you notice a front wheel off the ground going through dips and over bumps. This is not a “problem” with this mower, it just is something you should be aware of.

There are very few negatives with this mower as long as you understand that it is a good quality riding lawn mower designed to mow lawns well. It is heavier built than a normal consumer mower and much heavier built than the under $3000 residential zero turn lawn mower. I like this lawn mower for what it is designed for. I give this mower a “great value for the money” rating.

Order Here:

You can read more about this Zero-turn lawn mower and order it online using this link PZT9000 Model 28877.

NOTE: If you pick it up you will need a medium duty trailer to take this machine home. This machine is heavier than a lawn tractor or garden tractor. Don’t forget tie-down straps.

After you use your new mower for a while, come back and tell us how well you like your Craftsman PZT 9000! (scroll down for the comment section)

Craftsman Professional 36 inch Zero Turn Mower PZT9000 Model 28877 Review
Sears item# 07128877000 Mfr. model# 28877