The XP Horse is Troy-Bilt’s largest, most powerful riding mower! The Horse™ XP lawn tractor features a powerful 22.0 HP* Single Kohler® Courage engine and a cast-iron front axle. The fender controlled hydrostatic transmission, Soft Touch steering wheel and high-back seat, make this lawn tractor the best Troy-Bilt has to offer.
by: Paul Sikkema
This is another great value lawn tractor for the price. On sale at under $1400 it is one of the least expensive lawn tractors on the market with a Kohler motor and hydrostatic transmission. It is not a “cheaply built” mower though and has the dependability and workmanship you come to expect from Troy-Bilt. Read the reviews at Troy-Bilt here: Troy-Bilt Reviews. It features a good 46 inch deck, a 22 hp Kohler Courage engine, and an easy to use fender controlled hydrostatic transmission. This mower can be equipped with a bagger, mulch kit and will pull a small yard cart! You can mount a snow blade but not a snow thrower.
Is this the right lawn tractor for you? Please read this entire review before you buy this tractor. I am going to spend some time and go over this mower completely. This mower is a great value but it is not for everyone.
See the full specifications at Troy-Bilt
Here are some highlights:
- 22HP Kohler engine — I have always had good luck with Kohler engines.
- Infinite-speed dual hydrostatic transmission. I like the “notch” in the speed control so you mow at the correct speed.
- 46 in. twin blade deck provides great cutting performance. Deep-design of the deck lifts grass up , for a superior cut. 5 cutting heights from 1 in. to 4 in.
- High back seat and large 13 in. steering wheel
- 18 in. turning radius with Cast-iron front axle with lifetime warranty. The same turning radius as the John Deere 100 series.
- 2-year limited warranty backed by Troy-Bilt. 4 year Protection Plan available.
Is this the right mower for you? The positive:
– If you just want to mow your lawn and you have a fairly flat lawn about 1/2 to 2 acres, this tractor will do the job. It does have anti-scalp wheels on the deck and it does have a deluxe seat. If you have a lawn without a lot of trees and other landscape features to mow around this may be a good choice for you. This tractor will mow up to 1 1/4 acres an hour.
– Most owners today prefer a tractor with a hydrostatic transmission: A “hydro” is easier to use than a gear drive transmission and saves you time when mowing around many obstructions. This mower uses a fender mounted control lever. Using a fender control instead of a foot control is a nice feature if you are under 5 ft 5 in and have a hard time reaching a foot pedal or if you physically have a hard time holding a speed control with your foot.
Is this the right mower for you? The negative:
– This mower is a great value, but it is not for everyone. It is designed to primarily mow lawns. If you need a rider that will pull a heavy yard cart, sweeper or ground engaging attachments look at a different tractor.
– This mower is lightweight and not recommended for more than 15 degree slopes. Customers who have steeper slopes say it does not have enough traction. For flat and gently sloping yards the owners like the quality of cut. If you are NOT going to use a bagger Troy-Bilt does offer a rear weight kit.
– This deck is a high air-flow deck. It has vents in the top to let in a lot of air. This is a great design because the extra airflow lifts the grass well and it cuts your lawn very evenly. This mower side discharges and bags well. But, if you install a mulch kit it restricts this airflow and a lot of customers complain that the grass clippings get blow out the right front side of the deck and all over you and the tractor.
– This mower will mow in reverse but some users complain there are a lot of steps to get it to mow in reverse. To mow in reverse you have to move the keep to the reverse position, push the button and then shift the fender mounted hydro control into reverse.
Service:
If you do not purchase the Lowes Extended Protection Plan be sure you understand how to get your new mower repaired if there is a mechanical defect. Talk to the store where you picked it up and read the operator’s manual warranty statement.
Reliability – New to 3 yrs: This tractor is serviced by an authorized Troy-Bilt repair center. There have been no issues with the build quality. After reading over 150 reviews of this tractor the only issues I really see is operator error. The most negative reviews comment about it not going up steep hills or the owner did not store it properly over the winter. The tractor itself is put together well.
If you decide this is the right mower for you take advantage of all the special offers Lowes has: After you click on the link below and go to Lowes, look in the right hand column to see the current offers.
Lowe’s Extended Protection Plans
Face it, your new mower is a mechanical device and eventually it will need some repairs. Lowes offers protection plans on lawn tractors. This is the BEST and easiest way to have a hassle free experience with your new Troy-Bilt. No worries about finding and taking your machine to an authorized dealer for repairs.
Alfonso
Hello I have a 2012 horse do and when replacing the belts I notice the belt it calls for on lower and upper seem to be backwards. I thought the lower would be the deck belt but it’s opposite. Either way the belt that it calls for when replacing the deck belt is 103″ and it seems to be 3″-4″ to long. The belt that was on was 98″. Am I missing something like a tensioner or pulley? I have 4 pulleys/tensioner on deck and pulley from tranny. Help
Paul
Hi Alfonso, I’m not a mechanic. Please see your local Troy-bilt dealer.
Kenneth Jacobs
I have the troybilt xp horse when I’m mowing the grass isn’t even that high but the blades die right down like I’m trying to cut grass that is 4 foot tall hay field I change the blades but still doing it?
Paul
Hi Kenneth, If you don’t know how to work on your mower yourself, please take it to the store where you bought it. They will change the deck to engine belt and anything else that may be causing the belt to slip.
jsteiner
22up Koehler single cylinder engine, WHO WOULD PUT A PIECE OF S*** LIKE THAT ON ANYTHING… LESS THAN 120HOURS AND OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY DISINTEGRATED,AND RUINED BLOCK1800$??????
Paul
@Steiner, I am very surprised because I have had really good luck with Kohler Courage Single models. For example I have a 60 inch wing mower here with over 1000 hours and the engine has never even coughed. Anyway, Kohler remodeled their entire residential line last year so your mower is obsolete.
Lance D.
Same thing happened to me, 90 hours, ASE mechanic owned. started the mower yesterday and let it warm up. upon placing the engine to full throttle to cut the gas the oil pump exploded.
3 years old and less than 100 hours and its junk. do not buy
Terri
My father has a Poulan Pro 30 inch mower. It took a hard jolt when he hit a depression in the ground. The transmission is now disengaged. Everything else runs fine, motor purrs, blades will engage, just wont drive. Also noticed I can push it even when not in neutral. I keep reading about freewheel rod on other models. Can’t find anything in manual.
Paul
Hi Terri, I’m not a mechanic. I also have ignored that particular mower because the first year it had tranny problems. It’s also a sealed drive system so there is no easy way to look at it and find an obvious problem. I suggest using the service locator at poulanpro.com and take it in for repair.
Zbyszek
Hi, I need some tips how to clean carburetor in Troy-Bilt XP Horse XP ?
My air filter broke open and dirt was sucked inside.
Thanks
Paul Sikkema
@Zbyszek, I have no idea where to find something like that. The jets are so small and delicate that if you tried cleaning them like that you could mess them up. I would have a mechanic clean the carb instead.
Zbyszek
I should at least try open carburetor and clean it with air.
But how to open/remove carburetor ?
I can’t find any guide.
Thank you
Paul Sikkema
Hi Zbyszek, I’m not a mechanic. If I don’t know how to do something I usually start with youtube. And the best small engine mechanic there is Donyboy73. Just search what you want to do.
Zbyszek
Nothing at youtube.
Thanks anyway
Z
Paul Sikkema
@ZBY, Here: Watch this video. It will show you how to take the carb apart and clean it. Taryl Fixes All.
Joe
PIECE OF CHINESE JUNK engine. DO NOT buy this lawn mower. Overheats very easily then Lowe’s says the warranty is void due to it.
Paul Sikkema
Hi Joe, I’m assuming you want to send it to China because it is made here in the United States.
swdrummerboy57
I have a Troybuilt Horse, how many quarts of oil would it take after oil change?
Paul Sikkema
@Drummerboy, Kohler twins take right around 64 oz. Put 1 1/2 quarts in it and then check the level. Then add a few ounces at a time until the oil level is up to the top mark (or hole)
Robin
I have a Troy Built XP46 inch deck rider mower. Model number 13WX79KT011. When I put the lever down to engage the blade, it just went down and did nothing. Now it just flops back and forth like it is attached to nothing. What could be the problem ?
Paul Sikkema
Hi Robin, I’m no mechanic but it is very common for the cable from that lever to the deck to break. Usually the spring on the deck end of the cable breaks. Look under the fender and follow the cable hooked up to the flopping lever down to the deck. The spring is usually broke off the cable by the deck.
If you want to do this yourself here is the operators manual and parts list. Manuals.
You want the MAN:IPL 2011 (Parts) and MAN:OPER:ENG (Owners manual)
The owners manual will show you where the end of the cable hooks up on the deck on Page 24. The parts list will show you the cable. It’s No. 41 on page 14. It is part 946-04173C
You can get one at any Troy-Bilt, Cub Cadet or Yard Machines Repair Center. I also checked Amazon and they have them in stock: DECK ENGAGEMENT CABLE FOR MTD, REPLACES MTD 746-04173A, 746-04173B, 746-04173, 946-04173, 946-04173A, 946-04173B.
Jerry Ashline
Paul I have a 2013 Troy built XP and I’m trying to figure out how to put the drive belt on if you could help me I would dearly appreciate it
Paul Sikkema
@Jerry, I don’t have the instructions here but I would like you to go to this link and download the manual. Troy-Bilt Manuals
The maintenance section of the manual will show you how the belt is routed.
Here is a video for changing the deck belt. Change deck belt.
Here is a video to change the drive belt: Drive belt replacement
ADAM
what is the part number for the transmission drive belt cant find it anywhere
Paul Sikkema
@ADAM, 954-04252 You can get it on Amazon with free shipping here: