I am very excited to announce that there is now a transmission available for lawn tractors that has all of the features of a hydrostatic transmission without all the problems. There are no pumps, motors or hydraulic oil to wear out. The transmission is sealed and never needs maintenance.
For 2014 Craftsman is taking a huge leap forward in transmission technology. Today’s automatic transmissions in Craftsman Yard Tractors are ideal for any type of terrain. Having to buy a manual transmission for hills is a thing of the past.
Automatic Transmission – Simple to use, ideal for all terrain.
This transmission is different than the CVT in MTD built lawn tractors. You can tell the difference by the shift. The MTD transmissions have a F-N-R selector on the left fender. While the MTD built transmissions have proven to be very dependable they are designed for light-duty lawn tractors. This new CVT in the Craftsman Yard tractors is a heavy duty unit and eliminates all the worries owners have had with the current crop of hydrostatic transmissions in the $1400 to $2500 tractor price range.
CVT transmissions like this will replace hydrostatic transmissions in lawn and yard tractors.
This bulletproof transmission from General Transmissions is designed for high performance and low maintenance. The new Element V™ Automatic transmissions are right for yard tractors. The V-Motion™ patented technology that is the heart of this transmission is based on a CVT, Continuously Variable Transmission, system. Unlike traditional gear transmissions, V-Motion™ equipped transmissions are infinitely adjustable to match your acceleration needs. Eliminating the need to stop and shift, you won’t lose any of the momentum that is lost when you shift gears with a manual transmission lawn tractor.
Unlike Hydrostatic Transmissions there are no pumps, motors or hydraulic oil to wear out. The transmission is sealed and never needs maintenance. In fact you probably will never have to replace the CVT belt.
Watch this video to see the testing this transmission went through before the first one was sold.
General Transmissions already has over 20 million transmissions installed in lawn & garden equipment around the world. CVT is not new or unproven technology. Conceptualized by Leonardo da Vinci more than 500 years ago, CVT has been used for years in snowmobiles, performance motorcycles, heavy equipment, and is now replacing automatic transmissions in automobiles. Today, over 100 leading cars have drivetrains using CVTs.
The transmission in the Craftsman Yard Tractor is sized for it and is a proven and reliable part of the tractor. This transmission is sealed and never needs maintenance. Just clean the dirt and leaves off the top of the trans every few months. All of the components that make it run are completely enclosed in a sealed case. This transmission is sized to the tractor. It will give you long life for mowing, snow removal and yard work. Like most transmissions in lawn tractors it does not have posi-traction or differential lock for steep hills (greater than 15%).
This transmission is designed for mowing and yard work. It is not designed for pulling a food plot cultivator or disk.
The pedal on the left side of the tractor is the parking brake. You do not need to depress that pedal to shift the tractor. The forward, reverse speed and braking is controlled one lever on the right side fender. To go forward move the lever forward. To stop pull the lever back to the middle position. (The parking brake pedal can also be used to stop the tractor.) To back the tractor pull the lever back. Because of the way this CVT transmission operates the braking is part of the operation. When you move the lever towards the middle (neutral) the transmission brakes your travel automatically. The brake is internal and never needs replacement. You only need to use the left hand pedal to start the mower or to leave it stopped on a hill.
chris
If the GT CVT transmission was so great, why did all the lawn tractor manufacturers quit using them?
Answer: Because they are junk. I have replaced over 20 of them because they fail, and or melt.
Paul
Hi Chris, ALL the manufacturers did not quit using them.
1. Craftsman is now owned by MTD/Stanley, Black & Decker. MTD/SBD has its own variable speed tranny so it makes sense for them to use that one.
2. I don’t know why Briggs stopped using it.
3. Husqvarna stopped because they refused to train their techs on how to clean/repair them. 80% of the problems with the 800 series is dirt/dust on the top of the tranny or other $2 parts repair. The transmissions themselves don’t go bad.
4. John Deere still uses to this day the 400 series in the e100 tractors.
Martin
Martin from Australia here Paul. I wondered if you are able to give me some advice re Husqvana yard tractor which has a K46, hydrostatic transmission. It was working well. I broke an axel. Axel was replaced. Mower worked well for about 20 minutes, then lost power, worked very slowly then would not move forward. Had to return to shed in reverse,but very slow. Trans removed and oil changed. Same performance . Different oils tried twice more with same results. The trans temp did not seen excessively high. Would you please have any advice about re-establishing normal performance? Would be most grateful for any advice you or your readers may be able to provide.
Thank you.
Martin
Paul
Hi Martin, I’m not a mechanic. But, I suggest going to mytractorforum.com and asking over there.
Peter
Dear Paul!
Owned a mf 50 23 iz tractor. Unfortunately, the gearbox is broken, with only one half driving. It is a CVT derailleur tractor, not a belt, but a disc. Maybe you don’t know who the manufacturer of this part number is (918-04406)? I want to buy a seal, but everywhere I get the answer that I can only complete a gear.
Paul
Hi Peter, I believe that transmission was made by MTD and is called Infinitrak IVT. The trans is a design licensed from the British Company ToroTrak. It was also used on the Craftsman Revolution Lawn Tractor (2009)
Cub Cadet had a zero-turn tractor like yours but they used two hydrostatic transmissions instead of the IVT.
If you watch eBay and other sites you may be able to find a trans from the Craftsman Revolution. Craftsman sold about 2500 units.
I can’t find any place that sells individual parts for the trans and I know if they went bad Sears just replaced the entire unit. But the trans was built here in the U.S. so a standard axle seal should work. I suggest pulling the seal and taking it to a local Massey dealer or small engine repair shop that rebuilds trannys.
I do remember it uses a special fluid inside the tranny. Regular oil won’t work.
I did find parts for your tractor here: https://www.partstree.com/models/247-289330-17ak9tkr099-craftsman-revolution-zero-turn-mower-2009-sears/transmission-drive-controls-8/
Peter
Thanks your fast answer
Peter
What do you think, better change to other type of transmission?
Paul
Hi Peter, That mower was not designed for a regular lawn tractor transmission. A regular K46 or similar transmission just won’t fit.
Installing two zero-turn hydrostatic transmissions like the Cub Cadet used would easily cost over $1500.
It’s time for a different lawn tractor
SaulF
Hey Paul,
Is there a non plastic transmission replacement for the above transmission? Or a very good replacement transmission?
My 42” T3000 2014, has 71 hours on it and the Trans has to be replaced. The shop guy who I have used for years said I would be better off getting a different mower.
I like the looks, the engine is great as the shop guy said, the Trans is terrible.
Paul
Hi SaulF, While most of today’s lawn tractor transmissions can’t be repaired the RS800 is easily repaired and if parts are needed, they are cheap. Unfortunately, most repair shops won’t take the time to remove the tranny, clean it and/or replace the parts.
1. Start by cleaning the top of the transmission off with air from an air compressor. A lot of the problems that look like a bad transmission are simply dirt and debris that has built up around the linkages on the top of the trans.
2. If that doesn’t fix it then go to General Transmissions/Service. Follow the steps there to figure out what needs to be repaired.
Here are two videos that you can use to troubleshoot the trans and clean the top of it.
RS800 Checklist
RS800 Primary pulley cleaning operation
Dennis
Hi Paul,
I have a Craftsman 7000 Pro Series lawn tractor, model # 917.986410 which I bought in 2014. It has a CVT transmission which I really like. Recently I’m having a hard time depressing the forward pedal, usually it will snap into gear. At the same time I have a problem with it engaging reverse, many times nothing happens but if I move forward a bit then reverse will work. Any suggestions?
Paul
Hi Dennis, I’ll bet it’s a very simple fix. The top of your transmission is full of dirt and debris. Go to this website and click on the “troubleshooting” tab. You have an RS800 transmission.
Dennis
Hi Paul,
The link for the troubleshooting website was not attached.
Thanks
Paul
Hi Dennis, Oops – https://services.generaltransmissions.com/en/?lang=en
Jim
I have owned a YT3000 Craftsman since 2015 and have a lot of experience with the RS800P GT Transmission. Here is what I have learned:
1. The dust cover/updated primary variator improvement helps with primary variator and control system issues (caused by dirt and debris) but it is not a cure. The way I deal with it is to use a leaf blower and stick it through the rear wheel wells on both sides of the mower and blow the debris out AFTER EVERY USE. I also use a long tip attachment from my air compressor, stick that into the rear of the tractor though the access holes on the back plate and blow more debris out. This helps much more than the dust cover.
2. If you mow in dusty conditions, the belts will slip. The drive belt and variator belt. You will notice it on hills in particular. Cleaning as in number 1 above helps.
3. if the tractor stalls on a hillside, slowly allow the pedal to ease back. This will lower the gear ratio between the variators and can help prevent the mower drive belt from slipping, allowing the mower to resume climbing.
4. I have had to replace the variator belt one time and the drive belt twice. On the last drive belt, I got one that was 2″ shorter than OEM. Use a good drive belt, no cheapies.
5. I believe the transmission has a flaw that can be fixed: I think the spring inside of the secondary variator (the one with the black top) is too weak and allows the belt to slip prematurely. A stronger spring would put more tension on the belt. I intend to take this up with GT tech support. They seem to be quite difficult to contact and emailing them from their website is useless.
I hope this helps.
Mr. C
Just a quick question, after 5 years from your first review of this CVT tranny, are you still as excited as when it first came out?
Paul
Hi Mr. C, yes, it’s a great alternative to a hydro. General Transmissions has made quite a few improvements to it since it first came out. The biggest change is the trannys now have a debris cover on the top so the speed mechanism does not get plugged with grass and other debris from the mower deck.
Patrick
Ok, I just bought a yt3000 with no/very slow reverse and very slow forward, found the problem to be the variation belt was pretty much worn out. The previous owner was told it needed a whole new transmission for over $1000. Can’t these Tech’s do their jobs?, it only took me 15-20 min. to find the issue!! Will put in new belt, but it may need new variation pullies also, making grinding noise, all info I’ve looked into points to these, will soon find out, I have to change out the axle seals also. Will keep you posted.
Thanks
Mr. C
Paul
Hi Patrick, In case you don’t know – here is where you get parts. General Transmissions at your serviceWe will help you in the diagnostic and repair of our products :
Gary Rogers
I have the same problem and contacted them. They are going to tell you where to get the seals (Amazon), give you the part #, and send you the instructions on how to replace them, which involves simply removing the rear tires, pulling out the old seals and inserting the new ones.
peter yann
What is a good riding lawn mower for 2a. of hills?
Paul
Hi Peter, A good one for hills 2 acres of hills is a 50-54 inch garden tractor.
Home Depot: Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Series GT 50 in. 25-HP V-Twin Kohler Gas Hydrostatic Garden Tractor with Cub Connect Bluetooth
Cub Cadet GT 54 in. Fabricated Deck 25-HP V-Twin Kohler Gas Hydrostatic Garden Tractor with Cub Connect Bluetooth
Cub Cadet 54 in. Fabricated Deck 25-HP V-Twin Kohler Gas Hydrostatic Garden Tractor with Diff-Lock
From Craftsman: Craftsman ProSeries 27048 50″ 26 HP V-Twin Kohler Garden Tractor w/ Locking Differential
This one is a very good deal this week! Craftsman ProSeries 27055 54″ 26 HP Garden Tractor with TurnTight Extreme® & Smart Lawn Technology
Babu
Hi Paul, I have a craftsman YS4500 lawn tractor, no forward drive model # is 944 608060 can you please help ? thank you
Paul
Hi Babu, Unfortunately, I can’t help you. I have no access to parts, manuals or anything for the Canadian Craftsman tractors. They are different than the U.S. sold products. I suggest that you talk to a local repair shop and see if they can help.
Dave Snider
Hi Paul – On my 2013 RS800, I replaced the outer axle seals to address the shaft leakage issue only to find that after a few mows, the left shaft was leaking again – and transmission grease is being deposited on the tires. I used Permatex to ensure a solid bond between the seal and the axles housing, but the grease is coming out between the axle and the inner diameter of the seal. Question…is there an “inner” seal that also needs replacement? The tranny sounds different (noisier/rattling) than when new and I’m wondering if it has lost too much grease. Assuming I get the seal issue resolved, how would I had 00 grease to replace what was lost? Frustrating issue.
Paul
Hi Dave, Go to this website and contact them monday-friday. They will help. General Transmissions Service
Dave Snider
Ok thanks, Paul…I’ll let you know what they tell me!
James Terlemezian
My 1995 917.252599 does not move . It is an automatic, is there a place to add fluid ,or must the trans be replace Do?
Paul
Hi James, Did the oil leak out? Hydro’s are sealed units and don’t use/burn oil like a gas engine. If the oil leaked out you will have to remove the transmission from the lawn tractor, fix the leak and then refill with oil. There is a nameplate or stamped numbers somewhere on the transmission to tell you who made it. You can then go to their website to get parts.
Most repair shops will not work on residential hydro’s. It’s better to install a new or certified rebuilt unit.
You may not have a fluid level problem. If they don’t leak most of the time the internal parts wear out and the entire unit needs to be replaced. Since your tractor is a 1995 it’s transmission has lived a long and good life.
You may not have a transmission problem. Did the rear end growl/howl before it quit moving? If yes, it most likely the transmission is worn out. But, if it didn’t – if it just quit or it no longer goes up hills the problem may just be a bad engine to transmission belt. If that’s the case – replace the belt.
linda
Hello Paul, I was wondering if this GT V-Motion (rs800) transaxle is either
locked , or lockable , ala doclocker2.o weldless . I plow an irregular lot/drive
with a 75′ long ‘slope’ at the end. Without a lockable rear , or 4wd, it is often
impossible to get the tractor /plow back up the ‘slope’ after making 1st run down.
I also cannot find any pics/images/ of the gear/axle section of this tranny.
Paul
Hi Linda, No, it has a standard differential. You can learn more about the tranny here: https://services.generaltransmissions.com/en/?lang=en.
There are very few garden tractors with a locking diff. The Craftsman, Cub Cadet, and Husqvarna are the only ones under $3500.
The Craftsman ProSeries 27048 50″ 26 HP V-Twin Kohler Garden Tractor w/ Locking Differential Sold online through sears.com. This is the one I’d pick. It has the smaller 50-inch deck which you will like for your yard and Craftsman has the largest selection of attachments for it.
The Cub Cadet XT2 GX54″ D. Sold only through Cub Cadet dealers.
The HUSQVARNA TS 348XD. Sold only through Husqvarna Dealers. Be aware that Husqvarna does offer 3 other tractors with locking differential but the transmissions will not last using them for snow removal. They are lawn tractor trans designed to mow lawns.
Paul
Hi Robert, yes. Any trans installed in late 2016-2018 won’t have that issue. If you have an older unit and it does leak the part is only $3 and is very easy to replace. You can get any parts for your trans and how to install it here: GT Transmissions Support
JTP
That link is broken, and I have the older 2014 tranny.
Paul
HI JTP, not sure what link you mean. Here is the link to GT. General Transmissions Service
Robert Schultz
Paul, Do you know if GT has addressed the leaking axle seal issue yet in the RS 800 transmission ?
Robert Schultz
Thanks for your reply. Glad to hear they took action on that. I’m going out soon and buying a YTA24v48.
Mike Campbell
Hello Paul! I am in the market for a new riding mower. I’ll be mowing 3 acres, all flat, and occasionally be pulling a lawn cart (nothing too heavy). Out of the 2, which would you suggest? Husqvarna YTA24v48 or TYH24v48? I’ve had the YTH with hydrostatic before with no problems. Never had the YTA with the automatic.
Paul
Hi Mike, Since you’ve had a lot of experience with the hydro the automatic will feel strange to you. It doesn’t have a cruise and the reverse is very slow. So, I going to suggest the YTH24V48.
Mike Campbell
Thanks Paul. I never use the cruise control. How does the automatic shift around trees & fence lines? I did not ever have any issues with the hydrostatic, but it looks like if I did I’d be buying a new mower vs being able to work on the automatic. I keep mowers for 4-5 and try to resell before the hours get up there.
Paul
Hi Mike, If you are buying every 4-5 years I’d stick with the hydro. It will have a better resale than the automatics. If you have a lot of trees I’d also suggest the hydro – The reverse is very slow in the automatics.
Thomas
Hello Paul. I’m in the market for a new lawn tractor. I don’t know which trans to go with. I am near 400 lbs. I know the CVT is composite cased and that scares me. I was looking at the Husqvarna yta24v48. I’m worried the case will fracture at some point. I had 2 new mowers over the last 20 years, a Poulan Pro and a Craftsman. Neither has had any transaxle issues and use the Peerless 6 speed manual (206-565). I’m getting older now and can’t be down on my back working on things like I used to.
Paul
Hi Thomas, Point in fact – the poly case on the GT transmission is stronger than the case on the corresponding aluminum hydro. Besides strength, the axle housings will flex under load so it will last longer under more weight. That said,
You may want to look at a GT series tractor. (not LGT) they have a stronger transmission that will handle more weight than normal lawn tractors.
Daniel
Paul I’m debating between the Husqvarna YTA22V46 and YTH22V46. As you may know the YTA has the CVT and the YTH is hydrostatic. I plan on adding a “high-hitch” to back the boat and trailer into it’s parking spot from time to time. It’s a tight fit with a tight turn. I know that the more I press the gas the higher the motor RPM and the motor HP output increases. However, with higher RPM the CVT’s pulley connected to the motor belt would increase in diameter and the other will decrease. This would mean higher speed and less torque from the CVT. Am I thinking this correctly? Is the CVT a good choice to push/pull? Also, what model CVT and Hydrost transmissions are on the Husqvarna YTA22V46 and YTH22V46? Thanks in advance.
Paul
Hi Daniel, The CVT used in the Husqvarna lawn tractors has a single speed reverse. It’s not variable like the hydro and is slow. Most owners complain how slow it is for backing up any distance.
CVT – General Transmissions RS 800
Hydro – TuffTorq K46
Daniel
Thanks Paul for the great answers. Since I won’t be going backwards very fast, slow is ok. What is the torque output difference when in reverse vs forward when at full throttle?
Paul
Hi Daniel, The reverse uses a separate gearing and it’s not designed to push a boat around. I highly suggest you go with the hydro in your case.
Dave Snider
Hi Paul – It has been interesting reading your posts regarding the GT RS800. I have one in my Craftsman 22hp – it is about 4 years old or so. I noticed last season that the tranny box makes more noise than it did when I bought it. When the tranny is not engaged, I hear the relatively smooth engine noise. When I let out the brake, the tranny has a distinctive rattle noise. I engage the brake and the rattle stops. Also, when not running and I’m pushing the mower, I hear the rattle noise in both forward and reverse directions. With the tranny being “no maintenance,” I don’t know if there is anything I can do about it. The local shop said the only thing they could recommend is replacement. I have also cleaned all the debris from the top of the tranny. It still seems to drive the tractor ok, but I’m concerned it is failing. Would appreciate your thoughts.
I also had leading grease from the left rear axle and replaced the seals on both axles. It reduced the leakage, but not completely. With
Paul
Hi Dave, Is your local shop a Husqvarna dealer? If the shop is they may be lazy. If the shop is not a Husqvarna dealer they may not know you can completely rebuild these transmissions cheaply and the majority of the time it’s just simple parts that need to be replaced. Please go here: General Transmissions. I suggest you look through the 5 boxes to see if there is anything that helps you with this question. Feel free to contact them during normal business hours and they will be glad to help you diagnose and fix your issues.
Dave Snider
Thanks Paul, I’ll research the General Transmission site more closely. I don’t see the link in your reply. Did you intend to include one?
Paul
Hi Dave, You may have to try a different computer. Please go here: General Transmissions.
Matt
Dave, did you ever hear back from GT on your rattle issue? I’ve noticed the same on my transmission as well.
Tom Williams
Paul, I have a John Deere D105. The variable speed pedal requires me to pull it back with my foot in order to change from reverse to forward and vice versa. Could this be a spring or something loose on the transmission. It looks as if I will have to pull the body off to get to it.
Paul
Hi Tom, I actually have the answers for this problem.
1. If you have an air compressor get up under the machine and blow the top of the transmission off. Sometimes built up grass will cause the linkages to bind up.
2. If that doesn’t fix the problem then please go to General Transmissions. You have an RT 400 transmission.
3. Click on the boxes and follow the 5 steps, It will go through the troubleshooting and how to repair the linkage. Any parts you need are cheap. If you are stumped feel free to contact them and they will be glad to help.
4. The transmission is removed and worked on from the bottom of the mower. Remove the deck. If you can’t get up under it then the transmission drops out the bottom by removing the wheels, the 4 bolts that hold it in the frame, and a couple of linkage pins.
Robert Klanica
Hi Paul,
I do small engine repair and have a customer that has a Husqvarna YTA22V46 riding mower. He was driving at a high rate of speed through his yard and forgot about a rock that sticks up. Well, he hit the rock so hard it bent the mower hanger rods and I think the deck as well. After the impact the transmission will not go forwards or in reverse. I thinks something was damaged with the instant stop of the rock. I have looked underneath and do not see anything out of the ordinary. Could something have been damaged internally when his foot was on the forward pedal during the impact ?
Paul
Hi Robert, 95% of the time it’s an external part/lever/clip. Please go here to troubleshoot it and get parts: https://services.generaltransmissions.com/en/?lang=en
robert karch
917.203900 sears automatic foot controlled forward reverse sticking gotten worse help
Paul
Hi Robert, If you have an air compressor blow off the top of the transmission. It’s a job but it may just be full of debris up on top. If that does not work go here: General Transmissions Service and Parts.
Follow the troubleshooting steps. You have the RS800 transmission. If you are having problems troubleshooting please contact them. They will be glad to help.
Arty
Check for debris (grass etc) around the area under the black plastic bulb looking dome cover attached to but under pulley assembly at the back of trans. Mine was clogged up. Latest pulley has a fan moulded into so grass build up here is less, also has a debris cover. They say blow it out with compressed air. This assembly has two belts, one from the engine, one to the front of the trans. Very simple.
Steve Lane
Hello, I was wondering how do I know what CVT transmission is in a Husqvarna YTA24V48 Model 960450052 sold by Lowes. If comes with a Rs 800 or Rs 400 transmission?
Paul
Hi Steve, it’s the RS800. The 400 was only in a few smaller tractors.
Steve Lane
Paul, I purchased the Husqvarna YTA24V48 with the CVT RS800 transmission in it the other day. I got out and mowed the yard today, it was a little different to get use to the different transmission. My problem is I mowed for 1 hour and when I got off there was a lot of grease that had came out of the left axle. It had came out of the transmission. What do you think it is? Bad seal on axle or just too much grease in the transmission? Thanks
Paul
Hi Steve, My first guess would be an axle seal. It’s a $2.50 part. But, since it’s new I would take it back and have the tractor replaced.
Beverly Grisales
Paul , I have a Husqvarna YTA24v48 that I was using on a hill upwards, the transmission felt like it lost power and I rolled freely backwards. Any ideas , the mower did not duplicate this problem when it was inspected , but I have not used it since . !2 hrs of use.
Paul
Hi Beverly, If you can’t duplicate the issue it can be very hard to diagnose. That said, If you normally mow that hill and the lawn tractor is more than a year old the first thing I would do is change the drive belt. That’s the belt from the engine to the transmission. It may be worn just enough so that it works on level ground but will slip under heavy load like going uphill. Have a mechanic look at it and if the sides of that belt are shiny – replace it.
Gary
Hi Paul, I found your site after a fruitless search for clues for a solution to a recent transmission “noise” in my 2016 Husqvarna. I thought the automatic transmission was supposed to be maintenance free, but there’s definitely a “grinding” sound when rolling the tractor forward or reverse while it’s off. The grinding isn’t always constant, and it’s coming from the transaxle area. Nothing blocking the topside, V-belt, etc. Tractor specs are: Product #-96045005200, Serial #-031116A014297, Model #-YTA24V48. The Parts List shows this info: “Transaxle, Variator, SD Pedal (590277601) (Order parts from transaxle manufacturer.),” which scares the beans out of me. I bought the tractor new at Lowe’s on 6-12-16. Any ideas or suggestions for repair is greatly appreciated.
Paul
Hi Gary, I’m going to send you to the GT repair site: General Transmission Repair and Parts
David A.Vogler
Dave Vogler, Saratoga, WY. Paul, I bought a new Craftsman 20390 in 2014.I mow an acre with some moderate slopes. My only real complaint is that the tranny has become weaker over time. Hills I used to roll over, the tractor barely moves up them. Tire pressure is 12 lbs in rear. Rod is fully pushed in. Any suggestions? Belt slipping?
Paul
Hi David, That really sounds like the engine to transmission belt. That is a common maintenance item and 2-5 years is not bad for mowing on slopes.
Pete
Paul, I’m looking for some info on a craftsman 20391 tractor… is there an “adjustment” on the transmission? Sometimes it drives just right sometimes it seems like it is stuck in low gear.. any suggestions?
Paul
Hi Pete, The top of the transmission is dirty and needs to be cleaned off – an air compressor works great. Go here for more troubleshooting: General Transmissions Service
larry sequete
I am new with this riding mower stuff.
So I bought a Ariens 19 hp Briggs that looked to be very new. it was used when I got it but it still had the look of brand new everything including nubs on the tires. Well i put aprox 20 hrs on the machine and I noticed grease on the left inside rear wheel.
I took it to the dealer and he told me that the whole trany would need replaced not fixed because of the sealed case. futher inspection showed a sticker from General Transmissions. I believe the trany was replaced before I got it.
I can not find a model # or serial # on the mower.
I got the mower off of a Girls Scout Camp . I do like Girl Scout Cookies but I dont like the way this story is crumbling. What can I do the tech said it would cost near 1000.00 to replace the trany. ? Please help !!!!!
Paul
Hi Larry, The model number is on a sticker under the seat. The Transmission model number is on the right rear axle housing.
There are full parts available through 4 U.S distributors here: https://www.generaltransmissions.com/en/service-parts/
Here is a link to the full manual including tear down for the transmission: https://www.generaltransmissions.com/en/service-parts/
Michael
Hello. I live in Memphis, TN, with a 1/2 acre yard, fairly flat, smooth yard with few trees. I recently foolishly sold my 18 year old perfectly good Craftsman for a quieter, smoother Husqvarna YTA22V46 (with the CVT trans) I am on the 3rd one in a month. First one leaked oil (exchanged it), second one made terrible engine noise (exchanged it). I thought third one is a charm, and I hope it in fact is. The (perceived) problem I am coming noticing now is a groaning/humming noise in reverse. Is it normal for this transmission to make this noise in reverse? Forward sounds perfectly normal to me. I hate to wrongfully return a good mower (I still have about a week). I really do like this mower alot besides this groaning noise in reverse. Thanks for your advice!
Paul
Hi Michael, That automatic transmission is very similar internally to the manual transmissions that were in 1970’s and older cars. It’s basically a geared speed reducer or a big gearbox. The actual part that changes the speed is the variable speed pulley up on top.
So, have you ever heard one of the old manual transmissions in reverse? They made a howling noise when you backed up. What was happening is the forward gears were all helical cut. But the reverse gears were straight cut. There is a reason why you can’t cut the reverse gears helical but I can’t remember. You can Google what that means if you want.
So your transmission is built the same way internally. The forward gears are helical cut but the reverse gears are straight cut. That’s why it makes noise in reverse. General Transmission tells me that the noise will get quieter over time.
Michael
Paul:
Thank you so much for your reply. Knowing that it is a normal sound is going to let me sleep at night now. You have a great website that I have learned alot by reading through. Thank you again for your advice.
Paul from CT
Hi Paul,
I have ordered Husqvarna YTA22V46 mainly based on your articles but Lowes has delivered YTH22V46 instead. I tried the tractor and I like it, it is a big improvement comparing to my old manual 15.5HP Craftsman. However, I am having tough time to decide if I should exchanged it for YTA22V46 or not. Would I take any advantage of CVT transmission if my lawn is less than 0.75 acres, flat and most I will pull will be thatcher and few wagons of mulch, firewood or dirt per year. You have indicated that hydro is easier to operate and my wife mows on occasionally also.
Does CVT tractor stops when right pedal is released or brake must be used to stop? CVT is faster but can you really mow at 8MPH?
Thank you.
Paul
Hi Paul, The YTH22V46 will hold up fine for what you want to do. The K46 transmission was made for a 42 – 46 inch deck. Yes, your wife will like the pedal on the hydro.
Yes, a CVT does go to neutral when you let off on the right foot pedal. The CVT automatically sets an internal brake when it goes to neutral.
No you can’t mow at 8 mph. These decks only mow well at 3-4 mph. The 7.5 mph is just for running around the yard and down to the local “watering hole”
Richard
I bought the Craftsman T 3000 in April 2014. I mow a smooth, level yard, (about 4 city lots) in Wheaton, Missouri. I started having problems with misfires and running rough in August of 2014 and had 2 service calls to clean the carburetor. Last year, 2015, I had 5 service calls which included replacing the coils and spark plugs, rebuilding the carburetor and eventually installing a brand new carburetor. In October 2015 the transmission locked in gear and was replaced under warranty. This spring (2016) a month after I started mowing I again started having misfires and the transmission would stay in gear when the pedal was released (forward or reverse). It required using the left pedal to get it out of gear in order to change direction. The tech ordered another new carburetor and another transmission. Luckily it was in the last month of warranty so was still covered. The tech and his brother both work for Sears as repair techs and he said they have each been replacing 4 to 5 transmissions a year. Now that my unit is out of warranty, if the transmission goes out again, I will not invest $1000 in another transmission. I will put the money toward a different mower. It is sad that Craftsman quality has become so poor.
Paul
Hi Richard, I can’t begin to guess why a tech would just continue to change parts and not try to figure out why a carb needed rebuilding or replacing 7 times. Particularly since you state is the carb kept getting dirty. I would strongly suggest you take a look at how you transport and store your fuel.
Buy a new sealed gas can and use fuel stabilizer all the time. If you have a farm tank make sure the interior is not flaking. If you are buying fresh fuel from a gas station I would go somewhere else for a month and see if your luck changes.
Here is the fuel can that works. No-Spill 1450 5-Gallon Poly Gas Can I also use 2 tablespoons per gallon of Sea Foam when I go buy the fuel. Sea Foam SF-16 Motor Treatment – 16 oz..
I’d also be very cautious about the tech not being able to troubleshoot the real problem with the transmission. If the trans sticks or locks up next time please take an air hose, leaf blower, etc and clean the top of the trans completely. We are finding that if you mow when its; really dry or you mulch leaves when it’s windy the debris gets up on top of the trans and it binds up the linkages. The techs for some reason won’t just clean the trans – they feel they have to give you a new one.
If you do have problems write back. Most of the time it’s a $2 part that breaks not a $450 trans. I’ll show you where to get the diagrams, troubleshooting and parts for it.
Richard, Wheaton, MO.
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your reply. Last august I completely drained and cleaned the fuel tank to remove any water or dirt and replaced the fuel filter. I use a sealed plastic gas can and, since cleaning the tank, I only buy premium fuel without ethanol to minimize and water adsorption and I do add sea foam each time I fill the tank. Since then, the carburetor issues have been greatly reduced and I’m not sure why I had the misfire problem this spring. (I also use stabil when prepping for winter storage). Thanks for the advice on cleaning the top of the transmission. Like you I’m not sure why the techs replace the trans instead of cleaning it or replacing parts. I will make a point of keeping the top of the trans clean. If I have more issues I will definitely contact you for advice and info on cleaning and parts.
Tomcat
How do you keep the top of the transmission clean? I started having the same problem today. The trans will shift into forward or reverse, but you have to bump the pedal to get it to stop. I figured there was something binding the pedal linkage. I have a 2014 T3000 also. Runs great, cuts great, but for this. I cut about an acre, flower beds, slopes, flats. Some if it all.
Paul
Hi TomCat,
I have an air compressor so I use the blow gun. Just stick it in the holes of the frame around the back.
You can also use a leaf blower and then wash it with a garden hose.
DanielW
Having the same problems shifting binding and having troubles– took it to a Husq dealer and they tell me that transmission is junk and want to sell me a good Husq :-/. Not sure they are telling me anything right, but say this trans is not serviceable and needs to be replaced for almost the cost of the tractor. If I replace it, is there another version of this trans that I can put in that isn’t junk?
Paul
Hi Daniel, And they probably want to sell you a new mower with the same transmission……
90% of the time there is nothing wrong with your transmission – the top is just full of debris. Read some of the other comments and you can see what others have done to clean it. I suggest using an air compressor to get up on the top and blow all the debris out.
If you did break something on the shifter the replacement shifter kit is about $65.
Go to this website and go through their troubleshooting. If you can’t figure it out contact them monday-friday. They will help. General Transmissions Service
Darren Rust
Use the tractor on property in Centerville, Texas. Mow an area that is 2-3 acres around the cabin. Some slope, may be slightly rougher than the typical residential lawn.
Craftsman 46″, 22HP, CVT drive purchased ~Oct 2015. Use ounce a month when we’re at the property. The linkage between the right side forward/reverse pedal seems to be a weak link. Mine jammed yesterday. Big surprise (safety issue) to have the mower continue moving when the pedal is released. Any diagrams for this would be appreciated. I’d much rather fix this permanently myself, than take in for warranty work.
Paul
Hi Darren, Make sure there is no debris on the top of the trans. If it’s really dry stuff gets up in there and make the linkages stiff and hard to use. With the V-twins it can be hard to get up in there because the fuel tank is in the rear. Here is the page. There is a link to the parts manual for the transmission but that’s not your problem:There are service manuals halfway down the page. https://www.generaltransmissions.com/en/service-parts/.
To see the linkages and pedal parts you need the model number under the seat. Then go to searspartsdirect.com. Put that model number in and parts diagrams will pop up for the tractor.
Darren Rust
Yes, I’ve pretty much resigned myself to the process of removing the seat, the pan under the seat, and the gas tank to get a good look at it. The workings on this thing really don’t look too complicated, but I can see how vulnerable they are to debris.
Thx
Paul
Hi Darren, It’s easier to drop the trans out the bottom.
Peter
Hi Paul. Are there any new model riding mowers that use the Kohler 7000 Elite and the RS800 transmission together? Thanks, Peter
Paul
Hi Peter, Husqvarna is using the RS800 so it would have to be a tractor they build. (MTD has their own CVT.)
The red Craftsman all have Briggs this year
The Poulan Pro’s at both Home Depot and Amazon all have Briggs.
All of the Husqvarna YTA tractors use Briggs.
Simplicity/Snapper is owned by Briggs so you won’t find a Kohler in them.
Deere is using the RS400, not the RS800. They use a Briggs block in the D series.
So, as far as I know – No.
Troy
I bought a model 917.20390 22hp, 42″ cut craftsman. Loved it. That is until the 6th time I used it… I have a hilly yard, and it just died mowing up one of my hills. After 4 visits from technicians, multiple “small parts” replaced, they finally said the tranny was bad. He drove it up and down a hill until it was SMOKING. Plastic burning everywhere. Then, “sorry Sir, this is no longer under warranty”. And also, “I’ve replaced a lot of these since the internal parts are all plastice”. Price? $1000 for replacement. This tranny is great if all you do is mow on flat surfaces. If you give it ANY sort of strain, it will fail due to the plastic pulleys. Cheap, cheap, cheap.
Paul
Hi Troy, if you only used it 6 times why would the technician say it’s out of warranty? Did you buy it used? Craftsman has a full 2 year defects warranty.
shane
Hi, paul
St Louis , Mo I had a craftsman lawn tractor 917272082, 17 hp, automatic which went shot craps after 15 years. I”m looking at 917203900 , 22 hp B@S motor, 42″, automatic and the craftsman pro 20438, kohler 20 hp 42″, hydrostatic. any advice which one? I like the features of both. I have a flat 1/2 acre yard. I also areate my yard 1 or 2 times a year, my old craftsman mower would slow down when I’m about finish. Its the only time I would use attachments.
I like the features of both. I feel the B@S and the kohler motor are very comparable. Don’t know which would be better the cvt or hydrostatic or the durability of each transmission. the pedal that makes the tractor go forward on the automatic takes more effort compare to the craftsman pro. Don’t know if the pedal would loosen up after a while.
Read that the automatic is made by Husqvarna and the pro is made by mtd, don’t know if that makes a difference.
Thanks for any recommendations.
Paul
Hi Shane, You have found one of the only real differences in the two models. The pedal on the Craftsman 20390 is a little taller than the pedal on the Craftsman 20438 and some people complain that it is too tall for small feet. If you have a lot of backing up to do the 20438 also has a little faster reverse.
The other different is the turning radius. The 20390 turns shorter so if you have a lot of trimming it is a better choice. The 20390 also goes 7.5 mph so if you want to put a snow blade on upir tractor it is a better choice.
shane
Thanks, Paul
Just one more question. I’m leaning towards the automatic, 22hp, 20390. Do you think the transmission will be able to pull a 200-300 lb aerator? The aerator is homemade and pokes 1 0r 2 inch holes. Thanks again , Paul.
Paul
Hi Shane, the transmission will handle that easily.
fred todd
I bought a homedepoe Power PB24v a54 in poulan model 96o42080 it said a PB 24va Briggs Stratton engine had a automatic transmission is this automatic transmission. A general rs800 CVt automatic I going to cut 3 acres flat land wide open. 1999.99dollars
Paul
Hi Fred, That transmission will work well in that mower
Burt
Philly PA-Great information Paul! Need to purchase a new tractor for a lawn about 3/4 acre. Mostly flat but bumpy in areas. Trying to get a grasp on the transmissions types. I need it primarily for mowing, but I do hope to use it for lugging some cut firewood from time to time (3 times a year). You seem to be high on the CVT transmissions. Would this type of trans but okay for that? At this point, I’m comparing the Craftsman 25583 ($1,399) and the Poulan Pro PP20VA46 Model 960420188 ($1,499), which I believe both have the General Transmissions RS 800 CVT. Which would you prefer or would I get more bang for the buck. Or, would you recommend another type trans/tractor altogether?
Thanks!
Burt
Paul
Hi Burt, I like the 25583 the best. Both have the RS800 tranny but the 960420188 is a lighter tractor. You get a better tractor with the Craftsman.
Burt
Thanks Paul, I think I’m locked in on the Craftsman per your recommendation. The 25583 is now $1,282. Also considering the 2390 ($1,453) w/ the 22 HP B&S V-Twin. Is the V-Twin and any additional features on the 2390 worth the price over the 25583? Or is it worth it to consider the Pro series 20438 w/ the Tuff Torq & 20 HP V-Twin Kohler ($1,538) or even the 20440 ($1,709) w/ the 22 HP V_Twin Kohler and Turn Tight? The 20440 is getting up there for my budget, but if it’s worth it, well…
Thanks again in advance!
Burt
Paul
Hi Burt, the 25583 is a decent tractor. At $1282 I would buy it before I bought a Poulan Pro. But – You will never think you spent too much on the 20440. It really mows well, runs well, and steers well. Make up your mind, this sale usually goes off tonight.
Tommy Mc
Hi Paul, I hope you can help me with my dilemma. My 25 yr old Craftsman with manual 6-speed transmission has finally given up the ghost. I’m trying to narrow down the field of new tractors to one that will work for me. I mow a little less than an acre, mostly on a gentle slope, but there is a steep hill in front of the house that varies between 10 – 20 degrees. There is no room to maneuver at the top, so I mow across, putting a lot of weight on the fender. Still, any tractor I buy has to be able to run well on hills…something that I understand a hydrostatic isn’t the best at.
The dilemma is that all the manual or reliable CVT transmissions seem to be on low end models. Can you recommend some tractors that might work for me?
Paul
Hi Tommy, I really don’t know what tractor to suggest. Actually I want to suggest a walk-behind mower. Why? The brands only rate their riding mowers for 15 degree slopes or less. In addition the seat safety switch doesn’t let you ride the fender anymore. I know you have been mowing you hill for quite some time but it really does sound unsafe to mow with a tractor.
It’s not even May and we’ve already had over a dozens deaths from roll overs. Please read this article:
Be careful – any slope can turn you over.
Tommy Mc
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I do appreciate your warning and am well aware of the risk. I may have exaggerated the slope a bit. I just went out an took some careful measurements using the “15 degree slope sighting guide” in the owners manual, (yes, I still have it) and it’s pretty close. Using a level and protractor, I get 16 degrees for the small worst section, but the rest is 10 degrees or less. I could do that section with a push mower, but the tractor is indispensable for the rest of the yard, and hauling a small cart (brush and firewood)
The entire yard is at some degree of slope, so with all the bad reviews of hydro trannys with respect to hills, do you think I’d have better luck with a CVT like the Deere D-105? I see that the Craftsman 20380 (6-speed manual) would be the equivalent to what I’ve been using, but have to wonder how well built it is. Also, the Sears salesman said the Auto transmission on the 20374 and similar models was hydro…..is this true, or is the auto a CVT? Thanks for any guidance. The grass is growing, so I’ve got to pull the trigger soon…..
Paul
Hi Tommy, Ok, now we are getting somewhere. Let’s fix the issue with the Sears guy first. The Craftsman lawn tractors like the 20374 are CVT’s made by MTD. They are the same transmission that in the Troy-Bilt Pony, Bronco and Horse.
The Yard tractors like the Craftsman Model 20380 42″ 6-speed 19HP Briggs & Stratton Turn Tight® Riding Mower are made by Husqvarna and has the good-ole Peerless six speed in it. This tractor is very similar to your old tractor.
The Yard tractors like the Craftsman Model 25583 46″ Fast Auto 19HP Briggs & Stratton Turn Tight® Riding Mower are made bu Husqvarna and use the General Transmissions RS 800 CVT. It’s the strongest tranny in this price range. This one is a very good price this week
I suggest staying away from the JD D105. It uses the RS 400 series GT trans. It’s a good trans but not as strong as the one in the Craftsman.
Tommy Mc
Thanks Paul, for the info. So would you say that in general, CVT transmissions are better suited to sloped lawns and light hauling than a hydro like the K46? And how to they compare to the standard tranny like the one that I’ve been using? I don’t think my local Sears has a manual in stock, but I’m sure they could get one.
I have to say that I’ve been using the manual shift for the past 25 yrs and never wished I had anything else. Plenty of other complaints like wanting a wider deck and sturdier steering but the shift is pretty easy to use. It’s almost like having cruise control, and when I turn at the end of a pass, I can just ride the clutch…which just loosens the idler on the drive belt.
Paul
Hi Tommy, yes your local Sears can order you one. Make sure they give you the same price as on sears.com and free delivery.
Nick
Hi Paul,
With your help, I purchased an Airens riding mower (936085 – A20VA46) in June 2014 which has the GT RS 800 transmission, which was supposed to be a superior transmission. After the first season, the transmission failed and had to be replaced. After last season, same thing happened and the transmission failed again. I have been reading elsewhere of others having similar situations. Do you know if GT is doing anything to make the RS 800 more robust. Luckily I have an extended warranty from Home Depot and part of me is hoping that it does fail one more time as then they will replace it as part of their lemon policy.
Paul
Hi Nick, I’d like to say that this transmission will be your last. I know that the manufacture is following any problems as closely as they can and improvements are made when an issue arises. The biggest problem though is even a broken forward/reverse lever or simply a missing clip is considered a transmission failure by the techs and instead of replacing the broken part the techs are switching out the entire transmission. Individual parts are available but they don’t use that option.
You can go to this page and there is a repair manual for the trans and videos. In the repair manual is a troubleshooting chart to help you figure out what is actually wrong. If your tractor is past the warranty parts are available nationwide.
https://www.generaltransmissions.com/en/service-parts/
Arty
Hi there, wondering if Nick could let us have some details of the symptoms experienced when his GT CVT needed repair. Could Paul comment on the symptoms ?
For myself I have got a little mixed up with the brake and the speed control foot pedal. The brake is not required to slow the machine, but I have been slow to release the brake while pushing the speed control foot pedal, one can feel the quite the unit snap into it’s drive mode, can that cause damage?
Another question I pondered, is if adding a few mils oil to the pre 2015 transmission units would be helpful, if the later 2015 on units have had a larger reservoir added.
In the automotive field, many CVT’s are noisy, especially in reverse. The first thing to fail is generally the forward clutch pack, which gives a shudder on take off when faulty.
Paul
Hi Arty, The only thing the left foot pedal does is to release the tension on the belt from the engine to the transmission. On a hydro it also engages a parking brake on the outside of the transmission but on this model the parking brake is done a different way.
When you put the right hand pedal in neutral then the internal brake sets automatically. You don’t have to do anything – the transmission automatically sets the parking brake each time you move the pedal to neutral. As soon as you move the pedal to forward or reverse it releases.
To release the parking brake so you can move the tractor around the garage without the engine running the right pedal has to be in the neutral position, then pull the rod located in the back of the tractor. It also helps if you then press on the left pedal, that releases the tension on the drive belt allowing the trans to completely free wheel.
No the gear noise.. Have you ever owned a real manual transmission in a car or truck? When you put them in reverse and then accelerate do you remember how they used to whine? You never wrecked the trans doing that – all you were doing was to spin-up the reverse spur gears instead of the helical cut forward gears. Google “why do manual transmission whine in reverse?” to find out more.
The gear case is sealed. There is no way to put more oil in it. In addition, the gearbox does not need any more grease.
Finally, there are no clutch packs inside the case. It is a gearbox only. The CVT is the variable belt/pulley on the top, outside of the trans. Check out the service manual on this page: Service manuals
Dan
I just bought a Husqvarna YTA24V48 From Lowes, I use the big box stores because I can get my 10% military discount, thank you Lowes for supporting us! I asked about the automatic and everyone thought it was still a hydrostat trans relabeled. I got it for the sale price of 1899 then 10% off that, so I thought it was a fair price with the 18 months zero % to pay it off. I’m Old school and like the hydrostat, I have never really had any problems with it, guess I was lucky but I have had them in lawn tractors to larger combines on the farm and like them. When I found more research on this mower and found it to be CVT belt drive I wasn’t to happy, been around them for years too. It’s still on the trailer, put gas in but never even started it yet. They still have 3 of the YTH24V48 left. This is for a flat yard in FL and all I will really do with it is mow and bag the grass.
My question is do you think I should just keep it and give it a go and see if I like the new tech in these CVT style trans, or take it back and trade it for the hydrostat drive?
Thank you for your time! 🙂
I would consider another, like craftsman but I don’t think I can get the 18 month zero%.
Paul
Hi Dan, the RS 800 is a stronger, faster transmission but it drives differently than the hydros so you may not like it. First the pedal is 3/4 inch taller. It will run around the yard a 8 mph but some owners don’t like the tall pedal. Second, the reverse is more on/off. It backs up a 1 mph but there is no variable to it like a hydro. Since you have a flat lawn you won’t have issues with the K46 in the YTH so I suggest that you switch.
Dan
Thanks Paul,
That’s kind of what I was leaning to anyhow. Thanks for your post and all the information you share with others. I wish I had found you forum before I picked it up, would have saved me some diesel, you are very informative. I’m sure these new CVT are great but I work on all my own stuff from overhauling cars and tractors, transmission and what not, just grew up that way. I don’t mind preventive maintenance if it will keep things running a long time and I keep things any where from 10 to 20 years ha, old school that way, I expect things to last but we are now in a throw away world and not to many fix there own any longer, I must say it is getting harder to find good quality parts these days.
Thanks Again.
Dan
Paul,
I did go and get the older model, so far I like it except the one time I was on a small angel and it decided to do the one wheel drive carp, wasn’t to happy with that. I did go online and print out the parts list, they should just include that but they don’t. I was wanting to know if you know anything about the TUFFTORQ K57R, that is what the parts list says it has in it.
Thanks for your time.
Paul
Hi Dan, I don’t know the difference between a K57 and a K46. The K57 is supposed to have a high duty cycle but the specs for it are exactly the same as the K46. The only difference I can see is there are a few more cooling fins on the transmission case. That said,
The K46 transmission is the most used hydrostatic tranny used. It works well in tractors like yours but will overheat and burnout on extended use on hills and hauling heavy loads. The K57 is an upgrade. It won’t overheat as quickly and will last longer on hills.
I have 2 riders here with K57 trannys in them. One is used almost everyday to pull a trailer full of dirt, mulch, rocks, etc. The other rider I mow with. Both mowers are 17 years old and have never had a transmission problem.
Arthur Murray
Hi there Paul
Thank you for the info provided.
I ended up buying the Ariens 2014 lawn tractor. Model is 936084, has a 19hp Briggs and Stratton engine and the Element V CVT and a 42 inch deck.
The machine looks a lot like the 2013/2014 Craftsman with 42 inch deck. The machine is brand new, I got it going and it seems to do everything I want. It was a pretty good price. It has no warranty as it is a non dealer import. This is a budget machine I am sure, but it will suit the job I have at present which is around 1000 sqm of flat lawn.
Am I correct in thinking this Ariens Machine is made in the same place as Craftsman ? They look very similar.
The motor has an oil filter, so I assume it has an oil pump. The book says it can safely mow a 15% incline.
Are U associated with the Craftsman Brand? I am in New Zealand and the Craftsman brand is not promoted. The recently appointed dealer/importer for the brand as a bunch of other brands it imports.
Paul
Hi Arthur, Craftsman and Ariens are both made by Husqvarna/Poulan Pro. So many of the parts are interchangeable between the four brands. Your tractor is basically a 2008 Craftsman with an updated motor and transmission.
Now, your tractor may not have a warranty but you may be able to get parts through your Ariens/Gravely dealer. ByNorm and Stens are lawn mower part companies owned by Ariens that I know are also in Australia.
If the oil filer is black, it’s an INTEK. If the oil filter is yellow it’s an Intek Plus
Arthur Murray
Hi there Paul
Thankyou for the response. Crucial information which surprisingly is little know by sellers. Most sellers have no idea about the drives and drive models in ride on mowers.
I have another question. In my travels I have found a chap with a new unsold Ariens mower. It is a budget model with a 19 or 19.5 hp single cylinder Briggs engine and the drive is an Element V 800 series CVT by General Transmissions. The trans has the black cone on the forward facing belt pulley. He had brought a bunch of these into the country during 2014 and he had claims due to the Element V drives developing a grinding noise. They are 05 /14 on the body sticker.
He has offered me a deal on a new unsold machine and my question is were transmissions failures common on this machine in this year? Should I steer clear ? My lawn is small, I thought the machine would work ok in the short term. My proposal is to import a premium equipped machine from the US – perhaps a few and offer these to buyers.
I have driven one of the claim machines, they go well, ground speed is controlled by the how far one presses the transmission control foot pedal and blade speed runs directly of the engine. The grinding noise sounds like a bearing of plastic grinding against plastic, makes the noise when pushing as well as running.
I am wondering if anyone could let me have a contact for Craftsman in the USA.
Many Thanks Paul
Paul
Hi Arthur, Engine – drive train info is not something most people are used to caring about. They just want the mower to run and last. It’s like their car. Who made the trans in that? They only care that it goes down the road and that the dealer will fix it when it breaks.
There is actually nothing wrong with that tranny and I have addressed that issue 100’s of times in the last two years. A lot of that discussion is over in the comments for Craftsman 20390 article.
That black box is nothing more than a gear reducer. The speed change is accomplished with the CVT pulley on the top. Inside the case is a series of metal and poly gears. These gears are basically self lubricated and they don’t go bad. But—-
1. Because the gears are basically self-lubricating there is very little oil inside the transmission case. Because of this you hear the gears. It’s especially loud in reverse. Because all of us are used to a lawn tractor gearbox or tranny being quiet we automatically think the tranny is going bad because we can hear the gear noise.
2. Don’t pull the tranny apart. You won’t fix the noise.
3. Even though the manufacture knows there is nothing wrong they have changed where the oil sits inside the trans in later versions. The trannys made in 2015 and later are not as noisy. The tranny has proven itself so there are more and more people getting used to the sounds. In fact, for 2016 there are almost three times as many tractors with this transmission as there was in 2014.
Here are two articles on the tranny: Please read the faqs section in the second article. https://todaysmower.com/cvt-automatic/ and https://todaysmower.com/general-transmissions-now-has-a-u-s-parts-service-and-sales-center/.
Finally here is the parts page for the trans. It has parts ordering info and the service manual. https://www.generaltransmissions.com/en/service-parts/.
Arty
Hi there, Can anyone give me a steer on the quality of a HUSQVARNA lawn tractor 2016 model YTA24V48 fitted with a Pedal Operated Element V RT400 CVT Automatic Transmission .
In the automotive field CVT trans are not well regarded, kinda like a Volvo IPS sterndrive in a boat.
My lawn is flat mostly with one section of hill that is 1 in 5, lawn size is 1600 sqm – so small – I am just old and lazy. it is a holiday place so the lawn can grow 150mm (6 inches) between mows.
Any feedback would be great.
Paul
Hi Arty, Yes, The YTA24V48 is brand new. To be accurate it is a Husqvarna Yard Tractor with GT RS-800 Fast Transmission, B&S Intek Engine, standard 16 inch steering radius and Husqvarna’s 3 blade 48 inch deck. It does have the two little bolt-on strips of metal on the deck lip so Husqvarna can call it a “reinforced” deck and arm rests.
When you stated the tractor had the RT400 I knew that had to be wrong. I saw that mowersdirect was the only one to list it that way. The RT400 is for the smaller tractors like the John Deere D110. The actual transmission is the good RS800 CVT. You can verify the transmission here: YTA24V48 Parts List
That’s true – the early CVT’s in cars had their issues. Today though CVT’s are taking over and some brands like Honda, Toyota and Subaru are putting them in their most popular vehicles. The RS800 in this Husqvarna, the Craftsman’s and the Poulan Pro’s is proving to be one of the most dependable on the market. It never requires maintenance and the design is constantly updated.
I’ll compare it to the 48 inch Craftsman 20391 @ $1899 and the 46 inch Craftsman Pro 20442 @ $2199.
The Craftsman 20391 and the YTA24V48 are pretty much the same tractor. It has the same deck, frame and transmission. The Craftsman has a better engine (Intek Plus) and a better 6 inch turning radius. The YTA24V48 has 2HP more, arm rests and the reinforcement plates on the deck. If you had steep hills and lots of stuff to mow around the Craftsman would be a better choice.
The Craftsman 20442 is completely different tractor but very comparable. It has a better Kohler engine, better 5 inch turning radius and many people say it’s easier to turn. Consumer Reports rates the cut of the 46 inch 2 blade deck a lot better than the 48 inch 3 blade Husqvarna/Craftsman deck. The deck reinforcements are weld into the deck instead of bolted on. Consumer Reports give the Craftsman a 78 out of 100 rating and the comparable Husqvarna a 69 out of 100. (top score for all tractors is 78) The biggest difference is this Craftsman uses a hydrostatic transmission. It is more familiar to use for old guys like me. The CVT in the other two tractors is a great transmission but it’s different. The CVT sounds different, it’s forward speed is faster, the foot pedal is longer and is much slower in reverse.
Huey Campbell
Huey @ Ozark, Alabama To: L. Reid Benedict. ……You have probably took care of the problem by now but, The forward/reverse control rod pops off a 5/16 ” pin on the transmission lever. I purchase a 5/16 “E” clip from the local auto parts for my McCulloch M24-54T with the V element 800 transmission. It was delivered w/o the clip. We’ll see how long it takes to come off again? I had to drop the tranny down to get the clip installed.
Tom
I see that home depot is selling the Ariens A19A42 tractor. It uses the General Transmission RS 800. Will this transmission hold the tractor back going down hills like my old craftsman with a 5 speed manual? Pittsburgh, PA
Paul Sikkema
Hi Tom, Yes, The transmission does not freewheel down slopes.
Scott
How is the CVT in the John Deere D105, I know it is the General Transmission RT400 Vs. the RS 800 in the Ariens and Craftsmen mowers. Are these transmissions holding up? Any issues? How is the D105.
Thanks Scott
Fort Worth, TX
Paul Sikkema
@Scott, yes they are holding up very well. After Christmas I will be detailing some specifics about both transmissions. We are going to take both the 400 and 800 apart and I’ll show you exactly why they are a lot stronger than the hydro’s they replace.
There have been a few issues mentioned on reviews, but so far all of them have been the owner didn’t understand how this transmission worked. For example, a few people complain that the the trans was noisy when pushing it around the garage. They don’ understand it has gears instead of pumps so it will sound different.
Derek maske
Have done the review on the inside of the rs800 yet
Paul Sikkema
Hi Derek, No, you are second person to ask for it since I wrote that short note 2 months ago so it has not been a priority.
I am waiting on a pulley I have ordered for an electric motor. I want to spin up the trans first with the motor – show you how it works on the outside – and then open it up. So as soon as the part comes in I will get on the project for you.
Daniel Roberts
I bought a D105 June 2014. It has been in the shop since March, 2015 (about 3 months). I have a relatively flat yard that easily meet the terrain specs for the unit. After an hour of mowing the CVT transmission slips until it can’t be ran. If it rests for a few hours, the machine can be ran again. After being charged $530 at Deere’s service center, the department manager at Deere says this is normal and isn’t covered by warranty. If you are thinking Deere…don’t. The 3 year warranty is a sham. Terrible customer service and machines built to be disposable. At one point the JD manager said if I paid to have the machine completely disassembled and they discovered the issue, they would cover the cost to replace the item. But I would be responsible for covering the cost of the machine being disassembled and reassembled. It only has 10 hours and is ready for the dump. These are not your father’s JD machine.
Paul Sikkema
Hi Daniel, This problem you are having has me completely confused. Does the transmission make any noise before it quits moving? The RS400 transmission is nothing more than a variable speed v-belt on top of a gearbox so there is nothing to overheat and stop the trans from running. If it’s the v-belt that is only $45 and if it is the gearbox it wouldn’t move at all.
I also don’t understand why your service center doesn’t just change out the trans. Now days they don’t “fix” transmissions, they just replace them. It’s a 45 minute job.
Did you buy this at a Deere dealer or a box store? Is there another Deere dealer you can go to? Can you get John Deere involved? Is there a district manager that can help?
Daniel Roberts
I’ve already replaced the belt. After an hour of mowing the transmission slips and smokes…no noise. If rested, the machine runs fine for another hour. The scenario is repeated even with a replaced belt.
The service center had the transmission slip under heavy load at 10 minutes which meets their specs for the unit according to the field rep and isn’t covered by warranty. I have the same issue at an hour under normal load. What I mow is mostly flat.
The first time at the service center it stayed there for 7 weeks before they sent it back without being able to identify the issue {~$260 bill}. This is when I first spoke to the head JD support manager and they suggested having their service center disassemble the machine at my expense and once they found the faulty part they would cover the cost of the part. When the machine was returned, after an hour of mowing, the transmission slips and smokes. I decided to push it this time. After about 5 minutes the belt burnt through. The previous times I had just stopped. I replaced the belt and after an hour of mowing the same issue surfaced. I sent it back to the service center which claimed it would be covered by warranty now that they had more information to work with. Needless to say after 4 weeks I received a ~$270 bill, again, with the issue not being covered by warranty. I escalated the issue up to the head manager at the JD call center and they won’t replace the CVT. I won’t support Deere anymore. I am handy enough I could probably figure out how to replace the CVT myself. But, I don’t trust the RS400 transmission. Is there a better built CVT that could be substituted for this unit?
I purchased the unit at a box store since the dealer is over 1.5 hrs out from where I live. JD claims those box store machines are assembled and the same quality that sits at the dealer. But, they also claim to support their customers and have a 3 year warranty.
Paul Sikkema
Hi Daniel, This is so unlike John Deere’s service that I first thought you were dealing with Lowes 3rd party service contractor at first.
Thanks for sending me the picture of the belt. The belt clearly shows that something in the drive train is binding and that is causing the belt to burn up. Since they installed the belt the second time they can’t blame you for the belt.
Why John Deere is not taking care of this immediately is beyond me. John Deere – can you help?
Brian
Johnstown, Pa. I have a 2014 Craftsman t1200 42 inch Lawn Tractor model no. 203721. Can’t find any reviews on this model. Is the auto cvt transmission the new v element
Model?
Thanks…..Brian
Paul Sikkema
@Brian, You can’t find any reviews because that is a Sears Hometown Exclusive tractor and the Hometown stores do not have a website where you can order parts or read reviews.
Your tractor is similar to a model 20373 sold at the regular Sears stores with the Craftsman 420 cc engine that you can find in the model 20370. It is designed to mow lawns period. You can install a bagger but nothing else.
It is made by MTD and does not have the Element V trans. It does have MTD’s own automatic (CVT). That transmission does not have any problems – ever.
rudy
I have T3000 mower and everything works well, but I have a concern about the mower when reversing. Their is a slight whining noise coming from the transmission, also sometimes the mower moves very slow in reverse like it hasn’t engaged completely. I called Sears and the sent me instructions to “purge” the transmission, they said that it had air that had to be bled from the case. I tried it but the noise is still their. Any suggestions?
Paul Sikkema
@Rudy, Over the years I have had quite a few hydrostatics that make noise. Many of them make more noise in reverse. At 70 degrees they are quiet, but at other temperatures they make noise. Most hydro’s will especially make noise when the temp is under 30 degrees or so.
The good news is you have a full 2 year defects warranty on the transmission. Go ahead and use it for a year. If it moves slowly in reverse every other time you back up. If it starts to make enough noise in forward that you can hear it when you are mowing or it won’t go as fast as it did when new – then call 1-800-4MY-HOME and have a tech diagnose and repair it. (If you bought the protection plan it is covered for 3 or 5 years) Don’t mention the whining, the tech can hear that when he gets to your home.
Collin
Are torque and speed inversely proportionate with the CVT tranny? I hated using a hydrostatic unit for plowing. You had to deal with max speed to get a lot of power to the wheels. I spent a lot of time ramming snow, not plowing it. I mowed with my new 20390 yesterday. Best attribute: 6″ Turning Radius (this thing can whip!). Worst attribute: Breaks traction on slopes too easy, esp when in a turn (whimpy tread on turf tires? tranny or differential letting inside wheel slip too soon? operator error?).
Paul Sikkema
@Collin, The CVT is effectively a gear reducer attached to a variable speed belt. The CVT belt is on the high speed side of the gear reducer so the torque should remain constant at the rear wheels.
Toady’s tractors are a lot lighter than those made before 1995. The old tractors had cast iron gear case that added a few hundred pounds of weight. They now use aluminum or poly transmission cases. Of course the manufactures all state the tractors will work on slopes up to 15 degrees………
A lot of owners that are having problems on slopes are adding fluid to the tires or wheel weights or suitcase weights to the rear. Each rear tire will hold about 6 gallons of windshield washer fluid or RV antifreeze.
Richard Averill
I took delivery of a new Craftsman 20390 on 4/30/14. I have driven the tractor but not mowed with it yet. Our daughter used the tractor to mow her yard and ours while we were out of town. She said it mows “awesome” but it rides really rough compared to our previous Craftsman.
The major issue she had was traction. Twice, one of the rear tires dropped into a depression in her yard (a hole dug by her dog) and the tractor would not pull itself out. She raised the deck and tried rocking but it would not even spin the tire, It just wouldn’t pull. She said it was like the transmission wouldn’t engage. She had to get off the tractor and have her son help to push it out of the depression.
Richard
Wheaton, MO
Paul Sikkema
@Richard, Three things to check. 1. Check your tire pressure. Reduce the rear tire inflation to 12 lbs. From the factory they have too much air. 2. Make sure the little rod in the back of the tractor is pushed all the way in. If that does not fix the problem with it pulling itself then 3. Call 1-800-4MY-HOME and have a tech come out and look at the drive. It sounds like the engine to trans drive belt or an idler but have the tech check it.
JD, New York
I think I found the rod (having found a labeled diagram of a CVT transmission) but even when engaged, it is a real bear to push the tractor anywhere — it takes tremendous effort, and results in a “whirring” type of noise in the transmission area. It would seem that we are fighting something (an internal brake; a mechanical load) and I don’t know whether this is expected or not… It seems unlikely that it should be this hard to move/push this thing.
Paul Sikkema
Hi JD, Yes the transmission does make a whirring noise when you push it around the garage. When you pull the rod you are releasing the internal brake – not the whole transmission like you do on a hydrostat.
Make sure the parking brake (left foot pedal) is not engaged.
Make sure the transmission is in neutral (either the fender control or the foot control) Wiggle it to make sure.
Pull the release rod until you hear a click.
Wiggle the foot control or fender lever agin to make sure it’s in neutral.
I’ve attached an internal Craftsman document that has pictures. Craftsman Bypass click on this link to read it.
Bob
Thanks Paul – i went with the 20390 based on your reviews. Cant wait to use it! Thanks again. Bob from NY
Gary Mayk, Schnecksvile, PA
You have the “Model 2014 Craftsman T2600 Model 20385 46 in Hydrostatic 19 hp Yard Tractor” on your CVT list, and yet its name contains the word “hydrostatic.” So which is it? A CVT or a hydrostatic? The Sears online description simply says “automatic.” I like Kohler engines but I really don’t want a hydrostatic. Please clarify. Also, I think it’s 48-inch, not 46.
Paul Sikkema
@Gary, It’s an automatic. The title is wrong and it’s taken sears.com over 6 weeks to make the correction. And it is a 46. It uses the same 2 blade 46 inch deck as the Model 20383
Mike Erickson
Hudson, WI – Do you know if any of the pro-series Craftsman tractors also use this transmission? In particular the 98643 model. I’m not able to find any information about the transmission used in this one.
Paul Sikkema
@Mike, The 98643 uses the new CVT. Be careful with this tractor. It is over priced in my opinion: Red 3400 is $2099 the Black 98643 is $2499. The only difference between this and the Red T3400 Model 20393 is the Kohler motor and the EZ blade change. Here is link to the best price for the 98642: To View and Purchase Online: Save big on lawn & garden appliances!
$2,499.99
Mike Erickson
Paul, the black 98643 also has the reinforced deck too. Do you think that would make the price difference worth it, or is the 3400 still the way to go?
Paul Sikkema
@Mike, The reinforced deck is simply a piece of flat steel the is bolted around the bottom of the deck. I’m sorry, but it’s just a gimick in my opinion. No, I don’t think the price difference is worth it.
Mike Erickson
Paul, do you know what model of the Element V they are using in the Craftsman mowers? I test drove one the other day, (#98643) and it had a pedal for both Forward and Reverse.
Paul Sikkema
@Mike, The RS 800 is used in the T1600, T3000, T3200, and T3400 Craftsman Yard Tractors
Randy
What about the T2200 I am trying to decide between the t3000 and the t2200. Florence KY
Paul Sikkema
Hi Randy, The T2200 is no longer available. It was replaced with the 25081 for 2015. The 25081 is very similar to the 20390 (t3000).
Differences.
25081. Has a single cylinder Briggs Platinum, fender controlled CVT
20309. Twin cylinder Briggs Platinum, Foot controlled CVT, hour meter
If you don’t need a v-twin the 25081 has plenty of power for normal mowing, bagging and mulching. Singles have a little more vibration but generally last just as long.
Click Here: 25081 Review 20390 review
L. Reid Benedict
Paul,
I have the T3200… you are on point in all your responses.. the thing is light and looses traction easily. I’ve only had mine a couple of weeks. Got spinning wheels in wet grass so I thought I’d rock it reverse- forward but then the FWD- REV pedal went flimsy on me. Had to tow it back to the garage… I remember you saying not to stomp on the pedal when the engine is not running because something could break. But I was on the machine running and lost fwd-rev. I did buy the warranty.. but it is Memorial weekend and I doubt I’ll get any service tech. Might this be an easy fix like a busted cotter pin or such?
Thanks, Reid B. Virginia
Paul Sikkema
Hi L.Reid, Yes, It sounds like you broke the drive lever on the top of the trans. Just call 1-800-4MY-HOME and get a tech out to fix it.
Once you figure out which part is broke have the tech give you the part number. Sears now has that part so you can order a spare here to hang on your wall. Sears PartsDirect
. Just put in the model number from under your seat and diagrams and parts lists will pop up.
L. Reid Benedict
Paul, interesting finding…. The connecting link rod from pedal to the transmission has a small quarter inch diameter hole on the end that simply bits over top of a pin in the transmission. The is no retention clip or pin to keep the link rod from popping off.
I simply dropped the rod end back in place and was back to mowing.
Odd design…… I will be phoning sear tech support on Tuesday.
Paul Sikkema
Hi L.Reid, the parts diagram shows a washer and cotter pin. Click here: Trans linkage. I wonder if the assembly line missed the cotter pin or it wasn’t spread.
L. Reid Benedict
Paul,
Please tell me part number. the control rod part number 163 is what has popped off. The rearward end does not show a washer or cotter pin. In fact it doesn’t even show to where it connects to the transmission. Is there a separate tranny diagram? I happened to find it by feel only as you cannot access without significant contortion or removal of the body pan. Of course I didn’t get far with the rod reattached. It simply popped right off again within the first ten feet of travel. I could not feel a hole in the tranny attachment point for cotter key but does make sense to have something there. Warranty service is a pain… called them and earliest availability is two weeks out. Tech support line suggested I could trade unit back for new model at point of purchase. Go figure I would need this over holiday vacation. Store manager not available to approve so now I am stuck. I think I’ve wasted $500 on five year warranty if it takes weeks to get a service truck. I can order parts and fix my self.
Paul Sikkema
Hi L.Reid, I had guessed the wrong part. I thought it was part 29. It looks like 163 should connect to the part 7 in the transaxle diagram. There are no service manuals available for most lawn and garden products and Sears has never made a repair manual that shows you where all the parts fit together.
I’m not going to comment about Sears service. I know my local Husqvarna dealer is well over two weeks out on residential repairs. It is interesting that only the store manage can authorize that exchange. Most stores the L&G manager can make their own decisions.
L. Reid Benedict
Paul, Finally found the correct part. After about 30 min with parts/tech support, no one at Sears could determine the correct part to hold the rod control on the transmission drive shaft. I finally took a cell phone photo of my unit and then went to Sears Store and snapped a shot of what was on the floor. There is a “tractor nut” used to capture the rod end and hold it on the control shaft. Part number is 378 on the drive assembly diagram. Fortunately after all my research, a fourth call to sears parts resulted in a free shipment of 4 replacement nuts. On the web site it shows 474 of these things replaced in the last year. Holy smokes. I think an e-clip and washer may well hold on longer. Still on queue for technician repair for 6 June. Parts should arrive on Monday 2 June. Quite an ordeal for such a smal part. Oh and by the way I only have an hour on the tractor.
Taking your advice to add washer fluid for extra wheel weight. Traction on slopes is slippery at best on greened up grass.
Paul Sikkema
@L.Reid, Thank you so much for letting us know! As usual, it’s not the actual transmission, but the installation from the tractor manufacture that is the problem. As you found out that push nut goes on the end of the rod (part 163) connecting the transmission to the foot control.
I expect all Husqvarna built tractors (Poulan Pro, Ariens and Craftsman) that use the foot control linkage for the RS800 to have this same issue.
Graham
Thanks for your quick response, Paul – appreciated.
My bad for asking two (unrelated) questions, my first was related to this topic, which was –
who makes the Sears tractors that utilize this CVT tranny?
If I do choose a yard tractor over a garden tractor I would like one with a CVT transmission – simple seems to be best (IMO).
Paul Sikkema
@Graham, Husqvarna make the CVT tractors for Craftsman. The models with CVT are 20385, 20390, 20391, 20393. You can read about them using the menu in the right hand column.
John Adamski
Hi Paul,
Yes back again. I have a Craftsman 20393. I had the transmission replaced once already and the replacement that arrived with some plastic broken off in shipping is now failing again. At times it will not go up hills in forward or reverse. These are not step hills more like slopes. It also struggled with traction with the Bercco 44″ snow thrower, even with wheel weights and chains.
I have done internet searches for this issue and have only found a few postings with the same problem. Can I assume that if I ever get a proper working trany that it will work?
John
Fairport NY
Paul Sikkema
Hi John, nice to have you back! Interesting that the replacement was beat up. The shipping box they send those in is pretty stout. Yes, I really expect you to get one that works.
Graham
Asheville NC.
Who makes the Craftsman models with CVT tranny? I saw a Husqvarna “go fast” (RS) mower in Lowes – is that the clue?
and
is there a yard tractor suitable for other duties such as tilling a small patch at a reasonable price – have an acre of grass with some inclines up to 15º to cut but would like to grow fruit/veg for the family as well.
Thanks!
Paul Sikkema
@Graham,
No one makes a yard tractor that will handle ground engaging tasks. Here is my article on the tractors that will. 2014 Garden Tractors They are all too big for 1 acre.
Think about a rear tine tiller. The Craftsman
208CC* Dual Rotating Rear Tine Tiller
will handle a large garden plus if you do wide-row gardening you can scoot down the rows with it and weed your garden very quickly.Dave V. Laramie, WY
I just ordered a 20390 over the 20381 based on this article. For $125 and with the bigger engine I definately appreciate your input. Now I am contemplating purchasing the extended warranty. Do I really need it? Seems any major porblems would surface in the covered 2-year period. I mostly do my own service work. Decisions….Decisions….
Paul Sikkema
@Dave, Great, I’m going to spill the beans, I intend to give the 20390 a best buy rating. You are the first to know.
The protection plan cover most wear and tear like belts, battery and tires. If covers the tractor not starting but it does not cover stale fuel (they check)
As part of the Prot Plan labor and trip charges are always free. It does not cover blades, engine maintenance and your garage burning down.
Without the prot plan Sears Repair Services will want $100 to show up at your door. This trip charge is reimbursed if the problem is in fact part of the defects warranty.
So my question is: Is it worth about $100 a year to not worry about any problems you may have with your Yard Tractor over the next 5 years?
Rome g.
Should I pay the money for a craftsman that has this transmission or pay the same amount for a John deere?
Paul Sikkema
@Rome, Tough Question. But the answer is really more than just what transmission.
What did you have before? Were you happy with it and the service? Do you want red or green in your garage?
If you have slopes the Craftsman wins with the new trans. If you lawn is flat either one is fine.
Parts are easy to get for both. You have to go to a Deere dealer to their parts. Sears you can order them right from your home through sears.com and searspartsdirect and they can be delivered right to your door.
Service, For Deere you have to take it to a dealer or they will pick it up for a fee. (They will pick it up or service it at your home for free if you buy the extended warranty) With Craftsman they always come to your house and the trip charge is waived if you have their Protection Plan. (The Sears Protection plan covers more than the Deere Extended warranty but it does cost more)
Price, The price I have for the Deere is from Home Depot (free delievery and setup). (Home Depot may have offers with their card) I don’t know if a dealer will have the same low price. (The dealers usually have finance offers on the 300 and higher series) For Sears the price can be less. You get 1 to 5% back in rewards points. 5% or no interest for 12 months with a Sears card. Free delivery if you use the links on this site (through 3/1/14) In addition Sears will run special pricing online only at certain times of the month.
So the answer is not that simple, but hopefully I gave you enough to think about so you can make the best decision for you.
John Leccese
Boston MA–When will the CVT transmissions replace the Craftsman Hydrostatic? I do not see them on their website.
Paul Sikkema
@John, The models listed at the end of the article are the new tractors with the CVT. Some of the product descriptions on sears may be wrong at this point in time, but they are working on getting them changed.
Kevin Marrs
I have a husqvarna YTA22V46 with 80 hours on it — transmission is broken — my father has a husqvarna YTH22V46 that he has worn out but the transmission is in good shape — my question is can the YTH22V46 transmission be removed and installed in the YTA22V46 that is still in good shape except for the junk transmission that it came with ? thanks for any help — Kevin Marrs
Paul
Hi Kevin, Yes, it will fit but before you tear out the CVT make sure it’s bad – it may just need cleaning. Most mechanics don’t know this tranny and just tell you it’s bad.
Check out this page and go through the troubleshooting procedure.
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