Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I have been lurking here for a few months and have ordered a snow thrower today from Sears.  Have to be honest it was simply how much credit that Sears has given me that drove most of my decision.  I am a relatively new home owner and have had very good experience so far with Craftsman OPE. 

I have a 130' asphalt drive with a 30x40 concrete parking space.  I also have 300 feet of sidewalk (which I have ignored so far, bad, bad neighbor)  that may become 500 in a year or two.  I also have had many back and groin injuries which have finally made me admit my limits and driven me to buy another expensive toy/tool. 

I ordered the Craftsman 071887900 (has Tecumseh, non SnowKing apparently, never been Tec fan anyway) which might have been the focus of the Toro vs Craftsman thread earlier.  The model number is supposedly Agri Fab as Mfr.  and I wondered if anyone knew about this line.  I did not realize until today that every item in my garage from Craftsman that I like (including attachments for Lawn Tractor) have the Agri Fab mfr model number.  I don't know much about them or if they are anything more than a shell for Sears.  I need to say that MTD at some point was the same as White which was a quality company in the Cleveland area before I was born.  They claim that some items coming out under the White name will again be good quality equipment.  I won't hold my breath.  Well, I went on a bit for my first post.  Please, educate me if you can.

Welcome to forum!

I'll have to research the Agri Fab thing.What I do know is that MTD has acquired a plethora of equipment brands including White, Cub Cadet, Troy Bilt, Bolens, Yard Machines and YardMan to name most of them. With the exception of a White Outdoor tractor model or two and, some Cub's, everything they make in the lawn tractor industry is clearly just a regular old MTD clone. In snowblowers MTDlabels Troy Bilt, Yard Man and Yard Machines. I know they manufacture some snowblowers for Sears. I have never heard anything about Agri Fab and MTD being in bed together.

I know that Agri Fab makes some of Sears lawn tractor tow behind carts and probably some other things like reel mowers with the Sears labels but, I have not heard of any snowblowers by them? I am no snowblower expert so maybe someone else has better information than I do?

I see that Agri Fab makes these for mounting to tractors...............




Pic or 48" Agri fab snowthrower from Bizrate.com

Didn't mean to confuse issue.  Just curious about Agri Fab as mfr or maybe simply assembler of my favorite Craftsman OPE. 

They are not in bed with MTD.  Just brought up how MTD took over White and their good name (and stole their history  http://www.mtdproducts.com/company/history.jsp ) as example of empty name brand company.

Very interested in anyone's knowledge of either 071 prefix (assumed to be Agri Fab) OPE under Craftsman name, or how good Agri Fab stuff is supposed to be. 

Does it say 071.887900.

I think the machine is a MTD or Murray bulit unit.



The picture on the website for Sears looks like a Murray.

I think you have something messed up on the manufacturing code or the number your using off of the Sears #. I see no 071 manufacturing code? Agi fab appears to be 486, MTD appears to be 219 and Murray appears to be 502.

Welcome,

I have never heard of Agri-Fab making a machine for Sears.  I would love to check it out if you can confirm that it is made by them.

Ok after checking it out on their website that unit is MTD made.

C

Chris,

That's the picture they show. It sure looks like a Murray.

A.S.E.C.C.'s Sears Source List

You think so?  The picture you posted looks like a Murray but that other pic looks like the new MTD auger design this year that Spectrum commented on early this fall.

Where is John when you need him lol...Does he still work for Sears?

C

I don't have the number messed up or altered Check it here and have found a few sites listing the 071 prefix as Agri Fab Here and Here.  I don't pretend to know for certain.

Hopefully I set the links correctly. 

Heck, am I looking at the wrong number this whole time?  I am just regurging site info rather than checking on the blower which I can't do until I have it.   Sorry if it is just so far off.

I don't know.  I found more  links Link like this one showing full mowers and other similar devices along with Sears giving awards to Agri Fab as one of their top partners this last year.  Set me straight.  I will hold my crazy uninformed posts until later.  Too much energy for 11pm.

Your second "here" and my site show the same thing.

I'm getting to be under the impression you have to look at the machine or a whole number that the web doesn't give? Because, that first 071 is also the first three numbers on many lawn tractors and I know for a fact they are not made by Agri fab. We need the first three of a model # or Manufacture Model #. That other number is a Sears Item number.

I still think it is MTD made.

The model # on the frame will ultimately tell the tale.

C

I go along with the MTD,   if it is  the unit with power steering, and the model #07188790000 is correct, I'll bet a sawbuck it's MTD.  Someone here said that the only place you'll see the mfg code is on the serial plate.  Sears doesn't use them in the model #''s in catalogs or on the web.

Emmo wrote:Agreed Emmo, we don't have the info available on Sears site.

Grigsby, go the garage and get the whole #. LOL

If the model # starts with 247, it is MTD. That is the model # on your owners manual or on the plate on the blower. It should be like this 247.887900. I think Murry is 513 in place of the 247. If it is the track model, it is MTD. I don't believe AGRIFAB make snowblowers, only tractor pull behind things.

  Grigsby,

          The Sears model you ordered is an MTD machine, because the model number starts with a 31AE, which is MTD!

I have an MTD made blower, which is great for me and where I live.

But for you in the" Lake Effect Snow area", you need either an Ariens, toro, Simplcity, or Snapper!

                                        Fred