Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Simplicity or Craftsman??
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
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longboat
Joined: Feb 11, 2009
Points: 103
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Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #24 Dec 29, 2011 1:56 pm |
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The K46 Hydro is designed for light duty use on relatively flat ground. Most folks get into trouble when they start to use their lawn tractor (LT) as a garden tractor (GT) by pulling heavy loads or using ground breaking implements. I had a Craftsman YS4500 that I purchased with the best of intentions but then started to overwork it by using it like a GT. I could feel and hear the K46 being overworked so I sold it and bought a real GT. Yet another example of using the right tool for the job. Agreed. I have a DYS4500 (2442); however, the lawn I have now is hilly. I don't pull ground-engaging equipment, but the hills take their toll. What bugs me the most is that you have to pay double the price for a tractor to get a transmission upgrade that likely costs the dealer one or two hundred dollars more. AFAIK, you cannot buy a new tractor under $2500-3000 with an upgraded tranny.
What about the poor sucker who buys an expensive JD X300/304. If the dealer doesn't guide him correctly, the end-user can get royally screwed. By upgrading to a JD X320/324, the end-user can get a MUCH stronger tractor for not a lot more cash. I'm not sure how to classify the X300/304 ("expensive lawn tractor, do not use on hills!?!"). Anyway, my point is, it would be nice if at least one mfr. would offer the K66 hydro in a budget (<$2k) lawn tractor. No, you don't have to pull ground-engaging equipment with it, but maybe you could mow on hillsides with some peace-of-mind, and have enough $$ leftover to buy a pull-behind leaf sweeper.
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royster
" It is the use of power tools that separates man from animals"
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: Feb 11, 2011
Points: 284
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Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #25 Dec 29, 2011 4:28 pm |
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aa335, " I hate to Sears go." Sears are not going out of business. It was a poor choice to buy the over 100 K-Mart stores and now they are closing or selling these K-Mart stores and keeping and improving the Sears stores. In Canada there hasn't been any K-Mart stores for many years so there is none to sell. Sers Canada is once again showing a healthy profit.
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royster
" It is the use of power tools that separates man from animals"
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: Feb 11, 2011
Points: 284
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Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #26 Dec 29, 2011 4:28 pm |
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aa335, " I hate to Sears go." Sears are not going out of business. It was a poor choice to buy the over 100 K-Mart stores and now they are closing or selling these K-Mart stores and keeping and improving the Sears stores. In Canada there hasn't been any K-Mart stores for many years so there is none to close or sell
This message was modified Dec 29, 2011 by royster
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aa335
Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434
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Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #27 Dec 29, 2011 6:24 pm |
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aa335, " I hate to Sears go." Sears are not going out of business. It was a poor choice to buy the over 100 K-Mart stores and now they are closing or selling these K-Mart stores Sounds like it was a poor decision for a failing business to buy another failing business. Like I said, I hate to see Sears go away. Let's hope they can turn around and improve their business.
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