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stresst


Location: The Village in the Middle of New York
Joined: Dec 11, 2010
Points: 213

Simplicity or Craftsman??
Original Message   Dec 26, 2011 8:40 pm
A few weeks ago I posted about how impressed I was with Simplicity's new 208cc SS unit, looked well built and much more appealing over the Toro. Anyway long story short I was just looking for some tools at Sears.com and noticed the Craftsman  88782 thou I would probably never buy a craftsman again this thing looks really nice! Anyone have any insight on this machine?

TORO 826OXE
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longboat


Joined: Feb 11, 2009
Points: 103

Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #24   Dec 29, 2011 1:56 pm
FrankMA wrote:
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.

royster


" It is the use of power tools that separates man from animals"

Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: Feb 11, 2011
Points: 284

Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #25   Dec 29, 2011 4:28 pm
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.

royster


" It is the use of power tools that separates man from animals"

Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: Feb 11, 2011
Points: 284

Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #26   Dec 29, 2011 4:28 pm
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


aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #27   Dec 29, 2011 6:24 pm
royster wrote:
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.
Bill_H


Location: Maine
Joined: Jan 12, 2008
Points: 354

Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #28   Dec 31, 2011 4:41 pm
My local Ace Hardware now sells Craftsman hand tools. I stopped using their power tools in the 80's, but the sockets, etc. still seem as good as my old (60's & 70's) ones. They'll outlive me easily.

Who the hell let all the morning people run things?
stresst


Location: The Village in the Middle of New York
Joined: Dec 11, 2010
Points: 213

Re: Simplicity or Craftsman??
Reply #29   Jan 1, 2012 1:32 am
Bill_H wrote:
My local Ace Hardware now sells Craftsman hand tools. I stopped using their power tools in the 80's, but the sockets, etc. still seem as good as my old (60's & 70's) ones. They'll outlive me easily.


Believe it or not I use to think the same thing, both Sears's that I frequent said they see more broken sockets that ratchets....While I never had an issue with even one socket they said its an everyday occurance. IDK

TORO 826OXE
Replies: 24 - 29 of 29Next page of topicsPreviousAllView as Outline
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