The EHP models (Sears tractors that the model # under the seat starts w/ 917, Poulan and the Husqvarna) I think are reliable yard tractors and are easy to service. Cubs are OK, but if you go that route- new would be better. The basic Deere riders are worth a look too.

Thanks Tomplum i was originally considering the cub ltx 1042, but now after looking at the craftsman yt 4000 I am liking it more and more. All of the mowers that i have had in the past had 2 cyl motors, witch the craftsman 4000 has cub dosent--my only ?? on the sears is i have heard that the hydro dosent have enough power to clime even the smallest hills-anytruth to that????

most all the entry level lawn tractors equipped with hydros will not stand up well to continuous heavy loads, such as hills/inclines. If your area to be cut is such, best to either step up to a stronger machine ($$) or go with a geared setup - still available on some of the entry level lawn tractors.

And try to test drive before you buy - you will be spending considerable time on the machine and don't want an uncomfortable situation.

Well my area is not what i would consider a steep incline--last summer i push mowed it. Some people made it sound like the craftsman yt 4000 would not go up ANY slope with the hydro, i find it hard to believe--anyone know for sure??

Well I think I am down to the Craftsman YT 4000 v-twin BS and the Cub Cadet Ltx 1042 with a Kohler single I have always had V-twin's and had good luck, but people are tellingme that the kohler single is smoother and uses less fuel-I am having a hard time believeing that I am really leaning for the v-twin Any opinions??

I have a Craftsman 4500 (don't remember the 3-letter code off-hand, something like DYT or DYS or DYI... I dunno). Anyway, it has the 24hp BS v-twin. There have been a few posts on here by folks having problems with this particular engine, although I haven't had any issues yet. Maybe there're so many of them out there that we hear of more problems based simply on percentages.

I'm mowing on inclines. I have ag treads and five gallons of windshield washer fluid in each tire so I can get enough traction to turn on the slight inclines, otherwise the stock turf treads just spin on the inclines, esp. if there is even the slightest wetness to the grass. I also pull a lawn sweeper, this is all on about a half-acre, takes about an hour to an hour and a half to mow and go back over with the sweeper. It takes longer because I go slower since I have some rough spots in my yard. By the time I am done I can tell the belts and tranny are getting a little weak from the heat. However, I will be going into the fourth season this year with no problems on the engine or tranny, other than the drive belt occasionally jumping the pully. The machine has about 50 hours on it now, will prolly change the fluid in the non-serviceable tranny at 100hrs. or so.

The tranny is the weak spot on these tractors. Most of the lawn tractors use the same tranny up until you get into the $3000 price range or so. If I had it to do over, I'd give more thought to the manual tranny.

The higher-end Sears tractors are made by Husqvarna, which are decent for the price. The lower-end Sears tractors are now being made by MTD, if I understand correctly. I also believe the lower-end Cub Cadets are made by MTD, whereas the upper-end Cubs are still made by Cub and are decent machines. I'm not sold on MTD - I have one of their snowblowers and it has taken a little more maintenance and repair than is typical. I think their products are OK for the price if you are good at repairing stuff yourself; otherwise, I think they could use some improvement in the reliability dept. They are not the same MTD that they were 20 years ago.

Thanks gdj204 that helps me alot, sounds like you have had good use out of your Craftsman!!! Im really kinda leaning that way right now, the Craftsman looks to be a quality machine, Thanks for you advice!!!

I will soon be starting my seventh mowing season with an LT 1018 Cub Cadet that I bought new in 2004. This was the predecessor to the LT 1042, which actually came out in 2005. Total repairs thus far were tightening one bolt that a belt tightener pulley spins on. While I was at it I replaced the belt, but that was probably a waste of money as the old one looked OK. It also gets regular oil changes and is kept dry. This has been a wonderful machine and I can tell you that the 18.5 hp Briggs AVS single is a smoother engine than the twin of the same vintage was. I test-drove them both at the time and bought the mower with the single. However, I know nothing about the Kohlers.

Thanks guys all the input helps, I spent a considerable amount of time last evening with the local cub dealer, and am really liking the ltx 1042--not too sure about the Kohler courage engine??? Anyone have any experience with them????

The Kohler courage is an entry level engine just for mass produced low end machines. When I bought my cc lt1018 in 04 it had the briggs els entry level engine. If taken care of they will outlast the lawn tractor and trans.

Thanks now i guess i am down to Kohler courage or a BS V-twin platmum-single vs twin??? I do like the way the Cub is built, but not sold on the plastic hood and kohler single, The sears yt4000 seems to have a metal hood and seems to be alot stonger and it comes with a rear mounted gas tank and v twin. The decks look different too cub has what appears to be greasable deck spidles, the craftsman dosest. I am worried that the craftsman will need new spindles after a couple of years where the cub should last??? I keep my mowers inside and do regular maintence Still somethig to ponder i guess??

Plastic or composite hoods generally don't dent , fade, rust, or rattle as loudly.

Greaseable spindles are in my mind a good thing to have if you actually do the greasing. If you are sloppy with maintenance, you are probably better off with sealed bearings.

From what I've seen of the new Cubs, they have a much shorter turning radius and more deck height positions than my 2004 does, both features I'd like to have. Again, I don't know a thing about the Kohlers, but I haven't heard of any common or consistent failures, so I assume they will handle the task of powering a lawn mower.

Any garden tractors can handle demanding tasks. I have 1995 2186-48 Cub Cadet and it still runs and it still mows great. I and my dad mowed with it for years. My neighbor have 1000 series lawn mower once time had backfire and it blew the muffler apart. My dad repaired it for him free assuming it was easy to fixed. Then he checked it out and found nothing wrong with it. Anyway, the maintenance and instructions should be followed careful with common sense. I remembered we had old craftsman mower and it did fell apart, mostly the deck because it catches the dirt and it got bend up causing the blades hitting it. Nothing is worse than poor made machines and see it falling apart no time.

well my dad bought me a yt 3000 46in deck and i love it great power on our reallyyyyyy steap hills and i have halled gravel, wood and, 4 bags of lime at one time and absolutly no starin at all and its a great cut to

I have a single cyl, 14.9 Hp. vintage is 1971 and it has been run very hard and the motor has never been touched. The motor is a Kohler and it is at the top of my list when given the choice. When I look at what's on the market now, I just go back to this tractor and perform the normal maint. and go another season.

I just purchased a Cub LTX1042KW this week with the 18hp Kawasaki V-Twin from a Cub Cadet dealer. It is an awesome machine. The Kawasaki motors are regarded as the most reliable engines available. It is very quiet compared to the single cylinders and was only a couple of hundred more than a LTX1040 from Home Depot. This model is only available at an independent dealer. I bought a Cub due to some extra features that the comparable Deere and Husqvarna models just didn't have. I'm glad I did. The hydro is smooth as silk, too. Cub has a $100 off this model right now.