Latest reviews about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

66Chevelle says "Keep looking" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

66Chevelle — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:53:55 GMT

You will need to change the hardware on the front wheels and if you adjust the height alot this is not for you. Mine also died at the end of the 1st season. I used this less than normal since we had little rain during the growing season.

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bbeazell says "I love the swivel front wheels on my Craftsman mower." about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

bbeazell — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:27:43 GMT

Easy for my wife to operate??? I am a 65-year-old grandmother and do my own extensive lawn maintenance, including mowing 15,000 sq. ft. of lawn every four days in the hot wet summer of central Florida. You'd be wise to remove that one from your list. I bought a mower just like this one last year, and the "purchase" your survey addresses is the warranty-replacement due to the poorly designed and shoddily built gear box. In less than one year, the transmission failed completely and fortunately, the machine was replaced free of charge to me. Having said that, I will tell you that I love my mower for its swivel front wheels. Whoever decided that mowers should have stationary front wheels should have been drummed out of the design business decades ago. If more mowers were available with swivel front wheels, I would certainly be looking at other brands....

drcarroll says "Heavy duty mower has extra power" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

drcarroll — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:58:03 GMT

If you have a lot of grass to cut, this mower is ideal. It has so much power; it pulls me up the inclines in my yard! The bagger is extra large and the chute did not clog on me.

I agree with other posters the plastic wing nuts are low rent, but they are easily replaceable with stainless versions from the local hardware store. Otherwise, the build quality is heavy duty. Heavy gauge steel is used and it looks like it will last a long time.

The electric start is nice, and allows you to retract the starter cord handle down to the engine. This way, you avoid the issue of the cord interfering with the bagger.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with this mower. It took some getting used to, as the extra power combined with rear-wheel drive and front casters is unlike any other mower I have used. However, after a few uses, I became accustomed and find it rather effortless to operate.

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BFPalmer says "Great mower. Poor placement of battery A/C charger plug on mower" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

BFPalmer — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:27:15 GMT

Powerful, very easy starting, Love the variable forward speeds and rear wheel drive. The a/c adapter should have an L style plug. The straight plug on the adapater that comes with it is too long and hits against the mower handle when its charging. Super easy and safe to empty the bag. Though it is easy to burn your hands on the muffler when switching over from bag attachment to mulching attachment on a hot mower. The black plastic wing **** work though will be easy to lose.

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jlinthicum says "Craftsman Professional 21&#34 190cc* ( 8.75 torque ) Rear Wh" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

jlinthicum — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:19:54 GMT

Unboxed, read directions, followed directions, started mower and mowed the entire lawn without stopping. Everything worked perfectly. It operates a little differently from my old frontwheel drive mower but after a few rounds was just as natural as I expected. I have used it several times now and even though it is nearing the end of mowing season, I look forward to getting out and using it when I can. I'm more than pleased and satisfied with the performance and appearance of the new mower.

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Non-professional says "Craftsman Professional rear wheel drive mower" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

Non-professional — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:07:21 GMT

This mower starts easy and that's about the only positive feature it has. I bought this last year and for the first few mowings it worked fine until things began to break, including the bracket that holds the drive unit to the frame, the blade adaptor that broke when the blade came off and the plastic wingnuts. I'm amazed at the gall of Sears calling this "professional". Emptying the bag is easy as long as you're dumping the clippings back on the ground, but if you're a "non-professional" like me it's almost impossible to dump the clippings into lawn bags unless you have 3 hands - I don't. Sears probably had a good laugh when they named it "professional" knowing that some dope (me) would buy it thinking they were getting a quality unit.

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AGallipo says "Looks great but looks are deceiving!" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

AGallipo — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:13:45 GMT

I was so excited my husband let me buy this mower, I love to mow the lawn and this seemed perfect! Boy was I wrong. The bagger is useless, when attached it does not seem to cut the grass well because it clogs in seconds. The nuts and bolts on the wheels and attachments are always coming loose, I lost one the other day. My husband was mowing the lawn last night and the rear wheel height adjuster literally broke making the mower unusable. This is only the 2 season with the mower, we have had it for 1 1/2 years.

Extremely disappointed and would not purchase again, and craftsman is supposed to be such good quailty. Still hoping they make good on their product.

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DIYRetiredMan says "Craftsman 8.75 torque mower - Powerful; Keep front wheels locked" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

DIYRetiredMan — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:21:05 GMT

I mulch my lawn, 4 out of 5 cuts. I bought this mower for the high torque and it proved correct because it's a great mulch-er (I realize the blade is brand new). I found that the front wheels must be locked to keep straight line cutting control of the mower. I prefer the 1 through 6 speeds as opposed to the variable speed mowers. It is one of the more powerful mowers I've owned. It has electric start, but I didn't install the battery to keep the mower weight down. It took three cuts but now starting the mower is one or two pulls (It does not have a primer bulb). The motor may be quiet, but the dome enclosure makes the mower rather loud. It's a sharp looking mower, but does that really matter. The back wheels are one adjustment, but the front wheels are individual and time consuming. It seems to be rear end heavy but it's not really an issue. When I pull the drive lever, there is a squeaking as the belt slips as it engages. Overall I like the mower and would recommend...

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lawnqueen says " lawn mower w caster wheels that I would not recommend" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

lawnqueen — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:15:06 GMT

This mower is top heavy, easy to do a wheelie. My front right wheel has fallen off twice in the four times that the mower has been used , very frustrating. One must make adjustments in using this mower : 1. the wheels extend far beyond the reach of the blade ( the casters may be in the flowers while the blade cuts the grass) = not good and 2. once one adapts to the casters the turning is easy =good ( refer to no. 1) 3. the rear wheels are an easy adjustment but the front wheels are not.

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MrMO says "Quiet, strong and easy to use" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

MrMO — Mon, 30 May 2011 02:54:13 GMT

I did a lot of research before chosing this model. The ratings for this mower are not deserved in my opinion. My yard is nothing but a nightmare. I have had 2 riding mowers and 2 self propelled. I ended up paying someone to do the yard.

We live in the hills of TN, and that's exactly what my yard is. There's not a flat spot on it and mowing was a chore, and some times down right dangerous.

I knew from the start I had to have a rear wheel drive mower. Front wheel drives are a joke. This Craftsman is a dream. It does take a little bit to get used to because of the casting front wheels. But, if you let the mower do the work and don't fight it, you will be very pleased. It's the quietest mower I have ever used and it has power to spare. It pulls itself up the yard with NO effort from me. The front end stays planted if you know how to use it. From the reviews I've read, I think the biggest problem this machine has is people don't take the time to use it correctly. I have had NO...

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PawelM says "Just a good mower to own. " about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

PawelM — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:10:20 GMT

Overall this is a good mower so far. Extremely happy that I no longer have to pull start my mower.

The bagger is a pain at times. I find it difficult to empty the bagger.

My 10 year old son can operate it.

Turning radius is fantastic.

Happy with the purchase and would buy one again.

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YARDMAN1000 says "CRAFTSMAN PROFESSIONAL 21 " REAR WHEEL DRIVE MOWER" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

YARDMAN1000 — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:19:22 GMT

THE PRODUCT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF CRAFTSMAN PROFESSIONAL. JUST TURN THE KEY TO START SET YOUR SPEED PULL THE LEVER AND WALK BEHIND IT'S THAT EASY. STEERING IS A BREEZE AROUND CURVED GARDEN BEDS AND ALIKE WITH THE FRONT WHEELS THAT SWIVEL OR CAN BE EASILY LOCKED FOR FIXED WHEEL OPERATION. I NOW HAVE 5 MOWERS SNAPPER, LAWN BOY AND 2 TOROS AS WELL. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CRAFTSMAN PROFESSIONAL IS THE ONLY ONE I USE NOW THE REST ARE HEADED FOR GARAGE SALE.

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driftwoodrd says "Overall a good unit." about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

driftwoodrd — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:32:10 GMT

Overall, this seems to be a very nicely built and assembled unit. While this is unit is for my personal use, I am in the landscape industry and am familiar with heavy-duty/commercial grade mowers. While I would stop short of calling this "commercial grade", I would say that it offers every indication that it will be a very user-friendly unit. My wife gave it a spin round the yard and she agrees that it is "nice" but a "little hard to pull, in reverse".

Also, not a big deal but, the mechanism (handle) that engages the forward drive is designed so that it is operated by the user's right-hand, only. I find this a little awkward, as I am right-handed. My wife is a "leftie" and she prefers this orientation. I'm not sure why it was designed to be operated by a specific hand vs. either allowing it to be operated by both hands (as in the case of the safety switch) or in a way that would allow it to be installed with the user's "preference". Small issue but worthy of note.

Traction is a little "dodgy"...

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heavyiron says "21" craftsman pro caster mower needs better quality control" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

heavyiron — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:00:01 GMT

Words cannot express how dissapointed I have been with this purchase. This was supposed to be a birthday present for myself and instead it has been one big letdown after another. First, when I got my "new" mower home, I took the grass catcher off to find it full of clippings -NICE! I then looked under the deck to find the blade bent and horribly nicked to the point that the mower vibrated horribly. I spoke with a manager and they said they would exchange it, but I would have to bring it back myself. (I live 35 miles from the store) The mower was exchanged for the floor model and a charger was ordered because the first one did not have one and neither did the floor model. I got the second mower home and added oil and fired it up to a horrible racket that lasted a few seconds until THE BLADE FLEW OFF!!!!!. The blade bolt was so loose that it literally took only a few seconds of operation for it to fly off. Thankfully no one was standing nearby and it did not come towards me. After reinstalling...

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KellyMartinez says "Craftsman Professional Lawn Mower is the best mower I owned" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

KellyMartinez — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 13:51:23 GMT

This is the best model I have owned. It is very easy to use and the lawn looks excellent. Key start feature is the way to go, no more pulling to start the mower! This mower is excellent an excellent choice for yards that have flower gardens, or items to mow around. I would recommend this mower if you are in the market....

naturalnatr says "front wheels were unstable " about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

naturalnatr — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:31:14 GMT

This mower did not work for my yard! Yard is a full block in size - half of it is downhill & very soft ground. The front wheels were unstable so we locked them in place but then the wheels sunk into the ground. We gave it to a relative that has a large flat yard. - He either traded it or it broke because he no longer has it! This mower was expensive.

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Disappointed79 says "Not worth the money! " about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

Disappointed79 — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:30:10 GMT

Was not very happy with the mower, decided to return it even though there was a restocking fee of 15%. Biggest complaint I have for this mower was when I used the swivel wheels to turn the mower, often times it was too back heavy that the wheels lifted up.

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ChristopherKoch says "Best Mower I have owned" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

ChristopherKoch — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:49:28 GMT

Sorry to hear some of the negative remarks. I am happy with almost everything about this mower. Yes, it takes a few hours of use to become accustomed to it's heavy body but once you learn to let the drive do the work, it is a pleasure to operate. Yes, the grass chute will clog if the grass is wet, and you do not alter the mowing angle, but what a dream to empty! Speaking of angles, I have NO flat yard. Most of my 1/2 acre is slanting between a 40% and 60% angle. I actually have to wear football cleats to keep from falling while mowing. The great thing about this mower is that the engine does not complain about the severe angles, and the drive does not complain as the mower easily climbs the highest banks. Bought the extended warranty but nothing has broken so far. Oh yeah, the electric start is great but the pull start is really easy.

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thejper says "great Professional lawn mower" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

thejper — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:07:30 GMT

I couldn't be happier with this product. I have a small lawn mowing busines, this cuts right through customers weeds more than 3' high with no problem. No primer pumping, but starts right up on first pull almost every time. Six drive speeds, the only negative, minor, is slightly difficult to change heights on the mower. Excellent product!

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novasbc says "The Craftsman Professional mower is great for both my wife and I" about Craftsman Professional 190cc* Variable-Speed Rear-Wheel Drive Mower 49 States

novasbc — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:11:32 GMT

I picked this lawnmower up earlier this year, after much research here, and comparing to lawnmowers at ********** and ******. I made the decision based on the fact that this was a single blade mower, and that it had a strong engine, and was one of the few that had rear wheel drive.

My wife tried to push our old front wheel drive mower up hills, and had a terrible time lifting the back up, and getting it up the hill successfully. With the rear wheel drive on this model, it is very easy for her to make it up even very severe hills.

In general, the drive mechanism works very well, shuts off quickly when you want it to, and gets a big thumbs up from my wife (I personally don't care that much about self-propelled, but its nice for her to be able to handle it when the situation calls for it).

I agree with other reviewers about the plastic wingnuts. I haven't had any break, but I've had several fall off from vibrations. I suggest getting metal wingnuts and lock washers to keep them in...

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