ex-john deere

With those hills, you'll probably be happiest with a straight manual tractor, while saving around $300.

A Deluxe Yard Tractor, with a 46 inch deck should get you closest to the $1500 target range.

Although the Internet is a great place to start, particularly with the Ultimate Tractor Experience part of the Lawn and Garden site to help guide you, you'll probably do best in looking for any year-end Tractor model close-outs in local Sears stores around you.

Good luck on your quest.

They are wonderful little beasts...

From a Champagne gold, 46 inch deck, DLS 3500 tractor owner.

I have had my Craftsman 21 HP mower for 7 years now and it works great. I change the oil and filter 2x a year and new blades in the spring. The only problems I have had is a dead battery and a deck spindle, I tried to mow to many tree roots and rocks. 

I agree with Adam, stick with manual. It will give you greater torque control, which is what you need with your fairly steep grades. The 46" deck has been rated the best cutting deck in the industry, so I'd definitely recommend it for the best cut. However, 46" tractors (and tractors in your desired price range) only sport Briggs & Stratton engines. Some of them will be fully pressurized models, though (which is what most people are looking for in a Kohler engine).

A tractor that would fit all your criteria, except for engine brand, would be Craftsman model #28827. It has a 46" deck, 24HP fully pressurized Briggs & Stratton V-twin engine, and comes in a nice gold color (limited edition).

The only Kohler-powered tractor in your stated price range is Craftsman #28934, but it's a 42" deck. That's on sale right now for $1599.99. Kohler engines are usually reserved for our garden tractors, which will definitely be at least $1000 more than you're planning on investing in a tractor.

Unfortunately, the limited edition models get switched out every year, and is discontinued now that the season is over, but there may still be some in your area. It's normally $1899.99, but is on sale for $1449.88. If you need the tractor right now, you may want to look at other models, though assortments will be limited at the end of the season.

If there's not a rush, I'd recommend waiting for March to check out the new models, and I guarantee there will be a similarly featured tractor available everywhere at that point. It most likely won't have a Kohler engine, but it will be fully pressurized with plenty of power and a V-twin engine.

I'm not aware of any manufacturerer that makes a posi tractor in that price range. I've had no problem going up  3-4 foot 40% grades with my YT4000 head-on.

"Down" a steep grade is what's REALLY exciting!

And, there can't be too many leaves going "UP".

I too, had reservations about the B&S engine. They were the gold standard in the 50's and 60's, then like most American products in the late 60's through the end of the century their quality went into the toilet. However, when I was shopping around for a tractor, I found nearly all of the the manufacturerers of tractors of tractors under $2000 used the B&S engine with a few models using the Kohler. I researched the internet and Kohler satisfaction was no better than B&S from what users had to say. The "expert" reviews and commentaries indicated that B&S quality has improved and that B&S is now as reliable as Kohler or any other engine. I also visited the B&S and Kohler sites to take a look at more detailed engine specifications of comparable products and nothing showed as a red flag. I have had no issues with the B&S on my tractor and so far am totally satisfied, but hen again, I've only owned it for 6 months. Ask me what I think in a couple of years. Regardless of make, common sense would suggest that a V-Twin engine is more likely to out-perform and outlast a single cylinder engine (more hp, better balancing, and additional features like preasure lube-polished bearings etc), so I am expecting (and would recommend it) it to be more reliable.

I sure Thank All You that posted so far.. It's mean's a very lot to me having nice people giving me advise on equipment they allready own and the problems they had with there product..

I might wait few more day's or maybe a week or 2 at the most and hopefully get few more post  then go to look more closely at model's at my local store ..Or see if any good model's  are in the general area and have it ship in..

$1500 is just a ball park figure I set.. If its a much better mower I can go higher...Don't really want to in these tough money wise times we all facing now day's but for a trouble free investment I can go a little higher..

I am in no big hurry only I figure I could get a better discount this fall and I store it this winter myself..

I got a MTD I got cheap 2nd hand from a guy hard up for money at that time for my long distance Hunt & Fish camp.. I ran into them spindle sealed bearing's problems myself with that one.. I think Craftsman use the same basic set-up on spindle's  that  my MTD do ...

Around $100 dollars replacing all them bad boy's.. Just too much money to do ever year or 2 over a basic dry of grease problem..

 What worked for me was taking out the rubber cover on inside of the sealed bearing's out very carefully  so grease could get to them and drill and tap and installed some grease plugs to grease it about 2 to 3 pumps every 2nd or 3rd time I mow grass.. 

Remember the rubber seal facing inside the spindle itself not the seal facing outward to the elements such as dirt, grass, dust and other very nasty elements...

That ended my spindle problem's for years so far after I made that modication... I don't know if it would work for you.. But it sure stop my problems with them high price break downs every time I turn around...

Some of you been so nice to me I thought I own you atleast 1  little trick of the trade hopefully helping you out too in the process..

I am sure Craftsman and MTD do not recomend this modication..  If I selling spindles every 2 years to every one of my lawnmower owners I guess I would not recomend it too...

Well we see if they delete this post or not within day or 2 when they see this modication I explained to you ..

mc7, the biggest Craftsman decks have grease fittings on the blade pulleys. Pressed the Murray's bearings using some big sockets and a vice... another TOTT.

Thank's for the update on grease fittings there Madgolfer.. Every little bit helps ..

I say within a few days all of you will have a good Craftsman tractor picked out for me..

I wonder if I be able to get 28 years out of the new one I will buy??   My guess that would be slim to none... I just don't know about some of the stuff made in USA now day's,  Well biggest part of it is made overseas anyway and if we lucky we assemble it here in USA..  But we better than some other countrys I know about..

Myself I love to see the good ole USA go back to the best workmanship in the world bar-none...I know our workers can do that high quality work if they let them do it...

      Put little pride back in our country and not huge million's of  dollar's yearly bonus going to 1 person.. The  President of a company for cutting of corners on quality of there product..

Thank you for all your help..

I think mine "has" a Kohler Engine in it.

Albeit, a single-cylinder model.

The balanced V-engines come standard on the "Garden" - ground engaging - Craftsman tractors.

My boys love their toy John Deere tractors... and my husband loves his Craftsman for the real work. Glad you are considering Craftsman for your replacement.  And our Friends & Family event is this Sunday so might be worth checking out the prices (6pm-9pm in store and all day online!)

WAS TRING TO BUY JOHN DEER RIDING LAWN MOWER FROM SEAR 2010 MDEL ZERO TURN PRICE 2232.00. BUT THEY WANT ME SEND MONEY TO LONDON,ENGLAND ANY BODY NO WHY IS THIS A SCAM-???????????????

Hi Butch, Sears marketplace offers all kinds of products from different merchants. Sears does not sell John Deere mowers, but the Zero Turn i just saw at Sears.com from Austin Power Equipment @$2200 seems too good to be true.

I have a john deere la125 with chains I have a steep hill it is hydostactic i replced a craftsman gear model because the craftman tried to kill me several times the jd is much more balenced on weight and control I would not buy anything other than a joh deere it holds the hills verey well I mow up and down the steep I also bought the snow plow last year didnt need it this year it paid for it self I plowed about 10 in of snow at a time we had a blizzard drive way is about 1/4 mile long 8 feet wide  excelant tractor