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Eliminate the belt-and-pulley automatic transmission

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Idea_tail_up posted on May 20, 2009 at 06:01PM to Product Feedback
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This year marks the return of the belt-and-pulley automatic transmission on certain models of Craftsman tractors. This transmission system costs less up front, but is plagued with maintenance and costly repair issues (not ours in particular, but the style of transmission in general). While I understand the motivation of providing another price point and another option, this is a step into territory that Sears was once proud to not tread upon, and will almost certainly lead to many customer complaints about transmission problems.


Latest comment: May 23, 2009 at 08:37AM by BlueCrewGuyInMA • Total: 2 comments • leave a comment
posted on May 23, 2009 at 12:10AM
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I understand the concern and I too was this adamant at the start of the season. Since then, I thought "Well, as with everything, the customer will decide." If this model does not sell enough or if it is plagued with repair issues, it will be discontinued. Or adversely, if sales are good and this model is without transmission issues (so far so good), they might add one or two more models with this transmission.


posted on May 23, 2009 at 08:37AM
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Yeah, I know. I've made sure to let customers know about the maintenance involved with this style of transmission (not to bash it, but they should know that it WILL need regular maintenance). Not many people find it attractive after that. What am I going to do, lie by omitting extremely important information? Most people find the $100 jump to the hydrostatic worthwhile. I wonder if they're making a very tiny number of the belt/pulley automatics to create an attractively priced version of automatic, and then we can more easily sell up to the hydrostatic? I mean, it's possible. *shrug*




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