Troy-Bilt riding mower. Thoughts????
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
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From: Almost Heaven
Troy-Bilt riding mower. Thoughts????
Heyah heya heya!
Looking at a Troy-Bilt Pony 17.5 horse riding mower. The engine is Briggs & Stratton. Just wondering if any of you have had any experience with these machines?
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=288803-270-PONY&lpage=none
In addition to cutting the lawn, this tractor will be used to haul wood (clearing land).
Thoughts? Opinions? On a budget and this thing is priced to sell. More than anything I'm just concerned about reliability.
What do you all use?
Thanks all!
-Bill
Looking at a Troy-Bilt Pony 17.5 horse riding mower. The engine is Briggs & Stratton. Just wondering if any of you have had any experience with these machines?
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=288803-270-PONY&lpage=none
In addition to cutting the lawn, this tractor will be used to haul wood (clearing land).
Thoughts? Opinions? On a budget and this thing is priced to sell. More than anything I'm just concerned about reliability.
What do you all use?
Thanks all!
-Bill
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,931
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From: N. Mississippi
Personally, I would avoid a Troy Bilt like the plague! We bought an 06 Super Bronco used just 2 years ago to cut the yard at my wife's house...10 miles away. The deck is junk....can't keep belts on it as well as the drive system. It is sitting now from drive belt failure after a new belt was installed. Didn't even get the whole yard(2 acres) cut before it just quit pulling. Not so much the belt as maybe the vari-pulley. Engine runs good but you can't mow with this one without something going wrong.
My neighbor bought a new one just a few months back and has replaced the deck belt once already.
I use a Craftsman DLT 3000 that I bought in 04 and have replaced the drive and deck belts just this year. It has a Kohler 20hp engine that runs like a top and the only problem I have had with it is trash somehow got in the carb. Cleaned it and all is well.
I would stay away from a Troy Bilt. Just Google Troy Bilt riding mowers. You'll see!
My neighbor bought a new one just a few months back and has replaced the deck belt once already.
I use a Craftsman DLT 3000 that I bought in 04 and have replaced the drive and deck belts just this year. It has a Kohler 20hp engine that runs like a top and the only problem I have had with it is trash somehow got in the carb. Cleaned it and all is well.
I would stay away from a Troy Bilt. Just Google Troy Bilt riding mowers. You'll see!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Almost Heaven
Hey thanks guys, keep the thoughts coming. I'll keep my eyes open for something else in our price range!
Edit: Can you maybe tell me why exactly the belt deck is junk? Is it something I can make better? I figured the motor would run good, it being a B&S.
Edit: Can you maybe tell me why exactly the belt deck is junk? Is it something I can make better? I figured the motor would run good, it being a B&S.
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
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john deere x300 or up, is the way to go, It's like the difference between night and day compared to troy built and craftsman, and others in that price range. you will not be disappointed , years from now it will still run like the day you got it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: N. Mississippi
You will find that most folks on here will push John Deere but you would have to spend a lot more than what your budget allows unless you find a used one and then who knows what you are getting.
A JD will let you down if you don't maintain it! Troy Bilts are just not built as good as they used to be...or so I've read!
A JD will let you down if you don't maintain it! Troy Bilts are just not built as good as they used to be...or so I've read!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Almost Heaven
You will find that most folks on here will push John Deere but you would have to spend a lot more than what your budget allows unless you find a used one and then who knows what you are getting.
A JD will let you down if you don't maintain it! Troy Bilts are just not built as good as they used to be...or so I've read!
A JD will let you down if you don't maintain it! Troy Bilts are just not built as good as they used to be...or so I've read!
Thanks DD, that's kind of what I was thinking.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Kansas City, KS
While I have VERY little experience with them, I've purchased a well used MTD Yard machine, and a well used Craftsman.
I spent $200 for one, and $150 for the other.
Some minor repairs early in the season, but both are performing well!
I spent $200 for one, and $150 for the other.
Some minor repairs early in the season, but both are performing well!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Apex, N.C.
I still have my Craftsman GT 6000 18hp/44" deck that I bought in December of 92'. Still runs and cuts just like it did when it was new. The newer Troybilts have plastic bushing inserts in the front wheels that need replacing often, unless they've changed the design in the last couple of years.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Cullman Alabama
I bought a new Troy built from Lowes in 05. It was such an unreliable piece of Junk they gave me a replacement in 07. The engine blew a rod in that one.
I finally got a new engine in 08 from B&S. No help from Troy at all. The B&S "certified experts" have ruined my Mower.
Dealing with Troy or B&S on any kind of a Guarentee issue is like dealing with a Divorce Lawyer.
Thats my experience, and my last with Lowes, Troy built and B&S if I can help it.
I finally got a new engine in 08 from B&S. No help from Troy at all. The B&S "certified experts" have ruined my Mower.
Dealing with Troy or B&S on any kind of a Guarentee issue is like dealing with a Divorce Lawyer.
Thats my experience, and my last with Lowes, Troy built and B&S if I can help it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
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From: Rhode Island
Craftsman, Cub Cadet, Troy Bilt, Craftsman, John Deere, Wheel Horse, Murray, and Yard Machines, White and Bolens are all junk as far as I'm concerned. They all have the same thin stamped frames, same cheap aluminum non user serviceable noisey power robbing hydrostatic transmission, same cheap body panels and same over all crap quality. The only way to get any hint of quality these days is to start spending in the $4000 or more range.
If you were just going to be using it to mow grass, they're fine, but if your going to be working it, hauling wood, etc forget about new and go old. IH Cub Cadets, Older Simplicities, and older John Deeres are built much tougher then todays machines and can handle much more. That 17HP John Deere x300 weighs 490 lbs, while your average 12HP IH Cub Cadet will weigh in at over 800.
Another comparison: Here is what an IH Cub Cadet rear axle looks like: http://i31.tinypic.com/16h6q9e.jpg
Here is what you find underneath a modern tractor: http://www.psep.biz/images/mower%20p...EDAM131257.jpg
Which would you rather have if your going to be hauling stuff?
$1000 will get you a decent International Cub Cadet 3, 5, 7 or even 9 series with a mower deck, and enough money left over to probably pick up a snow blower and a plow, if not more.
If you were just going to be using it to mow grass, they're fine, but if your going to be working it, hauling wood, etc forget about new and go old. IH Cub Cadets, Older Simplicities, and older John Deeres are built much tougher then todays machines and can handle much more. That 17HP John Deere x300 weighs 490 lbs, while your average 12HP IH Cub Cadet will weigh in at over 800.
Another comparison: Here is what an IH Cub Cadet rear axle looks like: http://i31.tinypic.com/16h6q9e.jpg
Here is what you find underneath a modern tractor: http://www.psep.biz/images/mower%20p...EDAM131257.jpg
Which would you rather have if your going to be hauling stuff?
$1000 will get you a decent International Cub Cadet 3, 5, 7 or even 9 series with a mower deck, and enough money left over to probably pick up a snow blower and a plow, if not more.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,899
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From: Cullman Alabama
I have two Allis Chalmers in the process of making one out of the two. Either one of my Dead ones would make two of this tin troybuilt.
If your going to mow, stay away from the hydrostatic. Get the belts, they are cheaper in the long run.
If your going to mow, stay away from the hydrostatic. Get the belts, they are cheaper in the long run.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
Do you mean hydraulically driven mower decks? Hydrostatic transmissions are very nice for maintaining a constant mowing speed.
As far as the old Allis-Chalmers garden tractors - Simplicity built machines (save 3xx and 4xx series), and every bit as good as the old JDs and IH Cub Cadets
As far as the old Allis-Chalmers garden tractors - Simplicity built machines (save 3xx and 4xx series), and every bit as good as the old JDs and IH Cub Cadets