Best Lawn Tractors

HOW TO CHOOSE = The best lawn tractors for you will depend on your lawn and on your budget. For small lawns (up to one acre), a gear-driven tractor with horsepower of about 15 will work fine. For lawns between 1 and 2 acres, you should look for an automatic transmission, cruise control and about 17 horsepower.

Larger lawns will require 18 to 24 horsepower and a 46” to 54” mowing deck. Don’t buy more mower than you need. Less than ½ acre should be mowed with a mower rather than a tractor. If you need a tractor, you will probably also need a small mower for trimming.

When you buy your tractor, check the hour meter. More than a couple of hours will mean that the tractor was used for demonstrations, or was previously owned.

Testers at Popular Mechanics say that the best lawn tractors have Kohler or Kawasaki engines, as opposed to Briggs & Stratton engines, and a diesel engine can save fuel costs on larger models. An oil pump also increases engine life. Engines with overhead valves are quieter and less polluting.

Anti-scalping wheels help keep the mower level on uneven ground. Mowers with zero turning radius will pivot, while other mowers leave a circle of uncut grass when they turn. Caution – if you pivot too quickly, the wheels will slide and you will damage the grass.

Safety features to consider include hearing protection, bagging (instead of discharging – unless you mulch), blades should stop when you leave the seat, and traction on hills can be extremely important.

Local dealers will often have the same prices as the big box stores. But the local dealers usually see to it that the battery is fully charges (important), he assembles the tractor, and lets you test-drive it.

Customer service is typically better. Wherever you buy, be sure to register the warranty with the manufacturer.

THE REVIEW = The Best Overall Lawn Tractor is the John Deere X304. It received the highest rating for smooth, even cutting and easy conversion from side-discharging to mulching and bagging modes. It has a 42” wide sweep and a tight 15” turning radius.

In addition to the automatic transmission and cruise control, this model is loaded with conveniences for comfortable driving. It has a 17 horsepower Kawasaki engine and has a four-year warranty. The list price is $3,600.

Other top performers include:

Best Value, Medium-Duty Tractor = John Deere LA115 @ $1,750.

Best Budget Tractor for Light Duty = Poulan XTPXT16542 @ $1,000.

Best Zero-Turn Mower = Toro TimeCutter Z4200 @ $2,700.

Best prices found on-line in Dec. ’09 and again in May, '10 = MowersDirect.com for all models, but you really ought to try one of these at your local dealer.

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