Craftsman 54 In. 26hp Kohler Turn Tight Hydrostatic Garden Tractor Non CA

I have had a steering problem with my 26 hp excaliber and even after changing all the linkage nothing changed. so i am not sure i could recommend one to anybody. 2010 might not last to long even though there is lots of power.

Good service so far, other than the failure of the starter. The plastic trim is just junk and would hang up on tall brush; I ripped it off, as should the manufacturer. I think the unit is overpriced. Earlier reviews suggested it was made by Husky, but the quality overall is not up to Husky standards. The unit dropped a blade (bolt worked loose) which was replaced. My last Sears mower was cheaper and gave good service, except for the Briggs&Stratton motor, which has become junk thanks to too many MBAs with authority over the engineers. The Kohler engine is the high point of the current mower.

This is the second Sears tractor I purchased. 1st one is 13 years old and still runs great. This tractor has all the features and power I need. Kohler engine runs great and all the power I need. I purchased this on 4/ 20/2013. Delivered on 4/30/2013. Engine ran for 40 seconds, developed a severe vibration. Shut engine off. Found bolt that holds the clutch asm. loose. Clutch asm. spun around and ripped wires and connector from harness. Now I have to wait until 5/8/2013 to get repaired. Not a happy customer. $3000.00 tractor

I can start this review with "no negative surprises." It was delivered on time. It was delivered in good condition.(did have slight paint rub marks on hood of tractor) Read the owners manual before you get started. Little things like it is shipped with too much air in the tires, need to bleed the hydrostatic transmission. (very simple process) I also purchased a mulching kit with my unit, which works perfectly. I mowed my yard, then mowed my neighbor's yard. I mowed both of these yards in the time it took to mow my yard only, with my older riding mower. This unit will mow at all speeds without skipping grass or making wind rows. The blades are extra heavy and will not bend easy, and the deck is reinforced. With my yard, I need a unit that will mow in reverse, which you can do, with the simple turn of the ignition switch. This unit is made well, it runs well and has plenty of power and mowing speed! I am extremely happy with my purchase.

This Kohler engine has lots of starter problems, and they don't supply parts for the actual problems, so you end up paying $400 in new parts for a recurring problem. The starter-to-ring gear has design problems [check it out with a web search], with ring gear cracking problems, and they do not offer a $10 ring gear, but only a $200 flywheel. It also wipes out the starter, which is a very expensive starter, resulting in about $400 in parts for a recurring problem. Customer support from Kohler is worthless. Kohler used to be a good quality, reliable engine, but no more. Also, the foot mounted "shuttle drive" forward/reverse is a pain, literally, on the foot and ankle. The fender mounted transmission lever is MUCH easier to use. I'm back to using my old, reliable 42" mower, and this one is now sitting in the back field, because the engine isn't worth dumping money into.

Bought the GT6000 mower Summer 2012 from Sears Outlet. I've always been a Craftsman fan but I'm glad I only paid $1950. Good speed and cuts well. I really like the reverse and speed controlled through the peddle. I've see many of the issues folks are discussing. Front wheels lock up if you turn to tight or drop in a small hole (gophers) while turning. Hood shakes and very cheeply installed. Had to tighten all the deck wheels immediately. Deck doesn't rise enough. My primary issues are that the wheels spin very easily due to lack of weight and tire tread which causes concerns about purchasing attachments. I'm currently working to purchase the wheel weights and chains. My other concern is when I conduct a turn at the top of the hill, I get massive billowing of smoke from the belt rubbing. I have to take those turns slow and wide. No snow in southern California so I'm planning on setting up the small box spreader. No expectations about welds once I add the spreader.

I bought my GT6000 last month along with the 42 inch 2 stage snow blower, 54 in mower deck, front bumper, and pull behind 85 lb. salt spreader. I have not had an opportunity to use the blower or mower yet as it is winder (so not grass) and we have had no snow since the purchase. I cannot wait until it snows (a lot, I have to thoroughly test it ;). Looking forward to mowing (I mow 5 acres). I am also going to be purchasing the tiller attachment.

Not crazy about this machine after 100 hours use. Its ok but not wild about it. The tight turn is over-rated, you lock up or slide quite a bit but will out turn the previous version. DOn't think your getting a zero-turn mower, you're not. 26hp will move you along at 7.5mph but you really can't mow at this speed unless it's thinned out August grass. I really really wish they had changed the pully system to generate more blade speed, thats the name of the game I've leared on a 54" cut mower after the fact. If I was doing it again I would have opted for a zero turn with higher blade speed and a slightly smaller deck.

This tractor is a beast. Simple fact. The reviews in this string that require a tissue are likely written by folks who would like Sears to have some one come out and mow their lawn for them. If you are mechanically inclined you will do just fine with this piece. It is not a BIC lighter nor is it an all wheel drive, 5 star driver side impact rated machine. I have the basics (deck and plow) and it continues to impress me. Yeah it smoked on an incline, but then I found out my son put a little to much oil in it. I mow almost 2 yard acres a week and a small par three wedge course (almost 2 more acres) with it. I trailer three cords of fire wood up to the house with it. It lays a sweaty little 3 foot snow bank like it wanted to do it. The only equipment that matches this beast was our old mid 70's Wheel Horse. One simple quibble. What is the point of having a bumper/weed guard. I took it off when I got it and hasn't back on since. Buy this if you need a monster.

Sears is full of it when they tell you that you will be able to get the parts you need through Sears Parts Direct. I have been waiting for an oil valve for my tractor for almost a month now. The website says that it is "In Stock" but the keep telling me that it is backordered and will ship in 2 days. Of course in 2 days they say the same thing again. There is no other places to get parts for these and they don't have them either. In a few years, this will be a $2,900 pile of scrap-metal pouring oil all over your garage like mine is because of a $20 part that no one can seem to locate.