How To Fix Common Riding Lawn Mower Failures
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Engine won’t start. If you hear nothingnot even a clickwhen you turn the key to start your riding mower, then a dead battery, bad starter solenoid or failed interlock switch could be causing the problem. We walk you through the troubleshooting steps to figure out what’s wrong with your mower. Once you figure out the cause of the starting failure, you can easily find the replacement parts you need using our detailed parts diagrams. We carry repair parts for common riding mower brands including Craftsman, Husqvarna, MTD, Toro, Poulan and Snapper.
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Blown fuse. Replacing a blown fuse on your riding lawn mower is easy, but finding the cause can be more difficult. Unless you locate and repair the short, youll just keep blowing fuses. Learn how to test your ignition switch and the engine, chassis, and dash wire harnesses to narrow down the suspects so you can repair the problem and get back to mowing.
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Flat tire. If there is a small object embedded in the tread of a tire on your riding lawn mower, you can often repair it with tire sealant. If the sealant doesn’t fix the leak, or the hole is in the tire’s sidewall, replace either the front tire or back tire as needed.
How Cr Tests Lawn Mowers & Tractors
To get you ratings and reviews of the latest models by early spring, our testers travel to Florida to conduct tests in late winter at grounds we specially prepare each year. We plant 1,800 pounds of grass seed . We cut 500,000 square feet of grass in three modesmulching, side-discharging, and bagging a total of 3,000 pounds of clippings. We mow both level turf and slopes to get a feel for each and every model. We also review the convenience features on every model we assess.
The Overall Score for each model in CR’s mower ratings incorporates all that performance data, along with predicted reliability and owner satisfaction ratings from our latest member surveys.;The surveys leverage data on more than 78,000 lawn mowers and tractors that members purchased between 2010 and 2020.
Sears Partsdirect Has The Riding Mower Lawn Tractor And Garden Tractor Parts You Need To Keep Your Craftsman Lawn Equipment Running Smoothly
Trust Sears PartsDirect to have the riding mower, lawn tractor, garden tractor and Craftsman pro series parts you need to fix the equipment quickly when a failure occurs. Use the exploded parts drawings on our Sears PartsDirect website to easily order the Sears tractor parts and Sears riding mower parts you need to get your equipment running again.
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So Who Made Craftsman Lawn Mowers
Sometimes, Craftsman branded products contain exclusive features or features that distinguish them from the manufacturers brand or other brands made by the manufacturer. In other cases, Craftsman products with models from other brands have the same name.
The hardline mechanics tools have been produced over the years by a variety of manufacturers, including New Britain, Moore Drop Forging. The screwdrivers were manufactured by Pratt-Read and Western Forge. Now they are almost exclusively supplied by Western Forge, which also supplies clamps and adjustable wrenches.
Beginning in 2010, hand tools such as ratchets, baseboards and keys made by Craftsmans Apex Tool Group were purchased overseas, while the tools were made for Craftsman.
Like the adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and larger mechanical tool kits, these are also manufactured by Western Forges in the United States, although from 2018 most of the production of these products will be enough, if not enough.
The whole thing has moved to Asia. Sears still has an industrial line that is distributed through several authorized dealerships. These tools are made in the USA. UU., Which look identical to their former non-industrial counterparts from the US. UU., Except for the name Industrial, which is printed on them. They are manufactured by Apex in the USA. UU This was the origin of the US-made Craftsman standard product. UU Before the production was relocated abroad to Asia.
What To Consider Before You Buy
Lawn Mowers:
Push vs. self-propelled. Push mowers tend to be more affordable. Self-propelled models draw energy from the engine to power the wheels, which makes them easier to maneuver if you have a larger lawn or live on a sloped lot. All-wheel drive offers the best traction on slopes, followed by rear-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive, which is standard on most models, is still well-suited for flat parcels though is not the best choice if you bag clippings. As the bag fills, it can cause the front wheels to lose some traction.
Yard size. Consider the size of your yard to find the perfect walk-behind mower. Gas self-propelled mowers will be best for larger yards, and push mowers are better for smaller yards. Check out our guide to finding the right mower for your yard size.
Washout port. You should clean the underside of your mower after each cut. When its time to do so, a washout port makes it easier: It accepts a hose connection for clearing clippings beneath the mower deck without the need to tip the machine.
Electric start. On gas models, this feature lets you start the engine with push-button ease, rather than yanking a pull cord. All electric mowers start this way.
Folding handle. Models with a folding or collapsing handle require less space to store.
Upright storage. Almost all electrics can be stored vertically in a cramped garage. Some gas models have special engine seals that allow for upright storage, too, without the risk of oil or gas leaking out.
Riding Mowers:
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Other Craftsman Garden Equipment
We also stock a full range of other Craftsman garden tools to make any yard job go smoothly, including hedge trimmers, pressure washers, chainsaws, snow throwers, and more.
There’s no need to put up with an untidy yard because you lack the proper tools to maintain it. With Craftsman lawn equipment you can create and care for an outdoor space you’ll love to spend time in, getting the job done quickly and efficiently.
With Ace, you can order your Craftsman lawn equipment online for quick delivery to your home, or use our free in-store pickup service to get mowing without delay.
Need help? Call 1-866-290-5334
What Is The Best Type Of Lawn Mower
The two main classifications are walk-behind or riding mowers and the size and slope of your yard will be the main factors for choosing the right option. As a simple rule of thumb, you should get a walk-behind mower if you have less than ½ an acre or 10,000 square feet of grass space. Anything more and youll want to opt for a riding option.
Walk-behinds come in three basic types:
- Manual lawn mowers require you to do all the work without any assist from a motor or engine
- Push lawn mowers have an engine or motor to power the blades
- Self-propelled lawn mowers have an engine or motor powers the wheels and the blades.
Riding mowers are available in both manual and automatic transmissions as well as hydrostatic, which uses fluid instead of belts for power transfer.
- Zero turn tractors are essentially suped-up riding mowers and enable better handling and higher speeds than traditional tractors, as you control rotation with a pair of levers as opposed to a wheel .
For a more detailed breakdown of the types of mowers, check out Popular Mechanics‘ lawn mower buying guide.
Once you determine the type of mower or tractor youll want, there are a slew of other considerations you should be mindful of:
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Why Briggs & Stratton
For over 110 years, Briggs & Stratton has been dedicated to creating powerful, easy-to-use engines to make your lives easier. Innovations have been our focus, and today were bringing you new, groundbreaking engine technology. View some of our push and riding mower innovations below.
No Prime. No Choke. No Worries. Just pull for Power.
Most Common Sears Parts That Need Replacing On Craftsman Riding Lawn Mowers And Lawn Tractors
Find the Craftsman mower parts you need to fix any failure at Sears PartsDirect.
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Types Of Lawn Mowers & Tractors
Your options for the best walk-behind or riding lawn mower range from $170 gas push models to lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers that can cost upward of $4,000.
If you’re worried about noise, know that our tests show gas mowers are much noisier than their battery-powered counterparts. Nearly all the gas-powered machines we tested emitted more than 85 decibels at the user’s ear, and only a few were somewhat quieter. For all, we recommend hearing protection.
Where Are Craftsman Lawn Mowers Made
Craftsman manufactures a range of useful tools, lawnmowers, and outdoor gear. They were mainly part of a larger brand called Sears, but today they are completely independent and produce some of the best mowers to assemble. The trademark of Craftsman was registered in 1927.
Craftsman Lawn Mowers are mainly produced in China, although some are manufactured in Taiwan.
Sears has never made Craftsman products themselves, rather than relying on other manufacturers to manufacture them to Sears designs and specifications and then use the name of the Craftsman brand.
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How To Fix The Mower Deck When It Vibrates On Your Craftsman Riding Mower Or Garden Tractor
Height Adjustment And Range
Were iffy about a single point height adjustment with gas mowers because the weight of the mower can introduce flex and fatigue to that point, resulting in a flimsy look and feel. Its something we normally see on lighter battery-powered mowers .
The Craftsman M310, however, reaches a compromise here. Rather than forcing the user to adjust the deck height at each of the wheels, it employs a two-point adjustment at the front and back of the mower. It feels pretty sturdy, and only having to adjust two wheels is still more convenient than four.
This mower has 6 different height settings that range from 1 to 3.5. We might like to see a bit more range on the top end for our St. Augustine grass, but this mower has the range to tackle most grasses pretty effectively.
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Features We Favor On Lawn Mowers & Tractors
Depending on how much you want to spend, theres a wide selection of mower features and options available. Dont load up on any you wont useits best to cut costs as well as the grass.;
Walk-Behind Mowers: Uniform Wheel Sizes
Some mowers have rear wheels that are larger than the front wheels. Gas models with same-sized front and rear wheels tend to be easier to maneuver and tip back for U-turns at the end of a row.
Walk-Behind Mowers: Blade-Brake Clutch
When you release the handlebar, the clutch stops the blade but not the engine so that you don’t have to restart the engine to empty a full bag of clippings or to move a toy or branch.
Walk-Behind Mowers: Electric Start
Available on some gas models, electric start eliminates the inconvenience of pull-starting the engine. Most models with electric starts require external charging.
Walk-Behind Mowers: One-Lever Height Adjustment
Some self-propelled mowers have this feature, which lets you raise or lower the entire mowing deck at once. Most others require adjusting each of the four wheels individually.
Riding Mowers: Hydrostatic Transmission
Tractors with hydrostatic transmission can vary their ground speed quickly and smoothly without the need to move any additional controls. Most are now controlled with a pedal rather than a lever.;
Riding Mowers: Electric Power Takeoff Switch
For tractors, this switch lets you engage the blades without pulling a lever, a feature that is a bit more convenient and can extend belt life.
Shop At Home & Pick Up In The Us
It’s easy to get what you want. Order the items you love on Sears.com, ship your order to a U.S. address or just pick up at a U.S. Sears store.
Free U.S. Store Pickup
Order something online but need a little help picking it up? No problem. You can pay and pick up online orders at a Sears store.
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U.S. Shipping & Delivery
Looking to keep it simple? Get your order shipped or delivered to any address in the United Statesincluding hotels. Get a little help from friends and family to get what you wantsimply have your order delivered right to them.
Sears makes it easy for Canadian customers to shop for pickup in the United States. Simply log into;www.sears.com;and you can order anything you want for USA delivery, from sturdy Craftsman;lawn and garden;tools to dependable Die Hard;car batteries. Whether you’re planning on picking up your order in an American Sears location or shipping to an American address, the process is simple and hassle-free.
It’s easy to get packages of any size delivered to a USA address, at Sears. From small Kenmore;kitchen appliances;to large shipments like Samsung;flat panel TVsand Sealy;mattresses, Sears makes cross border shipping and pickup easy. Save big by shopping from the comfort of your own home today.
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