Craftsman 46" 24hp Turn Tight Hydrostatic Yard Tractor Non CA

I purchased this tractor in May 2012 and I now have over 20 hours usage on this tractor.  This tractor replaced a 2001 42" Craftsman.  First read the instructions and follow the set up procedures to the letter.  Do this and you will have an excellent cutting platform.  There are some cons to this tractor but they weren't deal breakers for me, IE: 1.  Height adjustment is on the left hand side and gets hung up on clothing when exiting the tractor. 2.  Reverse pedal should have been larger thus easier to use.  3. Gas gauge window almost impossible to read.

Pro's   24HP engine extremely smooth and powerful, will cut the steepest yards such as mine. 2.  Deck is vibration free and excellent cutting ability, hose connecter for cleaning is an added bonus. 3.  Turning radius is the tightest in the industry. 4. Transmission is smooth and also vibration free.

Prior to purchasing I read the reviews and almost decided against this tractor but because of my history with Craftsman products I decided to buy and can honestly say I have not regretted it.  A lot of the bad reviews could be attributed to the buyer trying to use the product without going through the set up procedure.  It's a great tractor for the money.   

I purchased the equivalent model several years ago. I know that manufacturers change the mechanics from year to year, but this might be worth thinking about. The machine has been great on our almost 2 acre lot and we have been very happy with it. Last week the drive peddles stopped working properly. Upon inspection I found that there is supposed to be a small spring that sits next to the transaxle, and it was missing. I assumed it would be a simple and inexpensive fix. When I called the parts department they informed me that that part is not available for sale on its own. It comes as part of the transaxle assembly (the entire rear drive system). The cost of the parts alone is $775.... it seems to be a very expensive spring...