txsteve

When I found n bought the tractor I didn't see any problems here..the front bumper was handed to me missing hardware...they said they will mail it to me so no biggie..That was a Sunday...Tuesday the tractor,stove/oven was delivered...Wednesday started new toy day...dropped air pressure,,add oil,,grease up,,fuel up,,adjust deck wheels down..tripped over the deck chute two times so saw-all time..start up n test..
Very fast,,like that..drove to the gate n got off the tractor n she died..start up n drove thru the gate n got off she died again..then it hit me..Seat switch..u- turn to the garage to take switch out,,drill hole thru it n tiewrap it n put it back in..Hate these new safety gadgets...Put a/c instead..
Back to testing...went to side field were the grass is high like 15"-20"...when I cut, I cut down to 1-2"... she went thru it like butter at a little higher than engine idle..
Now back to the garage to my Messed-up list and call Sears...
This list was during set up..
1-Front Wheel grease fitting was cross threaded so grease shooting around threads n not to bearings...
2-Front axle left Pivot Bolt crossed threaded so it was not in all the in..
3-Wheels are too much toe- out..
4-PTO..Hit PTO n engine stalls..it works ok with belt off ,,,deck belt n spindles are free turning so what's up...its not a electric stall its an engine torque stall..
5-Remind them about bumper hardware..
Hello tractor owners...
Two days later package arrived with front wheel w/grease fitting,,new bumper with hardware,,Front cast iron axle with all components..
I painted new front axle n components because they were raw..then I install everything...the front alignment is right now with a little toe-in ,,no more wheel 90* turn ..they still do a tight turn though..so the loose bolt n axle was bad from the start...now the steering is right like a car when you let go of the steering wheel after a turn she straighten up..
The tech should be in next week...and was..
The PTO is ok..he said I hit the PTO at idle..I should hit it at med to high engine rpm..
I think the governor need an adjustment because my old tractor with 42" 3 blades at 16hp fires up at idle and the governor hits in n off...But the tech will not touch the governor...Oh-well...I'll work on that soon..
Then another package arrived,,big one...New Johnny Bucket n rear power hitch...
Very,Very Happy now...tested to the max..I figured if the tractor or Johnny didn't break or died that day I'll be ok...its alive..

I found one thing I really didn't like..SLOW REVERSE..working the tractor with dirt,,just too slow n no reverse power for back blading..
A little modifying done,,Now I have the same speed n power,,forward n reverse..Sweet..

I see that all these new little tractors don't have hood hold downs...Is this another safety issue or cheap...Anyways I have a snowmobile hood kit for 12 bucks in the mail...
I didn't put in a review on sears yet but so far I'm still happy with it..these things happens with all manufacturers..that's when customers service kicks in...selling price too..I was looking for a small tractor for awhile and need one soon..the 2011 GT6000 was one on my list..I found it in sears outlet as we was looking for an oven...It's a brand new showroom model with a small scratch on the rear fender..Oven and Tractor with delivery less than $1600.
That was a deal you can't pass..
No I didn't buy extra warranty..
If I paid 3k or more for it,,I would be pissed.
Beware though... was two GT6000 and others side by side there..both GT6000 same price...one showroom and the other one used,,very used...so I picked the new one...

Steve

dangeroustoys56

Wjjones mentioned sears reccomends engaging the deck at past half throttle - theres an indent in the throttle lever - ive had an issue with my 99 weedeater ( call it a craftsman tractor) - would keep dying when engaging the deck - i was almost ready to swap another motor on when i noticed the indent ( had it for 3 years and never noticed it) - set it there and it ran beautiful.

Majority of my tractors dont have any sort of hood hold down, only ones that do are my 3 dynamarks and a lone MTD - all my tractors are pre 2003 - the dynamarks have holes in the hood edges and bolts are mounted in the chassis ( factory setup) - the MTD has hooks on springs ( also factory). I really havent had one fly open unless i run into something.

Im opposite - id buy the used one - specially if it was way cheeper - actually all the tractors ive bot ( cept for one new one in 92) are well used - warranties arent all theyre cracked up to be specially with tractor motors - newer motors just dont set well with me, too much junk inside to deal with ( to quiet them down, to make them more EPA compliant, cheeper materials) - id rather use my trusty old flatheads with no plastic in them- some have been around as long as i have .

Warranties also require a tech to fix them, which could be weeks for a repair - and i know itll be fixed right the first time fixing it myself.

wjjones

Welcome to the Forum!..Steve.. I also went with the Husqvarna style bumper its alot stronger, and all one piece.. It kinda looks like a bull bar style bumper..

txsteve

I'm working on the bumper so it will just slide in the front plate for fast on n off...and mount a set of 35w fog lights on the bumper..I only need bright lights when mowing...not when using the bucket..

txsteve

Some traction weight...

txsteve

That little tube with putty around it is use so I get around 99% full liquid..the tube curves up to the top of the tire inside...

wjjones

....Thats a nice looking rig....

txsteve

Needed more reverse power n speed..So this is how I did it.


Next the original plastic push in pedal had no more travel...if I raise the plastic it hits the floor board slot and I didn't want to cut the board floor...I found a VW pedal in the scrap pile n used that..


No more bouncing hood...using snowmobile hood straps..

You can see on rough field the hood don't bounce no more and no more reverse speed..video below..
Craftsman GT6000 modified reverse for speed - YouTube

wjjones

Yep I put a hood latch on mine too.. How did you do the first part in the first picture?

txsteve

I just mark the slot before I removed the plate..(so I cut the rite side)..I used a Roughing end mill bit in a hand drill and take a little more than 1/8" metal off the slot..
In fact making the slot longer don't have to be exactly cut like it was...you can see the allen head bolt the holds the neutral setting and also used as the slot stop..
The allen bolt is round so the slot don't have to be flat..
Don't remove or losen the allen bolt..Just the torx bolt to remove the plate.

wjjones

Ok I see it gives it a little more travel space for reverse.. Does it help with forward too?

wjjones

Which VW pedal did you use gas pedal, etc?

txsteve

I used the brake pedal so it won't break..

txsteve

I talked with a friend that works on heavy duty construction equipment..Mainly Hydrostatic units..He say the Hydrostatic speed is set by safety issues at work sites..But the speed of the Hydros itself are what the pump n valves can deliver volume...So max it out before the pulsing feeling and it will be ok..
So for my reverse,,I shaved a little more than 1/8" and in happy with the speed I got now..in fact its faster reversing than forward..lol
I will shave 3/32" off the front (forward) of the slot some day but its not on my must list yet...

wjjones

Thankyou for the info I cut 5 yards so all the speed I can get will help....

dangeroustoys56

What kind of reinforcing does the frame have? Ive seen pics of some tractors with the whole front of the chassis bent over after pounding into snowpiles /dirt . Those tractors had the plow/bucket hooked to the front axle only tho.

txsteve

I found that the Johnny Bucket mounting in not universal..It's made by year n model...the mount itself is made very strong...the mount runs about 24"-30" long...

wjjones

I bought mine with intentions of adding extras like a grader box, etc but found that it doesnt except attachments.. So its just a grass cutter only..

txsteve

What model did you buy.?..My old Murray will take any attachment and do the job..There is no list that will fit the Murray...So make it fit..

wjjones

I bought the YS4500 24hp v-twin Briggs with the 54" deck model# 917.276800 the manual says it will take a snow thrower but thats about it.. I think I could work around the no attachments thing but I thought I would just look around for an old GT to use for that.. I try to keep this one light so I can cut that grass faster.........