txsteve

For a while these manufactures plop tractors together with weird recipes and hit the market...The buyers are the rats..The rats are the testers..The makers then see the supply n demand,,Profit n lost..
In the middle of manufacturing they change the recipes for who ,,yes $$$ first then satisfy customers...
Some time you might get a beast for the money...then you'll see its discontinued..then you see a different model number but it looks exactly the same,,so whats the change and why..better for who ??..
We'll never know till we test them..
It's up to the customers to do their homework..
I found out that never go to a dealer..their stuff is the best..
Go to some tractor repair shops who works on all models n makes and you get a better insight..I ask them Stamped vs Fabricated decks..Stamped it is..
Rear mower or belly..Belly it is..
Transaxle for my needs..No gear box needed with todays hydros..Go with Hydro- Gear...stronger n better than Tuff-Torq..They repairs a lot of TT but just service maintenance on HG..
Frame strength..That was a tricky q&a.Frames do crack n bend so thickness is not the issue..The design that was tested is what your looking for...The thicker is not always better but it have a higher price and looks better..A lighter flexible frame vs rigid is all up to the designer..Flexible is sometimes better for the front n rear axles so 4 wheels on the ground all the time..the rat will test those..
PTO on a lot of these YT n GT is a selling word...They don't have PTO..They have ECA (electric clutch activated)..your vehicle a/c is not pto..it's a electric clutch..
The GT6000 I just bought will have a steering problem in the future...it looks too cheap n flimsy with no adjustment...The deck wheels are connected wrong even stated in the manual..They don't spin freely...the washes are wrong size or placed in wrong side..at first I moved the wheels down where I wanted them..then tighten the bolts..wheels turn tight..so I remove it and look and the step bolt and the step is a hair than the wheel hole..the washer was over the step and binding the wheel...
SO I put the washer on the bolt after the mount by the nut...now the wheels are turning freely...
The day I bought the GT ,,that evening I order the Johnny Bucket and Johnny Bucket Universal Electric Sleeve Hitch...
The JB Electric Sleeve Hitch has two easy settings..Rigid up n down or Floating...Sears kind don't..and who is stronger..JB..
I seen a notice bulletin in a shop about the 2011 GT6000..
1-cracked rear chassis plate with sleeve hitch mounted due to sears sleeve hitch accessory..(JB mounts different to tractor)
2-brake/clutch pedal stiff,,slipping belt..Due to grass built up between plates mounted to c frame by steering..Just clean it out..
3-Adjustable steering links available (I have those part numbers someplace)
When I find them,,I'll post them..

wjjones

Thankyou for the info I had been looking at one of the Husqvarna GTH-26v52LS tractors.. When I bought my YS4500 the sales guy said it was made by Husqvarna for Sears. I kinda favored the Fab-Deck on the Husqvarna mentioned above, and the 8mph forward speed plus it will take all kinds of attachments.. Check it out at Husqvarna.com and see what you think?

txsteve

Wjjones...When I was looking at new tractors the GTH-26v52LS was on my list..The GT6000 #28861 also...Both are very close..Different is Frame type,,Engine,,Deck,,Some links on steering parts..
Both have G730 that's a need in my book..
Both at $3000.00 I'll take the GTH-26v52LS but 50% price drop on the GT6000 sold me..
Look at the 5 pictures I added in my album that shows parts side by side..GT6000 on the left..

txsteve

PS..what transaxle do you have in your YS4500.?

dangeroustoys56

Ive noticed with sears, quality does show - some of my older machines have welded together mandrels ( meaning no replacing berings) - so they make you drop a bunch of cash for a new one ( one mandrel for my 86 GT II is $150- needs 3 ) - a couple do have bolt together mandrels tho. One of my craftsmans, the PO managed to break the trans housing - ive owned multiple machines over the years and never once broke a trans , they werent used lightly either.

Sears seems to mark up their replacement parts a bit , plus also seem to make limited runs of replacements , always seem to change or discontinue parts/part numbers.

I still like my collection of craftsman tractors, im in the process of rebuilding the deck for one( LT12) and rebuilding a LT11 rear discharge tractor - my rebuilt runners still work pretty good .