The next two or three month transition will be interesting ;) We are short a few things going into the new house. We are talking a fridge, riding mower, washer and dryer. Today I have been researching decent options for each and thought someone here might have experience.
Fridge- Looks like we might go LG or Whirlpool side by side. Both units have high ratings with LG looking to be a leader these days.
Mower- Kind of digging the Home Depot Ariens with Briggs and Stratton engine with 46" cut. The rating is very high and my Ariens snow blower has done well for me. Second choice would maybe be a Craftsman... is Hydrostatic less maintenance or issues?
Washer and Dryer- Looks like we want a top loader with the new steam option in the dryer. Maytag is the brand we have looked at for these and what I currently have owned for years without anything major.
Fridge...haven't bought one in many years. Washers we used to buy Maytag, the last was a Samsung, no issues. Does what it's suppose to do.
I have a JD riding mower with hydrostatic drive that's around 20 years old. No problems. I had an old JD very small tractor/mower that was I was going to rebuild but never did. It was built in 1969 and the hydrostatic drive still worked well. As I remember this was their first hydro drive mower. I call it a tractor as it had a class something 3 pt and a lift on the front. Kohler motor was a mosquito killer and it needed a lot of work but the hydro drive functioned fine. Can't speak for other brands.
For the mower, I go to Loews and get the troybuilt as it's motor is a honda.
One of the nice features is a on/off gas valve... allows easy way to empty the carb at winter... just run dry.
I read the reviews on the Troy and it had a ton of negatives. I'm leaning towards the Ariens with a Briggs from The Depot.
Stay away from the Kenmore Elite HE Washer & Dryer, My washer has had 3 circuit boards and a suspension kit in the effort to keep it in place, before the first circuit board was replaced I hear the machine making noise and walked in to find it jumping 6" to 8" off the floor and banging against the walls, its a good thing I had the extra warranty for the repairs to replace the pump and boards. Dryer has been OK but takes forever to dry clothes...
I have an older refrigerator, Whirlpool, it is the ref on bottom and freezer up top (single door type for ref), I don't like the side by side ref/freezer type. I have taken a liking to the draw type freezer on bottom with Ref up top...
Garden/Lawn tractor, I have a 2003 (April) TroyBilt (MTD)(Sam's Club) B&S Commercial/Industrial 22 HP, 46" cut, that has seen some serious cutting duty (4 acres at my mom's an 2 acres of mine), usual maintenance of belts and blades and just last year, some quil bearings & pulley bearing started making noises, so I replaced them, still working well. The commercial zero turns are nice machines but expensive, they cut fast, but don't do small ditch banks, or parallel cutting on slopes.
Quote from: Intercooler on May 18 2014 08:19:34 AM MDT
I read the reviews on the Troy and it had a ton of negatives. snip
Thats why I mentioned Honda engine... they use 3 types.
Myself, not fond of B&S... had an engine crap out with less than 10 hours on it.
Good luck.
When I first got my B&S Commercial/Industrial engine, I took off the filter plug, install a threaded sleeve for the spin on filter, that could have made a big difference in the way it has lasted. I had to adjust the valves once, after they run for a while the valves can loosen up, (this makes them very hard to start, like a bad battery) however adjusted the valves to 0.004" lash and all is well, cranks up easy, runs like a champ!
Engine choices seem to be Kohler, B&S and Sears don't really say what they use :o
After 2 $1800 (Cub's)mowers in 4 years I got pissed and bought a Scag zero turn yesterday. The decks kept breaking on the cub cadets and the first ones engine (Kohler) only lasted 30 hrs.
Deere uses some Kawasaki V-twins in some of their mowers....at least in the past. Water cooled, mine has lasted nearly twenty years with no real problems as I mentioned in the other post. But, it was bought thru a dealer, not the ones sold at Lowes. Rather pricey. :o.
A friend has a Scag and had some problems with the hydraulics after a couple of years......expensive parts. Had an Ariens years ago that was abused but held up well, even after selling it to a friend. So many companies have been bought for the name that it's hard to say anymore about the quality of the products.
My plan is to Amex it. Turns that 2 year warranty into a 4 ;D
For what's it worth, my brother lives in Framingham MA and has had the same Craftsman Riding mower (thinking it is a 42" cut) since he bought it back in 2003. All he has had to do is the normal maintenance and get new blades. I believe the motor is a Kohler. The great thing about Craftsman is their stellar warranty. I would encourage you to see if there is a Craftsman outlet/parts locations near you other than the normal Sears. much better place to go since it is only Craftman's stuff.
The LGs seem like the way to go for the front load washer and dryer setup. saves on water and cleans clothes with less wear on them due to no agitator to get wrapped around. For ease on service and maintenance, I would encourage you to get try to get all your appliances from the same manufacturer.
Best of luck with the move and hoping that you don't have a random missing box of stuff. :'(
It seems the uprights just don't have the features of the front loaders or do as good of a job.
I don't know if Briggs or Kohler is the better engine.
Kohler, is the better engine...period! The Briggs Commercial/Industrial V twin with cast sleeves is OK!
I read some of the Kohler engines experienced cracking.
maybe so, but the Craftsman warranty is good. there will always be issues for items that are mass produced. Kohler also makes some of the best commercial/industrial generators around.
Add a leaf blower/mulcher to the list ??? Yesterday my Poulan crapped out on me!
The Sears Memorial Day sale is looking so enticing we might be doing all Sears. If you bundle more than 3 appliances you can save an additional 15% over the sale prices. If they can price match on the tractor we might even get that today since I think getting in-store parts will be better than the Ariens.
What a day shopping for all this stuff! :o
The Craftsman ended up being the better unit. Not only did it feel better in the seat, controls, etc... for the same money I get a metal hood, better seat, steering wheel, water clean-out, more HP and 46" cut. The warranty was pretty darn good too and picked up the mulching kit right there for cheaper than the Ariens setup. It has a Briggs and Stratton Gold 19 HP with spin-on filter (forced oiling).
(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff100/Intercooler2/Mobile%20Uploads/20140522_185131_zpsdxvk7hrv.jpg)
(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff100/Intercooler2/Mobile%20Uploads/20140522_185429_zpsohhsmyht.jpg)
The Cub was pretty nice except the plastic hood ???