Hello. What new 2019 model year lawn tractors out there offer both a transmission with a discreet number of speeds (5-, 6-, 7-speed, etc.) and an engine with full-pressure lubrication and oil filter? Non-automatic/non-hydrostatic transmissions seem like they’re getting harder and harder to come by, and even harder to find with a full-pressure lube engine. I know that Troy-Bilt’s Pony 42T offers this combo. Poulan Pro’s PP17G42 offered this combo, but it sounds like this tractor is no longer made, and the PP175G42 which replaces it doesn’t have full-pressure lube. Not sure I feel the best about the PowerMore (Chinese built) 420cc engine in the Pony 42T, and would rather have something U.S. or Japanese built like a Kohler or Kawasaki, but seems my choices are kind of limited! Thank you for the feedback.
What new lawn tractors offer both gear tranny and full-pressure lube engine?
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I have the TB Pony 7 speed. Has the 547 CC engine. Seems like a great engine. Does use a lot of gas. I bought it last fall have maybe around 125 hours on it already. Use it everyday. I don't push it though. Runs great. They say you aren't supposed to do much with those tranny's but I do everything with mine, but use lots of sense. I've made a scraper out of barn scarpers to grade stuff lightly, homemade cultivator out of little straight cultivator shovels, have a 2x3 foot wagon. Hauled load after load of pumpkins and gourds out of the field last fall.. Haul 150-250 LBS of blocks, rocks, bags of stuff. Bought a 5.5 ft. lane drag that I even put a little weight on. Worked on the lane about 4 times this past winter. Have a tow behind tiller, 36" they say you can pull with a tricycle. Converted an Earthway seeder to pull behind it. Use a yard sweeper. Have a four ft plow they call it but it only has 8 straight shovel tines that only go 3.5 inches at their deepest. Takes nothing to pull it when the ground has been worked. Seems like the list goes on and on. I do the some of the same things you do with a bigger, tougher tractor but baby it. I do everything in the three lower gears. I don't know which will go first the belt or the transmission. I have yet to have the first indication anything is wrong. However I wonder how long I can continue this stuff. I love the little tractor. Mows great to. Has the wheels on the deck. I kind of wish I bought a tougher transmission like at least the K58 on up.I have been getting lots of help on here on what tractor to get if and when this one starts having any major problems.
Keep in mind these new ones aren't the same gear types of the past. Nothing like them.
Don't know how much money you want to spend. Go in and read the Thread Rude Cub Dealer, its a post from Sergeant. He know everything there is to know about these tractors. Click last page and work your way backward through the thread. He gave me all kinds of info on these tractors. He said the only true gear drives were in the 15-20 years ago range. So if you want to buy a used one you can get a gear drive.
All of the gear drives are lawn tractors. Lawn mowers that look like tractors. Most have a much bigger advertised HP than they need mostly to increase sales. With the exception of Simplicity, CC and JD do not expect them to last like the older models did. A large percentage of them are MTD made and are just junk waiting to happen. MTD also makes the CCs but you have to go up a couple models to get a good one and then it will be a hydro. Roger
You have to find a sub-compact or larger tractor to get a gear drive transmission. Big $$$. For the lawn or garden tractors this day and age you will have to be satisfied with a hydrostatic transmission. Cub XT3 is very good for a good priced tractor. Then there is John Deere and Simplicity. They are high priced. Don't want to confuse you anymore than I have already but you need to check stuff out in detail. Or go with the little TB like I have and be careful with it. Probably get lots of years out of it just using around the yard. I like the non-foot control. Just depends on the $$$ you want to spend these days. Overall it's all about the transmissions these days. The only true recent gear drives were in the 15-20 years ago range. You can go back many more years and find all kinds other older gear drive tractors.
You still out there? I've had lots of discussion through my site or thread areas from others who know this tractor. I think you will really like what is being said about the TB Pony. Sounds like a tough little tractor for the most part.
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I got the Polan Pro PP175G42 because it was the only lawn tractor I could find with a manual transaxle. I can not recommend it to anybody. Worst piece of outdoor power equipment I think I've ever bought.
I know everybody loves to hate MTD, but that variable pulley set up works great for lawn tractors, and the FNR transaxle is a single speed manual.
I know everybody loves to hate MTD, but that variable pulley set up works great for lawn tractors, and the FNR transaxle is a single speed manual.
So are you saying this Poulan is a little different than the Troy Bilt Pony? Poulan mowers aren't made by MTD of course and the Troy Bilt's are. I've heard they are similar tractors and similar trannys but something is a little different about them.
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Husqvarna makes Poulan. I think the Poulans are all half bastardized former AYP designs slapped together for a quick buck, or to get rid of surplus inventory, with little forethought or quality control. Their warranty is also worthless. They won't stand behind it at all, and their customer service only exists to add insult to a lousy purchase.
The 6 speed in my pp175g42 is a peerless mst 206. I don't think that is available on a MTD. I'm pretty sure the 7 speed shift on the go in the pony is the single speed transaxle with variable pulley. That's kind of what MTD is known for. I have no experience with the newer MTD's with the step through chassis, but if I was doing it over again that is the way I would go.
The 6 speed in my pp175g42 is a peerless mst 206. I don't think that is available on a MTD. I'm pretty sure the 7 speed shift on the go in the pony is the single speed transaxle with variable pulley. That's kind of what MTD is known for. I have no experience with the newer MTD's with the step through chassis, but if I was doing it over again that is the way I would go.
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I'm not sure why you would want a gear drive lawn tractor. I have an old Craftsman gear drive, think it's a GT 3000. Took me forever to mow a few acres. It has a 6 speed manual. Not sure why. In low range reverse is annoyingly slow. In high range it losses traction long before engine is taxed. I can mow my property in half the time on a ZT mower with a slightly smaller deck. I want to convert my gear drive to hydrostatic. So far I have modified it quite a bit. Added a 3 pt hitch and hydraulic PTO. Using the blade with gearshift is a pain, using with post hole digger is not much better. That being said, where I live is pretty flat. Trying to feather a clutch gets old. If you can find a hydrostat that meets your needs I would lean that way. I have spent over $400 to convert my Craftsman to hydrostat and have not yet done it. Just some thoughts from another tractor enthusiast.
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I think a lot want the power with the gear drives from the old days and never wear out. My understanding. I only bought this that I have because it was cheap but still worked pretty good from what I had heard. I know it's not a true gear drive. I don't mow with it unless I have to. Use the z-turn for that.
Yes you're right, that's what the Pony really is, variable pulley. It's strange though, I've heard the next tractor up is the same tranny without the gear range though. It works just like the hydros I believe. I never do the shift on the go. Afraid it will help wear it out sooner. I figure it isn't worth the few seconds you save by doing the shift on the go. Trying to save it a little over time.
I have and am still considering the Cubs when this one goes. The XT3 really seems like a good one. The XT1's and most of the XT2's have K46 though. I would get at least a K58 on up from the Cubs when the time comes.
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I think I get where you are coming from now. My first mower was a Husky 14.5 HP with 42" Deck. The transmission was a variable belt drive system. The actual differential was just a simple forward/reverse set up. It worked really well and the only trouble I had is when a gear in transmission decided to bond with its shaft. I repaired it myself even though I was 14 at the time. While that system may not last a long time it is so easy to work on EG change 2 belts once a year, it's hard to knock it.
I wonder what happen to the guy that started this Thread?
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