If you are like most of us, you have a beer budget. A new machine that is truly capable of doing all the things on your wish list will cost you ten to twenty grand. Deere only makes one garden tractor series and that's the X-700's. Go to Deere.com and look at the MRSP's for the BASIC models and then add on the cost for a loader, hitch and all the implements you desire. The top Sears tractor is over seven grand and the costs to fit it out will mount equally as fast. According to you, the property is ONE ACRE TOTAL in size. Subtract the foot print for the driveways and buildings plus any planted areas and you likely have a half acre of grass to cut. To use a garden tractor in your garden effectively, you need lots of open area on all four sides of the garden so that the tractor can leave the garden area on each pass and turn around on the lawn for the next pass. Most of the experienced gardeners cross-till the soil and some take it further by finishing on the bias. I think that your needs would be better served in the garden by way of a quality walk-behind, rear-tine tiller from Honda or BCS from the used market. After all, most people only conduct a full-till once or twice per growing season and then spot-till during the season for weed control and re-seeding of fast growing crops such as radishes, onions, lettuce etc. You already own a Mantis and those are perfect for spot-tilling. I think that your other needs would be well-served by way of a quality, used garden tractor that is simple for you to maintain. A Case 444 would fit that bill. As good as Deere and Simplicity tractors are, they are also a royal PITA to work on. Do some research by visiting the site below and learning more about what a Case can do for you. Here is a link that might be useful: link

i think the number 1 response to this article is everyone here asking what you can do to educate the people around you about this. my brother in law lets my 7 year old drive his mower when my son is over there. i have repeatidly asked him not to, but i cant stop the kid from seeing his grandparents. once he let him drive is a mile down the road to my other brother in laws house. my son was driving mower, with BIL behind him in his truck. what if he drove down into the ditch? what if a speeding motorist lost control? there are so many unknowns that can happen in an instant. i do not let my children ride on it with me, nor do i let them drive it. they are too young to be able to react to a situation like (most) adults would. the only exception is *IF* i have the deck off, i will let them ride in my dump cart, but only at low speeds (gears 1,2,or 3). i dont even allow them out in the backyard when i am mowing. ive seen whata a blade can shoot and how far it can shoot it. parents need to be educated that children under 16 should not be operating macheriny like this. even 4 wheelers, motorized scooters, dirtbikes, etc. the vast majority of accidents are with children.

I doubt it is bad gas but it may be something rolling around in the gas tank blocking the tank outlet part time. I would also check the vacuum line running from the engine block to the bottom of the fuel pump on the front of the carb (when looking at the Intake manifold side of the engine) Is the gas tank outlet above or below the carb inlet? I know you said he put in a new carb kit but I would still remove the hex head plug on the lower right side of the carb and see what comes out. Should be clean gas, no water or crap. Walt Conner

reply by theodocus struck me as coming from the desk of the ad agency of MTD. No mention of the actual operation that involves rolling over uneven terrain and jarring action from bumps and uneven spots and the fragile fabricated axles that bend and crack easily. Oh, there is also the bushings used in place of ball bearings: bushing use requires higher horsepower to move the newer units. The Deere has points and condenser; cost $5.00 and 9.00 respectively and the sears is a solid state igntion. Newer technology is wonderful as long as it is coupled with quality assemblage in a product. I have a 1968 Sears GARDEN tractor with a 12HP Tecumseh Heavy duty cast iron engine with ball bearings and cut with a 42 inch deck and also have a 1976 John Deere GARDEN tractor with a cast iron 10 HP engine with ball bearings and cut with a 42" deck and use both alternately for mowing two acres and for tilling and moving earth, etc.. Each has cast iron axles and mutli-speed hi-lo transmissions and EACH is used for plowing, snowblowing, tilling earth, hauling 1100 lb loads in attached large carts. EACH will run circles around the new 20 plus HP light LAWN tractors made today. Spend 5,000.00 and you will have a comparable heavy duty GARDEN tractor. By the way, good luck on getting even 10 years of use with the new wonders.