Craftsman 30" Deck Rear Engine Deck Model 27011 and 27021

Pros: Tight turning ratio, compact, 30" deck
Cons: No automatic transmission avaliable

When I worked for Sears we would sell quite a few Lawn Tractors. The 27011 and the 27021 do have the advantage over the others. This tractor is small and compact, therefore not requiring a lot of storage space. The Craftsman Lawn Tractors are known...

Pros: GOOD RELIABLE MOWER WITH CRAFTSMAN QUALITY!
Cons: DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADD A SNOWBLOWER ATTACHMENT.

I purchased this Craftsman mower from the previous owners of my new house. I wanted to get a riding mower that would be able to perform under all weather conditions (I live in Wisconsin!) The mower performs well with a good cutting area. There is no...

Pros: Maneuverability, storage, price, power
Cons: 30" cut, smallish rear wheels may lose traction in time, maybe a little loud.

A previous review is kind of a sales pitch, but after a year and a half I agree with all comments. Most of the little tractors are not nearly as nimble and take a lot more room to store. 13.5 HP is plenty of power; my lawn has some long hills and it has no trouble carrying 195 lbs up those. Turning radius is significantly less than the little tractors, tho not 0.
You can move smoothly from forward to reverse. A previous review said it had no automatic transmission; actually the transmission is continuously variable.One lever controls speed continuously. Deck is pretty basic. Mulching is average. With mulch cover off I've handled high grass;I wouldn't do too much,tho.
It started this spring immediately after being left in an unheated shed all winter without a battery recharge.
I decided to get the Sears extended warranty; I have no idea who actually builds this, and I've had some problems in the past with low-end mowing products with long belts.