Craftsman T110 17.5 HP 42-Inch Riding Lawn Mower with 7-Speed Manual Drive

The T110 is Craftsman’s entry into the 42-inch riding mower category — a no-nonsense, manual-drive lawn tractor designed to replace a tired walk-behind and run for years on a basic maintenance schedule. Where competitors at this price point lean on automatic transmissions and complex pedals, the T110 commits to a traditional 7-speed gear drive with shift-on-the-go convenience. Owners who grew up on this kind of tractor will recognize the layout instantly; first-time owners will find it the easiest type of riding mower to learn.

Power comes from a 17.5-horsepower Briggs & Stratton single-cylinder OHV engine, displacing roughly 500cc. The engine is electric-start with key ignition, automatic Choke-a-Matic for hands-off cold starts, and a regulated charging system to keep the battery healthy across a full mowing season. Splash lubrication keeps the maintenance routine simple — check oil, replace as needed, mow.

The 7-speed gear-drive transmission is the T110’s defining philosophy. There is no continuously variable belt to slip, no hydrostatic pump to fail, and no foot-pedal subsystem to learn. A single dash-mounted lever selects gear; you can change gears while moving (Shift on the Go) without pressing a clutch. Top forward speed is around 4 mph, plenty for the half-acre to one-acre lawns this mower is designed for.

The 42-inch stamped steel deck cuts at six height settings between 1.5 and 4 inches via a hand lever beside the operator’s right hip. Side discharge is the default mode, and the deck accepts an optional mulch kit (sold separately) for owners who prefer to recycle clippings. Two cutting blades work in parallel, with sealed-bearing spindles for low-maintenance service life.

Operator comfort is functional rather than premium: a sliding mid-back seat with knob adjustment, a soft-grip steering wheel, and a factory cup holder. The dashboard layout is the cleanest in the category — ignition, throttle, choke, PTO knob. Nothing extra to learn, nothing that can break. The 18-inch turning radius is tight for a steering-wheel tractor, helpful for navigating around shrubs and beds without backing up.

Underneath, a robotically welded steel frame, corrosion-resistant paint, and a heavy front axle handle the load. The standard rear hitch accepts most popular tow-behind attachments — dump carts, broadcast spreaders, plug aerators, dethatchers, and lawn rollers all mount without modification. Bagger, mulching kit, and snow plow accessories are sold separately.

For a half-acre to one-acre suburban yard — too much for a walk-behind, not enough to justify the complexity and cost of a hydrostatic transmission — the T110 is the most pragmatic riding mower at its price point. It is the lawn tractor distilled down to its mechanical essentials: a single-cylinder engine, a manual gearbox, a 42-inch deck, and a key. Done well, that is enough.