Used Lawn Tractor?

[corn18]

I went and cancelled my lawn service. Just hate dropping $1,200 each season to have someone else do it. Of course, I did that without a good plan in place to do it myself. I haven't mowed this yard for 4 years now. I got the push mower up and running just fine. The weed whacker is in good shape but needed some string. Need to get a blower attachment for it. I have an edger attachment as well.

It took me 2 hours to mow everything today with the push mower. The front an upper back yard took 30 minutes. 20 minutes for trimming and edging. But the lower backyard is now just shy of an acre and that took a loooonnnng time with the push mower. When we moved here, the lower back yard was overgrown woods. This past fall, there was a tragic accident with a bulldozer (my wife gave the guy clearing my neighbor's lower back yard $500 to clear ours out). Now I have a lot of lawn to mow. So, I figure I could take half the $1,200 I am saving and get a decent riding mower. That would cut the mowing down to well under an hour, I figure. Maybe just 30 minutes plus trimming and edging. Worth it to me.

Found a lot of garden tractors on craigslist and want to pull the trigger on one. Before I do, does anyone have any recommendations on what to look for? My wife thought we should get a newer one to ensure parts are available for repair. There is a local guy that repairs older ones and resells them and has a good selection at good prices. Lots of different ones on craigslist. If you have some advice, I would welcome it.

Thanks,

Tom

[bjl584]

Unfortunately, most modern riding mowers are "throw away" models. Meaning that they are pretty cheap to buy and pretty cheaply constructed. Most of the time it isn't even worth it to buy used. You can buy a decent brand new one for $1000 or less. You can go used, but 99% of people don't take care of tractors. Blades will be dull, grass will be clogged in everything, the oil will never have been changed, and so on.

Unless you want to drop big money for top of the line stuff like Kubota or John Deere, or you want a commercial grade zero turn like Scagg or X mark, then I'd be inclined to head on down to Home Depot or Lowes and pick up a new run of the mill riding tractor and be done with it.

[corn18]

Brian, that is the same sentiment I am finding across the interweb. Used cheap lane tractors = lots of headaches. There are good used garden tractors like the John Deere 318 that are highly regarded and are actually appreciating in value these days. I found one locally from a tractor repair place for $1800. That is a good price and I could resell it for the same in 2 years when I move. A lot more tractor than I need, though. $1,500 seems to be the price for a quality used tractor. I can get a new one for $1000. Seems like a new one might be the way to go.

Tom

[rennigade]

John Deere's work really well. My father bought a used one approx 12 years ago. Not sure how much he paid for it used...but it still runs today like it did when he bought it then. Granted he sharpens the blades after each season, changes the fluids and takes really good care of it.

He did just upgrade to a new john deere with a bucket in the front...he uses it to plow snow and to mow grass, has a large mower deck...that beast cost around $18k. He mows 2+ acres.

[corn18]

John Deere's work really well. My father bought a used one approx 12 years ago. Not sure how much he paid for it used...but it still runs today like it did when he bought it then. Granted he sharpens the blades after each season, changes the fluids and takes really good care of it.

He did just upgrade to a new john deere with a bucket in the front...he uses it to plow snow and to mow grass, has a large mower deck...that beast cost around $18k. He mows 2+ acres.

I can swing $1,800 for the local John Deere 318. It's a 1988 with 833 hours. It is being sold by a lawn mower repair guy. And it's 15 minutes away so I can check it out thoroughly. All of the tractor forums seem to think this is a great garden tractor and holds it's value well. Even that old.

What do you think? Any chance you could ask your father what he thinks of a 1988 318 with 833 hours on it?

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/grd/4433441319.html

[corn18]

Went and looked at a few new tractors this weekend. All the sub $1,500 ones are cheap pieces of junk. Bolted frames, inconvenient gas tanks, no wash out. Some had all the features, but the frames are bold and all the metal on the deck and frames is so thin you could bend it by hand.

So now I am leaning towards a pricier new John Deere. The D125 for $1,799 that has a welded frame and a cast iron front axle. Seems better built compared to the junk brands that are $300 less. I can get a military discount of 10%, online dissent gift cards take out another 7%, so it will be $1,505 plus tax. That's a good price for that tractor.

I'm leaning towards this.

Whadya think?

Tom

[feh]

Might want to see if there are any businesses nearby that refurbish/resell mowers. That way you'd get the discounted price, but also some reassurance that the tractor is in good working order. Kind of like certified used cars.

That's how we've bought both of our tractors, over the last 23 years. I'm not willing to spend 4 figures on a lawn tractor.

[Bob B.]

We are fortunate to live just 0.2 miles from my folks. We bought together a very nice brand new eXMark zero turn, 48" deck last year for $3,800, and split the price. Our lawn is 1.3 acres, and theirs is about an acre. And we are changing the oil, and cleaning the air filter, etc, etc.

As someone else has mentioned, you may want to consider a used commercial grade lawn mower. The kind that the lawn mowing service you just fired would have used.

Sure, they are hard on them. But, I bet they were well maintained, and they are made of very rugged and durable materials.

If you are mechanically inclined, and can change parts, and perform maintenance, that may be your best bet.

Stay far, far away from the cheap chincey stuff.

[corn18]

Just bought a John Deere 325 with 700 hours that looks brand new. $1800. Sam as I was about to pay for a D 130 at the big box store. This is a great find. The guy just bought it last Saturday from a lady that was moving. Has all records, manuals, mulch kit. Very clean. I am stoked.