Looking for info on garden tractors 🚜

[JD TRACTOR MAN]

I am inclined to say it would be difficult to find any garden tractor for that budget. There's a guy in Springfield, TN who sells old Gravely walk behinds that could probably sell you one of them plus a 30" brush deck for maybe $1,000. He used to advertise on Nashville Craigslist. There may be someone like him in your area. it will seem like it takes forever to cut 2-3 acres with a 30" deck.

The older Wheel Horse mowers might also be something to look for.

Cub Cadets made by International Harvester were tough garden tractors, but the K series engines in them are getting pretty old these days and there's no easy drop in engine replacement for them.

If you keep the 2-3 acres cut and don't let it get too grown up, you might find a used ZTR or lawn mower more easily.

Thanks for the info

 

[JD TRACTOR MAN]

K series Kohlers will outlast you so long as you take care of them Nothing sounds nicer than a big bore K series idling. Make a beautiful sound. I know, I have one.

Thanks

 

[Rich B1]

Another vote for an older Craftsman garden tractor. They were built by AYP ( Husqvarna) and sold under a bunch of different names - Husqvarna, Craftsman, Dixon, Poulan Pro, Johnsred, etc. They are surprisingly tough.

Here is one with 90 hours on it on fleaBay. They do seem to command a bit of a premium compared to other brands.

Used Craftsman GT5000 riding mower, not running, low hours. | eBay

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I have 3. Thanks to my wife…….

IME the smaller Kohler v-twin is the better engine than the larger version. The smaller engine (20 - 22.5 HP) uses a little less fuel, is quieter, and doesn’t eat head gaskets like it’s larger cousin. The 48” deck cuts really nice. The larger decks aren’t as consistent. one of the tractors has the 6 speed Peerless transaxle. It goes places I likely shouldn’t go, but it beats push mowing or string trimming. The other 2 are hydrostatic, 2 different HydroGear transaxles.

Husqvarna has discontinued a lot of parts for these, but parts are still out there both new and used. There is also a fair aftermarket support for them. The wheel bearings for the front are an excellent upgrade over the stock bushings.

 

[Yander]

I would stick with an older JD rider that may need some work. You can get parts for them and they are prevalent. I had a JD 170 that just mowed some grass. JD 175, 185. or even older, the 318 (motor parts hard to find though).

Ingersoll made a good mower that can still be found for your price point. 3014s are a goods size for your acreage.

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[sd455dan]

Thanks yander to welcoming me to the site you guys have alot of knowledgeable info on here my budget is around $500.00 with some work I can repair to $1500.00 with no work needed. I like to restore old tractors my wife says I am obsessed with it.(LOL)

First I thought about a new lower cost rider , but just couldn't do it after looking at the build qulity and plastic parts use.


We bought a ~800 hour JD X500 but paid a bit much at $2400 I did get manuals and filters and new blades for that price. have rolled up about 60 hours since then and it runs perfectly.
I also put a Ton of hours on a Craftsman Hydro tractor that had the Peerless Eaton Tecumseh drive with filter and large hydraulic tank . It used the opposed twin Briggs Industrial Commercial gas engine which imo is very long lived and an exceptionally smooth running engine.
I would still be using it but the deck wore out and spindles and timing belt supply have dried up. If a guy could shoe horn in a different deck I think it would make an excellent hydrostat Mower that could be bought for under $500

Actually in a non hydro the old Gilson is also well made with a Peerless gear transmission that has no plastic gears in it . It also uses the reliable Briggs opposed twin that runs great it has been run every year as well and is a 1976 model. Very hard to kill these are 16-18 HP and 42-44 inch cut width

 

[oldnslo]

JD
For the amount you are looking to soend you might have to look at the older 316 317 318 models. Biggest problem with them was the onan engines. Sometimes they show up in your price range.

I bought a 112 for my youngest around 30 years ago that needed the transaxle rebuilt for $300, put around $150 in parts plus my labor. Had 12 HP Kohler K3 series engine that was a work horse with 48” deck.

Wish you the best on your search.

 

[sd455dan]

K series Kohlers will outlast you so long as you take care of them Nothing sounds nicer than a big bore K series idling. Make a beautiful sound. I know, I have one.

Yep I still have one in the 1970 Golfster golf cart. The only hiccup has been the blankety blanc decompression spring

need to replace it or for now just keep a really good battery in it.
Good Old K 301 12HP with the CVT belt drive.

 

[SaddleSore]

I suggest you look at a 430 Deere, it's a large frame garden tractor with a 3 cylinder Yanmar diesel and a hydrostatic tranny. They're getting some age on them now and may be in your price range.

 

[boatmoter]

I would like to know in your opinion what new make and model garden tractor is made good and can cut 2-3 acres. And I would also like to know what is a good older model tractor,doesn't matter how old that was made good and was reliable and could cut the same amount of acres. Also some names of garden tractor salvage yards that carry older tractor parts as well as sell older tractors that are rebuild. I live in north east Pennsylvania. If anyone knows of any can you please forward me there contact #. Thanks JD

my opinion is to stay away from the tractors at the hardware stores and get one from a dealer,like John Deere or ? the ones from the Hardware chains are not really commercial duty. I have a JD 320, 18hp,it's commerical duty,even the spindle's on the deck are 3/4" ,the ones from the hardware chains are 5/8" my old 93 JD320 was $5200 in 1993. the commercial dutys are more expensive, I mean unless you don't mind doing a lot of repair work and a lot of break downs on the lawn tractor. that much to mow I would want a commercial duty mower

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Thanks yander to welcoming me to the site you guys have alot of knowledgeable info on here my budget is around $500.00 with some work I can repair to $1500.00 with no work needed. I like to restore old tractors my wife says I am obsessed with it.(LOL)

Restoring old garden tractors is not an obsession, it's a disease, especially if you are brand-specific, e.g., JD, Cub Cadet....