Since the Zero, the Tractor Sits

[robertm]

After fussing with the dang drive-over deck on my BX2670 a couple of years ago, I looked into trading off the BX since I couldn’t find a used standard mower deck.
Long story short, the BX2670 went bye-bye, and a BX2380 took its place with a new deck that wouldn’t be a thorn in my side. Unfortunately, I came across a steal for a Simplicity Citation 62” Zero Turn with only 78 hours, and I couldn’t resist. Best purchase I could have ever done. Yard looks like a ball field, and I cut my mow-time in half. Now the BX sits. In 2-1/2 years I’ve only put 12 hours on her. Mostly snow removal, which I have to have. Too old to walk a blower. Not paying someone to plow. Thought about buying a UTV with a plow and dumping the BX, but they cost a fortune. To buy a new BX with all the attachments I have, it’d cost over $30k. Seems stupid to have $30k in equipment sitting for snow removal. Just wondering what you’d all do? Despite the nice mow job and saving time, would I be better to dump the zero and just get all my use with the BX? One of them gone means cash in the pocket and more room in my pole barn. Or, is it still the guy who dies with the most toys wins?

 

[jyoutz]

After fussing with the dang drive-over deck on my BX2670 a couple of years ago, I looked into trading off the BX since I couldn’t find a used standard mower deck.
Long story short, the BX2670 went bye-bye, and a BX2380 took its place with a new deck that wouldn’t be a thorn in my side. Unfortunately, I came across a steal for a Simplicity Citation 62” Zero Turn with only 78 hours, and I couldn’t resist. Best purchase I could have ever done. Yard looks like a ball field, and I cut my mow-time in half. Now the BX sits. In 2-1/2 years I’ve only put 12 hours on her. Mostly snow removal, which I have to have. Too old to walk a blower. Not paying someone to plow. Thought about buying a UTV with a plow and dumping the BX, but they cost a fortune. To buy a new BX with all the attachments I have, it’d cost over $30k. Seems stupid to have $30k in equipment sitting for snow removal. Just wondering what you’d all do? Despite the nice mow job and saving time, would I be better to dump the zero and just get all my use with the BX? One of them gone means cash in the pocket and more room in my pole barn. Or, is it still the guy who dies with the most toys wins?

There are so many other uses for a tractor/loader than mowing grass. Do you not have a need to use your machine for anything else but mowing or occasional snow plowing? If not, then maybe you don’t need a tractor.

 

[robertm]

Well, I do have uses. Several. I used to use the forks all the time. I think I’m at a time when I have so much disorganization that it’s just inconvenient to dig the tractor out and use it. I’m working on a new rack that holds all my attachments, so I can quickly and easily snag the bucket or forks with the SSQA, as well as the ballast box. I’m probably feeling guilty being preoccupied with other house projects that don’t require use of the tractor, thus questioning the need. My son is all over me to sell the bagger and mower deck because they aren’t used. Yeah, they’d net a few bucks, but I own them and they are paid for and useful when needed… like if my zero is out of Commission. Can’t see selling those except with the tractor.

 

[Gregster613]

Well, I do have uses. Several. I used to use the forks all the time. I think I’m at a time when I have so much disorganization that it’s just inconvenient to dig the tractor out and use it. I’m working on a new rack that holds all my attachments, so I can quickly and easily snag the bucket or forks with the SSQA, as well as the ballast box. I’m probably feeling guilty being preoccupied with other house projects that don’t require use of the tractor, thus questioning the need. My son is all over me to sell the bagger and mower deck because they aren’t used. Yeah, they’d net a few bucks, but I own them and they are paid for and useful when needed… like if my zero is out of Commission. Can’t see selling those except with the tractor.

"but I own them and they are paid for and useful when needed…" In my opinion - which is just that, an opinion - you told yourself what you needed to hear. You have the tools available now "if/when" you need them. Why sell - then have to replace when needed again? At a "much" higher cost!! Think it through! Good luck with that decision.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I'd keep both and wouldn't worry about what someone else wanted me to do, they are payed for and when you get out and use them it helps to keep you from rusting up and that is priceless.

 

[FPGT72]

When I first got mine I mowed with it, pretty quickly I learned that the short and narrow wheel base was just hell to mow on my mole, vole and groundhog infested yard. It is like riding a bucking bronco. I went back to the old Ford 8n and woods mower and just used the BX for close around the house, but it was really too big even for that unless you take the loader and backhoe off.

I did the same thing...almost, but mine is a Ferris 72", The few times I have got to use it, the wife gets upset if I mow now it has really helped with the bumps, and you can run the thing as fast as it will go and it cuts fantastic. What would take all weekend using three machines is now done in one morning, before 1pm with two machines.

So what do I do with the tractor.

Well I have not mowed with it in several years, so the brand new deck I bought with the tractor that costs like $3k just sits, that was a mistake. The rest of the machine I use quite often. I use it to move my junk around, dig holes for trees, dig up old trees I don't want anymore. It gets used to keep my shooting range in order. The bucket is used mainly for gravel and dirt. I drag the gravel driveway with a land plane, new toy and that is something I need to do often living at the bottom of a hill.

Little machine is sitting at 700 hours more or less, and I can't imagine what I would do without it.

 

[hube2]

If you have room for both then I would keep them. The main reason I got mine was for snow management, if that is all that I used it for then that would be enough. I cannot be without it for snow and I could not afford and will not pay someone what they want for keeping my driveway clear.

I use it to mow for 2 reasons. 1st is that I don't like unitaskers, the 2nd is that I don't have anywhere to store another machine for mowing. I also just bought a tiller because I'm getting to old to walk behind my Troy-Bilt.

If you're not using it just leave it sit. It won't mind.

 

[robertm]

Thanks everyone. I’m of the same thought. Why sell for $0.50 on the dollar just to wish I’d have kept it. I could see selling the bagger and mower deck, but I feel someday when I’m too old to keep up our property and it gets sold, the package will be worth more than the peanuts I’ll get jibbed out of by some dude looking for implements for a song and dance.
Johnthomas and I’ve have bought, sold, and traded a lot of orange, and I think I’m about done thinking about this. I wasn’t even near the edge of the ledge, but I appreciate everyone’s responses to pull me back. Thanks!

 

[tradosaurus]

I see the recommendations to buy a zero turn and a tractor for those just getting into owning property over 5 acres.
I have 3 yr old MX5400 with only 65 hrs. When I need the tractor I need it but just not that often. The zero turn mower gets most of the use.

 

[Omega Woods]

I’m in the keep it camp as well. I have a hoss of a mower as well as a BX2380 plus a larger Branson.

I use the BX to haul the fuel tote around mostly which saves driving the equipment to the tote. I was thinking about selling the BX a while back but decided to find a dedicated use for her which has worked out great for me.

 

[gstrom99]

If all you use the BX for is snow removal, maybe you should sell it and buy a halfway decent pickup with a plow, and pocket the extra cash.

 

[jonsstihl]

30,000 would pay for a lot of driveway clearing. but you can't just look at the numbers. If you enjoy doing it and it keeps you active, and its paid for...

 

[Robin Veerman]

Thanks everyone. I’m of the same thought. Why sell for $0.50 on the dollar just to wish I’d have kept it. I could see selling the bagger and mower deck, but I feel someday when I’m too old to keep up our property and it gets sold, the package will be worth more than the peanuts I’ll get jibbed out of by some dude looking for implements for a song and dance.
Johnthomas and I’ve have bought, sold, and traded a lot of orange, and I think I’m about done thinking about this. I wasn’t even near the edge of the ledge, but I appreciate everyone’s responses to pull me back. Thanks!

Yep, the package would fetch a nice price, I'm sure, if you ever go to sell it that way. Hope you have a battery maintainer on the BX battery 24/7... ;>)

 

[MoKelly]

I’m a lot like you.

The Z-Turn gets the majority of the work. Every now and then I use the tractor RFM on a long field. Not many turns and pretty flat so it’s fun to mow.

Other than that, the tractor gets occasional use hauling down branches to burn pile, moving rock to where it needs to go and some brush hogging.

The tractor gets about 60 hours/year.

But - it does get used and nothing else would do as well/easy, so I have both.

A luxury.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I'd keep it. A good, clean tractor will retain a lot of value. Heck, in an inflationary period it may become worth more than you paid. Unless I NEEDED the money or planned to invest it WELL, Id keep the tractor.

My tractor tills a couple acres several times each year. It does a little loader work. It's very well cared for and I suspect will retain most of its value.

 

[masseyrider]

I came off a fruit farm to my little 6 acre plot.
I still have 2 60hp tractors that are overkill my Gc2300 and a new 1725M.
You know what?
I like having them even when all in they get 40-50 hrs a year combined.
Unless you get an offer you can't refuse dust it off, polish it, enjoy.
The few bucks will disappear and one day, and it will come, you'll wish you had it for one more job.

 

[Ricn]

keep the tractor is my call, more uses than a mower. zero mowers are good, for some, I think they ride to rough so never bought one. Love my JD rider, also the flail mower on my 3 point.

 

[shooterdon]

I do a lot more grass cutting than snow removal but we run vehicles that can run over 6 inches of snow easily. I blew out or plowed our driveway four times this year...this in northern MI. I still use a walk behind blower to clear the paved part of drive 25 ft in front of the garage when we get a dump or wet snow. For light snow under 3" I use a backpack blower. We keep the cement part of drive in front of the garage cleared to avoid falls but a few inches of snow on the rest is no big deal.

I hate cutting grass and that is how I justified a ZT for only 2 acres. The rider worked fine but took twice as long. Tractor is too big for cutting grass.

Not sure why you will not consider paying someone to plow. At $100 per event it seems silly to have $30k tied up. Heck, buy a beater plow truck for $5000 if you still want to do it yourself. I bought a truck with a plow and will be selling the inverted blower for the tractor. It is a great blower but has been used less about 12 times in three years.

 

[Panik]

My son is all over me to sell the bagger and mower deck because they aren’t used. Yeah, they’d net a few bucks, but I own them and they are paid for and useful when needed… like if my zero is out of Commission. Can’t see selling those except with the tractor.

In a somewhat similar boat with a BX and a zero turn with the exception that the BX and its FEL still gets weekly use during the growing season. When we purchased the zero turn it became the primary mower and I removed the mid-mount deck from the BX.

My issue is what to do with the deck for the BX. Even when the zero turn has gone down for maintenance/repairs it's been way easier to just hook up the brush-hog to the BX and use that implement as the back-up yard mower. As a result the mid-mount for the BX has sat unused in my shop for the last 4-ish years.

I go back and forth with whether or not to sell the mid-mount deck for the BX. I've heard used mid-mount mower decks are hard to sell separate from the machine and that I'd probably take a bath on the sale price selling it individually. On the other hand, as much as I might like to one day sell the BX (with mid-mount) for a slightly larger tractor I don't seen that in the cards with teenage kids (vehicles, college, insurance etc).

Right now the thing is taking up valuable real-estate in my shop..... If I had the wall space to reinforce, I'd hang the thing off chains and forget about it.....

 

[shooterdon]

Panik, I had the same issue trying to sell the MMM on my JD 855.

IMO most folks buying these smaller tractors to be "swiss army knives" are making a mistake getting the MMM. Add $2000 and get fairly decent ZT that works better, does the job twice as fast and does not need to be mounted and disconnected.