Since the Zero, the Tractor Sits

[masseyrider]

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.

I bought one with the MMM for the grass and bought the 1725M with a Fel to be my diesel powered wheelbarrow.
It's only money and we all die.
Enjoy your time above ground.

 

[shooterdon]

I bought one with the MMM for the grass and bought the 1725M with a Fel to be my diesel powered wheelbarrow.
It's only money and we all die.
Enjoy your time above ground.

Your post makes little sense.

Its only money, so why not have the right tool for the job if you can afford it. If a MMM was the right tool, commercial operators would not be using ZT's. The MMM is a compromise and a PITA compromise if you use a tractor like a tractor.

Even if the MMM was as fast as a ZT I would still not want a MMM. Spending an extra $2000 to get the ZT instead of a MMM over the 20+ years of use is worth it.

I have owned both. Not my first rodeo. When I had the MMM for the JD855 I used a 48" rider to cut my 2 acres. But I use my tractor as more than a diesel powered wheelbarrow.

 

[cj7]

I say keep it. Too hard to replace. Lots of things sitting around that dont get used often are worth some money.... but we still keep alot of those things too.
Nice to have the back up machine. A plow truck takes up more room and can come with hidden issues. You know what you have with the tractor. Extra cash tends to burn holes in pockets. Even if you put it in savings.

 

[skramer360]

When I bought my TC30 a couple of years ago, it came with a MMM, but no loader. I didn't need the MMM because I already had a nice commercial Z turn mower. I sold the MMM to help pay for the loader I bought for my TC30. I would have always just been taking up space.

 

[DK35vince]

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.

How does a riding mower ride better than a zero turn ???
Certainly hasn't been my experience.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

How does a riding mower ride better than a zero turn ???
Certainly hasn't been my experience.

Agreed

 

[Panik]

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.

I most definitely agree about the issue with the Swiss army mode of thinking.... sometimes though it's almost unavoidable. In my case the Swiss army purchase was a result of two factors:

1) At the time we had just purchased 5 acres in a new state and I didn't think I could afford two pieces of equipment. Right up until we purchased that land, 4 of those acres were in active corn/soy production and I wanted something that provided utility in converting that production land into something approaching a yard.

2) The BX was my very first foray into owning any type of tractor.

We've since moved to 11 acres with 4 of it being mow-able rough "yard". Looking back I think I still would have bought a tractor first then a zero turn. The 2 things I would have done differently would have been:

- Gone with a rear-finish mower instead of a mid-mount.
- Gone with a slightly larger tractor frame purely for the increase in loader capacity. The nimbleness of the BX has been a huge plus for me in the yard, in the woods (surprisingly) and most certainly storage.

If you don't mind sharing... were you successful selling the MMM for your JD 855. If so how long did it stay on the market and how do you feel about its selling price vs. the value had you sold it with your JD 855?

 

[hube2]

... Swiss army mode of thinking.... sometimes though it's almost unavoidable. ...

It can also be a limit on space. I simply do not have anywhere to store a machine dedicated to mowing. Town says I have all the out buildings that I'm allowed to have, in fact I have 1 more than I should have. I had to get a variance to put in my solar array because it is considered and out building.

As it is I store things under my solar panels when not in used. Trailer, snow blower, tiller and FEL. Keeps the sun off them, keeps pounding rain from directly hitting them, but does not keep them completely out of the weather.

I would never own a piece of equipment with an engine that I couldn't keep out of the weather. I treat my equipment better than I treat my cars.

As it is, if I get any more equipment I'll have to rent storage somewhere and truck things back and forth. I could probably have something considered "temporary", but with the wind I get it would have to be something substantial or it would be destroyed of blow away.

 

[Panik]

It can also be a limit on space. I simply do not have anywhere to store a machine dedicated to mowing. Town says I have all the out buildings that I'm allowed to have, in fact I have 1 more than I should have. I had to get a variance to put in my solar array because it is considered and out building.

As it is I store things under my solar panels when not in used. Trailer, snow blower, tiller and FEL. Keeps the sun off them, keeps pounding rain from directly hitting them, but does not keep them completely out of the weather.

I would never own a piece of equipment with an engine that I couldn't keep out of the weather. I treat my equipment better than I treat my cars.

As it is, if I get any more equipment I'll have to rent storage somewhere and truck things back and forth. I could probably have something considered "temporary", but with the wind I get it would have to be something substantial or it would be destroyed of blow away.

I'm in a similar boat but for different reasons. No issue with ordinances or restrictions, but while I'm blessed to have come into a property with a shop and covered storage I'm running out of space. Zero turn, 24' trailer and wood storage take up the covered wing of the shop. The tractor gets parked in the shop. Because I dislike how disorganized it looks to have implements sitting out in the shop "yard" they are also crammed into the shop on dollies.

Currently considering building a small rack at the front of where of park the tractor so that I can put the 3pt sprayer on a shelf and maybe park the landscape rake up underneath so I don't have to climb over as many implements to get to the shelving on that side of the shop.

Not a complaint in any manner (I feel blessed with what I have), more acknowledgment that I understand where you're coming from

 

[shooterdon]

I most definitely agree about the issue with the Swiss army mode of thinking.... sometimes though it's almost unavoidable. In my case the Swiss army purchase was a result of two factors:

1) At the time we had just purchased 5 acres in a new state and I didn't think I could afford two pieces of equipment. Right up until we purchased that land, 4 of those acres were in active corn/soy production and I wanted something that provided utility in converting that production land into something approaching a yard.

2) The BX was my very first foray into owning any type of tractor.

We've since moved to 11 acres with 4 of it being mow-able rough "yard". Looking back I think I still would have bought a tractor first then a zero turn. The 2 things I would have done differently would have been:

- Gone with a rear-finish mower instead of a mid-mount.
- Gone with a slightly larger tractor frame purely for the increase in loader capacity. The nimbleness of the BX has been a huge plus for me in the yard, in the woods (surprisingly) and most certainly storage.

If you don't mind sharing... were you successful selling the MMM for your JD 855. If so how long did it stay on the market and how do you feel about its selling price vs. the value had you sold it with your JD 855?

I ended up trading the JD 855. The MMM and brush hog were part of the trade. Got $7000 for it on trade in 2019. The MMM had not be used much by the previous owner and still had the original belts. The 855 and bush hog had been rode hard and put away wet by the previous owner. I knew did not take care of his stuff. I paid $3500 and also got a rake (that I still have) so it was a good deal. Put another $2500 into it to get it servicable. Used it for two years and made $1000 on it...not bad.

I tried selling the MMM for $1500 and could not get any bites on it.

 

[Runner]

I used to mow my 2 acre lawn with a lawn tractor (for cutting-in around buildings, trees, etc.) and a compact tractor with rear finish mower (for the open areas) for 17 years. This year, bought at ZTR to take care of the lawn.

I wouldn't give up my tractor for anything because there are just too many other chores. It is used for bush hogging the 4 acre pasture, all kinds of loader work, including pallet forks, snow removal, backhoe, stump grinding, wood chipping, trailer moving, grading, drive maintenance, etc.

I figure that anything that keeps even a few hours off the tractor will only reduce wear and tear and keep it available for "tractor work". I also like the fact that I can leave the tractor configured with, say, the backhoe, if I'm in the middle of a project, and not have to switch back and forth to the finish mower.

 

[big bubba]

keep it. sure am glad i purchased my pre tier4 M in '08 for 34.5k. believe i'll keep it as well, best regards

 

[masseyrider]

I figure that anything that keeps even a few hours off the tractor will only reduce wear and tear and keep it available for "tractor work". I also like the fact that I can leave the tractor configured with, say, the backhoe, if I'm in the middle of a project, and not have to switch back and forth to the finish mower.

My father had a friend who had a 50+ acre hobby farm.
His goal was to have a tractor for each major implement so he would never have to change them.
When Pa traded in 2 TO20 Fergusons (and cash) for a new MF245 Frank liked it so much he did the same deal X2 teh next day because he had like 4-5 of the Fergusons.
When he built his barn he bought a Backhoe for just that job. When he was done he parked it inside and never used it again.
After he died at the estate sale it had 30hrs showing and a layer of bird and chicken poop where ever they could roost.
He had something like 10-12 different tractors.
You can never have too many tractors.

 

[big bubba]

a tribute to the vintage times & machinery, had a later cousin of that model Massey TO35 diesel, & after 28 yrs of ownership, it was time to let go. @ my life stage though, i'll never look back in terms of safety & application over what i now have

 

[kozal01]

Once you get used to a good ZTR you will likely never go back to anything else. However, Id keep the tractor, so many more uses than just mowing and plowing snow.

 

[Mej13579]

Maybe you could sell the MMM and put it toward a storage shed to clear up shop space. A tractor may not be used as much but when you need it you have it there to use. Better to have it and not use it as much , than to need it and not have it.

 

[tmcj]

My Max26XL with MMM is great for mowing the long straight lines of our yard. However anywhere that requires a lot of directional changes is faster with the zturn. There are also a few hilly areas that I'm just not comfortable using the tractor and end up pulling out the zturn for anyway so I typically just use the zturn for everything anymore. But I will run the MMM occasionally just for the sake of running it.

However, I haven't even thought about selling the MMM. It was part of the package deal with the tractor which is all paid for. If it ever came down to having to sell the tractor it would add to the value as well. I have no intentions of selling any of it unless I need to go bigger for some reason. The MMM is one of those tools that I don't use very often but is definitely value added when you want or need it. No different than the backhoe, pallet forks, snow pusher, grader blade, brushhog, etc. They were purchased for a reason and it's much easier to store them then it would be to purchase them again when the need for them arises. Being readily self sufficient with tasks that come up is priceless.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Here, even a subcompact is maybe too heavy to mow with. Clay loam, 1-2” of rainfall per week = not great for heavier equipment

 

[Ricn]

How does a riding mower ride better than a zero turn ???
Certainly hasn't been my experience.

the JD for me is better, not knocking the zero, I just found them rougher riding is all for the two high end ones I tried out. If your grass is like a golf course then both should be fine but at the prices of a zero I'll stick to my JD..

 

[Racer4]

I was mowing my yard with my Wheel Horse 314-8 for probably 17 years, at 2 hours each session. Second gear was too slow for me, 3rd was too fast! I had a cyclone rake for it for leaf duty.

Finally bought a Toro Timecutter HD zero turn in 2018 and cut my mowing time down to 45 minutes. Then bought the bagger kit that fall after selling the Cyclone Rake. That definitely helped speed up fall cleanup.

I used to mow at a local property using the owner’s John Deere SCUT. He had a loader on it, 72” mower, and ballast box full of rocks. Quite the unwieldy piece of equipment for the size of the place and amount of obstacles. I ended up removing the ballast box and loader just to make it more maneuverable. Plus it didn’t tear stuff up so bad. When I bought my Massey GC2410, I decided not to get a mower deck based on experience with the JD SCUT.


since my dad died in 2022, I’ve been hauling my Toro up there every week to mow their lawn. He had a JD X380 to mow with. I don’t even take the snow blower off of it now. I can zip around their lawn and be done in an hour versus 2 on the tractor. And it looks better when I’m done.


I’ll never go back to tractor mowing again.