520XI

[Wheelhorse Willy]

I am brand new to this site and forum. I have the opportunity to buy a 2004 Toro/Wheelhorse 520XI from a dealer for $2,000.00. It has 9 hours (from being moved around the yard) the paint on the hood and fenders is faded but it has never mowed or been owned... a good buy? Any things to beware of?

Will parts be available for the foreseeable future? I have read that there is a New Holland clone of this machine... is that true?


Any constructive input is appreciated!

 

[Baucom]

I'd go for it. That's a good buy. Think about it this way...that mower is in the same class as a JD X400 series of the same vintage. A used X400 with a few hundred hrs will be more than $2000. That WH has 9 hrs. Age may have taken a bit of a toll on some plastic and rubber parts, but any used 2004 mower will have the same age on rubber/plastic components. I assume since it has never been owned that it is being sold as new and should come with the original factory warranty....

As to the NH clone--yes the NH GT22A is the same mower painted blue.

 

[Wheelhorse Willy]

Thanks Baucom for the encouragement, analysis and info on the NH clone.

I did buy the unit and I am very pleased! I have already put 4 hours on it and it is smooth, powerful and well built.
I will be repainting the hood and rear fenders but that is cosmetic. The only mechanical issues were a tailight bulb and the battery light stays on. It does not draw down the battery so I am going to check the contacts and the output of the charging system.

Toro makes the service manuals available as PDF files for free online! A real nice perk!

Yes, I did get the full 2 yr warranty and the 5 yr on the drivetrain so that is certainly a plus!

 

[Baucom]

Awesome! That's a great deal on a great machine; I really hate that Toro discontinued that series. I wanted to consider one when I was shopping for a mower a few years ago, but when I inquired about them at the dealer I was told they had been discontinued. Since I wasn't committing to buy from them I didn't want to put them to the trouble of trying to locate one just so I could look at it. You should get many years of good service out of that mower.

If the paint is just faded and not compromised in any other way, you might talk to some automotive detailers to see if they can recommend anything to bring the shine back out before you resort to repainting the hood and fenders.

 

[kbowley]

Thats a steal...those run 3k + used and were 7k new without any attachments. Heavy machine too, about 1k lbs. Tuff-Torq K91 tranny, shaft drive. excellent machine.