Help with used tractor - Looking at GT242

[MoreBoostPlease]

Someone local is selling a 1998 GT242 w/42" snow blower, 48" deck, and a plow for $1500. Is he correct that there is no hour meter? Could this little garden tractor handle mowing 2 acres, snow blowing a 500ft driveway, and maybe tilling/plowing a 1/2 acre garden? I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive short term solution until I purchase something larger like a 2520.

Are there other used JD garden tractors that I should be looking at? I'd like to spend no more than $3K on the little tractor, as it won't see too much use once I purchase something larger.

 

[MoreBoostPlease]

I also forgot to add, the same person is selling a 2000 445 with about 500 hours on it for $4K.

 

[BruceWard]

It is a personal issue but I have trouble with paying $1500 for a 13 year old lawn mower.

I have a LX279 that I paid about hald that much for. It has a 48" deck. I have no doubt that it would mow 2 acres. A 33" tiller is available for the GT series. I have one and plan to use it with my LX. The tiller attaches under and runs behind the mower. It replaces the mowing deck and uses the drive pulley for the deck.

 

[cooper99]

The GT series is a very reliable lawnmower that is easy to transport (fits in back of a full size truck) and simple to maintain/repair yourself- air cooled engine, no hydraulics, no power steering, easy to replace filters, etc. I'm accustomed to the larger 455 diesel we have, but all of our friends and neighbors still think our GT275 is a beast compared to their wimpy Murrays, Yard Machines, etc. The 23x10" rear wheels give it plenty of traction.

Have you seen the GT242 in person? In my opinion, $1500 with those attachments isn't bad if everything is in good condition. The lawnmower isn't very heavy, so I'm guessing the owner has weights attached somewhere (or is very obese) for the plow to be effective. You should have no problem mowing 2 acres, but I've heard the front snow blowers are a pita to install/remove. You might be better off scraping the snow off your 500' driveway with your blade.

We purchased the GT275 new in 1998. It's been a great lawnmower, but had it's fair share of small problems- it is very similar in specs to the 242 but with 3 more hp. There is no hour meter- which I've always thought is a very bad idea/poor design.

One thing to note, I'd say over 50% of all the GT series that I've seen from that era have a cracked hood, or at least one broken hinge on the hood. The hood design is a large single piece of plastic with the hinge integrated into the design, so you have to replace the entire lower hood for around $300 to fix a broken hinge. I normally wouldn't care that much about a cosmetic problem, but the hood on my GT275 fell off while mowing a hillside a couple years ago and tore apart the wiring harness for the headlights, so I currently have no headlights.

If you have the funding available, you would be getting a lot more tractor with the 445. The GT275 is a lawnmower; the 445 is essentially a compact utility tractor with turf tires and mid-mount deck- shaft driven PTO powers the deck. I'm guessing it will also retain its resale value better than the GT242. 500 hours is like new for one of those, and it cost about 10k new, so $4000 is a good price, regardless of its condition. However, it will cost more to maintain.

 

[MoreBoostPlease]

The GT series is a very reliable lawnmower that is easy to transport (fits in back of a full size truck) and simple to maintain/repair yourself- air cooled engine, no hydraulics, no power steering, easy to replace filters, etc. I'm accustomed to the larger 455 diesel we have, but all of our friends and neighbors still think our GT275 is a beast compared to their wimpy Murrays, Yard Machines, etc. The 23x10" rear wheels give it plenty of traction.

Have you seen the GT242 in person? In my opinion, $1500 with those attachments isn't bad if everything is in good condition. The lawnmower isn't very heavy, so I'm guessing the owner has weights attached somewhere (or is very obese) for the plow to be effective. You should have no problem mowing 2 acres, but I've heard the front snow blowers are a pita to install/remove. You might be better off scraping the snow off your 500' driveway with your blade.

We purchased the GT275 new in 1998. It's been a great lawnmower, but had it's fair share of small problems- it is very similar in specs to the 242 but with 3 more hp. There is no hour meter- which I've always thought is a very bad idea/poor design.

One thing to note, I'd say over 50% of all the GT series that I've seen from that era have a cracked hood, or at least one broken hinge on the hood. The hood design is a large single piece of plastic with the hinge integrated into the design, so you have to replace the entire lower hood for around $300 to fix a broken hinge. I normally wouldn't care that much about a cosmetic problem, but the hood on my GT275 fell off while mowing a hillside a couple years ago and tore apart the wiring harness for the headlights, so I currently have no headlights.

If you have the funding available, you would be getting a lot more tractor with the 445. The GT275 is a lawnmower; the 445 is essentially a compact utility tractor with turf tires and mid-mount deck- shaft driven PTO powers the deck. I'm guessing it will also retain its resale value better than the GT242. 500 hours is like new for one of those, and it cost about 10k new, so $4000 is a good price, regardless of its condition. However, it will cost more to maintain.

Thanks for the detailed information. On the 445, would a tiller be connected to the mid mount PTO? Is there any way to add a rear PTO? I'd love to find a 455,...but none ever appear in my searches.

 

[cooper99]

You can install a rear pto and 3pt on a 400 series, but that will cost you about $1000 in parts plus labor. You're probably better off buying a used 400 series with one already installed- or wait and save your money for the new 2520.

The 400 series has a 48" tiller available that is rear pto driven- very nice and very expensive. A cheaper, but still expensive option, is to get a 42" hydraulic powered tiller that doesn't require a rear pto or 3pt hitch. I have no experience or advice on either of those tillers- I'm sure both have pros and cons.

I would ask the seller about the compatibility of the plow on the 445 and if he would be willing to sell the plow with the 445.

 

[MoreBoostPlease]

You can install a rear pto and 3pt on a 400 series, but that will cost you about $1000 in parts plus labor. You're probably better off buying a used 400 series with one already installed- or wait and save your money for the new 2520.

The 400 series has a 48" tiller available that is rear pto driven- very nice and very expensive. A cheaper, but still expensive option, is to get a 42" hydraulic powered tiller that doesn't require a rear pto or 3pt hitch. I have no experience or advice on either of those tillers- I'm sure both have pros and cons.

I would ask the seller about the compatibility of the plow on the 445 and if he would be willing to sell the plow with the 445.

Yea, I was thinking the price would start climbing. I did find a 1995 455 with only 600 hours that already has the rear pto/3 pt hitch for $4300, but it's 16 years old and is located 700 miles away. From the pictures below, it appears in decent shape but needs a new seat. My preference for any tractor would be to have a diesel engine - as that's what my trucks/cars at home have.

 

[Carl Bert]

A GX345 or 355 diesel would be perfect for your needs. I have a 2003 and believe me when I say, these tractors were built to last. You can find one on eBay with low hours for around $3500. You can add a rear mounted mechanical or hydraulic tiller. These tractors have a 20hp liquid cooled engine, power steering, hydraulic lift, and an optional rear differential lock. I have had mine for about 5 years now and never had to do a thing to it. A real pleasure to operate.