Need advice - 15-20HP

[Carl_NH]

BTW I don't think you need a FB account to access FB Marketplace and winter is the time to buy vs spring when everyone wants a tractor.

 

[R Barger]

On my many travels from the rental condo in NC to the new house in SC (3.5 hours), I have passed a JD850 with 5', 3 pt finish mower for sale many times. Seems the mower was bought with the tractor by one owner who has since passed away. The story is that he only used it to mow the trailer park he owned. A friend is selling it for the family. Guy claims his starting price was $6500 but will take $5000. No loader, less than 800 hours showing. I'm hesitant to look further due to the fact that there is no loader. Plan on stopping to hear it run next time I go by after the holiday, if it is still there.

Thoughts?

850 John Deere great tractor, I own 3 of them and mow about 3 acres with a 2WD.

 

[3inthedirt]

Little house on the prairie...........

 

[sd455dan]

......back to my original point. I don't like to buy entry level power equipment and an entry level commercial machine just went from $8k to $9500. I won't spend that on a single purpose machine - want a platform to build upon. My walk behind, zero turn is 46 years old (really) and only 36" wide. I bought it new for $1200 when I had a landscaping business. I just can't justify it in my mind. My 67 year old hands, forearms and elbows are worn out (partially due to the mower). I walk 5 miles a day 5 days a week, so the legs are good. Time to give in.

Quite frankly, I'm not convinced the BX or Series 1 platforms are the right "platform" to build upon.

Really struggling with old vs new. I like wrenching on stuff, so no issue there.

Here's my old machine - not loader friendly. Sold it a long time ago.

Appreciate all of the comments!!!!

If it weren't for parts availability , the old chinese Rhino 554's are very capable, but jmo for guys that can wrench and are also cheap.

I have about $9k into the pair of mine now. They easily run 6' brush cutter mower, 7' snowblowers- tiller, no problem and easily lift one ton pallets up to 10 feet if needed. I bought the second one in case I couldn't get parts for the original.
Different strokes for different folks. I have saved a family members Yanmar 2310 D a couple times when the Yanmar was down for repair or was undersized to do the job. Lots of older great American made machines out there as well like the Fords and Massey's, keep the eyes peeled.

 

[etpm]

If it weren't for parts availability , the old chinese Rhino 554's are very capable, but jmo for guys that can wrench and are also cheap.

I have about $9k into the pair of mine now. They easily run 6' brush cutter mower, 7' snowblowers- tiller, no problem and easily lift one ton pallets up to 10 feet if needed. I bought the second one in case I couldn't get parts for the original.
Different strokes for different folks. I have saved a family members Yanmar 2310 D a couple times when the Yanmar was down for repair or was undersized to do the job. Lots of older great American made machines out there as well like the Fords and Massey's, keep the eyes peeled.

I have a YM 2310 and there are a few times when it just wasn't able to lift what I wanted and I had to work around that. But otherwise the tractor is a beast for its size. I am amazed at what it does.
Eric

 

[sd455dan]

I have a YM 2310 and there are a few times when it just wasn't able to lift what I wanted and I had to work around that. But otherwise the tractor is a beast for its size. I am amazed at what it does.
Eric

Oh I am not knocking the 2310 D Great machine with the power shift.

My FIL bought it over 20 years ago and it has done 90+ % of what he has needed over the years. It was only down for real repair once, and he redid all of the steering and front axle work/ gears/seals etc then.

One bad winter the road closed in especially on road width and I Opened the width back up with the rhino for him, another couple times he needed ton + pallets moved and also a building tear down / clean up and my tractor had a grapple so it made more sense. For a smaller place and wanting a more compact machine that is reliable long lived with good parts availability the Yanmars are GREAT.