Neighbor needs used JD mower with 38" deck

mongo · Jun 1, 2009

Hi all!

My neighbor needs a used John Deere with a 38" mower deck. He has a gate about 44" wide the tractor has to pass through to get to his back yard. Even though he has a lot of less than 1/2 acre, he has a challenging situation. He has a bunch of pine trees that leave a thick mat of needles and a roadside with a culvert that gets overgrown with some weeds that are thick and woody. I've hit that with my LX188 and punished it badly. (We're looking at getting a new trimmer or Kombitool with brush blade for our culverts. (I read up on that here.))

I also recommended to him that he stick with hydro drive.

I checked machinefinder.com for him and see some, but I only known that LX172 - LX188 are like mine (and I don't see any LX188 listed nearby with a 38" deck).

What's an SYTX60? 170? 240? GT262?

Anybody have a recommendation? Should we wait until we find a LX188?

BTW, I got encouragement from the he good reviews here when I bought my used 188 last year.

jenkinsph · Jun 2, 2009

Maybe install a wider gate? Double front doors? Just drive it thru the house.

I use a landscape rake for pine needles, works great.

Steve

LBrown59 · Jun 2, 2009

mongo said:
Hi all!

My neighbor needs a used John Deere with a 38" mower deck. He has a gate about 44" wide the tractor has to pass through to get to his back yard. Even though he has a lot of less than 1/2 acre, he has a challenging situation. He has a bunch of pine trees that leave a thick mat of needles and a roadside with a culvert that gets overgrown with some weeds that are thick and woody. I've hit that with my LX188 and punished it badly. (We're looking at getting a new trimmer or Kombitool
with brush blade for our culverts. (I read up on that here.))

I also recommended to him that he stick with hydro drive.

I checked machinefinder.com for him and see some, but I only known that LX172 - LX188 are like mine (and I don't see any LX188 listed nearby with a 38" deck).

What's an SYTX60? 170? 240? GT262?

Anybody have a recommendation? Should we wait until we find a LX188?

BTW, I got encouragement from the he good reviews here when I bought my used 188 last year.

What is a Kombitool ?

Does it have to be a JD?
There's not many 38'' ones out there.
Expanding the acceptable brands would vastly increase his chances of successfully aquiring a 38 incher.
Example I have 2 Bolens tractors with 38 inch mower decks.
Another example: Some older Snappers were 38 inches.

pursonol · Jun 3, 2009

June 3, 2009 2:55am

I have a 38'' LX176 JD. Bought it around 1995-6. Still runs fine. Interested? Give me a price range if you are and I'll tell you if I'm also interested. I live in Chambersburg, Pa. You would have to also pay the freight to wherever you are located if you're to far to pick it up yourself. You can email me at pursonol@gmail.com

GreenWannabe · Jun 7, 2009

I use a 1994 LX176 38 inch deck model I bought well used two years ago for my daughter's 1/2 acre, and really like it. So far, have had to replace the main drive belt, the main belt guard/belt release lever ($15 in stock), and the mower deck belt; everything else has been routine maintenance. I put a new mulcher kit on it, they are still available as whole goods from JD. The mower works well even when we let the grass go a couple of weeks too long. It cost me $650, and I would rather have it than one of the new JDs or other brands sold by the big box stores for a whole lot more $$$$.

gjsnow · Jun 8, 2009

I once had a JD 525 front mower. Although it looks funny, it had a 17 hp kawasaki engine and cut like a dream. It can be had with a 38 deck and you may be able to find a nice used one on machinefinder or tractorhouse.
Having the mower up front gives a beautiful cut.

Good luck.

mongo · Jun 16, 2009

LBrown59 said:
What is a Kombitool ?

Does it have to be a JD?
There's not many 38'' ones out there.
Expanding the acceptable brands would vastly increase his chances of successfully aquiring a 38 incher.
Example I have 2 Bolens tractors with 38 inch mower decks.
Another example: Some older Snappers were 38 inches.

A Stihl Kombi with various accessories.
Multi-Task Tools - KombiSystem Multi-Task Tools, KombiSystem Attachments, KombiMotor- STIHL USA

That'll wait. I picked up a used Stihl FS-80 which I'll ask about elsewhere.

It looks like the neighbor doesn't want to pay what a JD will cost although he does need a rider.. The local dealers list some LX176 and such for $1200 or so but I think he wants in the $600 range.

(I don't want what a JD costs, either. The hood on my LX188 just cracked and I see the lower hood is $400!.

I'll live with taping it up.)