Buying Advice Small garden tractor advice

[mikefrommichigan]

I am in need of a small garden tractor to supplement my New Holland compact tractor. I have not had much luck with garden tractors over the years. A craftsman tractor I purchased 10 years ago with a B&S engine blew the engine after 4 years and approx 200hrs. I then purchased a cub cadet in 2011 with the Kohler Courage SV710 engine. That is also now starting to blow blue smoke on startup and under load after 150 hours. Several technicians I have spoken to, suggested it is not worth repairing.

Is there an inexpensive ($1500 or less) tractor out there, new or used, (do not care what brand or make of engine) that anyone could suggest I look at?
Maybe I am expecting too much for under $1500.

Thanks

 

[s219]

You have to spend about $3500-4000 to get something good. Unfortunately the cheaper stuff is junk from what I could see.

 

[RalphVa]

Why do you need a garden tractor when you already have a NH compact?

Just get the appropriate 3 ph gizmo to work your garden with the NH.

What do you need to do?

Ralph

 

[DFB]

Wow your pretty rough on them hey!

I have a 18hp MTD Yardman with a twin cylinder B&S I/C engine I bought at a Walmart in 1998 for $1300.

Blades, belts, deck spindles, wheel axles, batteries, a tranny bracket, some salvaged second hand tires, and finally a starter but all still good

Took apart and cleaned the carby some years ago but never again since using Startron steady.

Beat the crap out of it too two tanks at a time for 4 hrs continuous cut probably 10 times a year.

Boned off some deck guards over the time they just get bent up on the stumps and rocks



So what are your cutting conditions

How often do you check the oil?

 

[DFB]

Oh came with a cart as part of the deal.. still have that too.

Had to buy replacement tires/rims from TSC for that though. :confused3:

 

[mikefrommichigan]

I have a small horse barn with approx 10 acres. 7 acres of pasture, 3 acres of grass (not lawn). I use the NH to cut the 3 acres of grass, and keep the weeds down in the pastures, etc. I have a fenced front and rear yard that I need the small garden tractor for, as well cutting around trees etc.

I check oil on both tractors every time I use them and change oil every 50 hrs.

Any recommendations on a good used machine?

 

[jaydee325]

Check Craigs List for a John Deere 345 garden tractor. They come up from time to time in the $1800 to $3000 range. Will last a long time. Liquid cooled V twin, hydrostatic with hydraulic lift. Also check for a John Deere 318. There is a nice one listed around Lansing for
$1800.

 

[murphy1244]

Look for a used Simplicity. I had a Conquest that I traded in with 650 hours and it ran great. Only thing that went south was the Battery.

 

[coobie]

IMHO you will be hard pressed to find a decent lawn tractor for $1500 bucks.To buy a new decent one I think you would be in the $4,000-$5,000 range.My choices would be John Deere or Simplicity.I found this used 1996 ingersoll 4020 a few years back but it cost me $3,000 it came with 48 inch deck,snow plow and chains.Good luck on your search.

 

[woolyAcres]

If you don't mind going back in time, you can find Wheel Horse tractors that will do lots of work around the yard, driveway, etc. Very well built and still lots of (used) units out there. I'm sure you could find a 300, 400, or 500 series with mower and plow for under $1500. I've got a 520 with 60" deck, 4" plow blade, and 4" snow-blower. Much easier on the yard and starts every time in dead of winter without needing to be plugged in. You can even find rototillers, mid-mount graders, plows for it if you look.

 

[mikefrommichigan]

Thanks all for the input. I am happy to own an older machine, so I will start researching the ideas.

As it happens I have a 1992 snapper with the Kohler magnum M18 engine, that has been under a tarp for several years. I guess I should educate myself about tractors and try to get this one working. It became more and more difficult to start and in the end I had to squirt starter fluid into the intake to get it started. The mower deck also stopped engaging and so in the end my dear other half did not want to deal with this.

 

[whizdbiz2]

First decide if you need a garden tractor or a lawn tractor, if you are just mowing grass a lawn tractor will do the job. Try local on-site auctions or on-line ones. If your area is like ours you can pick up a pretty decent mower for $400 to $800. I've seen lots of Craftsman and smaller JDs and Cubs go in this range on the on line auctions I look at. I picked up a big Husqvarna 54" lawn tractor (they call it a light garden tractor, but it's just a grass mower) with a front blade and sun shade for $800 at a local consignment auction. I don't really trust stuff at these consignment types too much, but this thing was in pristine condition and had good tires, new mowing blades, seat cover, newish battery and a full tank of gas. It has just under 500 hrs. on the engine and a two cylinder Kohler Courage (stay away from the single cylinder Courage). It' been flawless so far.

I also got a steal at an on-line auction, a homeowner was selling out stuff as they were moving to a smaller house. It is a JD GT275, 48" deck, that I got for $350. I know if works because the guy mowed the grass with it the day I picked it up. It needs service (oil and filters at both ends and bushings in the front axle, needs four @ $7 ea.) but has a true garden tractor hydrostatic transmission, unlike the Husqvarna that has the standard K46 Tuff Torque low end hydro. Check out tractorhouse dot com for the specs on something you are thinking about.

You also must be pretty hard on mowers for some reason, I mow mostly flat land but my cheap big-box store MTD lasted me 11 years as the only mower on about 1 1/2 acres and still am using it as a backup mower and for doing small areas to this day (bought it new in 2002 at TSC). It has a B&S twin that had one issue with the valve guide on one exhaust valve that I could fix myself, and I broke a deck mount (easily welded with my 110 volt TIG). The previous MTD I had lasted 10 years. I either got lucky or folks are abusing their mowers.

 

[buickanddeere]

What ever you do avoid a lawn tractor with the light duty K46 transaxle.
There are acceptable tractors with a medium duty transmission .
A Heavy Duty ground engagement transmission uses five bolts to hold the rear wheels on.

 

[bcp]

Rear wheels bolted on like car wheels = good

Front wheels bolted on like car wheels, too = very good



Bruce

 

[TheMan419]

I have a craftsman that I bought some 10 years ago. Used it to mow like 1.2 acres or so once a week for the spring summer and fall. Nothing but regular oil changes and new batteries. Of course the blades have been sharpened and changed over the years. Still on the original tires. Just last year had to weld a fitting on the front axle.

So it seems that you are tough on them?