Value of 430?

[Richard]

So I'm in need of a new lawn mower. My lawn is ugly (live in the woods in the country and it's been near impossible growing a "lawn"... it's more weeds.

Wondering if a JD 430 With 986 hours would be worth $2,700?

I DO like the diesel aspect of it (love the idea of having one fuel for my International, JCB/backhoe and ???)

No implements, strictly a mowing machine. Is it worth the asking price?

 

[atsah]

Looks good, I would probably pay $2,400 for it if it runs well and the deck is in good shape.

 

[Richard]

I concur that the picture looks nice. I've not seen it yet in person.

 

[atsah]

I concur that the picture looks nice. I've not seen it yet in person.

I had a 420 gasser and the only bad thing about it was the deck was kind of a pain, seemed I changed the bearings a lot but the tractor was rugged, I always wanted a 430 diesel but It never came along..

 

[Richard]

Part of my indecision is I don't really have a decent yard. Do I want to pay (for example) $2,500 for a lawn mower when I can go by a used Sears/Husky/MTD or other brands for maybe under $1,000???

From that point of view, (for an ugly yard) I'm wincing a bit on buying something like that. However, I've ALWAYS wanted to get a diesel mower so I can finally convert everything over to diesel....

so I'm conflicted

 

[atsah]

Part of my indecision is I don't really have a decent yard. Do I want to pay (for example) $2,500 for a lawn mower when I can go by a used Sears/Husky/MTD or other brands for maybe under $1,000???

From that point of view, (for an ugly yard) I'm wincing a bit on buying something like that. However, I've ALWAYS wanted to get a diesel mower so I can finally convert everything over to diesel....

so I'm conflicted

I guess it's a matter of do you want the 430 for what it is, which is a rugged, diesel, heavy, very capable tractor or just something to mow the lawn? that is what it comes down to really, the thousand dollar mowers will mow your lawn probably as well as the 430 will but if you have to replace them often you may as well have bought the 430 that will last a long time.

That's my thinking anyway.

 

[atsah]

My 420 I could set and forget it, If I recall correctly I had to make an adjustment on it. I found the dash mounted control to be very a convenient cruise control.

 

[Richard]

I guess it's a matter of do you want the 430 for what it is, which is a rugged, diesel, heavy, very capable tractor or just something to mow the lawn? that is what it comes down to really, the thousand dollar mowers will mow your lawn probably as well as the 430 will but if you have to replace them often you may as well have bought the 430 that will last a long time.

That's my thinking anyway.

That's my thinking too....but....I don't know anything (I mean zero) about these JD mowers. Tis why I'm asking.... is it junk, is it a gem...

 

[Richard]

Having been the owner of a John Deere 318 for ten years, dealing with the right hand direction control gets to be a real pain sometimes. You can't set it and forget it. You have to constantly hold it, and going into reverse is not a straight shot back.

View attachment 596435

Does the 430 use hand controls? I asked to see if I could go Thursday & look at it. (I travel for work and won't be around until then). I was thinking it had foot controls.

At that, I thought it had TWO pedals, one forward, one reverse (as contrasted with the one foot treadle thing Kubota uses)

 

[atsah]

The tractor itself is a gem IMO, you have to get the deck just right or you will have belts falling off pulley's.