Garden Tractor

[rcsoundn1]

I looked and looked at used ones, for me, it just made sense to buy a new one. the pros sell their used ones for a reason.

[flyboyx]

I have not read through this, so I apologize if it's been covered.

I'm going to have a 2 acre lawn come August. My push mower just isn't going to cut it.

Anyone ever have any luck buying a landscaper's old shit when they upgrade? Thinking about asking around.

here is the deal: you as a home owner will mow your lawn about 20-30 times a year in your area. a landscaper will probably mow 10 lawns in a day X 5 days a week x perhaps 35 weeks per year.

that is about 1700 lawns a year to your use of 30 or so. i know you are getting where i'm going with this. i think it would be better to avoid buying a piece of equipment that has seen that much use because by the time you get your hands on it, it will likely be pretty worn out.

maybe a better solution would be to look for a good used 54+ inch zero turn on craigslist.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I have not read through this, so I apologize if it's been covered.

I'm going to have a 2 acre lawn come August. My push mower just isn't going to cut it.

Anyone ever have any luck buying a landscaper's old shit when they upgrade? Thinking about asking around.

I'm doing side work for a buddies lawn company his two riding lawn mowers were bought just like that. Just made sure the motor and everything checked out.

[Exodus_2pt0]

I have not read through this, so I apologize if it's been covered.

I'm going to have a 2 acre lawn come August. My push mower just isn't going to cut it.

Anyone ever have any luck buying a landscaper's old shit when they upgrade? Thinking about asking around.

[M-technik-3]

Yes but now they are using Kawaski engines. I thought this was just for property management Pete.

[flyboyx]

on the small side, but seems like a good deal. most smaller john deere tractors use yanmar engines.

[M-technik-3]

https://westernmass.craigslist.org/grd/5582277894.html

[PeteD]

Thank You! "Loader" is probably better than "Kubota" in the search box. I agree about the people on that link. Haha

[flyboyx]

Flybox are parts available of the International 244? Is that a silly question?

Ownership views are mixed here: http://www.ssbtractor.com/wwwboard/v...rmall&msg=5427

well, honestly....i really don't know much of anything about that tractor. i believe deutz, allis chalmers and others also bought mitsubishi tractors and just put their own sheetmetal on them. i just read through the link you posted above and it sounds like the tractor could be a headache. i will say that all the postings on that link are from people that obviously don't know shit about tractors. the one in the craigs ad appears to have been well taken care of though. do plenty of research. if you are still interested, go take a look at it and check everything out thoroughly. make an offer you are comfortable with if you like it. there will always be another one if this doesn't suit your needs. in my opinion, that is the minimum size tractor that i would recommend. anything smaller than that one will be pretty un useful.

as far as searching for others, i used boston craigslist. i typed in "loader" in the search box under farm and garden and i also selected all the nearby areas that it allowed.

[PeteD]

Flybox are parts available of the International 244? Is that a silly question?

Ownership views are mixed here: http://www.ssbtractor.com/wwwboard/v...rmall&msg=5427

[flyboyx]

By the way....the tiller hanging off the back of that international is probably valued around 800.00. That puts the tractor at 7700. Perhaps with negotiation, you could be at 7500 total which is a very attractive price for what he is selling.

[flyboyx]

The gravely is pretty small and has the wrong tires. I would go with the international of those I found in that search. It looks like it's spent its life inside and has been well taken care of. Check to see if it has power steering.

[PeteD]

It is 4x4 This is it: http://worcester.craigslist.org/grd/5579012848.html Price seems a bit high - on Orange Tractor Talks, there is a local member trying to sell his 4200 and he feels he priced it too high at $5,000 hence the recent price drop. http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/grd/5590214423.html

I was thinking about taking the fix it approach. I am willing to spend some real money on it. It appears all good B line stuff is around $9,000 give or take (which seems high compared to my previous searches). I look at it as though I'll probably do much more than $9,000 worth of work and a good quality tractor should retain its value if well kept.

*Thank you for the search! Some of those seem worthy of looking into, like that gravely or international loader with tiller.

[flyboyx]

My hunt for a tractor continues. At one point last year, I thought I was inheriting a nice 3 Cyl Diesel Kubota from the 80's. It was my girlfriend's grandfather's and it was initially offered to us because the family knows we garden and have yard projects etc. Unfortunately, as I anticipated and tried to prevent, the farm equipment was sold with the farm.

Now I have focused in on Kubota B series stuff (not BX). However, there is a B4200 (mini tractor from 1994) for sale somewhat locally. I am intrigued by it's size and what appears to be a robust capability for a 12hp tractor. I have heard the rule: buy the biggest tractor you can afford, and I totally get that, but any input on this little guy? It has a bucket, snowblower and snow plow, looks to be in great shape, Ag wheels and is gear driven - which seems to be a negative according to previous posts.

Also, thank you for the orange tractor talk link. That has been helpful. It appears most B4200 owners feel at some point it becomes short on power, but still manages to complete the majority of tasks thrown at it. I bet that is the case wherever one's tractor sits in the "food chain". This one just comes quicker perhaps.

It's an awfully small tractor. if the price is cheap,perhaps you can use it in the mean time while you search for one with an engine about 2x the size. You did not mention if it is 4wd? On a tractor that size, the loader will be close to worthless.

What is your price range/budget? Fyi: it probably only costs 600-1000 to ship a running machine a good dist across the country. You can expand your search area a good bit. I wouldn't buy anything sight unseen or without starting it, sittin on it, and trying out all the functions.

If you are handy, buy something that needs work and fix it. You could save 50%.

Hydraulic problems are great because usually a new fluid change, a new filter, perhaps a reservior cleaning, and possibly a new pump will cure the ills.....


I did a little search for you....

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/grd/5588401521.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/grd/5549400011.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/grd/5591929730.html

http://providence.craigslist.org/grd/5596848833.html

http://worcester.craigslist.org/grd/5573667880.html

http://newlondon.craigslist.org/grd/5588212398.html

[PeteD]

My hunt for a tractor continues. At one point last year, I thought I was inheriting a nice 3 Cyl Diesel Kubota from the 80's. It was my girlfriend's grandfather's and it was initially offered to us because the family knows we garden and have yard projects etc. Unfortunately, as I anticipated and tried to prevent, the farm equipment was sold with the farm.

Now I have focused in on Kubota B series stuff (not BX). However, there is a B4200 (mini tractor from 1994) for sale somewhat locally. I am intrigued by it's size and what appears to be a robust capability for a 12hp tractor. I have heard the rule: buy the biggest tractor you can afford, and I totally get that, but any input on this little guy? It has a bucket, snowblower and snow plow, looks to be in great shape, Ag wheels and is gear driven - which seems to be a negative according to previous posts.

Also, thank you for the orange tractor talk link. That has been helpful. It appears most B4200 owners feel at some point it becomes short on power, but still manages to complete the majority of tasks thrown at it. I bet that is the case wherever one's tractor sits in the "food chain". This one just comes quicker perhaps.