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New Garden Tractor
I'm about to retire my 84'18hp agway lawn tractor. It's starting to require too much work to keep it alive. I want to stay about the same size or slightly larger than the agway. I want a 42-46" mower with a snowblower. I've started to look around at the new ones and so far I'm not real impressed. A lot of the present models are low to the ground, have small tires/wheels and don't even look practical for doing work.The cub cadets look kind of cheap and a relative that owns one confirmed it. I got an add in the mail today from troy-bilt, any opinions on them? How about the quality/price of the john deere models? Any comments or ideas are appreciated.
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New Garden Tractor
I repair garden tractors on the side. The scotts is the best bang for your buck. But i had to replace an entire kohler engine after it had a ring crack and burned off all of its oil on one. If you want someing that will last. Go find your self a used JD 316-430 or a cub cadet of similar model. Those were the last of the good tractors. For new kubota garden tractor are the best. Everyone is liquid cooled or a diesel. Cub cadet and Deere are a far second. The rest are 5 year throw away rigs. The troybuilt and craftsmas are really far down on the list. If you want cheap the scotts are still the best deal. A lot of tractor for the buck. But still not alot of tractor.
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New Garden Tractor
Glenn Fitzgerald, have you considered a good quality used machine? I would suggest a Kubota G5200 or G6200. These things run forever and can be had at a very reasonalble price. Very reliable and durable engines. (3 cylinder diesel) Very simple yet straight forward design. You did not mention what you had in mind as far as a target price and a maximum price you had in mind. A John Deere 455 is another good reliable tractor that if well cared for by its previous owner, should last you many years. Besides snow blowing and mowing; what other uses did you have in mind for the machine? I ask because if those are the primary uses; a front mower ZTR might be another option.
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New Garden Tractor
I have a JD GX335 garden tractor with 48" deck and power flow bagging system. I think I paid around $7000 2 years ago. This is (or was) the cheapest model that had power steering and hydraulic lift. It has been a great machine, which I have done some incredible jobs with. With weights, tire chains and a front blade you can even do smaller landscape and gravel work.
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New Garden Tractor
These are a well built tractor if you are looking to stay in the riding mower size machine. Thats if you are willing
to spend 5-7ooo thousand. I't would depend on your lot's
requirements of course,but if you could make use of a small
tractor with a diesel I would consider it.
The Gravely mowers are also well built machine.
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New Garden Tractor
I bought a used Gravely lawn tractor with a 54" mower about 15 years ago for $3000. I think they run about $7000+ now for a new one. It has a cast iron 12 HP Kohler engine - is built strong as hell. I have never had to send it in for repairs. I probably will never need another mower. When I go to Lowes - Home Depot - I can never see anything that compares.
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New Garden Tractor
I have allot of cadets that have been through hell and back. I agree that they have gotten cheaper through the years. I don't have one of the new models with shaft drive. I've heard the drive train is good and implements hang on and mount easily. I've also heard that they got away from plastic hoods. I don't like diesel exhaust fumes. I think I would jump ship and go with JD. Suggest buying it from a Deere dealer rather than Home Depot. Your local dealer sets them up for Home Depot and also repairs them. So why not go direct.
1. I'd get water cooled engine.
2. 44 or 46" deck.
3. Find out if a bagger will plug when using it, cutting green spring grass when you need it.
4. Hydrostatic drive
5. Power lift
6. Power steering
7. 18-20 HP
8. Make sure attachments hook up easy.
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New Garden Tractor
Scotts are made my john deere, its the same tractor as the saber. Stay away from those rear engine gravelys. Complete junk. They acutally stop building them last year. Their mini skid steer and chipper are good, because they are built by another company with different paint. the ingeroland haven't changed their design in a long time. I forgot about those. Very well built, but expensive. Still a JD 430, 455 or a Kubota G6200 would be good if you want used.
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New Garden Tractor
itsgottobegreen, see you like those little Kubs too. My buddy who sells John Deere took a G5200 in on a trade that was is great condition. At first he was going to sell it but ended up liking it so much he sold his John Deere instead. It is the source of constant razzing from me. I was very impressed with the G5200 too. I would not be upset about owning one at all. Before I would spend 3 or 4 K on a new Scotts or MTD, I would look around for a used G6200 or 5200 in good condition.
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New Garden Tractor
Will
Your comparing apples and oranges when you compare a JD
riding mower to a Ingersoll. Have you looked at one lately?
These are built to last at a comparable price.
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