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Buying a Used Garden Tractor, needs to be durable


robertaguirre

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robertaguirre

I know this question is likely asked a lot, but I am new to garden tractors. I'm in Northern VA, and will be maintaining 0.4 acres. There's a slight slope but nothing crazy.

I'd like to use my tractor for more than just lawn mowing: Snow plowing a 100 foot driveway (when VA does get snow), pulling small brush roots/stumps, pulling a leaf sweeper, and pulling a weighted core aerator. Optional, but if there's an attachment for it I'd like to use a rear mounted tiller. I'm not sure if I am asking too much, but I know plowing and pulling are hard on machines hence why I'd like something durable (particularly the transmission).

I haven't thought about a budget, but I'd like it to be used to save some money. I'm not afraid of an older GT that needs some fixing up, but I'd like to stay away from a "classic" machine that's hard to get parts for and is limited in attachments. Are there any specific brands or models that folks can recommend?

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  • First of all are you a DIY guy or do you pay others for maintenance and minor repairs.
    • If yes there are many advantages to older GTs
    • Stay away from proprietary brands like Kubota because parts are very expensive.
    • Older U.S. made GTs are simple solid designs with few bell & whistles.
    • If you enjoy working on things older GTs will outlast and out work the newer stuff.
    • Parts are not all that hard to find,especially if your resourceful....ebay is your friend.
  • Recommended GTs (IMO).
    • Allis-Chalmers 300,400 series and their Simplicity equivalents.
    • Cub Cadets
    • Wheelhorse
    • Sears Suburban

I am partial to Allis/Simplicity for durability,good looks,function and simple design. Parts can usually be found on the used market and many parts are generic. I bought a AC 314 several years ago for $300 and put another $300 into it and it is a workhorse. I have over 100 hours on it...mowing 2 acres, grading and maintaining a long dirt driveway, pulling up small stumps, raking pine straw,aerating,dethatching and spreading fertilizer.There is a certain amount of satisfaction using a 50 year old tractor while watching your neighbors use their newer and probably financed green machines!

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Talntedmrgreen

Here is a good option in your neck of the woods.  This is a fantastic model, represents most of what folks perfer in a older Simplicty (hydrostatic trans, hydrualic lift, simple but long lasting briggs single cylinder 16hp engine) and it is farily priced.  It will do (and likley has done for decades) all of what you are asking with ease.  Now, given that, I would just use it as a reference at this point and begin shopping craigslist, facebook marketplace etc for like models.  Get an idea what a good, better, best price is for condition etc in your area, and you will likely also find one with more implements included.  Feel free to start throwing options at us here, too, and we can walk through the good and bad we see.  The very best way to buy a good first tractor is slowly, while educating yourself.  Luck can be another great tool, but it cannot be counted on!

 

https://york.craigslist.org/grd/d/littlestown-7116-simplicity-garden/7164890342.html

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I'll add when you discover that a vintage Allis/Simplicity is the best way to go (most of us here did) and you are enjoying your first machine...you'll keep looking at the for-sale ads and find more good deals; that first tractor will turn into a second, maybe a third.  Perhaps one will be a dedicated mower, another a dedicated tiller, and so on.  And you can acquire a fleet of vintage iron and attachments for less than half of what a new (non-box store) quality tractor will run.

That's my experience anyway...

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The only thing I can add is that with less than a half acre to mow, you're going to be doing a lot of turning. Most of the older garden tractors are bigger machines with a larger turning radius. Unless you see yourself doing a lot of plowing, pulling, tilling, you might want to look at something smaller like a good lawn tractor or rider. 

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shhh

you are in Virginia. If you can find an old Simplicity, good luck. We will help you all we can. If you find and Ariens, that has a number GT anything, contact me. Or, if you find a Ford, LGT, anything, contact me. I am not s purist, though my Simplicity is my go to machine simply because I have implements for it. Older Lgt,or GT machines are a lot of fun, will keep you out of the house when your wife is in a mood. Shhhhh Down here in the south, (term used loosely) we take care of each other. You are not going to find a bunch of the midwestern Simplicity tractors. You simply are not. I did not,have found 2 in 20 plus years, bought one simply for the engine. Contact me, will explain. Down here, you will find old Sears(Craftsman) machines, Cub Cadet, Ariens ,possibly Wheel Horse, Ford maybe Toro or Jacobsens. I have worked on or restored all. they are all similar, only different. Machines til the 80s are workhorses, after..not so much.

Please stay away from the Kubota, unless your poketbook is really deep, and the Yanmar/JohnDeere ditto. A good yanmar that runs is worth its weight at the scrap iron salvager. John Deere Yanmars are worth maybe a few cents more because of paint color

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Quote

pulling small brush roots/stumps

In my opinion, this is one class of tractors..... 4 wheel drive compact tractor or larger. You probably wouldnt be happy with trying to make a smaller , lesser, lighter, machine do this type of task. And I dont think you would be happy trying to use such a machine to do the jobs an a half acre lot that you cite below. Too much machine for such a small space.

 

Quote

lawn mowing: Snow plowing a 100 foot driveway (when VA does get snow), pulling a leaf sweeper, and pulling a weighted core aerator. Optional, but if there's an attachment for it I'd like to use a rear mounted tiller.

...and this is another class of tractor. Sub compacts, Garden tractors, and lawn tractors. A sub compoact with a backhoe would work to dig out the brush roots/stumps, but its too light to pull them out. At least thats my experience with my Kubota BX25D.

Dont know what to tell you if you are intent on pulling (trying to pull)root/stumps with a smaller machine. Cub Cadet 1650  as well as the 782 types and older have super tough transmissions and frames , but the mower decks do a terrible looking job of mowing. The Super cubs like the 2082  and 2084 mow nice, but the frames are tinfoil compared to the older Cubs. That and the transmissions of that era started using some aluminum castings rather than the previous cast iron  versions.

Simplicity Sunstars might be a good compromise. Decent frame, decent transmissions. Mows nice, blows snow nice. Prices are coming down too. Still dont know that they would pull stumps though.....

 

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22 hours ago, robertaguirre said:

but I'd like to stay away from a "classic" machine that's hard to get parts for and is limited in attachments.

 https://simpletractors.com/research/simplicity/new-in-1968/new_in_1968__attachments/I've seen pics of a trencher hooked to the back of a Sovereign type tractor. These old classics of Simplicity manufacture do not suffer from lack of attachments. The only problem is that they are old and may or may not be worn out. Can you turn a wrench? I firmly believe that Simplicity quit manufacturing the Sovey's because they were too expensive to compete. They sold for like 5 grand in 2000 when they quit.

 

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2 hours ago, SmilinSam said:

Dont know what to tell you if you are intent on pulling (trying to pull)root/stumps with a smaller machine.

I recently bought an old JCB 1400B. When you want to do serious work, half stepping leads to frustration. The last small tree/stump I pulled was with an 8,000 lb 4wd truck that just eased into it like it was nothing. That said, I've done impressive things with a 900lb Sovereign and a 20' 10,000lb rated stretchy strap.

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12 hours ago, Talntedmrgreen said:

This is pretty much a duplicate of what a buddy of mine bought for $800 with snow thrower , 48" deck and chipper/mulcher. It took a ton of work to get it and it's attachments perfect, but it's done, he loves it, and his "kids" can't believe that it's a 35 year old machine. Don't be fooled by the measly, (by today's standards) 16hp. Nobody grenades a cast iron Briggs or Kohler K series

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Poster seems to have been a one and done. I still think you take a .4 acre lot, put a house, driveway and some trees on it and a garden tractor is going to be overkill. But there are always going to be the go big or go home crowd to satisfy.

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On the go big or go home theory, I lean on the side of the old Legacy series w/Kohler 23 or 25. I found an Agco 2025 (Legacy), a loader and 3pt hitch and don't have a lot of cash invested. I don't have a deck but they can be found. Probably could source a rear pto if I persisted and still not have a lot in a heavy duty machine that would do most of what you want. More $ than with a Sovereign but not the same machine either. 

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