My advice: get rid of it. A fanboi will pay a ridiculous price.
I have one of these things. I got it for nearly nothing. I think I overpaid. I can't even recall how many times I've been unable to use it because it broke down.
The hydraulic cylinders are proprietary, and they can't be rebuilt. John Deere welded them shut at both ends solely to give a big middle finger to customers. They are way more expensive than comparable generic cylinders, which makes no sense, because they are simpler due to John Deere cheaping out by welding them.
The muffler costs $450, and it weighs a ton. Mine fell off. When I found out what it cost, I replaced it with a stainless exhaust tip and a motorcycle baffle. I think I spent $18. You can get a car muffler for $75. It's not like there is any reason for John Deere to charge so much, other than greed.
The grille is no longer made, and it falls off easily. You can't see it fall off, so you find out it fell when you run over it. John Deere does not sell new grilles. A good used one costs $900. That's because so many have fallen off. Last time I checked the price of a grille for my Kubota (bigger, nicer part) it was $75.
The deck and mulch kit weigh around 340 pounds. To remove the blades for sharpening, you have to pull the deck out from under the tractor sideways. John Deere made it so it won't slide out unless you jack the mower up or partially disassemble the deck.
Taking the deck off is a miserable experience. Depending on how badly your parts fit, it can take an hour for one person. The parts freeze up and don't want to come apart.
The alternator belt is behind the engine, and you have to separate the engine and driveshaft to put a new one one. Lots of fun for people who like lying on their backs under dirty tractors, turning wrenches 5 degrees at a time. Expect the
Some people talk about the 430 like God himself designed it. They get really angry when you criticize it. Those are people who love collecting and repairing tractors. They actually prefer machines that need a lot of difficult repairs. Don't listen to them. A tractor should be made for people who use tractors.
It really bugs me to see people talk this tractor up to others who are thinking of buying them. They are leading them into misery.
John Deere keeps discontinuing essential parts. Pretty soon, these things will be impossible to repair without custom fabrication and machining.
It's going to get worse.
The tractor is a horror to repair even when you can get parts. I guess you know that now. Have you removed the sheet metal to get at the parts beneath yet? There is really no way to get a wrench on the hex on the lever on the right footrest. You have be creative.
On top of all this, the 3-point hitch and loader are Barbie tools. Really small. The loader is rated for 500 pounds. Try clearing hurricane debris with that.
I keep looking for a good used Kubota diesel zero-turn. They come with jacks built into the decks. If you need to sharpen the blades, you turn a little handle with one hand, and up the deck goes.
I know a zero-turn isn't a tractor, but there has to be a better tractor out there.
