A reliable used lawn or garden tractor?

[njdenis]

Great replies! Thanks to all who chimed in.

I cannot find any kubotas around these parts on craigslist -- they usually go for a lot of money. I'm trying not to spend more than $1,500 and preferably around $1,000 or less.

Today I went to see a gentleman selling a Cub Cadet 1811. It was in very good shape overall, and I liked the machine. But it does make a fairly loud squeal when you start driving it, which sort of sounds like disk brakes rubbing, except to me it sounds more like tranny or rear differential. It only noticeable under load, such as when you start driving it or when you go up the hill. And I don't know enough to know if it's something to worry about or not.

I would like to look at Deere 314 and also looking around for other options, maybe Simplicity.

 

[coobie]

I have this 1996 ingersoll 4020 with 20 hp. onan motor as my back up mower.Around 700 plus hours on the clock.I would look at ingersoll and case mowers they are pretty stout lawn tractors.

 

[MF283]

Don't overlook older mowers, i had a 95 JD GT242, ran & cut just as good the day i sold it as when i bought it & sold it in 2014, routine maintenance.
We got mom-n-law an 03 JD LX277 in 2012 that dealer had taken in trade & gone over, ran it 2 years before cancer took her, no problems there either.
I sold both because i was mowing combined 4 acres with the two yards & went the ZTR route, sure wish i had kept one of them for pulling a spreader or cart.
BTW, i'm a huge fan of Kawasaki engines, never turned a wrench on neither one other than routine maintenance.

Ronnie

 

[TheMadOne]

Cub lo-boy? One of those with the mower would be both absolutely terrible and completely awesome. A pretty good example can be had around here for about 1500.

 

[5030]

I have this 1996 ingersoll 4020 with 20 hp. onan motor as my back up mower.Around 700 plus hours on the clock.I would look at ingersoll and case mowers they are pretty stout lawn tractors.

I has one with a Kohler years ago. The weak link is the Vickers hydraulic drive.

 

[grm61]

I have this 1996 ingersoll 4020 with 20 hp. onan motor as my back up mower.Around 700 plus hours on the clock.I would look at ingersoll and case mowers they are pretty stout lawn tractors.

Coob your have the cleanest eqip I have seen, that IR looks brand new.:thumbsup:

You must have used that before the DK to log 700hrs on it?

 

[coobie]

Coob your have the cleanest eqip I have seen, that IR looks brand new.:thumbsup:

You must have used that before the DK to log 700hrs on it?

I bought the ingersoll 4020 used about 5 years ago it had about 400 hours on it.My lovely wife uses it most of the time to help me mow the yard.

 

[coobie]

I has one with a Kohler years ago. The weak link is the Vickers hydraulic drive.

I have replaced most of the hydraulic lines but other than that it has been rock solid lawn tractor.

 

[5030]

I have replaced most of the hydraulic lines but other than that it has been rock solid lawn tractor.

My pump got weak and replacement was super expensive. I also had issues with the front PTO clutch (the linkage actuated one). It was expensive too. Was a nice stout garden tractor and looked classic but it's gone.

BTW, where do you live in S Michigan? I'm over by Adrian.

 

[coobie]

My pump got weak and replacement was super expensive. I also had issues with the front PTO clutch (the linkage actuated one). It was expensive too. Was a nice stout garden tractor and looked classic but it's gone.

BTW, where do you live in S Michigan? I'm over by Adrian.

Hillsdale county 25 miles south of jackson.I used to work in Adrain area.