counting on other's expertise - Tractor newbie

[McZook]

I've been doing some research here and other sites. I am in wayyy over my head here and need assistance quickly. I have had lawn tractors, but nothing like this!

new owner of 8.5 acre property -
~ 3.5 acres to mow
~ 5 acres to brush hog
loonnng hilly gravel road/driveway to snowplow and keep gravelled

Current property owner has and will sell:
JD 4115 - I beleive it is less than 250 hours
5' plow
60" mower deck
brush hog
cart
there is no FEL or Cab
Tire type unknown

Owner claims resale value of $12,500

first of all - is this JD what I really NEED to get the job done? if so, what is a FAIR price to offer?
Can I do everything I need to do with something in a lower price range?

Financially, I need to be smart about this. I don't necessarily need the Lexus solution if I can get the job done just as well with the Buick.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

McZook,

There are others who can answer your question better than I but while you are waiting here is a link to the JD "Machine Finder" web site for used 4115s centered around zip 12969. These are dealer prices which I would expect to be higher than private sale prices.

Search for Used Agricultural, Farm, Heavy, and Lawn Equipment - John Deere Machinefinder.com

It will help to let other TBNers know your location as used tractor prices can vary by local demand.

 

[jbrumberg]

McZook:

Welcome to TBN ! The HP range of the JD 4115
(24/20) seems to fit your reported property size and uses. I suggest that you share more about your location, terrain, as well as your short and long term projects. A FEL is a very useful tractor attachment, but expensive to add to an existing tractor. Jay

 

[RoyJackson]

I'd prefer a little bit bigger tractor, but I think that's a pretty fair deal for the 4115 and those implements. I also think the tractor would be a good fit...after all, it's been used to maintain the property.
Even if you add a loader (which are very handy), you'd still be doing good. Figure the loader to go for about $3000.
You might even do better if the machine was purchased from a local dealer.

I'd offer $10500 to start.

I don't know where you're at, but if you're in the snow belt, you will want to start plowing by the time the snow gets 5-6" deep. That plow, if it's the one I think it is, doesn't angle.

 

[McZook]

I am in the Rochester NY area, so yes - snow will be plentiful!

as far as terrain, there is some hilly area that will need the attention of the hogger, but the mowing is mostly flat.

I don't have much planned in the way of projects - yet. I need to get a handle on the day to day first...

Thanks for all of your kind help!

 

[Soundguy]

I'm with roy.. I'd offer around the 10K level and go from there.

Also.. I'd 're-map' my property so that I had about .25ac to mow, and 8.25 ac to hog.. (grin).. especially if this was a rear finish mower.. then i'd sell the rfm, and buy a push mower for that 1/4 ac.. and be hundreds of bucks Plus on the deal.... if it's a MMM.. then keep it.. and perhaps keep more of it lawn.. and you can run more MMM than hog anyways..

Soundguy

 

[daTeacha]

If you buy the tractor and if the snowplow does not angle, consider investing a couple hundred in a back blade, too. You can do a whole of driveway work with a back blade.

Another option to consider is a box blade, depending on how badly the driveway tends to erode. The major drawback to the ones I am familiar with is that they do not angle from side to side so don't work real well for snow work, althoug there are those who would argue that point with some degree of effectiveness.

A lot depends on how much snow a person has to deal with and what happens to it in between snow events. If it tends to melt and then snow again it's different than if the stuff just sits in piles waiting for spring. In the latter case you need to be able to move it around some or plan ahead and clear a really wide path early in the season. Where I lived in Michigan, some people would plow the entire front yard and by the end of the snow season would have just the driveway and a yard full of snow piles.

 

[McZook]

It is a MMM if that means a MidMountMower - (you tractor guys have almost as many acronyms as us computer geeks!)

I know nothing about the snow blade at all other than it APPEARS to mount in the back. How can I tell?

I will be taking a look at this equipment again soon, is there anything else I should look for?

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[RoyJackson]

It is a MMM if that means a MidMountMower - (you tractor guys have almost as many acronyms as us computer geeks!)

I know nothing about the snow blade at all other than it APPEARS to mount in the back. How can I tell?

I will be taking a look at this equipment again soon, is there anything else I should look for?

Thanks again for all the help!

If the blade looks like the one in the attached pic, it's a rear blade and they do angle (or pivot). They work fine for plowing snow, but if you get a lot of accumulation, the Loader comes in handy to pile the snow. If you don't get a loader yet, you'll just have to plow early and often to keep the snow pushed back.

As I wrote in my first post, the owner has been using this tractor for maintaining the property you're buying...so, it should do the job.

As far as the tractor itself...you could ask the owner where he bought it and to see any maintenance records. But if it pulls good when you try it, it's probably OK.

 

[McZook]

I will attempt to post a pic of the snow blade soon... I hope that will help.

I was also concerned about the lack of a cab - am I about to freeze the boys off?

figuring I offer 10k and settle at 11k... would I do just as well to buy a different tractor with exactly what I need on it? the right blade, a cab, FEL, etc?

good point though - The current owner IS doing the job with this one...

 

[RoyJackson]

I will attempt to post a pic of the snow blade soon... I hope that will help.

I was also concerned about the lack of a cab - am I about to freeze the boys off?

figuring I offer 10k and settle at 11k... would I do just as well to buy a different tractor with exactly what I need on it? the right blade, a cab, FEL, etc?
good point though - The current owner IS doing the job with this one...

Well, it's your money...
Buying a tractor with all the goodies is going to cost you considerably more then the deal you're looking at. I don't know what your finances are like, so you have to make that type of decision.

As far as freezing the boys off...I wear heavy coveralls, parka and an insulated hat (Mad Bomber hat) and definitely good thick gloves. In your area, I'd go for a snowmobile suit. Remember, you can always take breaks. I'm not big on cab tractors, but I don't have to spend hours upon hours on a tractor.

 

[mboulais]

It sounds like an ok deal and enough tractor for the job. A front mount snowblower might be available for that size too. If it isn't exactly what you want, you could trade it in later to go up a size and get a cab.

 

[jbrumberg]

I wear bib style snowmobile pants and whatever combination of hat, gloves, and clothes/coat for the conditions in winter. I have not damaged the "family jewels" yet . I am a firm believer in goretex products. Jay

 

[DrainPondDesign]

McZook,

Welcome to running a tractor in northern NY during winter.

I have only one winter experience with our new tractor here & this is what I've learned.

I have searched for & found no universal textbook on tractor operation, it appears to be get in the seat & teach yourself. Most manufacturer's impliment literature is concerned with safety & liability rather than use.

Start early in snow removal & go slow, a rear blade extends past the wheels quite a bit which gives it leverage to push the tractor sideways when plowing with it angled. If your location is remote then have a plan B just incase you can't plow yourself out.

Most rear blades rotate 180 degrees so you can drive over snow pulling the blade or reverse it so you push the snow while backing up.

Cold, dry fluffy snow is easy to plow & gives good traction but heavy wet or refrozen icy snow can give poor traction.

Got slopes?

Tractor parking brakes do not seem to work very well, dropping the blade to the ground makes a nice anchor when getting off the machine.

Go to your tractor manufacturer's web site & download or buy an operator's manual for your model & read it cover to cover. All those safety cautions are for real, a tractor is not an automobile & there are many ways to get hurt that may not be obvious to you.

Good luck.

 

[flusher]

I've been doing some research here and other sites. I am in wayyy over my head here and need assistance quickly. I have had lawn tractors, but nothing like this!

new owner of 8.5 acre property -
~ 3.5 acres to mow
~ 5 acres to brush hog
loonnng hilly gravel road/driveway to snowplow and keep gravelled

Current property owner has and will sell:
JD 4115 - I beleive it is less than 250 hours
5' plow
60" mower deck
brush hog
cart
there is no FEL or Cab
Tire type unknown

Owner claims resale value of $12,500

first of all - is this JD what I really NEED to get the job done? if so, what is a FAIR price to offer?
Can I do everything I need to do with something in a lower price range?

Financially, I need to be smart about this. I don't necessarily need the Lexus solution if I can get the job done just as well with the Buick.

The JD 4115 has a Yanmar diesel that produces about 20 hp at the PTO and weighs about 1700 lb. It was sold in 2003 and 2004 with a hydrostatic transmission.

A dealer would get about $12700 for one of these. Yanmar engines are top notch and if this particular tractor is a clean machine (everything works OK, no fluid leaks, sheet metal OK, etc) it's probably worth $12000 in a private sale.

I have 10 acres of flat pasture land that I mow and otherwise maintain with a Kubota B7510HST that has an LA302 FEL (4-ft wide bucket). It's a 21-hp (engine) and 17-hp (pto) machine that I bought new in May 2005 for $12,600 plus tax (10% down, 0% for 36 months). It handles a 4-ft wide rotary mower (brush hog) OK as well as a used 4-ft wide Yanmar RS-1200 rototiller and a 4-ft box blade. It will do OK with a middle buster plow and a single blade subsoiler in soft ground, but it's too small for serous plowing/disking. For that work I have a 1966 MF-135 diesel (45-hp engine).

 

[McZook]

Thank you to everyone for all of the advice. I plan on trying to negotiate with the current homeowner on the JD4115. I wanted to make sure that was the right thing to do.

I will check out the blade soon...

 

[Soundguy]

11k isn't bad for that tractor.

soundguy

I will attempt to post a pic of the snow blade soon... I hope that will help.

I was also concerned about the lack of a cab - am I about to freeze the boys off?

figuring I offer 10k and settle at 11k... would I do just as well to buy a different tractor with exactly what I need on it? the right blade, a cab, FEL, etc?

good point though - The current owner IS doing the job with this one...

 

[BTDT]

Current property owner has and will sell:


Is the guy selling the tractor the one you bought your land from? Have you bought the land yet? If you are still trying to buy the land, can you just get him to add in the tractor and finance it all at the same time? As you have stated, if this is what he was using for this property, it should work for you. Later you could upgrade if your needs change.

 

[McZook]

Dealing with the current owner is proving to be ... difficult.

Given the current state of affairs:

What is an equivalent tractor as capable as the JD4115?
The job has not changed, I need to have some other options including a 60-72" mowing deck and plowing capability. FEL is a bonus.

Thanks!

 

[RoyJackson]

Dealing with the current owner is proving to be ... difficult.

Given the current state of affairs:

What is an equivalent tractor as capable as the JD4115?
The job has not changed, I need to have some other options including a 60-72" mowing deck and plowing capability. FEL is a bonus.

Thanks!

Go to the manufacturer's websites and take a look. You'll be wanting to see the specs...18 to 20 PTO HP. Deere and Kubota have models right up your alley...but they're probably going to cost more then $12500. Since a loader isn't mandatory, you shouldn't have to go too much over $12500. Add a FEL, you're heading for 15K plus. Is that within your budget?

Remember, just as you don't want to go "house poor", you don't want to over extend yourself buying a tractor/implements.

Then to the Kubota, Deere and New Holland forums. Read until you found what you want...

Piece of cake...

What do you mean the current owner is being "difficult"?