In the market for a new to me mower. I mow about 2-3 acres weekly and have another 2 that I let go for a month or so and then cut it as high as I can. I have a 1969 John Deere 112 with the 46 inch deck that I trim around the house with as well as mowing some steep hillsides while sitting on the fender.
I recently sold my 670. It was a great little tractor, just not a great mower. My dad, who lives across the road, has a 425 that I have always liked a lot. He has a power-flo grass catcher, a 60 inch deck, and a single stage snow blower for it. I have always thought that the HP was a little lacking though. And after having the 670, the 425's fuel consumption seems crazy to me.
This brings me to my decision. There's an auction Saturday with a 445 with just under a thousand hours, with a 60 inch deck and 2 stage snow blower. The auction also has a F935 with 1200 hours and a 60 inch deck. It's an older unit with no ROPS. I know the auctioneer and he says both are in excellent shape, dealer maintained, and ready to mow.
I personally lean towards the F935 simply because of the diesel engine. We have a diesel pump for farm use and it is just so much easier than hauling gas cans around. I also think the F935 will sell for less money and if nothing else, I'm cheap.
Of course being an auction, you never know how things will go. I am thinking my upper limit for the 445 and blower would be $4500, just the tractor, $3500. I think the F935 should be somewhere between $2500-3000.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
I recently sold my 670. It was a great little tractor, just not a great mower. My dad, who lives across the road, has a 425 that I have always liked a lot. He has a power-flo grass catcher, a 60 inch deck, and a single stage snow blower for it. I have always thought that the HP was a little lacking though. And after having the 670, the 425's fuel consumption seems crazy to me.
This brings me to my decision. There's an auction Saturday with a 445 with just under a thousand hours, with a 60 inch deck and 2 stage snow blower. The auction also has a F935 with 1200 hours and a 60 inch deck. It's an older unit with no ROPS. I know the auctioneer and he says both are in excellent shape, dealer maintained, and ready to mow.
I personally lean towards the F935 simply because of the diesel engine. We have a diesel pump for farm use and it is just so much easier than hauling gas cans around. I also think the F935 will sell for less money and if nothing else, I'm cheap.
Of course being an auction, you never know how things will go. I am thinking my upper limit for the 445 and blower would be $4500, just the tractor, $3500. I think the F935 should be somewhere between $2500-3000.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.