shooterdon
Elite Member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2012
- Messages
- 3,486
- Tractor
- 2019 LS XR4140 HST Cab; 2020 Kawasaki Mule SX; 2021 Bad Boy 54" ZT Elite
Just purchased my first tractor. An old (1988) JD 855 compact with 1100 hrs on it. It comes with a FEL, rototiller, a King Kutter brushhog, 60" mow deck, York rake and back blade. One of the attachments is some kind of "boom" that is supposed to be used to pull logs so I need to research that. I will post pictures later.
It has two flat tires that hold air for about a day or two. It would not start and I got a new battery for it. The battery is a 22F and no one here stocks it, not even the dealer! Would up getting a battery that would fit from NAPA...series 86. Put the new battery in and the starter solenoid did not even click. A friend who had used it before got it started by fiddling with the HS pedals a bit....must be some kind of interlock that is not always making. It ran well for about 15 minutes yesterday except for a fuel leak near the fuel filter.
Tomorrow the dealer is picking it up to do a complete service, change fluids, give it a once over, and repair/adjust what needs doing. I have $3500 into it and hope that another $1500 in repairs will get it performing well.
I bought it from a local widow and she was asking $3000 for it but I thought she was light. I bumped it to $3500 and told her if the repairs come in under $1000 I will give her another $500. That puts me at my budget of $5000. I knew the previous owner and he did not take care of his stuff and the machine is in rough shape. The mounting holes on the front rims are elongated and I will defer to the dealer to see if I need new rims. Do you guys think that is a fair price for her?
The brush hog seems a bit large for it but I will see how it runs when I get it back from the dealer.
Does is make sense to try to salvage the leaky tires by tubing them? The are the original tires (TURF) and 30 years old. When I first saw the machine the rear tire was not flat so I am not sure why it is losing air now. The front tire has been a problem for over a year. If I need new tires, any recommendations for a turf type tire?
Any other advice on this old baby is welcomed.
Thanks for helping my out.
It has two flat tires that hold air for about a day or two. It would not start and I got a new battery for it. The battery is a 22F and no one here stocks it, not even the dealer! Would up getting a battery that would fit from NAPA...series 86. Put the new battery in and the starter solenoid did not even click. A friend who had used it before got it started by fiddling with the HS pedals a bit....must be some kind of interlock that is not always making. It ran well for about 15 minutes yesterday except for a fuel leak near the fuel filter.
Tomorrow the dealer is picking it up to do a complete service, change fluids, give it a once over, and repair/adjust what needs doing. I have $3500 into it and hope that another $1500 in repairs will get it performing well.
I bought it from a local widow and she was asking $3000 for it but I thought she was light. I bumped it to $3500 and told her if the repairs come in under $1000 I will give her another $500. That puts me at my budget of $5000. I knew the previous owner and he did not take care of his stuff and the machine is in rough shape. The mounting holes on the front rims are elongated and I will defer to the dealer to see if I need new rims. Do you guys think that is a fair price for her?
The brush hog seems a bit large for it but I will see how it runs when I get it back from the dealer.
Does is make sense to try to salvage the leaky tires by tubing them? The are the original tires (TURF) and 30 years old. When I first saw the machine the rear tire was not flat so I am not sure why it is losing air now. The front tire has been a problem for over a year. If I need new tires, any recommendations for a turf type tire?
Any other advice on this old baby is welcomed.
Thanks for helping my out.
