GT 275

[tld]

I have a GT 275 that is at least 10 yr old. Looks bad but runs good. The upper and lower hood are broken and half gone..$300. The mower deck has holes in it....$700. $1000 to get it in decent looking shape, but I still have a 10 plus yr old mower.

I also have an old Craftsman that is worth about $150.

I was thinking about selling both and gettsing a new one.

Question 1: What is the 275 worth?
Question 2: Who makes the best 48 inch cut yard tractor at about 15-15 HP?

 

[tlj87]

I recently looked at a 1998 GT275 with a 48" mower and 42" blade and tire chains that was in very good condition. Seller was asking $1600 for it.

You won't find a new garden tractor with 15-18 hp and a 48" cut anymore. All of the major manufacturers are pumping out 20-25 hp in their larger models. This does not necessarily mean you are getting more power than with your 17 hp Kawasaki.

If I were you, I'd fix up and keep the GT275 you have or look for a quality used machine. Perhaps you could find a GT275 or similar (LX series uses same hood, mowers, etc.) that has a good body and mower and shot engine.

Looking at used machines, check out the 225, 235, 245, 255 or a 325, 335 or 345.

 

[pennwalk]

I picked up a used gt 275 from the dealer last spring for $600. Almost all the plastic was broken. So I was looking for a parts machine. I found a nice 275 with a hole in the block at auction for $325. I decided it was too good to part out and found a engine for it. Now I am looking for another parts machine.

Chris

 

[tld]

Wow, if I could get a grand for this one, I would be really happy. Most people look at the hood and think it's a piece of junk and wouldn't touch it. I love the machine and it's been a good runner, but finding someone to buy it might be tough. I guess an add in the paper would help get to the right people. I will only be mowing a half acre plus, so I don't need a real big machine.

 

[LD1]

A couple of questions for you

Is the hood repairable???

Can you weld??

Seriously, If it were mine, I'd either repair the hood, or make a new one out of sheet metal and paint it for next to nothing.

Then I'd repair the deck and keep on a mowing.

You'd be hard pressed to find a new machine that will last as long as these old kawasaki powered deere's without spending north of 5k. And if you are going to spend that much, you should be looking at a commercial ZTR.

I have a JD 240 with 14HP kaw. It has been flawless. Bit I take darn good care of it. At the end of every season, the deck gets powerwashed and a fresh coat of paint. Otherwise, my deck probabally would have been rusted through as well.

 

[buck12]

Are you wanting a new mower only because your current mower looks rough? I have a GT235 that I bought used about 5 years ago. It also had cracked plastic. I used some two-part plastic glue to repair it. It looks fair after the repair not that it matters much, it is a lawnmower. If it were me I would have a welder patch the deck and repair the plastic as best you can and cut grass.

 

[MXAg2010]

If you are still looking for advice on a new JD mower then I would consider the X300 or anything in the X series. I am not a fan at all of the L series mowers but the X series are very reliable. I believe the X300 has a 19hp Kohler which is more than enough for the standard 42" deck it carries. If you decide to move up to the X320 you can get a 46". The "John Deere" engine in the L series mowers is a piece of junk in most applications. It's made by Briggs & Straton and is very cheaply made. Anything with a plastic oil slinger is made to fail not made to last. The Kohler and the Kawasaki engines are an entirely different story. Both are of high quality and once you overcome the initial thump of the price difference they are a pleasure to own. Believe me, the cost difference between the L Series and the X Series is minimal at best when you figure in service costs. Something to consider also especially with a new mower is the use of Stabill in the fuel. I would add the recommended amount of Stabill to every tank of gas simply because of the organic nature if our current gasoline due to the addition of ethanol and the tendency for people to let their mowers sit over the winter. Ethanol in fuel had minimal effects of fuel injection systems but is death to a carbureted one.